Damned if Renee didn’t return just
as I was thinking of closing up shop. Twice in one day. I liked it better when
she pretended I didn’t exist. As her high heels clattered loudly on the floor, Jingo
scrambled to his paws. He barked loud enough to wake the dead (no joke—I caught
myself scanning the area for Abner just in case). My office was three hundred
square feet of desk and dog. Renee sashayed in. She did her own scanning and
frowned (I guess she’d expected me to have produced her husband already).
Opening her bag, Renee extracted
an envelope. I read the contents and my eyebrows raised so high they touched my
receding hairline. It was a ransom note cut from newspapers (very
stereotypical). The kidnappers demanded a half million dollars for the safe
return of one Abner Carlyle. Or else. They didn’t spell out what the “else” was,
but I could guess. She steadfastly refused to call the cops.
After Renee swept out, I held the
note up to Jingo’s nose to sniff. He released a great big doggy sneeze and rested
his head on his paws. Seemed he was absent the day the obedience school trained
them to follow a scent.
I was at a loss on how to proceed.
She claimed she couldn’t get her hands on that much money. Renee wanted to fake
paying the ransom. She spelled out a big scenario where I make the drop and
follow the kidnappers back to their hideout and rescue dear old Abner. My
ex-wife wanted me to play the hero—an unlikely role. I’m the first to admit
that if she handed me a half million bucks, I’d be tempted to pack up my wife
and kid (and Jingo) and board the first plane to Anywhere, USA. Maybe my ex wasn’t
as stupid as I thought.
****
I drove home just in time for
supper (Elisabeth was used to my erratic hours and never complained, but after
Renee’s visits, I just wanted a normal evening). I decided not to tell Elisabeth
the identity of my new client; she’d never say a word, but I knew she’d take a
dim view of my involvement in Renee’s scheme. Marveling at the difference
between my two wives, I considered myself a lucky, lucky man. Plucking the Hardy Boys book from Donny’s hands, we
all sat down to eat. Then we watched a little bit of television before bedtime.
****
The following day, I ran around
the city interviewing anyone I could find that knew Carlyle. Renee told me
Abner was a quiet man with no real friends and this was verified when I talked
to his business associates. It appeared that Abner Carlyle was a recluse. The
three men I interviewed admitted they were surprised when Carlyle married
Renee. He had no social life; no family or friends. Carlyle lived for his
business deals. The trio hadn’t heard from Carlyle these last few days, but
unless he had a deal in the works, that behavior was not unusual. Carlyle’s
right hand man, Dave McGill, spouted a party line—Abner Carlyle was conducting
business in a neighboring state. He expected to hear from him only if Carlyle closed
a business deal.
Apparently, nobody but Renee realized
that Abner had been kidnapped.
