Free Necessary Decisions, A Gino Cataldi Mystery by Giacomo Giammatteo Page A

pulled her top off, draped it over his head. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
    Scott stared at her taut body. “I might have to join you in that shower. Are you staying the night?”
    “That depends on what you have in mind.”
    “Dinner at Artista, perhaps a play, followed by a magnificent night in bed.”
    “I’ll be here.”
    Scott rushed breakfast, his mind racing, fueled by the promise of sex. He wanted to take her upstairs and lie in bed all day, but he had to get to work. He was amazed Michelle hadn’t called. He helped Jennifer clear the table and rethought his decision to go to work. If it wasn’t for that clinical trial problem…
    “I’m going to shower,” Jennifer said. “I’ll be here when you get home.”
    He kissed her goodbye, admired the view as she climbed the steps, and thought again about staying home. But then he shook his head and returned to the kitchen. As he reached for his briefcase, the phone rang. He looked at his watch.
    Late again. Must be Michelle.
    He grabbed the phone and said, “I’m on my way, Michelle.”
    ***
    Number Four stared at the script, already confused by the start. He hated to improvise. “This isn’t Michelle. Listen closely. We have your daughter.”
    “What? Who is this?”
    “I said, we have your daughter. So listen.”
    “What the hell are you talking about? Is this you, Ted?”
    “This is no joke. Get a pen and paper and write this down.”
    “Mister, I don’t know who you are, but—”
    “Shut-up. Do you hear me? Shut the fuck up, or I kill her.”
    Scott pulled a pen and pad from his briefcase then checked to make sure the recorder was on. “Okay, I’m listening.”
    “Do you have something to write with?”
    The voice sounded calmer now. Scott fought for control of his emotions. “I’m set. Go ahead.”
    “You are to get seven million dollars and—”
    “What? I don’t have that kind of money.”
    A long pause. “Mister, we know you don’t have it yet, but you can borrow on it.” The man on the phone paused. “I’m not going to say it again. Shut up and let me finish.”
    “Okay. Sorry.”
    “Seven million dollars in non-sequential serial numbers, hundred-dollar bills, no tracers on the money or in the money. We’ll know if you try to track us. Have it ready in forty-eight hours. We’ll call tomorrow with instructions on the transfer.”
    “Wait! I need to talk to my daughter.”
    “The next time we call, you can talk to her.”
    The line went dead. Scott stared at the phone. He dialed Alexa’s cell, certain she would answer. After three rings, worry began to build. “Come on, Alexa. Pick up.” When she didn’t answer, panic set in.
    School . He had the number for the principal’s office in his contact list. A woman answered right away.
    “This is Scott Winthrop. My daughter, Alexa, goes to school there. I need to speak with her.”
    “Hold one second, Mr. Winthrop. I’ll call her classroom.” She came back on a few seconds later. “No one is picking up. I’ll have to send someone down, Mr. Winthrop. Give me a number, and I’ll call back.”
    “No! I need you to check now.” He got hold of himself. “Please, this is an emergency.”
    “Of course, sir. Hold on.”
    The few minutes it took for her to get back to him seemed like an hour. “I’m sorry, Mr. Winthrop, but Alexa didn’t show up today.”
    He hung up without saying goodbye then dialed 9-1-1.
    “Nine-one-one operator. What is your emergency?”
    Scott breathed deeply before speaking. “My daughter has been kidnapped.”
    “Sir, did you say she has been kidnapped?”
    “Yes, they just called. What do I do? Who should I call?”
    “Hold on, sir. I’ll patch you through to someone who can help.”
    Scott spent no more than five minutes on the phone before they said they would send someone over. He got off and called work. “Michelle, I won’t be in for…I don’t know, probably the whole day.”
    “Is something wrong, Mr. Winthrop? Anything