Chapter 39

THIRTY-NINE

TUESDAY

Sleep comes in fits. It's like being paralyzed and running possibilities through your mind like a black-and-white film. The storm gave up hours ago and moved south. I lie on the bed with my mind churning like a vortex. It dissipates as the door opens and Ronnie rushes in.

"Meg, you need to come downstairs." She takes off without waiting for me. I haul myself out of bed and tap my phone on, the screen glare dazzling my eyes before they adjust to see that it's 2:12am.

Rebecca and Ronnie are pacing in the kitchen, and there's no sign of Jack. "What's up?" I ask.

Rebecca touches an icon on her phone and a voice comes through. A man's voice. Deep and undisguised.

"Hi, Rebecca. I guess you know who this is. Don't talk. Just listen." There's a short pause. "If you go to your mailbox where I left the pictures, you'll find a present. I've warned you and your police friends to stop. You've caused this. Only you can stop it.

"After you open your gift, you'll believe. I will kill your mother if I don't get the money. But since you seem to ignore me, I'll send another gift, and another, until you comply. The price has gone up. I told your father two million. Now it's ten million and I don't want any more excuses or delays. Let's just say, her life depends on it.

"I'll be in touch unless cops are still involved."

The call ends. I ask, "Where's Jack?" He's got some explaining to do. There was a ransom demand and he's received pictures. He's lied the whole time.

The front door opens and closes, and we all stand, staring as Jack comes in the kitchen. He's unsteady on his feet, holding a legal envelope that is stained red. Rebecca is closest and steers him to a chair. His legs give out and he plops down on the seat.

"You're scaring us, Dad. What is it?" Ronnie says.

Jack pours the contents of the envelope onto the kitchen table, and Rebecca puts a hand over her mouth and backs away from the table like she's just seen a snake. Ronnie just stares. It's the gift the kidnapper promised. A pinky finger with chipped red nail polish, red raw tissue, white bone. Blood has soaked into the envelope.