Retirement Can Be Murder

CHAPTER 39

It was the second time that day that Jake was stuck inside a closet, assuming he was inside a closet. He couldn’t really know. But when he tried to kick his legs out, he felt something hard stop them. It could have been a car trunk. Or a box. Anything. It didn’t really matter since he couldn’t get out. Because of the duct tape, he could only breathe through his nose. He was glad he didn’t have a cold.

He had time to think about what had happened. He hadn’t seen anything, only a blur of shadows and colors. All he could remember was wincing. It was different than on the beach. The hits were lighter and faster. And whoever it was had tried to attack him anywhere they could. It was different in other ways, too-this time he hadn’t been rescued. He pushed his legs hard against the wall. Nothing gave. He was too tired to try to kick it open.

Then he heard a voice.

“He’s out cold.”

He’d recognize it anywhere. Kaylie.

“Do you think I’d even call you if he was conscious? I’m alone now, yeah. But he’s locked in the closet. And he won’t wake up any time soon.”

She was on the phone. Someone else must have knocked him out and left her to finish the job-she was strong, but not that strong. Or that big. She sounded more serious than normal, and definitely more afraid.

“I told you, it’s just me. We tied him up.”

He tried to sit up and did. He wasn’t as sore as when he’d been attacked on the beach. Maybe he hadn’t been hit as hard. Or maybe he was used to it. He didn’t want to be used to getting attacked. Kaylie spoke again and sounded closer to the closet.

“No. Nothing. We looked through his wallet. Just money and credit cards. The last outgoing call on his phone was to you. Did you get it?”

He nodded. His last outgoing call had been to the Saving Tomorrow Initiative’s line. They must have had Caller ID and known not to answer his number.

“Yeah. I’m going to leave the note on the bed.”

She was going to leave. Would she let him go?

“I’ll call his editor in twenty minutes. Yeah, I’ll do it from the payphone. He’ll send somebody over.”

Jake almost laughed. It might be worth it to make Thompson help him. Then he’d get to write his story, too. When Kaylie spoke again she sounded angrier.

“No. He doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

A pause.

“No, he doesn’t. He liked me.”

He could hear her pacing across his carpet.

“Whatever. I’m calling the editor. They should know anyway…Yes, I know you’re my boss…Yes, I know. But he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

Jake tried to lean closer to the door without letting her know he was awake. He pressed his ear against something. He hoped it was in the right direction.

“I know,” she said. “I just would like to tell him.”

Tell him what?

“It’s fine. He’ll figure it out when I’m gone. I already packed everything. I just wish he knew…”

He tasted the glue on the duct tape and tried twisting his hands free, but they were bound too tight. He barely had circulation. He realized his legs were taped at the knees as well.

“I told you, that was all he had. He was carrying an old wooden duck too. But he didn’t have any information about you, or anything like that.”

If he could breathe he would have sighed. She hadn’t figured out how to open the duck. He still had that. At least he could write his story when all of this was over. And he was going to make sure to include her in it.

“OK. I’ll leave now…don’t worry. I won’t.”

Silence. He heard her moving around the room and wondered if she wore her bikini for this type of job. Or shoes. Then he heard the closet door open. He slouched back as quickly as possible. Something warm was near his face. A hand. He stayed still so she wouldn’t know he was awake. Then her mouth was down at his ear.

“I’m sorry, Jake. I didn’t want to, but they made me.”

Soft. Her lips against his temple, just for a second. Then she closed the door. He jerked back up to plant his ear against it and heard a knocking sound.

There was another knock. Then another. It started getting faster and faster.

“Damn it,” Kaylie said. The knocking continued and he heard a deep voice that sounded garbled.

“Mr. Russo, this is the police! Open up!”

More knocks, then everything happened quickly. He heard the outer door open. Another sound. And then Kaylie screamed as the outer door slammed shut.

“Stop!” she screamed. “Stop, stop.”

“Where is my friend Jacob?”

He couldn’t believe it, but Gary Novak was in the apartment. Kaylie screamed again.

“He’s here. Please, just stop.”

“I’ll stop, but you show me where he is.”

“How am I supposed to show you where he is when I can’t see?”

“Where is he?”

“Over there, over there.”

Jake heard the closet door open. Then he screamed through the tape. All the hair on his wrists had just been ripped off. Gary grabbed his hands.

“Jacob, I took the tape on your wrists off very quickly. Like you do with a band-aid. Otherwise you’d never get it off.”

Before he could stop him, Gary grabbed at his cheek. The tape ripped away from his mouth and he screamed. He wouldn’t have to worry about shaving. Maybe ever again.

“How did you get here? What’s happening?”

“Just wait. We have to get to your eyes.”

“No.”

“We have no choice.”

Jake lifted his hands to his eyes and blocked Gary, barely in time.

“The tape on my eyes will come off slow. I like having eyebrows.”

“Fine.” He sounded disappointed.

“Where’s Kaylie? Don’t let her leave.”

“You know this girl?”

“Yes.” He ripped the tape off his ankles. “At least I thought I did.”

“Well, we’re going to learn a lot more.”

“How’s that?”

“She isn’t going anywhere.”

“How do you know?”

“Trust me.”

“Can you get me a wash cloth and wet it. I need to get this tape off my eyes before she escapes.”

“I can just rip it off. I’m strong enough”

“No.” He pushed his hands in the direction of Gary’s voice.

Gary got him the washcloth and he wet his face. Water leaked in and the tape started to loosen.

“Scissors?”

Gary handed them over. Jake pulled the tape out and cut by his nose. Then he slowly peeled it away. He rubbed his eyes and felt the glue still stuck to his skin in a thin layer.

“All right. Do you see the tape she used?”

Kaylie finally said something.

“I’ll just go. I’m sorry.”

He looked over. Her eyes were shut and her face was covered in something brown. She was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, just like the first day he saw her.

“Oh no,” he said. “You aren’t getting off that easy.”

He found her purse and grabbed it. A half roll of tape was inside. She tried to kick when he bound her ankles. She was barefoot, of course. And she was strong, but not strong enough. He leaned over her and grabbed her arms while he pressed down her legs. He taped them tight, but not as tightly as they’d bound him. She couldn’t leave now.

“Did you get her, Jacob?”

“I got her.”

“Good. I brought another washcloth for your eyes.”

He rubbed it against his face. Removing the sticky substance was like cleaning up spilled soda. He rubbed his red hands and ankles. He was still wearing the dirty sweat stained t-shirt. It was ripped now, too. He limped to his desk and got his notebook. Predictably, she’d gone through it. He picked up a pen and started writing. After a few lines, he looked up at Kaylie.

“You’re in trouble.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Well, I’m going to,” he said. “Gary, sit down. We’re going to find out what happened.”