Caught in the shower 3
Part 3 of caught in the shower
Darkness. That was all he could see right now. His wrists and ankles were bound tightly, his arms behind his back. He tried to call out but his muzzle would not open. Where was he? He listened carefully and heard the sound of an engine. A car engine he guessed. Then it suddenly made sense. Mike was taking him away to make sure he didn't breathe a word. Mike was going to kill him.
"I assure you we will do everything we can to find your son," the officer assured. If you think of anything that might be useful to us do not hesitate to call. The officer saw himself out.
Kate felt numb. Jack had not come home last night. Where was he? Had he been snatched off the street by some sicko? She shuddered at the thought. She had not slept last night and she would not sleep until her boy was home and safe. She picked up her phone and tried calling him again. Just like the last time and every other time before there was no answer. Dan took his wife's paw and squeezed tightly. It was the only way he could think to comfort her right now. She began to cry again and Dan wrapped an arm around her and stroked her hair gently. Please be okay son he silently begged.
Jack tried to find a comfortable position but being tied up did not make it easy. Lying on his back made his arms sore so he rolled onto his side. This too became uncumfortable after a while so he sat up. The ropes binding his wrists and ankles were so tight they almost cut off his blood flow. He felt the urge to cry but fought it back. If he cried his nose would block and he would die. He breathed deeply through his nose and tried to calm himself down. He thought of happier times. Birthdays. Christmases. Holidays with his parents. He wondered if he would ever see them again.
How had it come to this? It had started out as a bit of fun. Now he had a schoolkid tied up in an abandoned building. He cursed and slammed his paws down on the steering wheel in temper. What the fuck was he going to do now? Kill him. Destroy all evidence. He shook his head as if it would shake the thought away. Kidnap was one thing but murder? Did he have it in him to take a life? Destroy all evidence. Leave the country. Never return. The thought lingered this time.
Kate and Dan drove up and down every street they could think of hoping to find their son. "Maybe he was drinking again," Dan suggested. "He slept it off somewhere and he is probably on his way home now."
Kate was not convinced. "He's been snatched. I'm sure of it."
"We don't know that. I think he just got drunk and passed out somewhere. If he doesn't find his way home the police will find him." He looked at Kate and squeezed her paw. He'll be fine." Dan wasn't sure he believed what he was saying but he preferred it to what his wife was thinking.
Mike entered the building and knelt down next to the bound wolf. Jack heard him and looked up. Mike dragged the wolf to another part of the room and untied his paws. "Paws around the pipe." Jack obeyed and heard the snap of cuffs around his wrists. He untied the wolf's ankles figuring he could not go anywhere. What now? He couldn't keep the wolf here forever. Kill him. Destroy all evidence. Make sure he doesn't breathe a fucking word.
Kate looked at a picture of her son. It was a picture taken on a family holiday when he was twelve. He looked so happy. Where was he? Would she ever see him again? She began to cry again. "He'll turn up," said her husband. Try not to worry."
Kate suddenly felt angry. "Stop saying that! And stop telling me not to fucking worry! Our son is missing and we have no idea where he is! How are you staying so calm?"
"What do you want me to do huh? Scream and shout?Where the hell will that get us?"
Kate got up and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to look for my son. Don't bother following me." She slammed the door behind her. Dan sighed and sat back in his chair.
No answer again. James was worried. Jack always answered his phone. The fox was on his way to his friend's house. Why wasn't he answering? Maybe his battery was dead. Or maybe... James was sure something was wrong. Jack had been acting weird recently and he had a feeling coach Barnes was the reason. What had the coach said to him that day? And why didn't he want to talk about it? James reached Jack's front door and knocked. A few seconds later the door opened and Jack's father stood there. The look on his face told the fox something was wrong.
"Hey. You're Jack's friend aren't you?"
"Yeah. Is he there? He's not answering his phone."
The wolf shook his head. "No. He's missing. We're not sure where he is. Have you seen him?"
James was almost certain Barnes was behind this now. The coach's interest in boys. Jack acting strange. And now this. "No. But I think I know what happened."
Mike reached into his bag and pulled out a sandwich and a bottle of water. He untaped Jack's muzzle and held the sandwich in front of him.
"Please let me go. I wont say anything."
"Shut up and eat."
"Please. I promise I won't tell anybody."
"Eat or go hungry. Your choice."
Jack didn't want food right now. He wanted to get out of here and go home. More than anything he wanted his mum and dad. "Please just-"
Before the wolf could finish Mike threw the sandwich on the floor and retaped Jack's muzzle. He didn't have time to mess around. The little shit would just have to go hungry until his next visit. He got up and headed back to his car. He needed to find a way out of this mess. He took out his phone and found the number he was after. "Hey it's Mike. Yeah, long time no see. This isn't a social call. I need you to do something for me."
Neither Dan or his wife were in the mood to cook so Dan suggested a takeaway. As he walked the short distance he thought about what his son's friend had said earlier. Was it really possible Jack had been kidnapped by the school coach? What possible reason could there be? It didn't make any sense. They had informed the police anyway just in case. Dan heard footsteps behind him and felt a sudden blinding pain as something hit the back of his head. Dan was big and strong but he'd been taken by surprise. He collapsed to the floor.
Jack rattled his cuffs against the pipe hoping somebody would hear. He was glad he had a little more freedom to move but he was still trapped here. Wherever here was. He shivered and wished he had clothing or a blanket. Mike had been gone for hours. What if he didn't come back? He would either freeze to death or die of starvation. He looked at the sandwich on the floor and his stomach growled. He fought back the urge to cry again. Be strong he told himself over and over again. Don't give in.
Mike looked at the picture he had been sent. Jack's father lying on the pavement in a pool of blood. He smiled to himself. If this didn't keep the boy quiet nothing would. His plan was in motion now. Scare the boy into silence. Let him go. Then leave the country never to return. The voice at the back of his mind spoke up again. He'll tell. Kill him. Destroy all evidence. It's the only way. He went into the kitchen. Opened a drawer and pulled out a knife.
Who had done this? And why? Kate sat next to her husband who was lying on a hospital bed. He had not woken up yet. She had barely recognized him when she had first seen him. His nose was broken, his face bruised and swollen. Serious but not life threatening she had been told. She squeezed his paw gently. She wasn't sure if this was connected to Jack's disappearance or just an act of random violence. She just hoped Dan would have some answers when he woke up.
Daylight was slowly fading. It was time. He would only visit the wolf when it was dark. It lessened the risk of being seen. He got out of his car and walked into the building. His captive stirred at his presence. The shepherd knelt down. Jack saw the knife and shrank back in fear. How to do this? Slit his throat? No. Too much blood. Then what? Through the heart. Less blood that way. Mike pressed the sharp tip against the wolf's chest. He shook his head and whined. Do it. Do it now! His arm shook and he dropped the knife. He couldn't do it. He was many things but not a killer. He took out his phone. "I have something to show you boy." He enlarged the picture and held the phone up for the wolf to see. He looked for a few seconds as if he wasn't sure who it was. Then he twisted his head away.
The shepherd chuckled. "Look familiar does he boy?This is just a taste of what will happen if you tell anybody about this. He will survive this time but he won't be so lucky next time. And let's not forget your mother. Try anything stupid and she will suffer a much worse fate." He leaned in, his face inches from Jack's now. "Keep your mouth shut and you will never see me again. You can move on with your life. Breathe a word and you will end up an orphan. I'll let you go soon but I have a few things to take care of first. That should give you enough time to think." Mike stood and walked away. He hoped Jack would keep quiet now. He would be in serious trouble if he didn't.