The Best Laid Plans1
Shelby Sheppard walked across the street toward the run-down apartment building where she lived. Without using a key, she opened the door and walked inside. It was supposed to be a secure building, but the door latch broke about a year ago, and the landlord still hadn’t gotten around to fixing it.2
As usual the elevator was broken, so she climbed the stairs to her apartment on the fourth floor. The smells from the stairwell turned her stomach; there was the unmistakable stench of urine, and the scent du jour….was that vomit? She nearly gagged. Real nice- I can’t wait to get out of this place.
She walked down the hall. A man was shouting, and she heard the sound of breaking glass and a woman crying. The asshole in 4A was beating his wife again. She put her head down and hurried past their door to apartment 4C and entered.3
It was a small studio apartment. In the middle of the room sat a double bed covered with a faded blue comforter. The mattress, which sagged in the middle, groaned and creaked under the slightest weight, as if in protest. Flat, lumpy pillows were propped up against a rusty metal headboard. Adjacent to the bed was a kitchen area with a hot plate and a small, two foot high refrigerator; its motor clunked and hummed with an unnatural rhythm. Between the bed and the fridge, Shelby rarely enjoyed a good night sleep. 4
“Palmer?” she called.5
Palmer stepped out from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair dripping wet.6
“Well?” he pressed. 7
"I got the job."8
Palmer grinned and crossed the room; he pulled her toward him and kissed her. “I knew you could do it, baby.”9
She pulled away from him, agitated. “I was so scared, Palmer. You have no idea. I was afraid they’d see right through me, or that those references wouldn’t check out.”10
“I told you there was nothin’ to worry about Shelby. I got enough guys who owe me, I knew they’d come through with the references. So, when do you start?”11
“Tomorrow.They’ll have a room all ready for me. Shit, you should see their house; it’s frickin’ huge! This whole apartment could fit in their front entrance,” she said. “I could totally get used to it.”12
“Ya, well don’t go getting too comfy. You’re only gonna be there long enough to earn their trust before we nab the kid.” 13
“Ya, I know,” she said. “You don’t have to remind me.” 14
He tucked a strand of her long brown hair behind her ear, and clasped her shoulders. “When this is all over, baby, I’ll buy you an even bigger house.”15
Shelby was desperate for a better life. She hated their tiny apartment with its dirty old carpet and walls yellowed with age. She hated waitressing at the bar, where drunks were always trying to grope her, telling her how pretty she was, acting as though she should appreciate the attention. They disgusted her. They reminded her of the men her mom would bring home - the way they used to look at her, like wolves, their hungry glances watching, waiting for an opportunity to devour her. When she was fourteen, one of them snuck into her room, while her mom was passed out, drunk, on the sofa. She was startled out of sleep to find she was pinned under his weight, his meaty, nicotine stained hands clamped over her mouth. She could still remember how he smelled of whiskey and sweat and cigarettes, how he grunted with pleasure, asking her if she liked it. She never fought back, and she hated herself for that almost as much as she hated him. She ran away the next day.16
“Palmer, do you really wanna go through with this?” 17
“Shit Shelby! I need you on board with this. It ain’t gonna work if you keep acting like a scared fuckin’ rabbit!” he shouted. “Do you wanna live like this?” He waved his arm around. “I’m doing this for us!”18
She sat on the bed, shoulders slumped. “I know Palmer,” she said, “but what happens if something goes wrong?” 19
“Nothin’s gonna go wrong. Fuck! How many times do we gotta go through this?” He threw his wet towel on the floor and put on some boxer shorts, all the while speaking slowly, enunciating every word, as though he were talking to an idiot. “We pick the night--then wait until the parents go out. You’ll take the kid for a drive to get ice cream, or whatever. Then I steal the car, with the kid inside. I’ll rough you up a bit-- make it look like a car-jacking. His daddy pays the ransom then we head to Mexico. It’s that simple.”20
At the look on Shelby’s face he sat down beside her, changing his tone. “Look, baby, everything’s gonna work out. Don’t worry your pretty head about it. Just do what I say, and everything’ll be fine. Alright?” He looked into her eyes and gave her his most endearing smile. 21
“Alright.” She smiled back. But it wasn’t alright. She was terrified that someone would get hurt or that they would get caught and go to prison. She couldn’t imagine life without Palmer; he was all she had.22
She met Palmer two months after she had run away. She was sleeping on park benches and in the subway, wherever she could find a place to rest for a while. One day, tired and hungry, and absolutely miserable, she walked into a pool hall with the thought of begging for a little change; there he was, in his black leather jacket, dark wavy hair, and that cocky grin. They connected immediately; they were kindred spirits, both looking for a way to escape their past. Palmer wouldn’t talk about the details, but she knew that his dad was in prison for killing his mom, and that he was raised in foster care. He took Shelby in, and for a time they lived on the money he made fencing DVD’s and stereos. Eventually he started working as a chauffeur for a wealthy real estate broker named Steve McGowan. One day, while driving him around, Palmer overheard Steve talking on the phone with his wife, Lenore, about hiring a nanny for their four-year old son, Nathan. That’s when Palmer got the idea to kidnap his employer’s son.23
***24
“Shelby, Shelby. Look what I can do!” 25
Shelby looked up from where she sat on the park bench. Nathan was playing on a tall, curvy slide, but instead of going down he was trying to walk up; his little feet kept slipping, unable to get any traction.26
Afraid that he might get hurt, Shelby stood up calling, “Nathan, get down from there! You’re going to fall.”27
“I won’t fall,” he said, believing - as all little boys do - that he was invincible. He kept climbing.28
Shelby started walking toward him, intent on getting him down, but before she was able to reach him she saw, to her dismay, another little boy about to go down. She tried to call out, but it was too late; the boy slid down, unaware of what was about to happen. He collided with Nathan, sending him flying over the side.29
“Nathan!” Heart in her throat she ran over to him, picked him up off the ground while checking for injuries. His khakis were ripped and his knee was bloody, but there didn’t seem to be any broken bones. He looked up at her, his big blue eyes were watery and his lip quivered, but he didn’t cry. Oh, thank God, he’s alright.
“What did I tell you?” she said, more harshly than she intended. “You could’ve really gotten hurt.”30
He looked up at her with a contrite look on his face. “I’m sorry, Shelby. I won’t do it again.” 31
“It’s alright. I just don’t want you getting hurt." She brushed the dirt off his clothes. “Let’s go. We should head back. It’s almost time for dinner; your mom and dad will be home soon.” 32
She took his hand and they walked slowly back to Nathan’s house.33
She had been Nathan’s live-in nanny for six months now. It was Palmer’s idea that she remain that long; he wanted Steve and Lenore to trust her completely. The plan rested on the fact that she wouldn’t be a suspect when Nathan was taken. If they suspected her, she would be arrested immediately and they would not have the time to escape to Mexico. They had worked out every single detail; it was a good plan. The problem was - Shelby had come to care for the McGowan’s, especially Nathan. In the beginning she had tried to remain aloof, knowing what her intentions were, but she spent every day with them and it was impossible to remain detached. They included her in everything: family meals, movie night, game night, even the trip they had made to Disney Land. In the car on the way there they had played eye spy and the license plate game and, corny as it was, she loved every minute of it. For the first time in her life, Shelby felt like she was part of a family. 34
She didn’t want to hurt these people; she was torn between her feelings for them and her love and loyalty to Palmer. He had started pressuring her to move ahead with their plan. She had been stalling, making up excuses, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold him off for long.35
***36
After dinner that night Shelby sat in the media room with the McGowans watching Charlotte’s Web. Part way through the movie, Nathan had crawled up onto Shelby’s lap and fallen asleep. Her heart was breaking. She felt trapped; she no longer wanted to go forward with the plan but she knew if she didn’t she would lose Palmer. 37
When the movie was over, Shelby offered to tuck Nathan into bed. She carried the still sleeping boy to his room, laid him on the bed, and pulled the covers up over his little shoulders. He stirred and slowly opened his eyes. His voice was croaky from sleep. “I love you Shelby,” he said.38
With a baseball-sized lump in her throat she kissed him on his soft warm cheek. “I love you too," she said and then quickly left the room.39
She walked down the hall and entered her room, closing the heavy oak door behind her. Crossing the thickly carpeted floor, she entered the adjacent bathroom, enjoying the feel of the cool travertine under her bare feet. She ran herself a hot bath and sank gratefully into the tub, laying her head back against the cool porcelain. She lay there, listening to the crackling of the lavender scented bubbles, while the steam gently opened her pores. Allowing her limbs to become weightless, she floated amongst the bubbles, and contemplated her situation. She tried to find a way out that would work for everyone. She stayed that way until the water had turned cold, and the tips of her fingers had wrinkled; yet no solution had come to her.40
Back in her room, wrapped in a bathrobe, Shelby prepared for bed. She pulled back the covers, removed her robe, tossing it on the chair near the bed. At that moment her cell phone rang. She nearly jumped, her nerves were so frayed. Oh God it’s Palmer. She considered ignoring it, but the ringing seemed to grow more insistent, and she knew he would just keep calling. Reluctantly she answered. 41
“Hey Palmer”42
“What took you so long?” He sounded irritated.43
“I was just putting Nathan to bed,” she lied. 44
“Whatever. Anyhow, let’s get this thing done. I overheard Steve talking on the phone today--he’s taking Lenore to the ballet on Thursday.”45
“Palmer..........” she hesitated, “we don’t have to do this, you know. I mean, it’s never gonna work. Why don’t we just forget.....”46
“Are you fuckin’ kidding me?” he shouted. “You wanna forget about it? And what then Shelby? You wanna keep working as their nanny, while I keep driving that rich asshole around? Is that what you want?”47
“He’s not an asshole, Palmer. He’s a nice man. They’re a good family.”48
“They’re a good family,” he mimicked. “What has gotten into you?”49
“Nothing. I just think we got it pretty good right now --”50
“You mean you’ve got it pretty good right now. You’re there living like a princess while I gotta go home to that shit-hole apartment every night.”51
“Well we’re making enough money now, between the two of us, we can get a nicer --“52
“I’m sick of talking about this. We’re doin’ this Thursday night. Meet me at the Dairy Dip by 8:00, or I’m comin’ there and takin’ the kid myself. Got it?” 53
“Alright--sorry. I’ll be there.”54
She hung up the phone; it was clear now what she had to do. She left her room and walked down the wide, curving staircase to the main floor. A light was on in the library. Steve and Lenore often stayed up late, reading. As she entered the room, they both looked up from their books. Seeing the look on her face Lenore said, “Shelby, are you okay?”55
Shelby stood there, mute. Her mouth was dry and her lips were stuck to her teeth. She ran her tongue across them, back and forth, trying to generate some moisture. She looked first at Lenore, then Steve. They waited, watching her with expectant looks on their faces. Just say it. She released a shaky breath. “We need to talk.”56
***57
Thursday evening arrived. Steve and Lenore had left the house about an hour before. Nathan was sitting on the floor in the family room, playing with some spider man action figures. Time to get this over with. She walked over to where he was playing, crouched down beside him and tapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, you wanna go get some ice cream?” she asked.58
“Can I have chocolate?”59
“You can have any flavour you want.” I just hope you can forgive me.
She helped Nathan with his coat and shoes, and they left the house. She buckled him into the back seat of the Acura that the McGowan’s had purchased for her use, then she took her place behind the wheel and slowly backed out of the driveway.60
Shelby pulled up to the Dairy Dip. She didn’t see any sign of Palmer. Maybe he changed his mind. She prayed that was true, but she knew in her heart that he hadn’t. She unbuckled Nathan and led him into the shop. With so many different flavours, he had a difficult time choosing, but after what seemed like an eternity he finally settled on Oreo cookie.61
They walked back and sat in the car, licking their cones. Shelby sat with the engine off and the doors unlocked, as Palmer had instructed. She wondered how hard he would hit her; he had said it needed to look authentic. 62
“Mine’s good,” said Nathan, “is yours?”63
“Hmmm....what? Uh,ya, mine’s good too, sweetie.”64
She was barely listening. She was terrified. Her hands shook so badly she almost dropped her cone. Oh God, Palmer, please, please don’t show.
At that moment the driver’s door was yanked open; someone grabbed her and pulled her from the car. Palmer. It was happening. She landed hard, on the ground, her ice cream knocked from her hand. She saw that he was wearing a ski mask, and carrying....a gun? Palmer never said anything about a gun. Was it loaded? 65
“Give me your keys!” He ripped them from her hand and then he kicked her in the ribs. She screamed; that was the cue.66
In a heartbeat, six police cars appeared as if from nowhere, lights flashing. Police were everywhere. “Freeze! Drop the gun!” one of them yelled. Palmer did as he was told and then three officers had him down on the ground, face pressed into the asphalt, hands behind his back. He was cuffed and then yanked off the ground. 67
“Palmer Gillespie, you are under arrest for attempted kidnapping. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have an attorney present during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”68
He strained his head to look at Shelby; a red haired officer was helping her up. “You Bitch!” Palmer screamed.69
Shelby flinched at the hatred in his voice. She turned away as Palmer was shoved into the back of a squad car.70
“Are you hurt?” the officer asked. More than you know. But she shook her head no, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. Then he placed her hands behind her back, cuffing her. “Shelby Sheppard, you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit kidnapping.......”71
She looked over to her right, where Steve and Lenore stood, holding Nathan, who was crying, not fully understanding what was happening.72
Lenore mouthed the words thank-you. All she could do was smile weakly. The officer settled her into the back seat of another squad car. She could hear Nathan crying frantically, “Why are they taking Shelby? Where is she going? Shelby!”73
In the back seat of the car Shelby put her head back and wept.74
***75
Shelby sat on a cold metal chair in the visitor’s area. Sitting across from her, on the other side of the plexi-glass partition was Lenore McGowan. Shelby picked up her phone receiver; Lenore did the same. This was the first time they had met since the night of her arrest. They sat for a while in awkward silence.76
Finally Lenore smiled gently. “You don’t look so bad in those clothes,” she said.77
“Orange was always a good colour for me,” Shelby said ruefully, grateful for the light conversation. “How’s Nathan?”78
“He’s fine. He misses you very much. He wanted me to show you this.” She opened her purse and pulled out a picture that Nathan had drawn, holding it up so Shelby could see it. The stick figures faintly resembled Shelby and Nathan. Nathan’s hair was green, and Shelby’s eyes appeared lopsided, but they were both smiling. 79
Shelby wiped tears from her eyes. “Thank you." Her voice was shaky. “Tell Nathan I said it was beautiful.”80
Again there was awkward silence. Then Lenore spoke, “The guard said I only had 10 minutes, so I won’t take long. I just….I wanted to tell you that we are so very grateful that you came forward. When I think about what might have happened……” She paused for a moment, too emotional to speak. “Anyway, I know what you gave up for us. Steve and I talked to the DA; he is willing to give you immunity in exchange for your testimony. Once this is all over you’ll be free, Shelby”81
Shelby smiled sadly. Free, yes, but at what cost?82
Gold trophy winner
Adding your comment:
You have the believability factor pegged in all your writing. You are an easy read, it flows so well. I'm glad you avoided the fairytale ending; Shelby avoiding arrest and living happily-ever-after with her employer's family. She faced a moral crisis, but she did the right thing. That usually makes a hero in any story, even if they lose.
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