Chapter 11: Five Minutes to Save His Mother
Raymond stood so quickly that his chair struck the wall.
He called his mother's phone.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
He turned toward Angela.
“Who sent this?””
She stared at the screen.
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie to me.””
“I'm not!””
Raymond called the deputies assigned to protect Eleanor.
The first call went unanswered.
The second went straight to voicemail.
Then a third number appeared on his screen.
It was Officer Daniel Price.
One of the two deputies stationed outside his mother's house.
Raymond answered.
“Price, where's my mother?””
The officer sounded breathless.
“Sheriff, we have a problem.””
“What problem?””
“The house is empty.””
Raymond stopped moving.
“What do you mean empty?””
“Front door was open. We found her purse on the kitchen counter.””
“Where's the second deputy?””
“Missing.””
Raymond closed his eyes.
“Did you see anyone?””
Price hesitated.
“Yes, sir.””
“Who?””
“A man in a county uniform.””
Raymond's grip tightened.
“Describe him.””
“White male. Around sixty. Gray hair. He showed me a transfer order with your signature.””
Raymond's stomach dropped.
“Who was it?””
“I think it was Chief Deputy Carter.””
Raymond looked at Angela.
She had gone pale.
“Samuel Carter,” she whispered.
Raymond immediately grabbed his jacket.
“Send every available unit to my mother's house. Check every road leading out of the neighborhood. Nobody leaves without authorization.””
He ended the call.
Angela stood.
“Raymond, you need to let me help.””
He turned toward her.
“You've helped enough.””
“Your mother could be in danger because of what I did. I know Carter's habits. I know where he keeps his vehicles.””
Raymond hesitated.
Angela continued.
“I can help you find her.””
He stared at her.
“Why should I trust you?””
“Because if Miller wanted your mother dead, he wouldn't have bothered sending that message.””
Raymond's expression hardened.
“What does that mean?””
“It means they're using her to get something from you.””
“The USB drive?””
Angela nodded.
“Or whatever was on it.””
Raymond looked toward the interrogation room door.
“Then you're coming with me.””
At Eleanor's house, the living room looked untouched.
Her reading glasses remained on the coffee table.
A half-finished cup of tea sat beside the newspaper.
But her medication was missing.
So was the yellow envelope containing Edward's handwritten statement.
Raymond walked slowly through the room.
“Whoever took her knew exactly where to look.””
Angela examined the kitchen counter.
“Sheriff, look.””
She pointed toward a small scratch on the wood.
A metal object had been dragged across it.
Raymond bent down.
A tiny silver pin lay near the cabinet.
He picked it up.
It carried the insignia of the county sheriff's department.
Angela examined it.
“Carter wore these on his dress uniform.””
Raymond closed his fist around it.
“Where would he take her?””
Angela looked around.
“There's a property outside town. An old training facility. Carter used it for private security exercises before he retired.””
“Address?””
She gave it to him.
Raymond immediately radioed dispatch.
But the response made his blood run cold.
“Sheriff, we have a situation.””
“What?””
“Your credentials have been used to authorize a vehicle transfer from the county impound lot.””
Raymond frowned.
“What vehicle?””
“A black SUV. Registration connected to Chief Deputy Carter.””
“Who approved it?””
A pause.
Then dispatch answered.
“Your office.””
Raymond stared at Angela.
“Someone is using my credentials again.””
Angela nodded.
“Carter has administrative access.””
Raymond looked toward the road.
“Then we're done playing defense.””
The old training facility sat behind a chain-link fence.
A faded sign still displayed the county department's former logo.
Raymond parked a hundred yards away.
Angela pointed toward a side entrance.
“There's a service road behind the building.””
Raymond checked his weapon.
“Stay behind me.””
They moved through the trees.
Inside the facility, a single light glowed above a storage room.
A man's voice carried through the open window.
“She's not going anywhere until we get the drive.””
Another voice answered.
“What if Whitaker doesn't cooperate?””
The first man laughed.
“Then he'll learn what happens when a man refuses to understand his place.””
Raymond recognized the voice.
Samuel Carter.
He raised his hand to signal Angela.
Then they heard Eleanor.
“Leave my son alone!””
Raymond's blood ran cold.
He stepped toward the window.
His mother was sitting in a metal chair with her hands tied.
Carter stood in front of her.
Robert Miller leaned against a table.
And beside them was a third man.
A man Raymond had never seen before.
Carter placed a glass of water in front of Eleanor.
“Mrs. Whitaker, I'm trying to be reasonable.””
She turned her face away.
“Then untie me.””
Carter sighed.
“You're making this unnecessarily difficult.””
Miller stepped forward.
“Where did your husband keep the original documents?””
Eleanor looked at him.
“I don't know.””
Miller slapped the table.
“Don't insult me.””
“I buried my husband twenty-three years ago. I don't know what you're talking about.””
Carter leaned down.
“Your husband isn't dead.””
Eleanor's face changed.
She looked at Miller.
Then at Carter.
And for the first time, she seemed to understand.
Miller smiled.
“Now we're getting somewhere.””
Raymond felt his chest tighten.
He looked toward Angela.
She nodded.
Then she whispered:
“Carter always keeps a second exit behind the storage room.””
Raymond pointed toward the rear entrance.
They moved.
But before they reached the door, Angela stopped.
A small security camera was mounted above the frame.
She looked at Raymond.
“It's live.””
A loudspeaker crackled.
Samuel Carter's voice filled the building.
“Sheriff Whitaker, I know you're outside.””
Raymond froze.
Carter laughed.
“You really should have checked your mother's house before coming here.””
Then the lights switched on.
The storage room door opened.
And Carter stepped outside holding Eleanor's photograph.
“Come on in, Raymond.””
May you like
He smiled.
“Your family has waited twenty-three years for a reunion.””
