He laughed, got up from the table and kissed her.
“I have to get ready.”
“Okay. I’m going to clean up and head for the station.”
In ten minutes, she had the dishwasher running and some meat taken out to thaw for dinner. She grabbed her purse and keys, locked the door behind her and walked to her car.
Sitting just across the street from Vanessa’s house, was a black pick-up with a white camper top. The driver was not in it. The detective didn’t notice, she should have, but she didn’t. As Vanessa reached her car and went to unlock it, she heard a voice behind her and felt a gun in her back.
“Don’t say a word. Turn and walk directly to the black truck across the street. If you try anything, I’ll splatter your insides all over the outdoors. Are we clear? Nod your head.”
Vanessa nodded and tried to remain calm as the man reached around her waist and removed her gun. Her thoughts went to the life inside her, followed by visions containing the photos of the other girls. A glance at the truck had told her that this was the same man responsible for the wine glass murders. She looked up at the bedroom window.
Look out, Rob! See me!
Apparently, her abductor knew what she was thinking.
“Move it! Now.”
They walked quickly towards the black truck. He made her open the driver’s door and slide across the bench seat, sliding in right behind her. The gun never left her side.
He produced a pair of zip ties formed in a circle.
“Put your hands through.”
She hesitated and he raised the gun until it was pointed at her forehead.
“Do it!”
Vanessa saw no choice, she obeyed. He pulled the circle tight and started the truck.
“Behave yourself.”
****
Rob grabbed a towel from the pile on the shelf by the shower. He rubbed it over his hair and then wrapped it around his waist. He ran a comb through his hair and fired up his electric razor. He hated shaving but the electric made it less of a chore than using a blade. He would probably be sporting a beard if it wasn’t for Vanessa. She won’t even kiss him if he gets too shaggy.
He finished and slapped on some skin conditioner. A quick look at the bedside clock told him he needed to pick up the pace. He walked over towards the closet and saw Vanessa’s car through the window.
She should be gone by now.
He looked closer and a movement across the road caught his eye. A man was pushing a woman into a truck, she looked like…
“VANESSA!!”
Rob screamed her name at the window but it came back at him, unheard. Forgetting he was in a towel, he rushed down the stairs and out the door.
“VANESSA!!”
He was too late, the truck was driving off. He looked around wildly, hoping for a neighbor or friend who could chase the truck. Nobody was around this early. He ran back in the house, grabbed his phone and dialed 911.
****
Jason arrived at the station at his usual time but again he had beaten Vanessa in. He hoped she wasn’t going to call in sick, again. If she did, he would tell her she’s got to reveal her pregnancy to the lieutenant.
He walked through the station door and waved at Dave Connor, but this time he didn’t get the usual friendly response. Dave looked stricken.
“Jason, get upstairs fast!”
“Why? What’s up?”
“Something has happened to Detective Layne.”
Jason’s heart skipped a beat. He took off running, ignoring the elevator, in favor of the stairs. Ten seconds later he burst through the homicide office doors.
Gathered by the lieutenants office was a crowd of detectives. When Jason got to John Patton’s door, the others cleared away and Jason saw the lieutenant hang up the phone.
“Jason. Glad you’re here. 911 just got a call from Rob Layne. He said some guy forced Lieutenant Layne into a black truck with white topper.”
“Shit! That’s him. That’s wine glass. It has to be.”
“Why?”
“The truck matches the description of his and….” Jason hesitated. He had realized it but didn’t think it posed any real danger. “…Vanessa matches the victim profile.”
John Patton just stared at him. It clearly had not occurred to him that his detective looked like the victims or that she could be in danger.
“Son of a ….”
He moved so quickly that he caught Jason by surprise. The lieutenant was past him and heading for the stairs before Jason could react.
“Detective Strong! You coming!”
Jason turned on his heels and hurried after the lieutenant. They ran back down the stairs and out into the parking lot. Jumping in the lieutenant’s car, Jason planted the magnetic, flashing blue light on the hood and they sped out of the lot. Lieutenant John Patton was talking almost as fast as he was driving, his bushy eyebrows and wild moustache flailing uncontrolled.
“We’re headed to the house. There’s uniforms there now. We have every officer in the city looking for the suspect’s vehicle. I’ve got officers canvassing the neighborhood and asking specifically about security cameras at any of the surrounding residence’s.”
Lieutenant Patton looked over at Jason and realized he was being ignored. Jason was on his phone.
“What are you doing?”
Jason covered the handset.
“Calling the hospital. That girl may be our best chance of finding Vanessa.” He uncovered the phone. “ Yes, this Is Detective Strong. I need to speak to Doctor Nance.”
Jason waited and watched cars whizz by as the lieutenant drove for Vanessa’s house. He wasn’t sure he had ever seen the lieutenant quite so upset. His phone came to life.
“This is Doctor Nance.”
“Yes, Doctor, this Detective Strong. I need to know when our girl will be allowed to regain consciousness?”
“Well, she’s doing better but I would prefer to let her go until tomorrow morning, at least.”
“Doctor, please understand, I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that girls recovery but we have a situation. One of our detectives, Vanessa Layne, has been abducted and we believe it’s the same man that attacked Stephanie Morris. I need to know what she remembers. It could be the difference between life and death for my partner.”
They arrived at the house and the lieutenant got out but Jason waited for an answer.
“Very well. I’ll suspend the sedatives.”
“Excellent. How long until she comes around?”
“It could be a few hours to a day.”
“We may not have a day, Doc. Let’s hope for hours. And Doc, thanks.”
He hung up and got out of the car. Walking over to Lieutenant Patton, he gave him the news.
The lieutenant nodded.
“The canvassing hasn’t given us anything. Let’s go talk to Rob Layne.”
Jason followed the lieutenant into the house and they found Rob Layne sitting at the kitchen table. He looked tired and scared. The lieutenant stopped to talk to some uniforms while Jason walked over and put a hand on his friends shoulder.
“Hey, Rob. You makin’ it?”
Rob gave him a panicked look.
“You gotta find her, Jason.”
“We’re doing everything we can. The whole damn city is looking for her. You didn’t see a license plate or anything?”
“No. I barely saw it was her before the truck pulled off.”
“Alright, buddy. Hang in there. I’ll keep you informed.”
Jason turned to the lieutenant.
“Can you take me back to the station? I want to pick up the case files and go through them while I wait at the hospital for our girl to come around.”
“Sure. Let me finish what I’m doing here and I’ll meet you in the car.”
Jason nodded and gave Rob another pat on the shoulders.
“I’ll find her, man. I won’t stop until I do.”
They shook hands and Jason went to the car to wait.
A few minutes later, the lieutenant emerged from the house and got in the car. Jason had called the hospital again and confirmed the sedatives had been stopped. They pulled out at a somewhat more controlled pace and headed toward the station.