“Yes,” Bret said. “I know. But you have plenty to do right now.”
“Don’t take too long!” Samuel said.
I waited, listening, until I heard approaching footsteps. I broke out in a cold sweat, my heart hammering. I have problems with claustrophobia to begin with, but admit my fears at that moment were strictly of humans, not confined spaces. I held my breath as the door opened.
Carrying a flashlight, Bret walked quickly to the console and turned it off. The room was pitch black except for the light from the flashlight. He left it on, setting it on a corner of the black desk. He opened a drawer, pulled out a key, and left it next to the flashlight. Leaving the flashlight on the desk, he walked across the room in the darkness with sure steps. At the door he paused, listened, then said, “This is not a good hiding place. Don’t try to leave the building now, though. The exterior doors are armed.” He was so quiet after that, I thought he might have left. But then I heard him say, “Sorry we didn’t get to know one another.”
The door closed, and I heard the rapid fall of his footsteps as he raced down the stairs.
37
“FOUR.”
Cassidy swore under his breath. “He’s certain?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
Henry Freeman spoke into the headset, listened, then looked up at Cassidy and nodded. “Four. Three just moved out of sight. He thinks they’re in a room with a thick metal ceiling or some other shield to prevent thermal readings. Fourth is at the other end of the building.”
“Moving?”
“Yes.”
He sighed. “At least they haven’t found her yet.”
“Sir, maybe it isn’t Ms. Kelly.”
“You still hanging your stocking by the chimney, Hank?”
“No, sir.”
“How are we doing otherwise?”
“The phone company has already moved to deny origination, so they don’t have a dial tone on their phones. New line will be established any minute now.”
“We have building plans yet?”
“No, sir, but they’re on the way.”
Cassidy picked up his binoculars, stared at the old theater. The metal doors were new, but everything else about it spoke of another era — the big marquee with star-shaped neon lights ascending from it; the etched glass on the box office windows; the colorful, fan-shaped entry mosaic. The word “Starlight” was spelled out in brass- outlined letters in the mosaic.
“Which end of the building did they see her in?” he asked.
Freeman called the helicopter, repeated the question.
“This end, sir. Up high.”
“Up high?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Near the projection booth, then,” Cassidy said. “Is this a movie theater?”
“No, sir,” Freeman answered. “Although it may have been at one time. The gentleman from the bookstore said there were plays performed here until the church owned it.”
Cassidy dropped the binoculars but kept watching the building.
“Sir?” Freeman said.
“When are you going to figure out that you don’t have to call me that?”
“I don’t think I can break the habit now, sir.”
Cassidy smiled. “I guess not. What’s the trouble, Detective Henry Freeman?”
“No trouble, sir. I just wanted to say that I’m glad Captain Bredloe is allowing you to handle this one.”
“Why, thank you, Hank. But we’ve got a long way to go before we feel glad about anything.”
A few minutes later Freeman said, “The phone is ready.”
“You all set up?” Cassidy asked.
Freeman nodded.
“Let’s give them a call, then.”
The phone was answered on the second ring.
“Hello, Tom. Nice to have you back.”
“Hello, Samuel. How’s it going?”
“Well, we’re not too happy. We’re cooped up in here with Detective Harriman. Our phone doesn’t work unless you call.”
“Oh, you can call me now, Samuel. It’s just that you can’t call anyone else. By the way, how did you know it was me?”
