The Douglas Farm

After a whole day of scraping and scrounging, Oliver miraculously managed to get the ten thousand dollars he needed to save Lisa. He left the money in a paper bag by Drucker's store and went home for another night of no sleep and worry.

The following day, Oliver spent most of his time sitting at the kitchen table staring at the phone. Others tried to encourage him to eat or sleep, but Oliver couldn't do either of those, not until Lisa was safe and back in his arms.

Around noon, the phone finally rang. Oliver jumped up from his seat and answered it as quickly as he could.

"Hello," he exclaimed.

"Hello dere," the voice answered back, once again mocking his wife.

"Did you get the money," Oliver asked anxiously.

"Yes, yes we did. Very good job," the voice replied nonchalantly. A silence followed.

"Well….where's my wife," Oliver demanded to know.

"Well, you see, I would tell you, but a thought just popped into my head," the sinister voice said.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I was looking at your wife and it just occurred to me, this beautiful creature is worth much more than a measly hundred thousand dollars. It would be an insult to her and to you to accept less than what she is worth," the voice explained as if he was talking about a painting he was trying to sell.

"What," Oliver exclaimed.

"So I think another fifty thousand ought to cover it. You can just leave it at the same place, same time."

"But…but…I don't have that kind of…." Oliver began to say, but the kidnapper cut him off.

"Now, now, now Mr. Douglas, it's either your bank account or your wife that dies, it's your choice." And with that, the voice hung up.

Oliver hung up the phone and sunk into a chair at the table, completely stunned. He couldn't believe it. After all he worked for to get the first ransom, now he hasn't to get a second ransom twice as big in the same amount of time.

Granted, he would do anything for the safe return of Lisa, but he knew he would never be able to get that kind of money in time. He had already borrowed from everyone he knew, even his in-laws. Now what was he going to do?

Oliver sat in silence for a few minutes, trying to rack his brain for ideas. Finally, he stumbled upon a realization. The police! They would know what to do!

Suddenly filled with a new hope, Oliver ran over to the phone and quickly called the police. After a few minutes, Oliver was finally transferred to Officer Henning, one of the men that had helped him before. He quickly explained his situation to the officer and asked what he should do. The officer sat in silence for a few moments.

"Well Mr. Douglas, all I can tell you is to try your best to collect the ransom and leave it where they told you too."

"What," Oliver exclaimed. "You mean, that's all I can do! You're not even going to help me!"

"I wish I could, but there is nothing we can really do in these kinds of situations," the officer admitted.

"What do you mean there's nothing you can do! Can't you at least try to find out who the kidnappers are or figure out where they're holding her or anything!"

"I wish we could, but with no clues left behind, it's nearly impossible," Officer Henning said, admitting defeat.

"So all I can do is sit and wait," Oliver asked, not really believing it.

"Yes, I'm sorry," the officer said sincerely.

"So am I," Oliver snapped back.

"Look Mr. Douglas, I understand your…" the officer began, but Oliver cut him off.

"Don't give me that jazz about you understand how I feel, because unless your wife is who-knows-where being held hostage by dangers criminals, I highly doubt you understand!"

"Mr. Douglas, you have to believe me. I really do care…"

"If you really did care, you would be doing all it takes to get her back for me. But you aren't! You know why! Because it doesn't affect you whether I get my wife back or not! All that matters to you is getting your paycheck and going home to your own family."

"Mr. Douglas…"

"Good day, Officer Henning. I will no longer be in need of your services." And with that, Oliver slammed the phone down angrily and stormed off into the living room.

"What happened, Mr. Douglas," Joseph asked, who had walked into the middle of the conversation.

"The police refuse to help. They say there's nothing they can do," Oliver replied angrily as he paced back and forth across the floor.

"What! But there is still plenty they can do!"

"Try telling that to them," Oliver snapped.

"Well, what now," Joseph asked. Oliver stood still for a moment to think. After a few minutes of coming up with nothing, he was about to admit defeat, but suddenly, an idea struck him. A new fire lit in his eyes as he began donning his hat and coat.

"Joseph, call Eb and the both of you join me in the car," Oliver commanded.

"Alright, but why? What are you thinking," Joseph asked, his voice full of doubt.

"Well, the police refuse to do their job, right," Oliver asked.

"Right," Joseph answered warily.

"Well, then we're just going to have to do their jobs for them. Come on, we're going to Drucker's to investigate!" And with that, he and Joseph were out the front door.

Oliver watched Joseph walk to the barn to get Eb from his seat in the car with a new sense of reassurance. Finally, there was a new beacon of hope in this glum situation. He finally realized that if he wanted Lisa back, he would have to find her himself, and that's exactly what he intended to do.