“A case of nerves, that’s all, Eleanor. Really, darling, it was most kind of you to take the time to come see me. I best go finish putting on that drab old house dress.”
As Eleanor made her way back to front stage, she looked down at the piece of torn carpet. Damn, no one’s fixed it yet. I almost broke my neck on it. What does it take to get things done around here?
Brenda had the props ready on time, Charlotte behaved well, Philip was brilliant, and James did his best acting ever. The roar from the crowd, the thunderous clapping and repeated encores said it all. The play was a success. As people came backstage to offer their kudos to the cast and crew, Eleanor was the only one who had to paste a smile on her face.
An hour later, the theatre was in darkness.
***
“With all the traffic, Susan, we should walk downtown. It’ll be quicker than hailing a cab.”
“Good idea. A brisk walk in the cold is therapeutic. It’s too bad we couldn’t catch Eleanor. How could someone disappear so fast?”
“Tonight wasn’t the night to celebrate with her. I’m sure she’s exhausted and has gone home.”
“Most likely.”
The two women walked as fast as their dress shoes would allow. They stuffed their hands in their coat pockets and bent their heads into the west wind. Soon however, they saw the lights of the restaurant.
“Look across the street, Alexis. Isn’t that Roger and Hazel standing in front of the shelter?”
“Yes, I believe it is.”
“Let’s go over and say hello.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Susan, its cold and obviously Hazel is getting ready to bunk down for the night.”
The sudden movement of a dark figure to Roger’s right caught their attention. Hazel and Roger both turned around and walked beside the dark clad figure to the car. Roger opened the front passenger door and helped Hazel get seated. He reached in his pocket and passed something to the stranger. The tall figure opened the back door and sat directly behind Hazel. Roger got in the driver’s seat, the left signal light went on and the car pulled out into the lane congested with traffic. The street light shone in the car for five seconds.
“Oh my God, Alexis. Did you see that? The person is holding a gun to the back of Hazel’s head. We’ve got to get help.”
Alexis took one look at her friend’s shocked face and began to speak in a soft but firm voice.
“Take your cell out of your purse, Susan. Kate’s home number is on speed dial.”
Susan stared across the street at the slow moving vehicles.
“Listen carefully, Susan. I want you to take your cell out of your purse and pass it to me.
Susan turned towards her friend, nodded and reached into her purse.
***
Across town, lights were blazing in the incident room, Shirley, along with half of the incident team were working overtime. She hadn’t checked her e-mail since she started her shift at 4:00pm. It could be such a waste of time -- meet you at the bar, feel good blurbs, crime stats, retirements, baby showers and the like but something niggled. She minimized her research page and opened the e-mail.
The desk phone rang. It was Kate, an agitated, upset Kate.
“Shirley, I’m on my way in, Roger’s in danger. Call Gordon and Withers and tell them to meet me at the precinct. Roger and the homeless woman, Hazel have been taken hostage.”
The dial tone rang in her ears. Stunned, Shirley grabbed the emergency list of phone numbers and began to make the calls. Ten minutes later, Withers and Gordon on their way. She had started to make coffee when she heard Kate’s voice. Turning, she looked at the bed tossed detective, her hair all over her head, swelling on the eyelids, torn jeans, plaid blouse and ballet-like flats on her feet.
“Did you get reach Gordon and Withers yet?”
“Yes, they’re on the way in.””
Five minutes later, the two men walked through the door. Kate ceased pacing and began to fill them in on what Alexis had told her.
“Did you try Roger at home? The women are liable to be mistaken. It might not be him”, Gordon asked.
“Yes, I did. No answer. He’s not home. It has to be him they saw. We can’t stand around here Gordon. Let’s go.”
“Okay, first, I want you to calm down and listen to reason”, Gordon said. “How do we know he hasn’t tripped on the carpet and is lying injured in the townhouse?”
“I radioed the nearest squad car and asked them to get the key from the caretaker who lives in the unit next to Roger. They did a walk through. He’s not at home.”
“So maybe his mother or a member of his family is sick or something.”
“No sir”, Shirley said. “I called his mother to see if Roger had dropped by. Tried not to alarm her, said I was going off shift in a couple of hours and needed to run something by him. Apparently she talked with him on the phone for ten minutes or so around 9 o’clock.”
“I want to go downtown in an unmarked vehicle, Gordon”, Kate said. “Traffic is heavy, so it’s slow going but we have to move now.”
Withers knew Kate was on her way, permission or not.
“Okay, take Shirley with you. Make sure to keep in radio contact. We’ll send back up if necessary.”
The two women were out the door before Gordon took another sip of his coffee. Shirley got in the passenger seat of the Ford sedan; Kate left the lot, tires squealing.
Chapter 21
Roger glanced in the rear view mirror and saw the gloved hand holding the gun to Hazel’s head. He couldn’t see
