Traffic Stop (24 page)

Tobi relayed Ryan’s exact words to Jake, and he sat there for a few minutes before saying anything.

“The only thing I can possibly think of that she would have done was to go check out that other address. She’s stubborn enough that I don’t think she wanted to wait another day to follow up on it.”

“Do you know where this other address is?”

“Not right offhand, but I can get it. It’ll just take a little time.”

Climbing to his feet, he gestured toward the phone, “May I?”

“Please…let us know if there’s anything we can do,” Grace said.

While Jake called the station, Tim, Grace, and Tobi talked quietly among themselves. He hung up the phone and sat back down.

“They’re going to call me when they get the addresses. In the meantime, Tobi, is there anything at all you can remember about this guy?”

“No, I never saw him. The one time he got close enough, he hit me before I knew what was happening.”

Before Jake could say anything else, Tobi’s cell phone vibrated on the table. She quickly grabbed it and glanced at the number. Smiling at Jake, she stood up and answered.

“Hey, where are you, honey?”

Silence greeted her from the other end.

“Ryan?”

Tobi looked at Jake and shrugged her shoulders.

“Honey, are you there? Ryan?” Tobi asked, raising her voice.

“Well, isn’t that sweet?” The voice sent chills down Tobi’s spine. It was the same voice from the calls she had received in her office.

“Who are you? Where is Ryan?”

“Oh, we’ll get to that, but first you’re gonna listen to me, bitch.”

Trembling slightly, Tobi sat back down. “I’m listening.”

“If you ever want to see her alive again, you’ll do exactly as I say.”

Tobi stifled a sob and bit down hard on her lower lip before responding. “What do you want?”

“Before I answer any more of your questions, you’re gonna meet me. After that, I’ll tell you whatever you wanna know.”

“Tell me where.”

Tobi motioned for a pen, and Grace handed it and a piece of paper to her.

“How do I know she’s still alive?” Tobi asked after writing down his instructions.

“Don’t fuck with me, lady, or I’ll kill her now.”

“Wait. If you want me to show up there, you have to give me some indication that she’s all right.”

After a slight hesitation, he said, “Hang on.”

Tobi listened intently and could hear a low moan and a rustling noise coming from the phone. Flinching at the sound of flesh hitting flesh and a cry of pain, Tobi put her hand over her mouth as her lips quivered. She kept quiet as she overheard him talking to someone.

“Come on, bitch, say something. I got your little girlfriend on the phone here.”

“Tobi?” she heard faintly before more rustling and a loud crash occurred.

“Is that good enough for you?” he asked, breathing heavily.

“Please, don’t hurt her. I’ll be there. Just tell me when.”

“You got one hour, lady. Come alone, and if you don’t show, she’s dead,” he said.

“How will I find you?”

“You know what I look like; you’ve seen me around the hospital enough times,” he said as he hung up.

“Oh, my God.”

Tobi closed the phone and looked up to the expectant faces of Grace, Jake, and Tim. “He’s got her and he’s hurt her,” she said as tears coursed down her cheeks.

Jake moved closer to her. “What exactly did he say?”

Tobi repeated the conversation, and also described what she heard just before the man hung up. “It was her, Jake. She said my name. I’ve got to get to her.” Tobi stood and started to make her way around them.

Jake grabbed Tobi’s arm to stop her. “You can’t go to him alone, Tobi. It’s not safe, and what happens if he gets you, too?”

“I have to do something, Jake. I just can’t sit here and wait.

He’ll kill her!”

Taking her by her upper arms, he shook her gently. “I’m not asking you to sit here and wait. I’m just saying you can’t go alone.

I know the area where he wants to meet you. It’s heavily populated. I’ll go with you and keep back far enough so that he won’t see me.”

“I’ll go, too,” Grace said.

“Me, too,” Tim added.

“Now, wait a minute. I can’t expect you all to put yourself in danger for me,” Tobi said.

Grace walked up to Tobi and placed her palm against her cheek. “I can and will, Tobi. That’s my daughter we’re talking about. Furthermore, I consider you my daughter, as well. What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t do everything in my power to protect the ones I love?”

Tobi sobbed and threw herself into Grace’s arms. Grace rubbed her back and held her close until the tears slowed.

“Now, let’s all work together and bring Ryan home.”

Tobi leaned back and nodded as she wiped her eyes with the tissue Tim handed her. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Jake said. “We understand; but Grace, I need you and Tim to stay here in case they call back with that address.” Glancing at Tim and seeing his nod of understanding, he looked at Grace and saw that she was about to argue. He placed a hand on her arm. “Please?”

Grace had a moment of indecision before finally agreeing.

“Okay. Bring my girls back home to me, Jake.”

“I’ll do my best.” Turning toward Tobi, he said, “To do that, Tobi, I need to call in some backup help.”

“Jake, you can’t do that. You know what he said. If I don’t go alone, he’ll kill her.”

“I’ll make sure he can’t recognize them. We do this all the time.”

Tobi saw the sincerity in his eyes and knew he wanted what was best for her and ultimately for Ryan. “Okay,” she said with a resigned sigh.

Jake patted her knee and stood up. “I’ll be right back,” he said, heading toward the kitchen.

Jake returned after a few minutes and sat back down. “I’ve arranged for two squads to help. Let me show you how this is going to work.” He grabbed the pen and paper and diagrammed the area. After marking the spot where Tobi was going to be, he placed Xs where the rest of them could find cover.

“Just try to keep some distance between the two of you at all times, okay?”

“Okay,” Tobi said, standing.

Jake looked pointedly at each one of them before saying,

“Let’s do it.”

ictor yanked the cop upright and tightened the rope around her, effectively securing her to the chair. He V grabbed a handful of her hair and jerked her head up to peer into eyes glazed over with pain. Even with the split lip and bruise forming on the side of her face, she was beautiful. If this had been anyone else, he would have found her extremely attractive, but knowing who she fucked infuriated him.

“Too bad your girlfriend had to go and screw everything up for you,” he mumbled. “It’ll be the last damned time she does. I’m gonna make sure of that.”

He kicked her foot as he walked by and threw himself into the recliner. Running his hand along the side of the gun, he leaned forward.

“In less than an hour, that bitch will be standin’ in front of me.

I’ll make her understand, then she’ll really be sorry.”

He grabbed a roll of duct tape and tore a long piece off. He placed it over Ryan’s mouth, then tore off another piece and put it over the first.

“Don’t want you gettin’ any ideas while I’m gone.”

He left the room to grab his coat and came back. He turned the television on and turned the volume up before walking to the doorway and taking one last look at the bruised cop. He tugged his coat on and strolled down the hall and out the door.

Ryan heard the door close and slumped in relief. Every part of her body ached. The last blow of his fist connecting with her jaw was almost more than she could handle. Whether she was quiet or not, it didn’t seem to make much difference. Victor hated her, and nothing she could do would change that. Looking into the dark depths of his eyes, Ryan sensed that she was peering into the soul of a cold-blooded killer, and she and Tobi were his next victims. If only she could get these ropes loose.

After hearing his conversation with Tobi, Ryan knew she had to do something, and fast. She jerked against the tight restraints holding her to the chair, but they wouldn’t budge. She looked down at the ropes holding her wrists and pulled to see if they were even the slightest bit loose. She lurched against the bonds again and again, but they remained fast. As she pulled one last time it made them tighter and the ropes dug into her ribs. Ryan’s chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. She closed her eyes in dejection as a single tear slipped down her cheek.
I’m so sorry,
Tobi.

Ryan opened her eyes. She realized she must have dozed off or passed out. It was a little darker outside, and the glow from the television provided the only illumination in the room. She glanced down at the table next to her where old and yellowed newspaper clippings were scattered about. One particular headline caught her eye. It read, “
Death of Young Boy a Mystery to County
Examiners.
” Narrowing her eyes, Ryan tried to make out what the article said but could only make out the name Santiago. As she pursed her lips, Ryan looked back to the pictures.
Is it possible
that Victor was responsible for the other boy’s death, as well as
his father’s?
The throbbing in her head was making it almost impossible to think. Images and thoughts floated around with no real meaning.

Ryan felt the bile rise in her throat and pushed her tongue against the tape, hoping to loosen it. Feeling it pull against her skin, it finally gave a little where the blood from her lip didn’t allow it to adhere. She took deep breaths through the small opening, praying her stomach would settle.

Ryan heard voices outside the window and started yelling as much as the opening in the tape allowed. She continued screaming until her voice went hoarse, knowing there was only a slight chance of being heard. Feeling lightheaded, she listened for a response. The only thing her ears registered was the roar in her head. Ryan couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer, so she let them close and willed the pain to subside. She thought about Tobi and all that she had come to mean to her.

Tobi rode with Jake to the open access mall and listened while he talked on his phone, relaying what had happened to this point.

“Yes, sir, I understand, sir.” Nodding his head as if agreeing to something, he continued, “We’ll meet you there, sir, and please remember what I said. There are to be absolutely no uniforms and no cruisers, marked or unmarked.” Pausing, he said, “Copy that, sir.”

He hung the phone up and looked at Tobi. “Are you hanging in there?”

“I am. I have to for Ryan.”

“The captain has five officers, including himself, who will meet us there, and before you say anything, they will all be out of uniform. Also, he has another backup squad that will provide support.”

“I hope this works, Jake.”

“It’s one of our own, Tobi, not to mention that Ryan’s a pretty special lady.”

With a sad smile, Tobi patted his arm. “Tell me what to expect when we get there.”

As he drove, Jake outlined where the others would be in comparison to where she would be standing. The open access mall was similar to a big open courtyard with all of the store entrances being outside. All those entrances were facing the courtyard. He explained that once Tobi was in place, she could be seen from every direction.

“Just remember, keep as much distance as possible between the two of you, and whatever you do, do not leave the area with him.”

“When will you get Ryan?”

“Assuming he’s got her with him, we’ll get her; don’t worry about that.”

“What do you mean, ‘assuming he’s got her with him’?”

“Tobi, I would be very surprised if he brings her along. For one, if he’s harmed her, it would be visible and draw attention.

Two, she’s a cop, and the last thing he needs is for someone to recognize her.”

“I…” Tobi swallowed, “I hadn’t thought of that. Jake, I don’t think I could stand to see…to see—”

“Tobi,” he said before she could finish, “I’m going to tell you what I once told Ryan. You need to be strong. I know it’s hard, but she needs you thinking as clearly as possible right now. You need to pay attention and listen for any kind of clues he may unintentionally drop.”

Tobi took a few deep breaths and thought about what Jake was saying. Nodding her head, she responded, “Okay, you’re right.

We’re almost there, so talk to me. What do I need to listen for?”

“Listen for anything…any kind of indication of where he might have her. Highways, roads, street names, color of a building, type of building, his car, and any names he might be using. Open your mind because it could be absolutely anything.”

Jake pulled onto a side street and put the car in park. “This is where I get out; just in case he’s watching you from the minute you arrive.” He got out as Tobi slid behind the wheel. “You won’t see me, but I’ll be there. Just play it cool, and everything will be fine.”

“Thanks, Jake.”

He patted her shoulder and closed the door. Tobi buckled the seat belt, put the car in drive, and pulled away. She glanced in the rearview mirror and watched as Jake disappeared into the bushes.

As she pulled into the lot two blocks later, she parked and shut off the engine.

Tobi exited the car and locked the door. She tucked the car keys into her jacket pocket, took a deep breath and turned to walk through the parking lot. She followed a sidewalk around the side to where it opened into the courtyard. Instantly spotting the large inflated balloons marking the spot where she was supposed to go, Tobi continued walking. As she did, she looked all around, taking in the multitude of shops and the even broader spectrum of people.

How on earth will they be able to keep me in their sight at all
times?
Even with all the lights on, there were still some dark areas to lurk in. There were so many people just milling around outside the stores.

Tobi arrived at the specified bench and sat down. She continued watching as people passed back and forth through her line of vision. The noise and bustle around the courtyard should have made her more nervous; instead it faded into the back of her subconscious. Her eyes scanned the crowd urgently, looking for familiarity in the faces of complete strangers…in reality, looking for Ryan. She should have remembered her gloves, Tobi thought, as she rubbed her hands together to keep them warm. She glanced at her watch and realized there were still seven minutes until he was supposed to show. Tobi kept the same mantra running through her head.
Keep calm and think smart!
She would pump him for any information she could, and maybe they would get Ryan home before the night was over.