5
An invisible pair of hands tightly squeezed my heart.
Beads of sweat rolled down my forehead like raindrops.
The ticking of the clock struck my heart with each sound.
I took the cue card, my lips trembling.
“The time isn’t up yet. We’re withdrawing money from several banks.”
“You’re asking for too much. We have to go to multiple banks.”
The kidnapper on the other end laughed scornfully.
“The Bailey family has such a big business, and you don’t even have this much cash?”
I was too nervous to make any careless sounds.
In those brief few seconds, I suddenly heard a familiar train whistle in the background.
The monitoring personnel also noticed it and signaled that I needed to buy more time.
“Let me hear their voices again. I need to make sure they’re safe.”
The kidnapper on the other end was clearly angry now.
“You really think you’re a princess, don’t you? Everyone has to cater to you.”
“Last thirty minutes. If I don’t see the money, you won’t see your parents either!”
The call was disconnected, and the time was shortened to thirty minutes.
Indeed, there was no reasoning with kidnappers.
Everything around me was in chaos, with helpful police officers contacting banks to quickly get cash.
I bit my lip hard and closed my eyes, recalling the moment before he hung up.
I was certain I heard it, that brief two seconds, a ghostly howling of wind rushing through a tunnel.
I immediately grabbed the monitoring personnel nearby.
“Help me replay the recording, the last few seconds, quickly!”
Everyone was startled by me, but they complied and played back the recording.
Then they too heard that wind sound, like a ghost’s wail, appearing at the end of the call.
I suddenly stood up.
“I know where my parents are!”
