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Witnesses had seen his running away from, not into the bushes.

The phone in Ray’s pocket rang. He sat up and grabbed the pistol.

“Good morning, RayRay. I enjoyed watching you sleep. At least one of us is rested.”

He looked at the phone, mumbled and placed it back in his pocket. It was then he noticed her face and started backing away.

“Don’t worry. It’s a condition I have. I need my medication.”

He regarded her with curiosity and she watched him lace his gym shoes. The task seemed especially difficult.

From the window she could only see the roof of the drycleaners, littered with broken bottles, and providing no means of escape. She had worked against the bindings on her wrists until she felt blood on the scratchy fabric of what she thought was a man’s necktie. Ray had promised his mother he would go to work, but she knew mentioning his job would probably infuriate him. He seemed rather calm compared to the prior evening.

She heard footsteps on the stairs. Heavy and loud. Her body remained still but her mind roamed frantically, praying for a chance to alert someone of her unwilling presence. When the footsteps neared the door, she prepared to scream, but Ray had heard them too. Jerking upright, he pointed the pistol at her head.

“Don’t say a word. Remember, I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if you try to

pull something over on me.”

“Hey, RayRay!” A man’s voice was accompanied by a pounding fist on the door.

“Ray! I know you’re in there, so you’d better answer.”

His eyes became wild and frightened. His fingers closed tightly on the handle of

the gun. “Yeah!”

“Mr. Ryan said he thought you had company. Do you have someone in there with

a blue BMW? It’s blocking the delivery van. You gotta’ move it now.”

Chelsea’s keys with the Xavier University key chain had been tossed on the floor.

She thought quickly. He had to leave to move her car. The bindings on her wrists felt loose enough to move her hands. Even without the help of the man at the door, she could escape.

Jumping from the window onto the roof of the cleaners was the best option.

“Yeah! All right! In a minute!”

“Now, RayRay! My driver needs to leave with a delivery. Besides that, the car is

parked by the fire hydrant. I’m surprised it hasn’t been towed away. Come move it. Now!”

“Okay, I said!” He looked at her and moved the barrel of the pistol closer to her

head. “We gonna’ walk out of here and you ain’t doing nothin’ but what I tell you to do. Get cute and I’ll put a bullet through her brains.”

During the night, her fear had given way to anger. The voice of survival told her

to make a move. “Move it yourself. Then you won’t have to worry about what I do.” Shaking inside, she glared defiantly and watched him take a box cutter from the table.

“I see you been tryin’ to get loose, huh?” He cut the restraints.

“I was trying to find a way to spend an entire night with my hands bound to the

damn bedpost. If you think it’s easy, lay your ass here and let me tie you up. I’m not taking orders anymore. You want the car moved, you move it.” She braced for the jolt and closed her eyes just as his open hand made contact with her left cheekbone.

“You wanna’ make me hurt you? I said let’s go!”

Tasting blood, she called upon every ounce of resolve still remaining within her,

spat, and looked into his fiery eyes. “Go your damn self! I’m sure by now someone has discovered I’ve been kidnapped, and they’re looking for my car. It’s just a matter of time. I don’t know who you are or why you’re doing this, but I can’t take it anymore. You want the car moved, go move it yourself.”

“RayRay!” The man was back at the door. “Get the hell down here and move this

car or I’ll have it towed.”

“Go on!” Chelsea screamed. “Or leave it there and let them call a tow truck. The

first thing they’ll do is check the plates for identification. You’re calling the shots, so choose—

move the car or let the cops find it.”

He glared at the door and then at her before dropping his head. “I can’t drive.”

“Raymond! I’ve just called it in. Don’t blame me if the cops tow it away.”

Hearing the man run down the stairs, Ray went to the window, pulled it open and yelled back. “I said I’m on my way! Keep your shirt on!” He turned to Chelsea, grabbed her arm and pulled her up. “Come on! That man’s waiting.”

She watched him tremble as he picked up her keys.

“We walking outta’ here together so don’t try nothin’. Just get in the car and find another parking place down the street.”

Her face stung. Her wrists ached. She held her arms out so the bloodstains on her white sleeves were visible. Someone, she assumed a neighbor, knew she was there. She was sure her family and friends had missed her. She was the most reliable deputy assistant DA in the office.

Ray walked behind her, his hand on the small of her back. “I got this gun aimed right at you, so just do what I say.”

The heavy morning air smacked her face when he pushed her through the door and into the courtyard. She knew the neighborhood would soon be crawling with children on their way to school. For now, the streets were empty except for an occasional passing car.

“This time I’m getting in the back seat. Drive to the corner, turn around and come back to that empty spot on the other side of the street. When we get back, you need to do like I say and follow me back inside.”

Tempted to slam her foot down on the gas pedal, she eased the car into the street and drove slowly, hoping, praying, someone would notice. The street curved at the corner.

“I can’t make a u-turn. I’ve got to go around the next block and circle back.”

“Okay, but don’t try nothin’.”

She wondered about the medication on his nightstand. He had not taken anything, and had not eaten. A woman hauling a trashcan to the sidewalk looked up briefly and Chelsea waved.

“What you doin? Turn this car around now!”

“Don’t yell at me anymore! That lady smiled and I waved. Look, I’m tired, my wrists are starting to go numb, and I think you broke my jawbone. I’m—”

“Turn around! Go the other way!”

She saw the flashing lights of the blue and white that had stopped next to the parking space she had vacated.

“Turn around where?”

“In that driveway! Right over there!”

He scrunched down behind her seat. The only thing keeping her from flooring the gas pedal was the shaky hand poking the gun in her ribs. Pain mixed with anger.

* * * *

Isaac drove Mrs. Constantine to Mama Rose’s where the rest of the family had

gathered in a back room that was used for parties. Skip met them at the door.

“Mama Rose is not here yet, but she’s on her way. I didn’t want her to hear it on the news, so I told her.”

Isaac glanced at the anguished faces around the packed room. Chelsea’s older brother sat next to their father with his wife close by his side. It was easy to see the tears in their eyes.

“David is right behind us,” Isaac told him, staying close to Mrs. Constantine. He knew both of Chelsea’s parents had doubts about their relationship. Her father was a big football fan, but that did not keep him from expressing his feelings about his daughter shortly after they started dating.

“I know how it is with you big athletes.” He had waited until they were alone. “You have women stashed in every town you play. I don’t want my daughter to be your New Orleans stopover. Chelsea has a good life. A career. Don’t mess that up.”

Looking at him now, Isaac felt the grief he knew a father would feel. He made his way around the room, greeting everyone he knew. The family was close, he felt. Special. Politicians.

Whites. Blacks. There was also a very large Jewish presence, and a host of musicians. Beckoned by Chelsea’s father, he knelt next to the armchair and placed his hand on Mr. Constantine’s arm.

“We’ll get her back. Everyone is doing everything they can.”

“If you love my daughter and you plan to stand by her after this is all over, I hope you’re also planning to help us find the bastard who did this. I have six large bags of cement in my garage. I had planned to refinish my driveway, but I hear cement makes damn fine overshoes.”

He looked over at Isaac. “That’s not just anger talking. I mean every word I say.”

“I feel the same way. I’ve asked David not to arrest him. Just point him out.”

“I’m not waiting for David. I called a few boys I know who can get things handled. If they find him first, they know what to do.”

Isaac cringed. This was the declaration of a helpless father whose child is in danger. He had made the same threat, but Mr. Constantine’s version was sinister enough to levitate the hairs on his neck. He just wanted Chelsea back. Mama Rose arrived, her wizened face overcome with grief.

“It’s all my fault! I’ll never forgive myself for getting her involved in my mess.” She sobbed. “They’ll hurt her to get back at me.”

“This is not your fault, Mama Rose,” Skip reassured her. “You know Chelsea is

prosecuting that Hamilton boy for beating the woman back behind the park. She was being threatened even before you started having problems at the restaurant.”

“Threatened?” She stared in shock. “How so?”

“Somebody left a note on her car. Left messages on her voice mail at work. Let the air out of her tires.” He nodded to David. “He’s been walking her out the parking lot every day since the hearing began.”

“He’s right, Mama Rose,” David added. “We’re working every angle. I know she has

spoken with Larry Mayeaux, so I called him right away. He said the word is out to leave your property alone. He also called the district attorney, who said if someone went beyond the law to gain access to your property, he would personally prosecute them. I doubt this has anything to do with what’s been happening at your place.”

Larry Mayeaux arrived, as did three of Chelsea’s colleagues, including the district attorney. They spoke with Chelsea’s parents first and then Mama Rose. Isaac had poured a drink, but had not touched it. His head ached almost as much his heart. He wanted to let Chelsea know her grandmother’s worries were over. He wanted to feel her safely in his arms. He jumped when his cell phone rang, checked the ID and saw it was Frankie.

“We don’t know anything. We’re at the restaurant. The area around Chelsea’s loft

is crawling with plain-clothed officers. I feel like it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left her until this mess was settled. I asked David to help me find a good security guard to keep her safe. Later, I was too damn angry to follow up.”

“One way or the other, you would have been in Atlanta when this happened.”

She reminded him. “The last thing you need to do is beat yourself up. Save your strength for Chelsea.”

He walked to the other side of the room. “Her parents are in there now. I can’t

stand looking at their faces. I can only imagine what it will be like if—”

“Hold it right there,” she interrupted. “Let’s not go there.”

“Nobody asked for ransom or anything. We had her place secure as a fortress.

Nobody broke in. Her purse, briefcase, and phone are all here. She stopped here to talk to Mama Rose and took food home with her. There’s no food here. I’m guessing she brought her things inside and went back to the car for her food. Her car, keys and the to-go box are the only things missing.” He saw two men talking to Skip and David and recognized Detective Barrett. “I’ve got to go. I’ll call you as soon as I know something.”

Detective Barrett moved away from the others, his eyes fixed on Isaac’s face.

“Mr. Charbonnette, I’d like ask you a few questions.”

“Do you know something? Do you have a lead?”

“They’re checking ever possible reason this could have happened,” David answered.

“Help us if you can.”

“Of course I’ll help if I can.” He looked back at Detective Barrett. “What do you want to know?”

“Tell me about your enemies, Mr. Charbonnette.”

The area around them fell silent. Isaac was sure his heart stopped beating.

“We have to look into every possibility. You’re a high profile athlete. Everyone in this city knows who you are, and quite a few of them know the two of you are dating. Is there someone in your life—relationship gone bad, outstanding debts—anyone who would try and hurt you through Ms. Constantine.”

Dee reached for Skip’s hand. Chelsea’s father moved closer to his wife.

Isaac smothered his anger. “I suppose you have to ask. No. Chelsea and I have been dating for about two years. There is no one else. I’ve never been seriously involved with another woman. There is no one, past and certainly not present, who would do this. I sure as hell don’t owe anyone money.” He briefly thought of his brother, Zack. “If I knew anything that could help find Chelsea, if I knew anyone who could hate me that much, I wouldn’t be standing here.

Obviously someone had targeted Chelsea long before she was kidnapped. That’s when you boys should have started asking questions. What about her neighbors? Some of your men were asking questions in Chelsea’s neighborhood. Did anyone see anything? ”

“Nobody saw or heard anything suspicious.” David answered. “The woman who

saw her get into the car doesn’t remember anything about the man’s features, only that he was black and wearing what appeared to be blue coveralls. Said she thought it was their maintenance man at first but noticed he was much younger. Had a cap pulled over his face. She could only see the bottom of his facial profile. He was a large man, so he could have been the one at Ms.

Constantine’s loft.”

Isaac’s heart dropped. “Does that mean you have no leads at all?”

“We have leads. We just don’t know where they end.” David ushered him away from

Chelsea’s parents. “There’s an APB out on her car. That’s our best hope. We’ve got everybody on the force working this. Surely something will turn up soon.”

“You’ve got to find her. You have to get her back. She’s—”

“I just remembered something.” David started pacing the floor. “I didn’t think it was too important at the time, but the more I think about it, the more I wonder if…no, that can’t happen.”