Helistened to Beethoven on a classical radio station, Fourth Piano Concerto, his favorite. Her car had a nice radio. A fun car actually. No wonder Doreen loved it. But it must be hell on a long trip, like riding in an egg carton.
He saw the van pull into the parking lot. About time. He got out of the Z4 to wait for Doreen. Needed to stretch his legs. The van parked so the sliding door was on the side away from him. He heard voices, footsteps, then the sliding door slammed shut. The driver walked toward the Elite offices.
Where the hell was Doreen?
He ran, caught up with the driver. “Hey, where’s my wife?”
“Oh, I remember you. Is Irene your wife?”
“Where is she?”
“She didn’t come back with me, must’ve worked late.”
“No, she wouldn’t!”
“Don’t worry, she’ll be along soon. They’ll drive her in or call a cab. It happens a lot.”
He grabbed his arm at the elbow. “I’m telling you she didn’t work late. She would’ve phoned me.”
The driver pried his arm loose. “Have it your way, mister. I ain’t got nothing more to say to you.”
Byerly watched him disappear into the building. Lord God, Doreen was still out there. Something had gone wrong. They’ve kidnapped her. This couldn’t be happening.
He hopped into Doreen’s car and headed for the castle, swerving in and out of traffic, careening around curves, taking reckless chances. The smell of burned rubber was sickly sweet in his nostrils.
It seemed forever, but he finally screeched to a stop at the gate, pushed the button. “I’m Walter Byerly,” he screamed. “You’ve got my wife in there. I demand you release her at once.”
No answer.
“Do you hear me, this is abduction, kidnapping. You can’t hold her against her will. Release her at once or I’ll make you pay! Do you hear me?”
No answer.
He got out of the car, banged at the call box with his hand. “Answer me, Goddammit, or I’ll…I’ll…”
The silence maddened him, and he clutched the gate, shaking it as hard as he could, screaming over and over, “Doreen, Doreen, DeeDee, answer me, please answer me. Oh God…”
Finally he climbed back into the car and drove, again at breakneck speed, to Lupe’s place on San Pascual Street.
“You must help me. They’ve got her and God knows what they’ll do to her.” She stared at him. “Don’t you understand? We have to do something. They’ve got her. We have to-” He grabbed her shoulders and shook them. “Don’t just stand there. Help me!”
“Walt, please.”
“What’s the matter with you, don’t you care?”
“Calm yourself, you’re making no sense. Who has who and what do you want me to do?”
He stopped, stared at her, suddenly saw how he must look. He inhaled sharply, let it out. “You’re right, I’m not making sense, am I?”
She smiled at him. “That’s better. Now what’s wrong?”
“Doreen didn’t come home from the castle. I’m sure they’re holding her, just like Jamie and Amanda. They’re all in the tower, most likely.” He saw her expression. “I know, you said it was dangerous, we should have listened-”
“I wasn’t going to say that at all.”
“I went out there, shouted and screamed at the gate, like a madman, I’m sure.”
“Did you get in?”
“Nothing happened, that’s just it. I couldn’t get through the gate and nothing came over the squawk box, just complete, utter, stony silence. I've never endured anything like it.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Come with me. You’re a police officer, they’ll have to let you in.”
She shook her head. “No they won’t, not without a search warrant, Walt.”
“Then get one. We have to do something!”
She touched his arm. “I understand how upset you are, but believe me it isn’t helping. Come in, let me make you something to eat, at least a drink.”
“I don’t want a drink, I want you to help me.”
“I’m trying to do just that, Walt.” She sighed. “No judge will give a search warrant. How long has DeeDee been missing? Are you sure she’s at the estate? She could be lots of places. Why would well-known, law-abiding citizens hold her against her will? And what was she doing at the estate in the first place? Have you and your wife been having marital problems? Is she under a doctor’s care? Are you taking any medications? Need I go on?”
He stared at her a long moment. “I am being foolish, not helping Doreen a bit. I’m usually calm, all together in crises. I take pride in it.”
“You’ve never had your wife held captive before.”
“Is there nothing we can do?”
“Not at the moment, I’m afraid.” She shook he head. “You have a plan to rescue Jamie and his mother tomorrow. I know it’s hard to wait, but you can rescue DeeDee, too.”
“Yes.” He even managed a smile. “I think I’ll take that drink now.”
The vodka-rocks helped, or something did, for his agitation lessened and he became aware of his surroundings. Lupe wore faded jeans and a splattered shirt. “I’m interrupting your work.”
“Not really. I’m refinishing an old icebox. I work at it whenever the spirit moves me. Right now I’d rather talk to you.”
“What’re you going to do with an ice box?”
“I’m not sure. I bought it at an estate sale. I thought I might put books or CDs in it.” She looked a little flustered. “I’m having a salad-you know, suffer for the bod.”
Ordinarily he would have had an answer for that. Clearly he still was not himself. How could he expect to be? Doreen was gone, perhaps never- Stop! Don’t even think it.
“I could fix you something else.”
“I’m not hungry, really. You go ahead.”
She picked up a salad bowl, wine bottle and glass. “Let’s go out on the patio, it’s nice this time of day.”
He followed through a dining and living room, then a den. Her house was small, but he had a sense of both comfort and style. Great care, even love, had gone into each item. They reached a terrace bedecked in dozens of potted plants. Visible beyond in the fading light was a small and vibrant garden. Lots of roses.
“You’ve made yourself an oasis, haven’t you?”
“I do sometimes think of it as an island.”
“Your island, inhabited only by you, your refuge.”
She gasped. “I hope I’m not keeping anyone out.”
“I’m sure you’re not.” He smiled. “Your home is definitely you, Lupe, you’ve done a beautiful job.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ve created the home you never had. Is it the one you always dreamed of?”
“Heavens no, that’s a palace.” Now she laughed. “I’ll never be rich enough for that.”
They sat at a glass and wrought iron table. He sipped his drink, while she dug into her salad. Their silence was comfortable, a good sign of friendship.
Finally she asked, “Have you and DeeDee always been as much in love as you are now?”
He was silent for a time, looking away. “You do ask tough questions.” Again he was silent. “Were we in love, sure, no doubt of it, but there was some tension. We were so different, opposites in many ways.” He hesitated. “Then our parents, both sets, died…rather close together. Doreen and I became closer after that. “
“How did that happen?”
“Oh, we both realized how short life is. No sense in wasting it in spats and disagreements.” He smiled. “All of a sudden my foibles and bad habits became charming and her foolish vanities made her more endearing. It wasn’t a conscious decision, but both of us started to treat the other with genuine affection, as though we were courting. Too bad we hadn’t done that all along.”
“At least you arrived at it.”
He finished his drink said, “I’m suddenly very tired. I think I’ll go home.”
“Will you be able to sleep now?”
He nodded. “Thanks to you.” She walked with him to the door.
“What time does the rescue take place?”
“The dinner’s at eight. Guests should start arriving about six or so. I should think we’ll do our thing around seven or a little after.”
She nodded. “That’s when I’ll arrive.”
“To do what?”
“You have made a formal complaint about your missing wife, have you not?” She smiled. “I’ll have to go out to the Kinkaid castle, make inquiries, see if they know anything.”
“May I kiss you?”
“On the cheek. I’ll get too excited otherwise.”