The Merger – 24

 

Mike returned to the bank with Josh at three thirty, as promised. He had already called to ask Osborne to send his secretary on an errand before they arrived. "The less people who know we're going to be there and talking with you, the better." Osborne had agreed.

Josh set up what was needed to trace and record the kidnapper's call, which came exactly at four.

The kidnapper ordered that, the following night, Osborne was to stay after the bank had closed and all the employees had gone home, and he was not to arm the security. He cautioned Osborne that he knew exactly how many employees worked there and if "he and his friends"—as he put it—didn't see all of them leave, the deal was off. He also reiterated what he'd told Osborne at the beginning of the call—that Osborne was to disable the rest of the bank's security—adding that Osborne was to let him inside through the back door once that was done.

When Josh asked, after the call ended, if there were night security guards, Osborne told him that he preferred to rely on the excellent security system that was in place, as humans were both fallible and possibly open to bribery if the price were right. Nodding, Josh agreed with him.

"Something occurred to me after we talked earlier this afternoon, Mr. Harte," Osborne said. "I'll have to notify the security company that I'm going to turn everything off or they'll send someone to check it out. The problem is, I can't think of any excuse for doing that."

"We'll deal with the problem tomorrow, if necessary," Mike replied. "If things go the way we hope and Josh can trace the call, we should be able to get your daughter back tonight."

"Got it," Josh said, several minutes later. "Name and location, although the latter will change as the man moves around."

"Who is he?" Mike asked.

"One Frank Nowell. The call was made from an address on Juniper Street."

"I don't recognize the name. Do you think that's where he lives…or works?" Osborne asked, his expression lighting with hope. "Or even where he's holding Bethany?"

"That's what we intend to find out," Mike replied as Josh packed up. "I'll be in touch with you as soon as we know anything." He nodded when Josh made a writing sign with one finger. "One more thing, which I should have done the first time I was here, Mr. Osborne." He took a contract and an information form from his bag, setting them on Osborne's desk. Osborne read them over, filled in the pertinent information on both forms, then signed. Lastly, he wrote out a check for the retainer, handing it to Mike.

"We'll be in touch," Mike told Osborne, putting the forms and the check into his bag. "With any luck at all, we'll have your daughter back to you before the night is over."