Allyn and Ransom – 9

 

 

Ransom nodded. "What we have—and that's presuming these disappearances are even related—is three young people who vanished after being at a social function for the city's elite. Young people who should have been able to fend off an attacker—"

 

"Except you said Ellis was seen leaving the masked ball with someone," Allyn interjected. "So no attack there."

 

"Presumption, Allyn," Ransom replied. "He might have thought he was safe—especially if they were supposedly going home together—then been attacked later by the man."

 

"True. Why them? Why them?" Allyn murmured questioningly, drumming his fingers on the table.

 

"That is what I've been asking myself since I made the party connection," Ransom said.

 

"Are there any other disappearances that match, as far as the type of people missing?" Miranda asked.

 

"Meaning kids in their twenties, in good shape, and…? Well, that's about it."

 

"And late at night," she said. "Because that's when they disappeared. Right?"

 

"Right."

 

"No one's gone missing after going to a bar?"

 

"Not that I've been told about. Oh there's the occasional 'My son or daughter went out with friends last night and hasn't come home yet' from worried parents or the same thing from a roommate. But they've all shown up eventually, usually after going home with someone and forgetting—or being unwilling—to let their family know what's going on. Since they're all of age…" Ransom shrugged.

 

Miranda snapped her fingers. "How far apart are the kidnappings, if that's what they are?"

 

"Every weekend for the last three," Ransom replied. "But I suspect that's because parties and charity events only happen on a weekend."

 

She nodded. "I suppose."

 

"Obviously, since you haven't mentioned it," Allyn said, "there aren't any bodies or any ransom demands."

 

"No. It's as if they walked out the door and vanished into thin air."

 

Miranda grinned. "Alien abductions."

 

"Get real," Allyn said, trying not to laugh.

 

"Hey, we exist. What's to say aliens don't as well? They want to study prime examples of humankind and who better than young, healthy men and women?"

 

"If that's the case," Allyn told her, "why not go for athletes or some such?"

 

"They'd be missed, silly."

 

"Like these three aren't?"

 

"I meant like…like written up in the newspapers. Star athlete vanished without a trace." She looked questioningly at Ransom. "Have these guys hit the papers or the TV news?"

 

"Yeah, Patterson has, thanks to daddy dearest. There was a brief mention of Dawson in the local news section of the paper. Ms Stevens? Nothing. I guess I should be thankful about that." Ransom shook his head. "At least the reporters haven't connected the dots, so I don't have them breathing down my neck, making this into some sort of federal case."

 

"I bet the bigwigs would just love that," Allyn commented. "Headlines about young people vanishing from galas or charity events would put a hell of a crimp in their social calendars."

 

"No kidding," Ransom muttered. "Including yours. What would you do if you couldn't spend your sizable inheritance on fancy clothes or costumes to go to these shindigs?"

 

Allyn hissed in a breath, saying angrily, "That was unwarranted and you know it. First off, we're not rich because we inherited our money. We've been around long enough that investments we made years ago have paid off."

 

"Making you one of the idle rich," Ransom retorted. He looked as if he regretted his words as soon as he said them, but he didn't back down. "At least I work for a living, rather than squandering my time at clubs or living the high life."

 

"Well la-di-dah, aren't you the sanctimonious one." Allyn came to his feet, telling Miranda, "Now you know why the two of us broke up. Mr. High-and-Mighty here doesn't approve of my—"he made finger quotes, "—life style." With that said, he stormed out of the room.