Ransom

It's been forty-eight hours now. I sent the ransom note two hours after I took her. And I haven't contacted them since. I like to make them sweat it out first. When their child's been gone for forty-eight hours, you know they're thinking that she's already dead. So when the parents get the call, they're overwhelmed with relief and a desire to pay. I'm going to make the call in just
a minute.1

I've done this seven times now; I know what I'm doing. I've never even come close to getting caught and all seven parents have paid up. I've never even had to kill any of the kids. Sure I've lopped off a toe here, a finger there. One little bastard was such a shit I actually enjoyed removing his left ear and his index finger. Not surprisingly, he was very docile after that. My own alternative to Ritalin, if you will.2

To date, I've collected almost half a million dollars in ransom. Not bad for two years work, in six different states. But this time it's the motherload. This is the one I retire on. Jessica Lily Hawthorne, precocious media darling, progeny of the famed shiping magnate James Oliver Hawthorne, lies tied up on the mattress in the bedroom. 3

How I got her was a master feat of planning, timing, bribery and blackmail. And alot of skill if I do say so myself. I followed the little bitch for two months, learning every minute detail of her schedule. I learned who her bodyguards were, where they were from, their wives names and luckily, in the case of her lead bodyguard Bobby Jansen, even what their boyfriends names were.4

That was a stroke of luck I never expected. The tough as nails, battle hardened warrior Jansen crumbled faster than grandma's apple pie crust when I presented him with the video. Photographs can be faked, but video speaks the truth everytime. It's kinda pitiful to watch a grown man cry and beg but it's pretty enjoyable too.5

I promised him I wouldn't hurt her and that she'd be home in no time once I got the money and that was all it took. Actually I probably coulda told him that I was gonna sell her into the white slavery trade and I don't think he woulda cared as long as I destroyed the video. 6

I've used the same trick a couple times before. You'd be amazed at how many people have dirty little secrets like that. My last job I didn't even have to kidnap the kid. I was researching that one and I found out that the kid's stepmother used to be a man. Can you frickin' believe that shit? The beautiful Mrs. Bunny St. Clair used to be the buff Mr. Gerry Daniels. You better believe
she handed over a hundred grand without even a peep.7

Anyhows, with the help of that fairy bodyguard it was a simple snatch and grab and the little blonde brat was all mine. And now it's time to get paid. Hawthorne is worth eassily a couple hundred million, so I gotta figure his one and only child has gotta be worth at least ten to him.8

So I'm gonna ransom her for two. What? your thinking. You just said ten! Do you know why most kidnappers get caught? They want too much money. A man like James Hawthorne can liquidate two million dollars in an hour, but he'd have a much harder time getting ten million in cash. To get that kinda money would
raise all kinds of questions and they wouldn't be able to stop the FBI from getting involved.9

So far, in all my kidnappings, I have never had a parent involve the FBI. The ransom note always lets them know what will happen if they do. That's why I have never been caught. They pay. Always. It may cost a finger or a toe or an ear, but they pay.10

"Hawthorne residence." I make the call now. Hawthorne blusters and threatens and curses me for an animal, but they always do. You gotta break a man like that, he's too used to having control. I can hear his wife sobbing in the background as he rants on at me, but both his screaming and her annoying hiccuping cries cease immediately when I shoot my gun off and simultaneously pinch the little bitch's arm to make her scream.11

That was just a warning I tell him and he becomes much more agreeable after that. Maybe I won't have to carve body parts off of this one and that almost makes me sad. I might do it anyways, just for kicks. He tries to give me the old 'I need time to get the money' shit but clams up pretty quick when I tell him that I'll give him ten minutes for every finger his daughter has.12

I check on the kid and she's still out cold. The Zopitan I gave her will keep her unconscious for at least another six hours. Plenty of time. I handcuff her to the dresser just in case and head out. I'm meeting Bobby Jansen in twenty minutes for the ransom. I've got all the angles covered. Hawthorne trusts Jansen; he's been with him since the kid was born. Guess Hawthorne should ask better questions in the interview. 'Do you suck dick?' woulda been alot more useful than 'Do you work well as part of a team?'13

Jansen's waiting when I get there. He's alone as instructed. I'm not worried, the oversized fag knows I still got the video so he won't be trying anything stupid. 'Where's the girl?' he wants to know. There's a briefcase full of freedom in his hands.14

'She's safe.' I tell him. 'I'll call you with her location an hour from now, once I've got my money.'15

He takes two unexpected steps forward and hamfists me in the head. I'm seeing stars and drop to the ground, fumbling for the gun at my waist. But he's quicker than me and his is already at my head.16

'I've got the tape' I scream at him. 'You don't step off and my partner will make sure your wife gets it!' I don't have a partner, I work alone. Always have but he doesn't know that. The tape's back at the apartment with the kid, sitting on the table. Didn't figure I'd need it.17

He cocks the gun, I can hear the deathly click against my head, actually feel the vibration of the bullet slipping into the chamber. This is not going exactly as planned.18

'I told my wife earlier today, you scum.' he says and there's disgust dripping from every word. 'I told Mr Hawthorne, I told my kids, hell I even called my priest and told him. Did you really think I was gonna let you harm that child, the child I've protected from the day she was born just to keep living my lie? Yeah I helped you take her and for that may God forgive me, but I'm making it right now.'19

Aw crap. Looks like I found the one faggot bodyguard in the world with a conscience. But I still got an ace. I know where the kid is and he doesn't. 'You better drop the gun.' I tell him. It's hard to sound tough when you're on your knees with the cold steel of a nine millimeter jabbing in your ear but I think I pulled it off. 'If my partner doesn't hear from me in twenty minutes, he's gonna shoot that little bitch.'20

'If I don't hear where she is from you in the next twenty seconds, you're a dead man.' he says and his tone leaves me no doubt that's he means it. His voice doesn't tremor, his hand is steady and there is no false bravado here. 21

So I tell him where the kid is. What else can I do? I have no cards left to play. Ten years the judge sentences me to and I'm still laughing. Hell, if they knew about the other six I'd be in for life. Good behavior and I'll be out in four, maybe five. Better keep an eye on your kids.22

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