The Kidnap
The household at Devereux Lodge was buzzing with activity, as the Senora prepared for a meeting down town near the Gali-Gali Café Bar. Lettie was in the kitchen baking bread and Estanislo in the study discussing the re-building of the stable block with Poncho. Alfie, the old gardener, was most anxious that the proposed re-development would interfere with his vegetable patch. Whilst Liliana, Marisol’s best friend had come to stay for the weekend.
‘Does your mother work every weekend?’ she asked, as Marisol’s mother ushered them towards the room to collect their belongings.
‘Quickly!’ she snapped. ‘I’m going to be late for my meeting.’
The girls gathered their things. Wearing smart designer jeans, colourful tops and light weight jackets, combined with accessories in their favourite colours – pink and citrus – they were ready to go. Liliana asked to borrow Marisol’s yellow socks to match her yellow and lime shirt, but gave up the idea when the search only revealed one.
‘Where do all the missing socks go? mused Marisol.
The girls felt good and were looking forward to lunch at the café bar with friends. Marisol’s mother -known as the Senora to her work associates – said she would take them and leave them there whilst she attended her meeting with the company lawyers. She warned the girls to stay within sight of the management, who were friends of hers. She only expected to be a couple of hours and asked her bodyguard Nestor to accompany them.
The Gali-Gali Café Bar as always was busy, and Liliana was soon eagerly talking to a group of friends, thrilled to discover that she had an admirer in one of the girl’s brothers. Marisol was otherwise occupied and had wandered off to sit beside the ornamental waterfall having noticed some rather unusual events.
‘Marisol, do come here,’ shouted Liliana. ‘It’s time to eat and I have something to tell you.’
‘What?’ queried Marisol, re-joining them.
‘Laura’s brother has the hots for me. Cool don’t you think? He’s so fit! Marisol, are you listening to me? What is wrong with you?’
‘Oh sure I’m listening, who did you say you like?’
‘I didn’t drrr, he likes me.’
‘Who?’
‘Oh forget it. Are we eating? I’m starving,’ she snapped as the food began to arrive. The aroma of the garlic a pleasure to her senses.
Everyone tucked in, Marisol still distracted. She had noticed a laundry van pull over near the gardens and two women, who’s faces she had seen peering through the window made her feel uncomfortable. The van was re directed to the rear entrance of the café bar out of sight, but whilst one of the women collected the table linen from the kitchen, the other darted quickly onto the small terrace overlooking the garden. Marisol noticed her again and that uncomfortable stare. Her behaviour seemed odd. She looked familiar, in fact strikingly like Lettie’s cousin, – the cook at Devereux Lodge – although she had only met her once.
‘Where are you going?’ asked one of the waiters who caught sight of the woman.
‘Oh pardon, this is my first time here and I lost my way. I was looking for someone to sign this for me,’ she said sheepishly, holding out a pen and a delivery note hurriedly taken from her pocket.
‘Uhm, this terrace leads to the garden and is out of bounds to maintenance staff,’ the waiter replied. ‘Be off with you. One of the kitchen staff will sign any papers you need.’
Manhandling the woman, he pushed her towards the terrace doors. A few minutes later as the laundry van drove away the two women could be seen seated beside the driver.
‘Did you get the pictures?’ he asked.
‘Yeah, lots of them, but not as many as I would have liked ‘cos I was disturbed. Think I have what we need.’
‘Brilliant,’ he replied. ‘Absolutely brilliant.’
Two days later.
‘I’ve just had a call from Carlos on his cell phone. He went to collect Marisol from school but she wasn’t there,’ said the young secretary.
‘Don’t be foolish,’ snapped the Senora. ‘Of course she would be there.’
‘Carlos said she wasn’t there ma’am. He waited for nearly an hour. She never came out.’
‘Well did he go in to find out what she was doing? Obviously she stayed behind for something.’
‘Yes, quite so, that’s exactly what I thought ma’am. But Carlos went into reception and it was confirmed that Marisol left with the other girls on time as usual. She’s sort of disappeared.’
‘Oh I can do without this nonsense,’ screamed the Senora. ‘Just tell Carlos to find her and when you do, keep her amused. Tell her that I’m furious with her for wasting my time. Now I have to get back to the meeting. I’ll leave it to you to sort out.’ The Senora returned to the board room, banging the door behind her.
Lydia was astounded. She was the most horrible, arrogant, selfish woman she had ever met. She had just been told that they couldn’t find her twelve year old daughter and all that concerned her was her precious business empire. Lydia decided this was the end of the line. She didn’t want to work for the woman a moment longer, but first she would help Carlos find Marisol. Then she would write her notice. Devereux Enterprises-good riddance!
A few days later, the Senora sat in an office on the third floor at the Embassy with her sister Beatriz, and Aunt Roxana. Sitting across the large oak table, was Senor Alvarez and his associate.
‘Please tell me,’ inquired Senor Alvarez, ‘exactly what happened.’
‘My daughter has disappeared. My driver went to collect her from school and she wasn’t there. I keep ringing her cell phone but it appears to be switched off, unless the stupid girl forgot to charge the battery again, a regular habit of hers. Whatever, I cannot get in touch and now the thought has occurred to me that she could have been kidnapped.’
‘When did this happen?’ asked Senor Alvarez.
‘A few days ago.’
‘A few days ago!’ he exclaimed in disbelief.
‘I know what you’re thinking. Why did I wait? But you see I thought my husband had taken her.’
‘And where is your husband now ma’am?’ enquired Senor Alvarez.
‘I don’t know. He’s disappeared too.’
‘Argh,’ he said frowning and tapping his rather expensive looking Cartier pen on the desk. He threw a glance towards his colleagues across the room. They said nothing.
‘When did he disappear? Please be precise ma’am. When did you last see your husband?’
‘He left for the office early Tuesday morning, well I presumed he was going to the office, but his secretary said he has not been in for a few days.’
‘Right!’ said Alvarez looking a little exasperated. ‘And why have you waited to report this?’
‘Because, Senor Alvarez,’ she said indignantly, ‘my husband has been threatening to leave me for quite some time. I supposed he had done so and taken Marisol to spite me. I thought he may have taken her to Oaxaca where his parents live, or even the United States. I really don’t know, but he has business associates and family in many places.’
‘Did you contact his family?’
‘Yes. He is not there.’
‘What about Marisol’s passport? Did you look for it?’
‘Impossible,’ she replied. ‘Her father always kept such things locked away in his study.’
How strange he thought. There seemed to be a real lack of emotion. A report that both husband and daughter had not been seen for several days and there seemed to be a total lack of concern. Odd, very odd!
‘Please give us a moment,’ said Alvarez, as he indicated to his colleagues to leave the room for a short discussion.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Beatriz, ‘I am certain Estanislo and Marisol are fine. If they had been kidnapped you would have heard from the kidnappers by now. This has to be some cruel joke of Estanislo’s, he’s probably in San Diego with his cousins and when you catch up with him,’ she hesitated, ‘well if he was my husband I’d probably kill him,’ she snarled.
‘And another thought when you get Marisol back, have her chipped, then you won’t have any more incidents like this. And I bet that secretary of his knows where he is, never did like the woman!’
‘What on earth are you babbling on about Beatriz?’
‘Chipped!’ she exclaimed, ‘they’re all doing it now- the new microchip.’
‘I don’t know anything about it Beatriz. I really don’t have the faintest idea what you are talking about,’ snapped the Senora.
‘Well you do surprise me, considering you read about ten papers a day and are one of the smartest people I know. It’s the new chip. Injected beneath the skin, it transmits a unique radio frequency signal. It’s a brilliant device. I’m told there are lots of people now implanting these chips in their kids.’
The Senora listened.
‘Tell me more about it,’ she said.
‘Well it’s big in the United States. It was used to track down cattle, pets and things before some genius realised it could be used in humans. You’ll be able to track a kid anywhere. So, like I said, when you get Marisol back, see Dr Romero and find out all about it.’
‘Oh you’re impossible Beatriz,’ said the Senora, ‘as if I would ever want to chip Marisol?’
‘Well if you did my dear sister, you would know where she was now wouldn’t you. So think about it. Huh?’
‘Argh!’ the Senora screamed. ‘Has anyone contacted Nestor yet? I should never have allowed him to take time off, it’s all his fault.’
‘Don’t be so ridiculous,’ said Beatriz. ‘The man is entitled to his vacation.’
‘Yes but if Nestor had been here this would never have happened.’
He was still not responding to his cell phone. Nestor was on vacation five hours drive away and didn’t intend to be contacted. In the Embassy office the interview continued.
‘Carlos, who is Carlos?’ asked the inspector.
‘Carlos is my driver. He went to collect Marisol from school as usual; he had with him one of the bodyguards, Fernando. The usual bodyguard is on vacation. When Carlos arrived at school, Marisol was not there. She always waits for the driver at the same place each day.’
‘Well that’s stupid.’ said the inspector.
‘It’s quite safe,’ insisted the Senora. ‘She is in the school grounds and never ventures out.’
‘Well obviously ma’am, it’s not quite safe, otherwise Marisol would be here now.’
‘How rude you are inspector.’
‘Not at all ma’am, just honest.’
Having sent the Senora home but told her to be available in case possible kidnappers tried to contact her, the discussion in Alvarez’s office was how long to keep this quiet. A public announcement could jeopardise the lives of the missing persons if indeed they had been kidnapped. It was normal in Mexico for families not to report kidnappings to the police. In fact, most kidnappings were never reported and handled privately with fear of involving the authorities leading to more risk or danger to the missing person. Senor Alvarez was used to this type of case, particularly as since he had come into office, twenty two Mexican youngsters had been abducted in the previous twelve months. Many had been dealt with quietly. Millions of dollars changed hands with the youngsters being returned safely. There had been occasions when this had not been so, and only recently he had attended the funeral of a fourteen year old, the son of a successful businessman. Having paid the ransom, the boy was still not returned, but found dead sometime later.
‘What a terrible world we live in,’ said Senor Alvarez. ‘Sometimes I hate my job. Then I realise what an important role I have to play here in the city.’
He signalled to one of his colleagues to bring fresh coffee and went over the facts of the case again, relating step by step exactly when the Senora had last seen her husband and daughter. The fact that there had been no ransom note and no request for money from possible abductors did suggest that there was a strong likelihood that Marisol was somewhere safe with her father. It was now for Senor Alvarez and his team to find out where, but Estanislo’s secretary had said she had not heard from him. As her boss had been talking about taking a few days vacation, she had not queried the fact, but on hearing the news about Marisol’s disappearance, she had left a message on his voice mail. Meanwhile, Alvarez continued working through the night with his team and was just about to leave himself, to go home take a shower and get some rest, when a telephone call came through. Estanislo, Marisol’s father had been located and was on his way to the Embassy.
He knew nothing about Marisol’s disappearance and had told her seemingly the morning that she had disappeared, that he was going away for a few days, as he had some serious, life changing decisions to make. He said he would explain all later, and told her not to worry. Now divorce was the last thing on his mind. He had told Marisol where he was going but the question was, where was she? His daughter was the only good thing that had come out of his marriage and he loved her dearly. He was now desperately worried, and within four hours had arrived at the Embassy to be briefed by Alvarez and his team.
‘What do we do?’ he asked when all had been explained.
‘We sit tight and wait. If your daughter has been abducted they will be in touch. Usually within the first forty eight hours,’ he hesitated, ‘which makes me wonder why we haven’t heard anything yet.’ Meanwhile, I have every one on the case tracing her last movements. You have clarified your personal situation with the Senora. Is there anything else that you could think of that could explain the disappearance of Marisol? Could she have run away?’ he asked, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. ‘I’m sorry to say this, and I don’t want it to look as though I am apportioning blame, but is it possible that she was so disturbed about the situation at home she could have absconded herself?’
‘Absolutely not!’ insisted Estanislo. ‘My daughter was very unhappy with her mother but she loved me and the rest of the family. We had already talked about the possibility of her moving to live with her grandparents in Oaxaca, possibly even going to school in the United Kingdom. She was very happy with the prospect of either. Meanwhile, she was excited about the build of the new stable block and the arrival of her new pony.’
‘That may be so, but long term you speak of a complete change of life-style. New school, new friends and living in a foreign country. Are you sure she was not worried about that possibility?’
‘Certainly not Mr Alvarez, I know my daughter and she was fine. She talked openly with me and if she is not getting in touch it is because she cannot. Someone has her, of that I am sure.’
‘Very well, then we wait for their contact. I suggest we all try and get some rest for the next few hours at least. Will you be returning to Devereux Lodge Sir?’
‘No, I will stay at a hotel tonight. I will book into the one nearest the Embassy and then I am on hand should you need me. I don’t expect to sleep. Please keep me informed Alvarez. If there is a ransom,’ he stuttered. ‘I will pay it, whatever it takes to get Marisol back. Oh, and Alvarez, will you have one of your staff ring Devereux Lodge and let them know where I am. Not to mention the obvious, that they should contact me on the cell phone if they hear anything. Thanks.’
‘Your wife…?’ Alvarez asked.
‘I made that decision… I have no wife!’ He turned and left the room heading towards the elevator.
Marisol looked around the dark, dusty room. There was an old leather sofa, a couple of tables, chairs, pots and pans and a small fridge. A single bare bulb hung from the ceiling. The room was cold and a pile of blankets had been left for which she was grateful. Two large laundry baskets stood by the door, one full of table linen and the other empty. She knew that her kidnappers had brought her to this place in a basket. It had been uncomfortable but at least she could breathe and see daylight through its tiny holes.
It had all been a blur. She had seen the woman again who looked like Lettie’s cousin, this time collecting laundry from the school kitchen. She was dashing back to the classroom for her cell phone when suddenly someone behind covered her mouth and she had fainted. Now looking at the linen in one of the baskets she saw the logo, Gala-Gali Café Bar.
Looking out of the window on the fourth floor, she felt like the princess in the tower. A story she remembered her father reading when she was younger. So far she had been well treated. Her hands had not been tied and she was allowed to walk around the room freely, but there was no way of escape, unless she could prise open the bars on the window and slither down the drain pipe, not likely. Clearly she was going nowhere.
The following morning at 10.00am precisely, a small package was delivered to Devereux Lodge. Its contents, one yellow sock, a school bag and a ransom note for the sum of two million dollars.
The note read: INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW.
