Chapter 2

The Detective was talking with his equipment operator. They were hoping to get a trace on the number that had called. They knew they were connected more than long enough. "Did we get a fix on the phone?"

"Yes Sir, but not a good one. The caller used a Trac phone which can be bought just about anywhere. They are disposable. You can add minutes if you like on them. I traced the number but that just told us it was bought at a Wal*Mart store. Could have come from anywhere. The tower that picked up the call was in downtown Cleveland."

"Can we narrow it down?" asked the detective.

"Not really, only to about a five mile radius of downtown Cleveland. Hardly much to go on sir."

"Send two men over to the motel and see if we can find out anything. Mrs. Bell, we'll need the name of your motel and your room number. Maybe someone saw something or even a hall monitor might have picked up something. See if Larry Bell's car is still in the parking lot."

Abby gave the officer the information he requested along with the make of his vehicle. Again she was worried and asked about the ransom.

I went ahead and spoke up. "I'm not giving him a fucking nickel. You want his fucking cock so bad, use your own money to pay his ransom. By the way, I think we should notify Cora, seeing it's her husband who was abducted."

"No, we can't call her," said Abby.

"On the contrary, Mrs. Bell. We need to talk to her and see what she might know," said detective Able. "Besides it's her husband and she deserves to know he has been abducted."

"Detective, let me call her. I'll ask her to come to the house and you can question her here," I requested.

"Fine, but get her here as soon as possible," said Detective Able.

"Hello, Cora, Terry here. Is there any chance you can come to our house? It's something important we need to discuss with you," I asked Cora.

"Does this have something to do with Larry? He was supposed to be in Pittsburg and he's not there. Do you know where he is?" asked Cora.

"No, I don't know where he's at. A Detective is at our house and needs to talk to you but not over a phone, so please hurry over here," I asked.

Cora was there within fifteen minutes. I met her at the door and took her hand as she entered the living room. "What's going on? Where's Larry? Is he all right?"

"Mrs. Bell..." said Detective Able.

"Just call me Cora since there are two Mrs. Bells here. Where is Abby anyway? Is she here?"

"She stepped into the bathroom. Cora, can you tell me what you meant when you said your husband wasn't in Pittsburg?" asked Detective Able.

"Do you know where he's at? Why isn't someone telling me anything?" Cora was getting shaky.

I spoke out. "Cora, Larry has been abducted. Listen please! The people who abducted him thought he was me but took Larry by mistake. He's alive but they are asking a ransom."

"My God, I can't believe this! Why would anyone abduct Larry or even you Terry? It doesn't make sense."

"Cora, we need you to tell us everything you can that happened in the last few days," said the detective. "We talked to your husband for a few seconds and know he's alive. We are trying to find out where he is being held."

Cora was a bit nervous but said she would tell them everything she could remember.

"Well, lately I have been wondering if Larry has been cheating on me. He was to go to Pittsburg for two days for one of his shows. He goes to a lot of home remodeling shows. He gave me his motel and room number and said he was sharing a room with another salesman to help cut costs. He has done this many times. This time he seemed a bit different or nervous."

"What makes you think he might have been cheating?" asked the detective.

"He's been more distant lately. You know, too tired to make love. He's also been gone more than usual. Usually one day shows. I needed to know for sure so I was going to have him followed to Pittsburg.

"He left yesterday morning and said he would be gone for two nights. He even called me when he said he had arrived. What he didn't know was I gave his motel and room number to a Private Investigator. I know it was wrong but I needed to know if he was cheating on me. It cost me a thousand dollars but would be worth it to find out that my husband was faithful to me.

"The PI called me this morning and said there was no Larry Bell there. He was registered at the motel and the PI even talked to the other man in the room and he told my PI that Larry did pay for half the room but said he had another engagement, but he didn't know where. He stopped by my office this morning and refunded me five hundred dollars. He said it didn't feel like he earned it since he never saw Larry."

Abby had walked into the room, her eyes all red as though she had been crying. Cora went up to her to give her a hug but Abby held her hands up.

"What's going on? What's the matter, Abby? First you say my husband is being held for ransom and now my best friend is crying and doesn't want me near her. What aren't you people telling me? Terry, you never lie to me, what's going on?"

I handed Cora a beer and told her to sit down. I told her the whole story and about the abduction where they took Larry from the motel room thinking it was me. "The reason they thought it was me is because my fucking wife was doing that with your husband."

"What? Larry and Abby are having an affair?" Looking at Abby Cora said, "You two-faced bitch! When I told you that I thought Larry might be having an affair you comforted me and told me he wouldn't do that to me. Now I find out it's you having the affair with him." Cora started crying.

I put my arm around her and pulled her to me. After she regained her composure the detective asked if there was anything she could add?

'Add?' I thought. 'Was he fucking kidding or what?'

"He's been gambling a lot and has lost a lot of money. I don't know if that would have anything to do with it since they wanted Terry," replied Cora.

The detective asked me is there anyone who I think would try and abduct me. Any enemies or anyone who knew I would have ready cash available.

"That's just it," I said. "I'm worth a lot of money, or at least my business is, but I don't have anywhere near that kind of cash that I could tap quickly. I would need time to sell mutual funds and stock. No way that I would be able to get over say a hundred thousand quickly.

"As far as anyone trying to get money, maybe my asshole brother set this up himself. Since he's sleeping with Abby he probably knows she has a few hundred thousand she could get at quickly."

Abby yelled out. "He'd do no such thing. He loves me and we were going away together. He has never asked me for anything. You're just jealous of him; you have always been."

"You fucking slut-whore!" screamed Cora. "You can have the asshole. I've spent enough on him. He even took money from my account. I should have pressed charges. After his return I want nothing more to do with him."

Detective Able could see things were getting out of hand. He asked everyone to just take it easy for now. "We still have to find the abductors and Larry Bell. Mrs. Bell," looking at Abby. "We need to find a way to get three hundred thousand dollars. Your husband has made it abundantly clear he isn't going to help. Are you able to get that kind of money together?

"Cora, it is your husband. Do you have that kind of available funds?"

Cora looked over at me. "What should I do Terry? I have a couple of hundred thousand but it's all I have left. He is my husband until I file for divorce."

"Don't waste a fucking dime on him. He doesn't deserve it. He's used you and spent your money for years now. He wants Abby, let her use her finances to bail his ass out."

"It would take almost all I have," replied Abby. "You two are horrible! He's your brother and your husband Cora. Don't you care at all?"

I spoke. "He's an asshole that fucked my wife and cheated on a far better woman. You want to save his fucking ass, then go for it. Personally, I don't give a shit anymore. Cora, I'll be ahead of you on the filing line in Divorce Court Monday. Please bring the coffee, black with sugar for me." Cora didn't say anything but did have tears in her eyes.

Detective Able sent two officers with Abby to go get the ransom money. It was most of what she had left from her savings. Since we got married I paid for everything. She did buy a few personal items for herself and now I suspect gave Larry some money or bought him gifts...

When they arrived back with a satchel of money I stood up and said that I was leaving.

"You can't go," said the detective.

"Why not? Either you arrest me, or I'm leaving and going to go back fishing with my friends. I will be nice enough to take my cell phone in case you need to call me about a funeral." I knew it was a horrible thing to say but at that moment I didn't care.

Cora told them she couldn't stay there at the house because of Abby. She would be going to her home and the detective told her he would have security watching her place till the ordeal was over. He would keep her updated on what was happening.

I looked over at Abby. "I'm going to stay at the cabin for a couple of extra days. As soon as you get your lover back I'll expect you to be moved out of my house. Remember the pre-nupt you wanted? The house is mine."

Detective Able wasn't sure what to do with me. He had no reason to hold me and me being there sure didn't help things. His main concern was getting the hostage back safely. He walked me to my car and told me to watch for anything suspicious. After all I supposedly was the initial target.

I told him I really didn't think I was but thanks for being concerned. I got in my car and headed back to the cabin. A few hours later Al and Joe returned to the cabin. They stopped in town and returned with fresh pizza and more beer. I told them everything that went on.

The next morning around eight o'clock I was in my boat and headed out to fish. As I went by the Coast Guard I pulled my very loud fog horn and waved to them. Something told me that they were told to keep an eye out for my boat. I was just making it easy for them. Al was doing the driving.

It was around noon when we headed back to the cabin. We made sure we blew the fog horn again in front of the Coast Guard. We didn't want to make their job of watching us any harder than necessary. Around three o'clock a car pulled up in my driveway. Al and Joe were both just leaving. Al in my car and Joe in his own.