Chapter 24 - Closing In

Originally published September 18, 2015

Sherriff Stearns was on the phone with a young voice who identified himself as Ronald Pepper.  

He said he was at the bar in the Riverside Bowling alley talking with buddies and went outside where he noticed a somewhat neglected and time-worn Dodge Dart. 

Pepper described a guy in his late 20s or early 30s with short hair and shaved on the side of his head, wearing old jeans with holes in the knees and a faded green t-shirt and a lightweight hoodie.  He seemed nervous.  

"I watched him," said Pepper, "because if felt like he didn't belong there.  His eyes would move from one group of people to the next and he kept shifting how he was standing.

"A little later I noticed him intently watching this group of kids - I mean, guys and gals in their teens and early 20s.

"Yeah, Elaine Marberg was in the group having a good time.

"How do I know Elaine?  I know her older sister Emjay, we went to school together and are still friends.  Our families were close - I've always known Elaine."

Stearns asked, "Did you see what happened?"

"Not entirely.  I saw this guy staring a hole right through her.  When she and her friends went outside I didn't see her again.  But after I heard what happened, I was told the man pulling her away by the arm had a hoodie, jeans, and a green t-shirt.   The T-shirt wasn't easy to read, but the word Sheboygan was on it."

Stearns, "Anything else we should know?"

"No sir, I think that's everything."

"If you think of something else - call me right away.  Got it?"

"Yes, sir.  I hope we get her back quick."

Stearns hung up the phone and turned to his Sergeant on duty.  Sheboygan is on Lake Michigan and the plates trace to a township just north of there.

The State Trooper in the sheriff's department got on the radio and was immediately talking to police and the sheriff department in Sheboygan County.

The call refined the search.  Convenience stores were asked to review security camera footage for any sign of an old Dodge Dart.  A plainclothes cop and special agent from the State Patrol got in an unmarked car and head out from Sheboygan to check the address which matches the plates.

Ken and Amanda had worked together before Amanda moved into the State Patrol.  If the case wasn't moving so fast and so life-threatening - this might be fun.  As it was they were all business heading north on a dark, tree-lined road.  Moonlight hit the ground in just a few places where trees were scarce.

Amanda noticed a round taillight flashing a mile up the road and then it disappeared.

"That's him!"  Amanda said to Ken calmly as she picked up the radio.  "The taillight is just like the kind Dodge Darts had and we're close to the address.  I suggest we make a moderate speed drive past the place to survey what things look like."

Ken smiled.  It was like old times. "Sure seems like it.  Most of these places are set off the road a ways.  We'll cruise past and look for a place to park and figure out where we can bring in some help without tipping the guy off we're right behind him."

The Jeep Cherokee slowed slightly as they went by the cabin surrounded by trees.  A car was sitting at an angle near the front door.  It was too dark to identify, but it worth a closer look.

Amanda radioed in their location, advising a small response until a plan could be reached.  The sheriff set up reverse 911 calls to the neighbors on either side asking folks to stay inside and stay put until given further instructions.

"Hey! What's this?" Ken said to Amanda.  

A pair of headlights was coming up the road with some speed.

In that car, Jake Bauer and his wife's uncle Glen Marberg felt like they were running instead of driving.   Their personal police scanner helped them track the Dodge Dart to Sheboygan County and after traveling every country road they could find they were on this one - the darkest of the bunch when their headlights caught the outline of a Jeep Cherokee ahead parked off onto the grass with what appeared to be two people inside.

"Glen, you might want to slow down.  Either that Jeep is doing some late-night parking or it's an unmarked cop car.  I'm betting it’s a cop.  Let's slow down a bit and when we get close flash the emergency blinkers a couple of times before stopping in front of them.  That way they can light us up with a search light and know we're OK."

"Jake, that's a good plan."

Ken watched as the car slowed and passed the driveway they were interested in, then popped their emergency flashers three times.   The car slowed and pulled in front of Ken and Amanda.

"What the...?"  Amanda and Ken spoke the words at the same time, took down the plate and flashed the spotlight quickly at the car revealing a man in his 50s and a young guy in his mid-20s.  "Do you suppose they know something?"

Jake and Glen knew it was cops.  They slowly opened their doors and got out holding their hands above their heads, turned and faced the police.

Ken got out, hand on his revolver. "Gentlemen, I don't know what you're up to, but we're pretty busy right now.  I suggest you move on."

"Did you find Elaine?"  Jake asked.  "I'm her brother-in-law and this here is her uncle.  We've been chasing them since we heard Elaine disappeared.  We want to help if we can."

Amanda was coming up behind them having circled around through the dark while Ken talked.  

"Thanks, guys.  Since you're related stay here and stay quiet.  Turn off your car, please.  When the sheriff and state police join us we'll probably need you to leave."

"Then you've found her?"

"We think so.  About five minutes ago a car with taillights like ones on a 1963 Dodge Dart pulled into the driveway back down the road about 1,000 feet.  We're holding tight until we can develop a plan.  We're going to do everything we can to get her out safely."

“Thanks, officer.  Is there anything we can do, or someplace we can be out of the way?’

“I think we’re going to get you out of here, but you’ll be fine.  We’ll get you as soon as we can.”

Inside the house, Elaine looked around the cabin kitchen, illuminated by a couple of hanging incandescent light bulbs.  Her captor (she still didn’t know his name) walked to the fridge and pulled out a beer, popping the tab.  He stopped and looked at her, “Do you want something?  I suppose you're hungry?”

She was starving, but there was no way she was taking anything from this guy.  “Thank you, no.  Could I use your bathroom?  I haven’t gone in hours.”

Finishing a swig of beer, he lifted his arm and pointed down the hall.  Elaine headed toward it, closed the door and flipped the lock.

She was alone.  She looked around to see what she had to work with. In the corner sat the toilet, the porcelain throne.  About five feet above it was a square frosted casement window.   First, she took care of business and hatched a plan.

Carefully, she stood on the toilet seat, reaching for the window’s crank handle.  She twisted left, thinking to herself “lefty loosey, righty tighty” thanking her dad for teaching her that stupid phrase.

It didn’t open easily.  She put her right hand over her left and pulled down.  Squeak! It went as the tightness gave way and the window popped open. 

Elaine reached up to release the screen latches and set the screen quietly on the floor.  She’d have to open this window all the way to wedge herself through.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Yes?”

“Are you OK in there?” came her captor’s voice.

“Uh, yeah… just having some…. Uh…. Girl problems.”

“Oh.  Ok then.  I can’t leave you in there long.  Hurry up.”

“Oh, I will.  Thanks.”  Elaine knew telling a guy there were girl problems was a pretty safe bet to be left alone for a while.

The next pull on the handle went better and soon the window opened at a 90-degree angle.

Calling on the workouts she’d been doing at the town gym for months now, she hoisted herself up so her bottom barely perched on the windowsill.  She managed one leg through and then the next.  

Looking below, there didn’t seem to be anything beneath her that could hurt.  She dropped to the ground, landing in a crouch.

She had to keep moving, 10 steps in front of danger… wasn’t that what Owen Wilson’s character told his family in No Escape?  Well, it would work for her too.

First, she moved away from the cabin into the brush and turned right in the direction where she expected to find the road.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Hey, Elaine.  What’s going on in there?  Get out here now.”  A pull on the door.

“This isn’t supposed to be locked! I’m coming in!  You are in trouble.” The door cracked before collapsing.

50 feet away now and creeping through evergreen bushes, Elaine heard the cursing.  She sped up until she felt the crunch of gravel underfoot.  Standing, she regained her bearings and looked left then right.  

What’s that, she wondered.  It looked like people standing around a car.  She headed toward them.

“Excuse me?  Hi, can you help me?”

Ken and Amanda were first to turn around to locate the soft sound just above a whisper.

“Are you Elaine Marberg?” Ken asked.

She ran forward into their arms, tears erupting down her face.

Amanda turned to call the visitors, “Hey guys,  You should come back here.”

Jake and Glen turned and noticed a third person just ten feet away.

The joyful reunion continued in the safety of the unmarked police vehicle.

Flashing lights descended on the cabin.  A call was made to the inside landline.  As the ex-captor tried to make sense of what happened there was a knock at the front door.  As he went to answer it, ten stealthy officers came in the back door. 

As police and sheriff deputies took their suspect into custody, Amanda questioning Elaine and reminded her while she could go home with her uncle and brother-in-law there would be more interviews to come.  With a tear-stained smile she shook the officer's hands, then gave her a hug with a thank you “Thanks for not giving up on me.”

“Elaine, you have no idea how many people were looking for you tonight.  Go home, get some sleep, take it easy.”

Then like two protective grizzlies, Jake and Glen each took one of Elaine’s arms and walked her to the car for the long drive home.

Chapter 25 is available tomorrow morning at 9.