Chapter 9
As they drove, neither Alex nor Ed had much to say. Both had so many questions, but neither knew where to start. Alex simply took directions from Ed, going to the location of the tapes.
"So, uh, where are we going?" Alex finally broke their awkward silence.
"Bank," Ed answered matter-of-factly.
"Safety deposit box?" Alex guessed.
Ed nodded, "Yes."
"That's real…original," she commented. Then, after pondering for a few minutes, she started to think aloud. "If this guy who has Greg is so smart, why didn't they just break into the bank and steal the tapes out of the safety deposit box? Would be a lot easier."
"I have ten, all with tape sets in them. Only one is real," Ed replied.
"Ooohhhh," Alex understood. It would take too much manpower and create too much attention if someone tried to break in to all ten banks and get the right box.
"I'm sorry for all of this," Ed apologized. "I can't believe I got you two wrapped up in this."
Alex momentarily took her eyes off of the road and looked at Ed. She took one hand from the wheel and placed it on his arm. "Ed, I was involved in this long before you ever were."
"But this," Ed sighed. "Greg being kidnapped is my fault. If I hadn't come…"
Alex interrupted him, sensing the frustration in his voice, "If you hadn't come, they still could've kidnapped him. You just would've been farther away."
Both grew silent once again. This time it was Ed who interrupted the silence. "I'm…I'm such a failure as a father. I wasn't ever there for him and now, when he really needs me, I'm useless!"
Alex once again placed a hand on his arm. She looked Ed right in the eyes. "Ed, I don't really know much about your relationship with Greg, but I know he loves you very much. And I'm sure he knows you're doing everything you can to help him out."
Ed grabbed Alex's hand and held it in his. "Thank you," he said in barely above a whisper. Then he cleared his throat and added, "So do you have a plan?"
Alex let out a deep breath. "I'm hoping Gil will call any minute saying they've located Greg and I won't need one."
"And if that doesn't happen, plan B?" Ed asked.
"I'm working on it," Alex replied. "I'm working on it."
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He could feel the soft, ocean breeze blowing through his hair. He could taste the salt of the ocean in his mouth. In his hands he held the rope to the sail. The rope was rough, but would make his teenage hands tough, manly.
He looked to the rear of the small boat and saw his dad. He smiled, wanting to wave, but not daring to let go of the rope until he had properly tied it off. Greg loved sailing with his dad. It was one of the few things they actually did together.
Greg was too busy smiling at his dad, to notice the beach they were about to hit. As they did, it threw the young Greg off balance and he wound up face first in the sand.
He slowly opened his eyes, spitting the sand out of his mouth. He placed his hands on the ground and tried to lift himself up. As soon as he put weight on his right arm, pain shot up it. The pain of his broken arm brought him back to reality.
He was confused at first. The sand beneath him was very real and not just a part of his sailing memory. The last thing he could remember, he was in a cement room, his arm had just been broken.
He rolled onto his back and stared up at the sky. It was a beautiful, clear blue with very few clouds. He finally worked himself into a sitting position and started to look around. His eyes trying to explain to his brain what he was seeing. He was still a little foggy from whatever the man in the mask had used to drug him.
After his vision cleared, all he could see was sand to the horizon in every direction. "Shit!" he shouted to the vastness, knowing no one could hear; he was in the middle of desert.
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Alex and Ed were driving around, waiting on their further instructions from the kidnapper. They had three sets of tapes in the car, including the real set. Alex wasn't quite sure what they were going to do yet, but she knew having a couple decoys couldn't hurt.
Alex's cell phone rang. She recognized the number as Gil's.
"Please tell me you found him," she answered her phone.
Gil's pause told her all she needed to know. "We found the car and the watch," he replied.
"But no Greg," her disappointment was hard to hide.
"I'm sorry, Alex," Gil tried to comfort her. "I'm sure he'll be alright."
"Any evidence in the vehicle?" She was trying to keep her mind on finding Greg and not what might be happening to him.
"None," Gil responded bleakly. Then, because he didn't get many details earlier, he asked, "Do you have a ransom?"
"Yes, we do," Alex answered. "But we can't give it to him. If we give him what he wants, I'm…I'll…" She didn't want to think about it.
Gil was quiet, waiting for her to finish. He heard another cell phone ring.
"I'll have to tell you about it later. That's our instructions," Alex told him, then hung up before he could respond.
Ed grabbed the phone before Alex could get to it. "Hello?" he answered it.
"You have the tapes," it was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes. Where do you want us to go?" Ed responded.
The man gave Ed an address. "You have 45 minutes. Only you two."
"And we'll exchange the tapes for Greg?" Ed questioned.
The man laughed. "What sort of idiot do you take me for? You could hand me fake tapes. You will get Greg's location once I'm satisfied the tapes are real."
"But—" Ed was trying to think of an excuse fast, but none came.
"No buts, cops, CSIs, or FBI," the man hung up.
"Damn it!" Ed swore as he hit the dash with his fist.
"What?" Alex was concerned. She knew the conversation hadn't gone well.
"He's not bringing Greg. Once he gets the tapes and is satisfied he'll give us Greg's location," Ed explained.
"Fuck!" Alex echoed Ed's earlier sentiment of frustration.
"So now what?" Ed asked.
"I don't know," Alex responded. "But I'll figure it out before we get there."