Chapter 3

A teller led Stella into the bank manager's office. The woman rose and held out a hand. Her other hand went to her stomach swollen by a baby. The women shook hands and then sat down.

"Detective Bonasera."

"Rachel Miller. I was just getting ready to leave; I hope we can speed this along. How can I help you?"

"I have a warrant to get information on one of your customer's accounts." Stella handed over the warrant.

Rachel took the warrant and read it.

"Adam Jacob Ross?" the woman asked.

"Yes."

"I heard on the news this morning he's been kidnapped." She shook her head sadly. "That's terrible news to hear. I've known him for eight years and I had no idea he worked, let alone for the police. I guess even men of his stature need a hobby."

Stella was offended by this woman's audacity. "A hobby? You think his job is a hobby?"

"Yes. He certainly doesn't need it. Will you also need to—"

"Adam's work is important, Ms. Miller, and he does need it."

"I didn't mean to offend you, nor was I implying anything by it."

"Then what were you trying to say? You seem to think you know Adam better than I do."

Rachel smiled with a slight gasp – it made Stella angrier. "You really have no idea who you work with, do you?"

Stella was done with being patient. "You know what, let's just cut to the chase. I'm need to see if large deposits have been made into Adam's account."

Rachel slowly shook her head. "Oh, Detective… That's what you're looking for in Mister Ross' accounts?"

"Yes! Have any of his accounts had that kind of activity?"

Rachel sighed. "I'm obligated to get you the records." Rachel stood, tapping the warrant she was leaving on her desk. "But I'm afraid, Detective, you really have no idea who you're investigating or work with. Do you also wish to view his lock boxes?"

Stella sprung to her feet. "I have dated the man for a year, I think I know him better than you do. So you should tell me what you think you know about him."

Rachel smiled. "I'd rather not, Detective. Wait here while I catch a teller before they all go home." Rachel walked out. "We need a teller's key and mine to open the lock box vault."

Stella was left to be frustrated until Rachel returned.

#

Adam woke up fast, fending off his father. He realized Charles wasn't there and relaxed. He grimaced and whimpered as he discovered pain in every joint and muscle.

The bathroom door was cracked, barely hanging on its hinges, and let dim light into the bathroom. Looking at it Adam realized his left eye was almost swollen shut. He slowly climbed onto his shaking legs and eased himself down on the toilet. He waited for a wave of dizziness to pass before he moved again. He reached out, his hand feeling along the wall for the light switch. He found it and flicked it on. He ducked his head when the light lured out a sharp headache. He looked down at the board he'd hidden the phone. It was ripped off and the phone was gone. A cell phone had gotten Charles caught the last time he'd kidnapped Adam, so it was unlikely he left the battery in it this time. All hope anyone would rescue him was gone.

Adam limped to the shower and pulled the curtain back. He started a hot stream of water and climbed in. The water hitting cuts and bruises flared the pain, but he moved into the water. The pain eased away as the water cleaned away the blood. Adam ducked his head under the water, wishing it could wash away the headache. He nearly jumped out of the shower when a hand touched his arm and spun around.

The curtain was pulled back enough that Charles could watch him without getting wet.

"Why wouldn't you just tell me where the phone was?" Charles asked.

Adam didn't answer.

"Adam, answer me."

Charles moved toward him and Adam bolted to the far end of the shower. His heart pounded hard against his chest. He felt like he was being suffocated again. But Charles surprised him. He didn't come after Adam. He even stepped back.

"I'm sorry about the eye."

Adam didn't move.

"The casserole is good. I brought in a plate for you. It's on the nightstand."

Running water filled the silence.

"Well… I thought I could trust you in the house, but you've proven me wrong there. You'll be staying in your room until we do this job, Adam. You are such a disappointment."

Charles left. Adam slowly sank down. He hugged his legs, letting the hot water cover him. The sobs started without warning.

#

Take out Chinese boxes mingled among the case files, photographs, reports, and test results on the conference table between Mac and his CSI. They glanced up when Stella walked in. She was carrying a manila folder and sat down without a word in the chair between Lindsey and Mac. Mac glanced at her, noticing the tight grip she had on the folder and the dazed look on her face.

"…the lead on the post office box was just another dead end," Hawkes finished saying.

"Great. So we're back to square one," Danny said, leaning on the table. "Why would his father kidnap Adam? What does he want with him?"

"Lindsey, did Florida State Patrol get us the case file?" Mac asked.

"Yes. About two hours ago and I've been going over it." Lindsey leaned on the table, opening a case folder with a Florida state seal on it.

"Ten years ago Adam was engaged. Did anyone here know that?"

Only Stella nodded.

"Well, Charles broke into Adam's apartment in Florida, beat his fiancé into a coma, and when Adam came home, he kidnapped him. He was missing for a week. In the police report Adam said he tricked his father and escaped. He didn't give any details about how that happened. He made it to a gas station, the police were called. There's a medical report that Adam suffered massive contusions, cuts, and a broken leg that was crudely set. He said all the injuries were from his father 'disciplining' him when he didn't behave. They police caught his father the next day."

"So maybe pops is mad that his son turned him in?" Danny asked.

"Hawkes, you said we lost the phone signal?" Mac asked.

"I was close to triangulating it when then the signal disappeared. Someone must have taken the battery out. If it comes back on, I've got an alert set up."

"Stella, what about Adam's bank account? Were there any deposits out of the ordinary?"

Stella didn't answer. The group looked at her.

"Stella?" Mac asked.

Stella hesitated but then plunged into the truth. "I think part of Charles's plan is to take Adam's money."

"What's he got in there? A couple thousand?" Danny asked.

"No. Much more."

"How much more?" Mac asked.

"At close of business today, his cash worth from all four of his accounts and trust fund totaled forty-four million, six hundred and fifty thousand, one hundred and forty-nine dollars and three cents. In seven lock boxes, he has bearer bonds and common bonds worth a cash value of sixty-eight million. If Adam cashed out everything he had at Bank of New York Mellon, he would have over a hundred million. I know Adam's accountant so I asked him where all the money came from; except what he makes working here, it's all inheritance. He also told me that those aren't his only accounts, and with the cash and property he owns, Adam's net worth is over forty-two billion."

She expected the long silence that followed and waited for the shock to wear down. It had taken her an hour, sitting in her car, for it to wear off enough she could think about why she was sitting in an empty parking lot at the accountant's building.

"Did you say billion? With a 'B'?" Danny asked.

"Yes."

"Geeze… That explains why he wouldn't let us pay back the five hundred we borrowed for fixing the car," Danny said, looking at Lindsey.

"Or the money he loaned me for the deposit on my place," Hawkes said.

"Adam said in the text that Charles was taking his money. It sounds like maybe Charles thinks Adam's inheritance should be his," Mac said.

"No. Wait," Lindsey said. "This doesn't make any sense. If Charles knows that Adam has all this money, wouldn't it have been a lot easier to blackmail him or somehow coerce Adam into just giving him everything? Why would he go through with a robbery?"

"That's a good question. Any good answers?" Mac asked them.

Stella nodded. "I recalled something Adam once told me about his father. He said that Charles believed when he was disciplining Adam and his mother that he was keeping the family together," Stella told them. "I have this feeling that somehow Charles thinks stealing this money is going to make Adam stay. I mean, if he wanted Adam dead, he's had ample opportunities to do it when Adam wasn't expecting it."

"I just read what he did to him during the first kidnapping, Stella," Lindsey pointed out. "How can you say he doesn't want him dead?"

"He beat the girl and left her for dead. He's more than capable of killing Adam," Hawkes said. "I'm with Stella. I think Charles is using this robbery against Adam somehow. I just don't know how he could, or would."

"Maybe he's one of those thrill seekers and he's dragging Adam along to rub what he's doing in his face," Danny offered.

"We need to get someone in that bank, Mac," Stella said. "And keep them there until this robbery happens."

"I'll do it," Danny and Hawkes said together.

"No. We can't do it. Who knows how long Charles's been following Adam. He might know who we are." Mac said. "I'll arrange a plain clothes officer to stay at the bank for the next couple days. That's the best we can do right now."

"What if his father does this again?" Lindsey tapped the Florida case.

Mac looked at it. "If he hurts him, we'll make sure we go to every parole hearing until Charles Ross is dead. He won't get out to do this to Adam ever again."

The others nodded.

#

Adam slouched in the back seat of the beat-up green 4-door coupe That Charles had stolen for the bank robbery. He played with the string on his green hoodie, something his father had made him wear.

Charles stopped the car in front of the Bank of New York Mellon. Adam looked out at the marble and granite building. It had remained unchanged for 200 years while New York City grew up around it.

"There's a back door in the alley," Lillian told Charles.

"We'll just go in the front door. We have surprise on our side."

"I have a card key I stole from a guard last night, so we can get in. But it's only good for today. They'll find his body by tomorrow, I'm sure. And it'll be more of a surprise if we come in through the back."

Adam looked at the back of her head. "I like dad's plan better."

"Of course you do, Adam, you want us to get caught."

Adam didn't respond – because he did want them to get caught.

Charles put the car in drive and pulled around into the alley. He parked between two dumpsters behind the next building. Charles dug into a bag sitting between him and Lillian, and pulled out a pistol. He held it out to Adam. His son stared at it.

"Take it," Charles said.

Adam shook his head. "I don't touch guns."

"Take it, Adam."

Adam didn't.

"Adam, take it!"

Adam drew in a deep breath in preparation for something very risky. "I am not doing this and I don't touch guns."

Charles got out, threw open the back door, and grabbed Adam's ear. He pulled, forcing Adam to follow the pain out of the car. Outside he slammed his son against the car and wrapped a hand around Adam's throat. He pushed the pistol against Adam's chest.

"This is what we do, Adam. This has been my work for years and I have never been caught. You are going to take the gun, and you are going to learn how this works. We're going to do this together, and being a snot-nosed brat isn't getting you out of it. When did that ever work for you? TAKE THE GUN, ADAM!"

Adam took it.

"Good boy. Now, you stay behind Lillian and me on the way in. Once we get the people in the lobby and down, it will be your job to keep them down. It's a simple job. You don't have to do much, just wave the gun around. People are idiots. They can't tell when a gun is loaded or not. Okay?"

Adam slowly nodded.

Charles let his throat go and patted the side of Adam's neck. "I've waited years to teach you this business, son. Take pride in your work. And this time, don't worry about killing anyone. I'll do it for you."

Charles turned away before a tear began sliding down Adam's face. He wiped it off. His stomach trembled, almost as much as his hands were. How many bank robberies had he reported to where everything went wrong? And here he was, being forced to rob his own bank. Nothing good could come of this.

Having retrieved his bag of tools and guns, Charles turned to Adam and smiled.

"Let's go rob a bank!"

He and Lillian started walking toward the door. Adam looked down the alley. He could run. He might even make it to the street before his father caught up.

Adam jumped when a hand latched onto his arm. He turned his head, staring into his father's eyes.

"Come on, son. We only have a small window here." Charles pulled Adam along with him.

Adam glanced longingly down the alley and his quickly disappearing freedom.