That was the worst news I could have heard. I had planned to tell Herman about the kids' intention to run away when he came for lunch on Thursday. But now I only had thirty minutes to figure out what to do, and I admit I was totally flummoxed. So I called Cherry and explained the situation.
'How do I handle it?' I asked her. 'Give them the money or try to talk them out of it or what? I need quick advice, doc.
She was silent a moment. Then, 'I can cancel my afternoon appointments, Chas. I'll have my receptionist tell them I have a family emergency.
It's a half-truth. I think I better come out to your place. Perhaps I can help you with the kids.'
'God bless,' I said. 'I write books for children, but this is something beyond me.'
'I'm on my way, she said.
I hung up thinking what a true-blue woman she was. I realized then how much I had come to depend on her. Not just for offering to help with Tania and Chet, but for doing her damnedest to make me a whole man again. It took this crazy emergency to make me see it.
I made up my mind right then. She might say no, but if I didn,t at least try, I didn't want to imagine what my future would be like. They don't give you medals for regret.
Jessica and I got out of the car, and I saw Chester Barrow standing in the driveway outside his house.
There was a little girl with him.
'There's the boy,' I told Jess.
'Who's the girl, Willie?' she asked.
'Never saw her before,' I said. 'A complication, but I can finagle it.
Let's go.'
We walked up to the kids, and I took the boy by the arm.
'Hiya, Chet,' I said. 'How you doing?'
'Okay,' he said, looking at me.
'Listen, I got some bad news. Your dad's been hurt in an accident at his laboratory. He's been taken to a hospital, and he's asking for your mother.'
'She's not home,' he said.
'Then you better come along with me,' I said, tugging at his arm.
'Your dad should have family with him.'
'Don't go, Chet,' the little girl said. 'Phone the lab first and see if he's telling the truth.'
I knew right then it was going to go sour if we didn't move fast.
'Jessica,' I said, 'hold the loudmouth until I get the kid in the car.'
Jess got a good grip on the girl, and I started to drag the boy toward the Taurus.
'Is this a snatch?' he asked me.
I almost laughed out loud. That kid had been watching too many crime shows on TV. 'Yeah, it's a snatch,' I told him, talking tough. 'And I , got a big gun. I'll blow your head off if you give me any trouble.'
I pushed him into the backseat and climbed in after him.
Jessica released the girl and came running. She got behind the wheel, and we pulled away with a chirp of tires.
'How much ransom you going to ask for?' the kid wanted to know.
I was in my office on Wednesday morning, working on a reformulation of Cuddle. After what Greg had said about the objections of the FDA, I realized a perfume or cologne containing a sex hormone could never be marketed commercially. That did not mean, of course, that I could not produce a limited amount for my private use if the sample I had given Herman to try had the desired result of modifying his behavior.
I was preparing to go down to the employees' cafeteria for lunch when my phone rang. It was my daughter, so excited she was almost incoherent.
'Tania,' I said patiently, 'I can't understand a word you're saying.
Now just slow down and tell me why you're calling.'
'They just took Chet Barrow away!' she shouted.
'What? Who took him away?'
Then she told me a man and woman had pushed Chet into their car and driven away with him.
'They kidnapped him,' she said, and I could tell she was trying not to cry. 'And the woman held me, and I tried to kick her and bite her, but I couldn't. She really held me tight, and I bet I have bruises tomorrow.'
'Tania, where are you now?'
'I'm in our house, in the kitchen.'
'I want you to stay inside. Lock all the doors and windows.
Don't go out and don't let any strangers in, no matter what they say.
You understand?'
'Yes, Mother. Should I call 911 and tell them what happened to Chet?'
'I'll take care of it, dear. You just stay inside.'
'Can I call Daddy's office and tell him?'
'Yes, you can do that. And I'll tell Mr. Barrow immediately.
We'll be home as fast as we can get there.' I hung up and rushed down to Greg's private lab.
I worked all Wednesday morning on the final ZAP Project report.
I left the Conclusions section blank until I had tested the testosterone pills hidden in my study at home. Those were the only tablets I had produced, and I didn't intend to make more until I had observed their effects on myself.
My phone rang shortly after twelve-thirty. I did not recognize the man's voice.
'Mr. Gregory Barrow?'
'Yes. Who is this calling, please?' lilt,s not important. What is important is that we're holding your son, Chester.'
'What are you talking about?'
'Your son has been kidnapped, Mr. Barrow.'
'I don't believe it!'
'Would you care to talk to him? just a minute.' , I waited, frightened and trembling. Then, 'Hi, Dad,' Chester said cheerfully.
'Are you all right, Son?'
'Oh sure. They haven't hit me or anything. They just pushed me in a car outside our house and drove me here. It's a snatch, Dad.'
'Chet, put the man on again.'
After a moment he came back on the line and said, 'Satisfied, Mr.
Barrow?'
'You hurt him, and I'll kill you, I said.
'No need for threats,' he said calmly. 'We have no intention of harming the boy-if you agree to our terms.'
'How much?' I asked hoarsely.
'Not money,' he said. 'Just a few of the ZAP pills.
I caught my breath. 'How did you know about that? '
'What difference does it make?' he said. 'That's the ransom, Mr.
Barrow. You hand over a few testosterone pills to us, and the boy walks away unhurt.
You refuse, and I can't guarantee his safety. Think it over. I'll call you in about an hour, either at the lab or at your home, and give you instructions for delivery.
I suggest you refrain from informing the police. That wouldn't be smart, Mr. Barrow.' Then he disconnected, and I sat staring at the dead phone in my hand. There was a pounding on my lab door. I unlocked it, and Marleen Todd rushed in.
' Greg, ' she said in a stricken voice, 'Tania just called and said something dreadful happened to Chester.'
'I know,' I said. 'I've got to get home.'
'I'm going with you,' she said.
Willie sat in the backseat, hanging on to the boy while I drove.
