A King's ransom

20

Mom and I had a quiet dinner at home. She didn’t ask much about my visit with Grandma, and I didn’t tell her about my meeting with Agent Huitt. The last thing I wanted to do was add to her worries the night before my flight to Bogota.

We ate in the kitchen, a break with family tradition. When I was growing up, we always ate dinner in the dining room. That empty space at the head of the table-Dad’s space-was something Mom didn’t want to see. We sat on barstools at the granite counter, both of us picking at a tuna casserole one of her friends had brought over.

“You and Alex all ready to go?” she asked.

“We’re ready.”

“I figured as much. I’m sure she’s done this many times.”

“Too many.”

Mom sipped her sparkling water. Her obstetrician had told her to cut out the caffeine, so San Pellegrino with lemon was now her drink of choice. “She doesn’t think you’ll be in the way, does she?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Why would I be in the way?”

“You’re another person she has to worry about.”

“We’ve been over it a dozen times. Alex has told me what to wear, how to act, who to talk to, who not to talk to. She’s handpicked our hotel, she’s rented a car so we don’t have to jump into taxis with strangers. Yesterday she sat down with me for an hour, going over what’s safe and what’s not safe. She even drew maps of the exact routes we’ll travel. She used to live in Bogota. As long as I’m with her and listen to what she says, I’ll be fine.”

Mom didn’t answer. It was her last shot at keeping me home, a feeble one at that. I decided to change the subject.

“Did Dad have a sister?”

She looked up from her plate, a little taken aback by the question. “What?”

“This morning Grandma told me he had a sister.”

“Your grandmother has Alzheimer’s.”

“I know. But she even showed me an old photograph of a girl about five or six.”

“Did she look like his sister?”

“Not especially.”

“Could have been anyone, then.”

“So he didn’t have a sister?”

“None that he’s ever mentioned to me. None that anyone’s ever mentioned, including your grandmother for the twenty-five years I knew her before she started slipping.”

“Strange. She confuses me for Dad. Now she’s created a missing daughter.”

“She’s probably thinking of your sister.”

I thought for a second as I buttered a slice of bread. “When’s the last time she saw Lindsey?”

“A long time, I suppose. But maybe your father planted some ideas in her head about Lindsey separating herself from the family.”

“That’s possible, I suppose.”

“More than possible. For heaven’s sake, your father has been missing for almost two weeks and we still haven’t even talked to Lindsey. We don’t even know where she is.”

“That was the weirdest part with Grandma this morning. She totally blew a gasket when I asked her where this missing daughter was. She lashed out at me-at Dad, in her mind-for even asking the question.”

Mom poured herself more water. “She’s a very confused woman right now.”

“Yeah,” I said, almost speaking to myself. “I’m pretty confused, too.”

The telephone rang. Mom and I exchanged glances, and then I rose to answer. It was Alex.

“What’s up?” I said.

“Bad news, I’m afraid.”

“Did something happen to my father?”

“No, not that. Not directly anyway.”

Mom was ashen. She’d heard my question. I covered the mouthpiece and told her Dad was fine, then continued with Alex. “What is it, then?”

“I’m afraid I won’t be going to Bogota.”

“Have you spoken to the kidnappers? Did they reschedule?”

“No. The meeting’s still on, as scheduled.”

“I don’t understand. Are you saying you want me to go alone?”

“It’s- The insurance company pulled me off the case.”

“Why?”

“I can’t get into that with you. I’m just calling to let you know I won’t be accompanying you on your trip.”

“So who’s the replacement?”

She paused, seeming to struggle. “There is none.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m sorry, Nick. The insurance company is denying coverage on your claim.”

I gripped the phone, not quite comprehending. “We have no negotiator?”

“No.”

“And the ransom will be paid by. .?”

“By you. This is what I’m telling you. There is no coverage. No negotiator, no ransom. All of it-denied.”

“How can this be?”

“I can’t elaborate. I wasn’t even supposed to call you. The insurance company is sending you official notice in accordance with the terms of the policy.”

“Well, isn’t that big of them? In less than forty-eight hours I’m supposed to talk to my father’s kidnappers by shortwave radio from the top of some hill in Bogota that I’ve never even heard of. Where the hell does this leave me?”

“I can’t answer that.”

“Someone needs to answer it. This has to be a mistake.”

“It’s not a mistake.”

“Who can I talk to?”

“I would suggest the company’s general counsel. The lawyers made the final call.”

My heart sank. I was hoping that this was some kind of administrative screw-up. Not likely if the lawyers had already approved the decision.

“Come on, Alex. There has to be something we can do.”

“Believe me, I’ve done everything in my power. I truly hope you have better luck than I did.”

“So that’s it? You’re bowing out?”

“I’m sorry.”

“What about my father?”

“Good-bye, Nick.”

I couldn’t even speak. The line clicked, and the dial tone hummed in my ear. Finally I turned at the sound of my mother’s panicky voice.

“What just happened?”

I looked at her, stunned. “I wish I knew,” was all I could say.