Chapter 23

"Now, now" gentlemen, David insisted, "I'm sure there's been a misunderstanding." As he spoke David scanned the crowds looking for a cop. 'Dammit!' he cursed, under his breath. 'Where are they when you need them!'

Louie's pal with the mouth and the gun shoved in David's ribs was getting impatient. "Look, soldier boy!" he snarled, ""I will shoot you! As God is my witness, I will shoot you fucking dead. Now start walking!"

David had not come armed to Central Station. His thoughts were in turmoil This was the United States — he was safe here wasn't he? Julia! Liz and Josh! What would happen to them? Questions flashed through his mind, but no answers were forthcoming.

As they walked out of the station David finally spotted a cop. He prepared himself for action. Just then the one with the gun, leaned into David and whispered harshly, "You so much as fuck this up by spitting on the pavement, and it'll be you and da' cop who go down."

"Damn you to Hell" David responded in a quiet voice. But he kept walking and soon the three of them were ensconced in a newish black '46 Cadillac. It had driven up to the curb and David and his goons had slipped into the back. He was sandwiched between the two of them. They stank of stale sweat, cheap cigars and what David guessed to be garlic.

"Come on guys" David pleaded. "I think you have made some sort of mistake. This Ogilvy character you've got me confused with — just let me out and I wont say anything to anyone."

"Shut the fuck up Ogilvy. We knowz its you!" Said Louie's companion. He dug into his suit's inner pocket and withdrew a photo. "This is you — see!" he shoved the photo in David's face. "Now enough of this bullshit! Another word from you and Louie gets to work on his boxing skills"

David could see that the picture was his. He sighed. Talking was not going to get him out of this. He started to plan how to take his kidnappers out. The driver and Louie's companion, whom David found out went by the name "Benny". The driver's name was "Tico". Their conversation was about horse races, and prostitutes.

The car made its way down Park Avenue and onto Broadway. Tico the took a series of left and rights weaving his way south until they pulled up next to roller doors in a vacant alley.

Once out of the car they moved quickly through the roller doors into a warehouse full of what David guessed to be barrels of wine. Passing through the large space of the warehouse floor, they entered a series of small interconnected rooms. Finally David was invited to sit by being pushed towards the centre of a room empty but for a chair.