Midnight Rambler: A Novel of Suspense

“Tell me where you are, and I'll come and help you.”

“I'm hanging in the closet of some fucking Cuban guy's house. I pulled my cell phone out of my purse with my toes. You gotta help me.”

“Is that why you didn't want me calling you back?”

“Yeah.”

“Did this Cuban guy kidnap you from your apartment?”

“Yeah. There were two of them.”

“What does the Cuban guy look like?”

“I don't fucking know.”

“Think hard. Does he have a scar running down the side of his face?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you know where the house is?”

“Somewhere in western Broward. You gotta find me, Jack.”

“I'm trying to. Do whatever he tells you to do. Okay?”

“I'm sorry for what I said on the radio. He made me. I yelled out a couple of times, but somehow it got bleeped out.”

“It's okay, Melinda. It's okay.”

“You sure?”

“Of course I'm sure.”

“This guy said he's going to kill me.”

“He told you that?”

“Yeah. But he said he was going to wait.”

“Did he say why?”

“He said he's waiting for Skell to come back. Skell wants to be there when I die.”

I realized what this meant. Melinda would be kept alive by her captors until Skell was out of prison and back in Fort Lauderdale. I could still save her.

“Do you have any idea where you're being kept?”

“Some black guy's house.”

“Do you know the address, or a street name?”

“No. Will you do something for me?”

“Sure, whatever you want.”

“Feed Razz.”

“Who's that?”

“My cat. I don't want him to die.”

“I was in your apartment yesterday. I put a bowl of food out for him.”

“Thanks.”

The music grew louder, the song's four distinct tempo changes picking up speed, driving the melody into my brain like a runaway train. Melinda began to weep. I tried to find something positive to say but came up empty. Finally the song ended.

“Jack, are you still there?”

“Yes, Melinda.”

“I need to tell you something.”

“I'm listening.”

“I love you.”

I didn't know how to respond to these words, and shut my eyes.

“Jack.”

“Yes, Melinda.”

“Do you love me?”

Chances were, I would never see her again. She knew this, and so did I.

“Yes, Melinda.”

“Say it. Please.”

“I love you, Melinda.”

“I knew it.”

I heard five short beeps. Melinda shrieked.

“My battery's dying!”

I tried to tell her to stay strong, and found myself talking to a dead phone.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

I buried my face in my hands. The image of Melinda hanging in a killer's closet was tearing me apart. I had gotten her into this mess, and it was my responsibility to get her out.

Only I didn't know how.

The clock on my dash said it was eleven. I decided to call Scott Saunders in Tampa to see if the FBI had matched the Hispanic abductor in Skell's gang against the faces of any known sexual predators. If the FBI could tell me the Hispanic's identity, I could track him down and rescue Melinda. It was a big if, but it was all I had left.

I called Saunders's cell number and got voice mail. I explained my dilemma and left my number. Then I folded my phone and waited for him to call back.

Several cars appeared in the parking lot. Three teenagers wearing McDonald's uniforms went into the restaurant. Then a low-slung Acura coupe squealed in, and a guy with spiked hair and a necktie hurried inside. The night crew had arrived.

I heard my stomach growl. I hadn't eaten dinner. Worse, I hadn't fed my dog. I glanced at Buster and saw his little tail wag.

I entered the drive-through and faced an illuminated menu with too many choices. Lowering my window, I addressed the order box.

“Ready when you are.”

“Welcome to McDonald's,” a perky female voice said through the box's speaker. “Would you like to try our dinner combo?”

“What's that?”

“One Big Mac, one bacon–double cheeseburger, one regular fries, and a soft drink for four dollars and ninety-nine cents.”

“I'll take two of them. Skip the sodas, and give me a large coffee instead.”

“Would you like an ice cream sundae with that?”

“No thanks.”

“They're really good.”

She was too cheerful, and I made a face at the order box.

“That will be ten dollars and seventy cents,” she said. “Will you be paying with cash or a credit card?”

“Cash.”

“Please drive forward. Thank you for eating at McDonald's.”