The park was empty, as expected. There were no children running around, no mothers chasing little ones, and there were no dogs barking in the distance. The moon was dim and low in the sky, the glow from the city lights drowning out any chance to see any stars. A drunk homeless man had rested on a park bench earlier that night, but I gave him a fifty and told him to move along. He looked excited, like it was the most money he had ever seen, and he happily walked out of the park. I was concerned he might’ve been a cop, but then Chase would never have called them. Especially at this late stage.
It was time.
The bell was about to toll.
Chase’s hand shot up to his ear as I spoke, and I had to remind him that it was a giveaway that he was wearing an earpiece. I told him to relax. To act natural. But his natural state was a constant paranoia and suspicion. He judged the world by his own morality. To him the world was full of people like him. People who wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of him for their own good.
“Walk up to the bench, place the bag on the bench, and walk straight back here. Don’t stop, don’t even pause. Look straight ahead at all times, we don’t want to spook anyone.”
Chase nodded slightly, but I could see his face just well enough to know that he was considering other options. He was imagining a fight for the money. Of pulling out his knife and making a futile last stand. I had to hope he would do as asked. I told him I couldn’t have him endangering Millie. That he should focus on her and work to keep her safe at all times.
Under the darkness of the night, I watched as Chase moved towards the park bench, looking over both shoulders, looking for any movement in the park. I had considered giving him a microphone as well, but decided against it as I didn’t want to hear any more whining about how much money he was about to lose. I had already heard too much of that talk up until this point. Tonight he would have to remain silent for once and simply follow orders.
He stepped towards the designated drop area, close to the sidewalk on the other side of the park, and reached to place the bag on the bench. He hesitated as if some unseen force was imploring him to hold onto the bag.
“Put the bag down, Chase. Put it down, right now!” I commanded through his earpiece.
With a frustrated sigh he placed it down on the bench but his grip held strong. He didn’t move for a few moments, still holding the bag, not wanting to leave that amount of money alone in the park.
“Let go, Chase!”
Finally, he stepped back. Scowling across the park, looking under trees and into the dark recesses of bushes, searching out the hidden location of the unseen recipient of the ransom.
But still he waited, much too close to the bag, almost within arms’ reach.
“Move back,” I said from inside my truck, parked across the road, staring at the night.
Against my earlier advice, Chase pushed his finger in his ear. He heard the instructions through his earpiece, I could see his reluctance, but he moved back a few steps. Not far enough.
“Further,” I spoke into the microphone. “You’re too close. You need to move back to the other side of the playground as planned. Get away from the bag, Chase. Move away from the bench.”
He hesitated and I could see his grip tighten on the knife in his hand.
“Chase, your daughter’s life is at stake. You need to move back further. You mustn’t put her at risk.”
Still, he hesitated, but after a few moments he moved.
As soon as he had reached the other side of the park, a van pulled up to the sidewalk close to the bench. Chase took a step forward, ready to confront whoever was in there. The van slowly started to move again.
“Hold on,” I warned him. “We don’t even know if Millie is in there yet and if they see you move, they will leave. This will all be over and you will never see Millie again.”
Reluctantly, Chase stepped back again.
Still with its engine running, the van came to a complete stop.
We waited. I was conscious that I was holding my breath, but this was the make or break moment.
Millie stepped out of the back of the van.
For a moment, she looked around confused, and then she saw Chase.
“Daddy,” she cried out with joy.
She ran towards her father.
Chase went to move.
“Don’t move! Wait for her to come to you. They may be armed. This is not over yet.”
Millie reached Chase and threw her arms around his legs. He gave her a quick rub on the arms then moved her behind him, his eyes on the bag the whole time.
Chase was itching to go for the bag.
Within seconds, before Chase could react any further, I instructed his next moves.
“Get out of the park!” I yelled into my microphone. “And get in my car!”
I saw him look first at Millie and then towards the bag.
I could almost hear him shout, ‘What about the money?’ but that shouldn’t have been his concern and it certainly wasn’t mine.
“Get to the car, Chase! Or this will not end well!” I shouted again, and roared my truck to life, pulling to the curb near Chase.
