If Angels Fall

SEVENTY-ONE

Sydowski shouted Reed’s name again.

Why was he yelling his name, holding up his phone?

“Tom! Tom, it’s Zach!”

Zach?

But Zach’s kidnapped, how could he be calling? … Zach!

The impact of the call hit Reed like a bullet, nearlyshort-circuiting his brain. He flew across the newsroom, seizing the phone fromSydowski.

“Zach!”

“Dad?” He was crying.

Reed lost his breath. Had to think clearly.

“Zach, where are you?”

“I don’t know. I think we crossed the Bay Bridge.”

“Are you hurt?

“No, but I think he wants to do something bad to us.”

“Us?”

“GET A NUMBER, ADDRESS, AREA CODE,” Sydowski scrawledon the note he thrust into Reed’s face.

“Zach, is there a number — ”

“The other kids are here too, Dad. Gabrielle andDanny.”

“Zach, is there a number on the phone? Something withan address? Can you see any buildings you know? Run to a neighbor?”

Zach left the line and Reed heard him moving thehandset.

“We’re locked in and all it says on the phone is4-1-5.”

“4-1-5? That’s all it says?” Zach was in the city.

“We don’t have a tap up yet! He’s in the city. Tellhim to hang up now and dial 9-1-1. An address will flash for the dispatcher.”

“Daddy, I don’t know what to do.” Zach was whimpering.

“Zach, son, listen to me carefully — ”

“Tom, do it now!”

“Dad? He tricked me, Dad, he tricked me so good. Hesaid Mom was hurt and — ”

Reed gulped. “He lied. Listen — ”

“Now, Tom! Tell him to call 9-1-1 now!”

“Zach, listen to me. Hang up now and — ”

“Hang up! Dad, no! You come and get me!”

“Son, listen, hang up and dial 9-1-1! We’ll get theaddress!”

“Dad, you have to come get me, please!”

“Zach, listen to me! Do as I say!”

“Dad, don’t yell at me.”

Reed covered his face with his free hand.

If only he could reach through the Pacific Bell cablesand pull him to safety. If only he could touch him. He didn’t want to lose himthis time, this was his last chance. His only chance.

Sydowski was talking softly, forcefully, to someone onanother line then turned to him. “Goddamnit, Tom, do it now!”

“Zachary, you do as I tell you! Hang up and dial 9-1-1now!”

“Daddy, I’m afraid.”

“Do it, son, I’m going to hang up!” Reed sniffed.

“Dad, don’t. Daddy! Don’t, please!”

“I love you. Call 9-1-1 now!”

“Dad, he scares me, he going to do something to us!”

Reed squeezed the phone, clinging to the fiber-opticthread connecting him to Zach. The plastic handset cracked under his grip.

“You call 9-1-1 now, or I’m going to kick your butt.Do it!”

Reed slammed the phone down, his heart breaking as heburied his face in his hands. The newsroom was silent, except for a camera’sclicking, and Molly Wilson’s tape recorder being switched off. People hadgathered around Reed’s desk; men muttering curses, women covering their mouths.The lifeline to Zach had slipped through Reed’s fingers, paying out deeper intoan abyss with each second.

Wait until it happens to you.

Sydowski remained on his open line to the 911 supervisor.A minute passed, two, five. The newsroom had caller ID, but Zach’s call hadcome up blocked. Finally ten full minutes ticked by with no 911 call to theemergency line from Zach. It should have come within thirty seconds.

Something had happened. Something went wrong. It wasin Sydowski’s face.

“Tom.” Sydowski squeezed his shoulder gently. “Tom,the fact that Zach called is a good sign for many reasons.”

Reed waited to hear them.

“He’s alive. He’s thinking. And he got to a phone.”

“Why didn’t he call 9-1-1?”

Sydowski shook his head. “It might not have been safefor him to call again.”

“He could make that call in two seconds. I’ll tell youwhat happened — Keller caught him on the phone!”

“You don’t know that and you’re gonna eat yourself upplaying the worst case scenarios, so shut it off.”

“You tell me how.”

“Go home to your wife.”

“I can’t.”

“You can’t?”

“She blames me for this and she’s right.”

“Tom, don’t beat each other up over this. It won’thelp.”

“I can’t go home without Zach. I promised I’d bringhim home.”

Sydowski’s eyes met Reed’s, acknowledging the unspokentruth. Given what they both knew about Edward Keller, the children had lessthan twenty-four hours.

“I’ve got to stay, in case he calls me again. I’llstay here all night and the next night, if that’s what it takes.”

“Okay. Just remember, he hasn’t defeated us. We’re notout of this, not by a goddamn long shot.” He patted Reed’s knee, then left himat his desk.

Molly Wilson approached Reed to console him, but Reedwaved her away. After that, no one dared go near him. He sat alone, waiting forhis phone to ring.