Rick Mofina - In Desperation

Phoenix, Arizona, Mesa Mirage

C ora Martin was propped against two pillows in her bed when she heard a faint noise and put her book down.

Was that Tilly?

Her daughter was asleep down the hall.

No, that sounded like it came from outside.

Cora listened for half a minute. Everything was quiet. She dismissed the noise as a bird or the Bannermans darned cat. The clock on Coras night table showed the time: 12:23 a.m. She returned to her book. After reading two pages she began drifting off when she heard another strange sound.

Like a soft murmur. This time it came from a far side of the house.

What the heck is that?

Cora got up to investigate, groaning. She had to go to work in a few hours. She needed to get some sleep.

Wearing only a cotton nightshirt, she padded down the hall to Tillys door. It was partially open, as usual. Her eleven-year-old daughter was asleep on her stomach. One foot had escaped from the sheets. Cora moved to her bedside, adjusted it then took in the room: Tillys stuffed toys, posters of Justin Bieber and Coras favorite-the drawing of two happy stick figures holding hands, titled Mommy amp; Me.

Cora smiled.

Soft light painted Tillys face. She was more than a beautiful child to Cora; she was her lifeline, her hope and her dream.

I love you more than youll ever know, kiddo.

She stroked Tillys hair, then went to check the rest of the house. Cora had rented the small, ranch-style bungalow at an amazing rate from a widowed Realtor who didnt hide her maternal fondness for single working moms and their daughters.

Cora checked the front and back doors then the windows in each room. Nothing was amiss. She reconsidered what shed heard. It had kind of sounded like someone walking around the house.

She thought of calling the police but pushed it aside for now.

Should I go outside?

It would be better to check the alarm system. She went to the console on the wall to inspect the indicator lights. Cora wasnt afraid to check the yard. This was Mesa Mirage, almost hidden among the larger east valley suburbs of metropolitan Phoenix. Mesa Mirage was a tranquil community of retirement villages and golf courses. It didnt have its own police department, but it was served by the County Sheriffs Office, supported by volunteer posses and was safe.

Almost crime-free.

Everything was in order, according to the light sequence of the alarm system. Good. Cora was thirsty. Shed get a drink in the kitchen then crawl back into bed and sleep.

Finishing her water at the sink, she touched her fingers to her lips. She had forged a good life here and she would do anything to protect Tilly.

Especially from the monsters shed buried long ago.

Coras attention shifted to the knock on her front door. Who could it be at this hour? Moving through the living room, she looked at the window and glimpsed two uniformed officers at the door.

Police?

She opened the door.

In the instant Cora absorbed their grave faces, half in shadow under the porch light, she was pricked by a twinge of unease.

Something was wrong.

Not the kind of wrong that accompanies a late-night visit by the police, but something darker. She had no time to ponder it.

Sorry to trouble you, maam, one of the officers said. Were checking on the welfare of residents here. Is everything all right?

Yes. Why?

Can you tell us how many people are in your home tonight?

Just me and my daughter. Why?

As one of the officers took notes, a thousand points of concern flashed across Coras mind. She glanced to the street for a patrol car, finding a late-model sedan. She didnt think the two men were with the county or the volunteer posse. She scanned their uniforms for a shoulder patch and found one. But since she really never encountered police, she was not sure if the officers were from Mesa, Tempe, Chandler or Gilbert.

Im sorry, Cora said. Who are you with?

Were with the task force, the first officer said. Maam, are there any firearms in your residence?

No. I hate guns. What task force? Whats this about?

Earlier tonight, an inmate escaped custody, a convicted murderer. He was sighted in this area of the community.

Oh my God.

Im afraid theres a bit more to this. May we come in?

Yes, of course.

Cora let the two men enter her home. Inside, the officers looked around Coras living room.

Wheres your daughter located at this time? the first officer asked.

Down the hall, in her bedroom. Shes asleep.

The officer nodded to his partner.

Well check on her welfare.

But shes fine. Cora watched the second officer quietly enter Tillys room, while the first officer spoke to her.

Its routine, he said, indicating the kitchen. Lets go there and Ill explain.

The first officer went directly to the sink over the kitchen window that looked out to Coras backyard. He pulled a pocket telescope from his utility belt, clenched one eye and gazed through it.

The suspect is in the house directly behind yours, one row back.

I dont understand.

The officer turned to her and she noticed a scar running along his jaw.

Were here to help set up a perimeter for the SWAT Team, he said.

At that point the second officer emerged, nodded to his partner and approached them at the sink.

Maam? The first officer offered Cora his scope. Take a look. Its the house with the pool lights.

She was apprehensive.

Go ahead.

Her kitchen seemed to be closing in on her as the two officers now stood near. Was this a dream? She took the telescope, raised it to her eye, not sure what she was looking for when pain shot through her skull. Her hair strained her scalp, pulled by some force. Duct tape peeled, Coras mouth was sealed before she could cry out. The invaders moved her swiftly and silently to a kitchen chair, taping her ankles, her wrists and her chest to it.

Terrified, Cora looked down the hall.

The first man drew his face to Coras.

Your daughter is fine. Look at me!

Cora tried to talk.

Are you going to cooperate so we can get through this quickly? Cora nodded.

We do not want to hurt you, or your daughter. Understand?

Cora nodded.

If you resist, we will kill your daughter in front of you.

Cora sobbed against the tape.

Do you understand? If you cooperate, you survive. Cora understood.

We know you work for Lyle Galviera at Quick Draw Courier.

Cora nodded.

Im going to remove the tape and well talk. If you scream, if you refuse to cooperate or if you lie, you and your daughter will die. Do you understand?

Cora nodded and the second man yanked the tape from Coras mouth.

She gasped, swallowed and listened to the first man. Lyle uses his company to distribute our product and move cash to be cleaned. Where is the money?

I dont know what youre talking about!

He stole five million dollars from us.

No! This is a mistake! Are you looking for drug money? Lyles not involved with drugs. Ive got nothing to do with drugs. This is all wrong-its a mistake. Please leave us alone! I dont know what youre talking about!

We cant find him. Wheres the money?

For the next thirty minutes the invaders ransacked the house. What did they do with Tilly? They mustve tied her down.

Or worse!

Where is our money?

Did you hurt my daughter?

Shes not hurt. Where is it?

I told you this is wrong. This is a mistake!

Listen to me. You will find Galviera and tell him to return our money.

Sobbing, Cora shook her head.

This is a mistake. I dont know anything about this.

You know. You do the books for his company.

No. No. Im the office manager, the secretary. I know he left a few days ago for business in San Diego, then in Los Angeles.