The nervous judge squeezed the cell phone in his hand like it was a rubber ball. The cell phone was saturated in sweat perspiring from his hand. He glanced at his Rolex. It was 11PM. Just one more hour and the kidnapper would call giving instructions of how to deliver the ransom money. The judge sat at the edge of the bed of his spacious hotel room wondering if he could put his trust in the FBI. The agents assured him that they had scoured the entire hotel and Tina was not in the building.
Federal agents swarmed around judge Anderson dressing him up like he was a Hollywood star about to go on stage. Paul sat at the edge of the bed next to him putting his hand on the judge's shoulder to comfort him.
"We're going to put a wireless hidden cam inside your tie. The lens is the size of a pin hole. The kidnapper will never see it." Paul showed him the miniature wireless camera which was about the size of a nickle." It also has audio so we'll be watching and listening to everything that's going on."
Carter stood at the window aloof from Paul drinking a hot cup of coffee and watching the late night fishermen on the lake. He was tired of competing with Paul who proved to be a whole lot smarter. He wished he still had Travis and he felt a little incredulous on whether or not Paul was gay. Another agent walked into the hotel room carrying a bullet proof vest.
"I think this one ought to fit." Said the tall blond haired agent setting it on the bed. (The portly judge had tried on a bullet proof vest on earlier but it was too small.) Paul noticed there was little black hairs growing out of the mole on the judge's neck and he quickly averted his eyes to keep from getting grossed out. The judge was still squeezing the cell phone with all his might while staring down at the carpet.
Just then the phone belonging to the hotel room started ringing. The call caught everyone off guard and everyone froze and remained quiet. They had already tapped the hotel room phone just in case the kidnapper decided to call it rather than the judge's cell phone.
Agent Sanders put on his headset and pushed the record button getting ready to monitor the call. After the third ring the judge stood up from the bed and walked over to the phone. Before he picked it up he looked at Paul. Paul gave him a thumbs up and the judge swallowed hard then reluctantly picked up the phone.
"Hello?" He said nearly choking on his own words. The judge nervously twiddled the phone cord with his index finger.
"Hey, is Al there? Last name Coholic?" The judge could hear a bunch of little kids laughing in the background. He looked over at Agent Sanders who cracked a smile then shrugged his shoulders. The kids were still laughing in the background.
The judge grunted." Listen you little punks, you're going to be in big trouble. Let me talk to your parents."
The little boy at the other end of the line paused for a second and then said," Umm..uh..you stink!"
The phone went dead. The judge slammed the phone down in frustration. Paul walked over and put a hand on his shoulder." It's okay, don't worry about it. Just some kids having some fun." The judge wanted to cry but he held back the tears. Carter walked away from the window and took a seat next to the judge on the bed. He finished his last few sips of coffee then looked over the judge and wondered how he would hold up." Look, this guy is no ordinary thug, he's tricky. He might have you walk across a bridge or get on a train we don't really know..."
The judge cut him off." What if he sees you guys he might take off and I'll never see my daughter."
Carter crushed the empty coffee cup in his hands. “Don't worry about that. Our undercover agents know what they're doing. We'll give you plenty of space. We installed a tracking device inside one of the stacks of hundred dollar bills. We also have a tracking device inside the briefcase itself."
The judge loosened his grip on the cell phone." Where are you going to be?"
Paul interrupted this time. " There's an unmarked van parked out front. You know like the kind you see in the movies where they do stake outs. Carter and I will be inside it watching and listening to everything. We also have undercover agents evenly dispersed up and down the streets disguised as pedestrians watching your back."
The judge looked down to check his Rolex when suddenly the door swung open and a foxy brunet with long legs wearing a red dress quickly accosted the judge while holding a lap top." May I?" She said looking at Carter. Carter immediately rose from the bed offering her his seat. She sat down next to the judge and a lovely scent of perfume infiltrated the room. The expensive perfume made the judge a little dizzy but also gave him solace. The foxy lady opened the lap top." My name is Patricia Koltex. I'm afraid I have some bad news."
The judge sat up straight ready to brace himself for the bad news. Patricia turned on the computer screen and a mug shot picture of a man came on the display. The man in the mug shot had dark slicked back hair and an evenly trimmed goatee. The stony look in the man's eyes made him look vaguely familiar.
"Do you recognize this man?" Asked Patricia.
The judge stared at the mug shot intently." Yes, but I'm not sure from where." Replied the judge.
"We did a thorough background check on your butler. This is him in 1985."
The judge cupped his hands over his mouth." Do you mean Alfred?"
Patricia snorted a quick chuckle." Well, that may have been the name he gave you but his real name is Juan Chavez. He did 10 years in state prison out in California for molesting a little girl."
The judge felt sick to his stomach. Alfred was like family which they trusted for a long time. Then he wondered if the butler ever did anything to Tina when she was little. He'd been their butler for 10 years.
" I'm sorry to have been the one to tell you this." Said Patricia closing up the lap top and giving Carter back his seat. The judge got on his cell phone and dialed home as fast as he could. His wife answered the phone." Maud, it's me Tom. Yes I'm still in Chicago. Listen, call the police and have them remove Alfred from the house. I don't know if he has anything to do with this or not. I'll explain later. Just tell him he's fired. I love you too. Goodbye."
The judge hung up the phone and stared out the window. It was going to be a very long night.