Disclaimer: MacGyver's ideas in this story have not been tested, and some probably have a better chance than others of working in real life. MacGyver and other recognizable characters are the property of Paramount; all original characters and story © 2020 FemaleChauvinist.

Do not post without permission. Do not copy/print without including the above disclaimer in its entirety.

PROLOGUE

Sixth kidnapping in three weeks.

Young girls disappearing from metro area;
police have no leads.

The newspaper headline should have made Emilia Rodriguez keep tight hold of her little daughter, but she looked at it with unconcern, the English words meaning nothing to her.

Slightly bored with their shopping trip, Lucie clutched her teddy bear as she trailed after her mother from one shop to another. Spotting some plump pastries in a window, she paused to look longingly at them and decide which she might choose if allowed to have one.

When she looked up, her mother was out of sight. "Mama? Mama!"

Her call was cut off as a man grabbed her, his hand over her mouth silencing her as her cry became a scream.

Lucie kicked and struggled, never letting go of her bear, but the man was far too strong for her, running with her to an alley where a van sat waiting.

Two other girls already huddled in the back when he opened the door to shove Lucie inside. They stared at her with wide eyes, and as the door was slammed shut behind her, Lucie wedged herself under the seat with a quick wriggle borne of some innate instinct to hide. She clutched her teddy tightly as the van started with a roar and pulled off out of the alley.

The drive seemed to the frightened girls to last a long time. When the van finally pulled to a stop, a man none of the girls had seen before pulled the door open. "Out!" he ordered harshly.

The other two obeyed, but Lucie remained curled where she was. The younger of the two looked back, seeming about to point her out, but her sister clamped a hand over her mouth and shook her head fiercely.

Unaware that there were supposed to be three, the man gripped the two by the arm, leading them half stumbling away.

It was some time before Lucie realized that everybody had forgotten her. Whimpering softly, she crawled from her hiding place and cautiously pushed the van door open.

Several men stood lazily smoking by a dirty white building, but none were looking toward the van as Lucie jumped out and ran the other way toward an embankment.

She began climbing and scrabbling up it, hampered by the teddy she clung to until halfway up she dropped it. She looked longingly down at her treasured toy, but she was far too frightened of the men to go back after it, and with a whimper continued up.

At last she was scrambling over the top and ducking under the guardrail of a lonely desert road. Tears stung her eyes as she began walking, stumbling and falling as she made her way down the road.

Next chapter coming next week!

I proofread all my stories at least once before posting, but if you see any mistakes I might have missed, please let me know!

Please note that I have only minimal internet access, and may not have time to respond to all reviews/messages. (But they are much appreciated, even if you're reading this story long after I originally post it!) If you have questions regarding my MacGyver alternate history, check my profile first to see if they're answered there. Thanks for your understanding! Barbie