My Kidnapper's brother

Chapter 3

In the living room, Emily’s father, Bob Banks sat next to his wife, Nora Banks on a three seater white leather couch. On their right, lay Emily’s young sister, Bianca on a four seater couch. Like her sister, Bianca was beautiful with light blue eyes and long blond hair. She was tall and slender. With curves and curls in the right places.

Bob Banks had his cellphone held against his ear. “Her phone is still off,” he said as he placed his phone on the black glass coffee table in front of his knees. He then turned to Bianca and asked, “Have you called all your friends who you think your sister could have gone to?”

“Dad, I have called all her friends. No one has seen or heard from her since yesterday,” Bianca replied irritably.

“Are you sure you have called all your friends?” Bob Banks repeated.

“Dad, I have called all the few friends Emily has, and none of them has seen her or heard from her,” she replied irately. “You know me and Emily don’t share the same friends. Her friends are as judgmental as her, and I don’t roll with friends who judge me.”

“Bianca, this is not time for that,” Bob advised.

“What about a boyfriend? Doesn’t she have a boyfriend?” Nora Banks asked Bianca.

“The last time I checked, Emily didn’t have a boyfriend. In fact, I don’t remember the last time she had one,” Bianca replied.

“But, even if Emily had a man, she would not spend a night at his place without informing us. That would be totally unlike of her,” Bob defended.

Bianca rolled her eyes in irritation to her father’s constant praise of Emily.

Emily had been Bob’s favorite daughter. She had always made him proud. At the age of twenty four, she had already acquired her master’s degree in Accountancy and came out top in her class. His vision for her was to join his Real Estate Business and lead his business accounts department.

Three days ago, Bob had fired his accountant on grounds of misapplication of company funds. And today Emily was due to take over the accounts department. Today has been Bob’s long awaited day. The day when his favorite daughter would join his company and help him put things in order.

“This is not happening! Not today!” Bob growled. “Where could she be? Today she is supposed to join me at work.”

“Maybe she chickened out. And since she didn’t have the courage to face you and tell you that she can’t manage what...”

“Shut up! Your sister would not do that to me. This has been her dream. To join my company. She can’t give up now. She is not a coward and failure like you.” Bob interrupted.

“Honey, not now, please,” Nora advised.

There was a moment of silence. Then Bianca broke the silence, “I am not a failure or a coward. I just don’t subscribe to your way of life.”

“Look at your sister. She is only twenty four years old, and yet she has two master’s degrees to her name. You are turning twenty two, yet you have nothing to show for it. Not even a college certificate,” he growled. “When your sister is busy adding value to her life, you are busy partying and intoxicating your brain.”

“Honey, stop it. Bianca, I think you should go to your room,” Nora advised.

“I am not going anywhere. Let him talk. It is all he’s good at. Nothing, but dictate.”

“All I want is the best for you. I have big dreams for you. But all you have done is let me down,” Bob said bitterly.

Nora’s phone had been flashing but she kept cutting the call. Neither Bob nor Bianca noticed.

“Have you ever bothered to ask me what I really want? Do you even know what my dreams are?” Bianca asked angrily. Bianca had always wanted to be an international super model. It had been her childhood dream. But she knew her father would not approve of it.

When she completed her high school, her father wanted her to study marketing so she could later join his company under the marketing department. She declined and secretly started participating in different beauty contests.

“I know what is best for you,” Bob said with ultimate certainty.

“All you have done is trying to impose your choice of careers on me. I am not like Emily who accepts anything you impose on her. I want to live my own life,” Bianca said and stormed out of the room.

Stunned, Bob turned to Nora. She had just declined another call, but Bob was too angry to notice. “Did you see that? She just walked out on me,” Bob yapped.

“You know what? You and Bianca give me headache.” She sprung up and was about to walk away when she heard Bob’s cellphone ringing. She quickly took her seat and watched Bob as he grabbed his phone from the table and took the call.

“Hello…”

“Am I talking to Bob Banks? A male voice asked.

“Yes, this is him. And who am I talking to?

“Who are I am is not important to you right now. But what I have and what I want should be your concern,” the man advised.

“Ok… So what do you have and what do you want?” Bob asked calmly.

“Good question, Bob. But before I go ahead, I would like to know who is there with you.”

“I am with my wife,” Bob replied. Nora moved closer to Bob and held his hand at the mention of her.

“Good. Mr. Banks. I am happy to inform you that I have your daughter, Emily, and she is safe and sound. I am also…”

“Emily? Where is my daughter and what are you doing with her?” Bob asked frantically.”

“I did not finish my statement. And let me warn you, I will not take it lightly next time you interrupt me. Do we understand each other?”

“Yes, please go ahead.” Bob said tensely.

“Good. I am keeping your daughter. But I am not planning to keep her for a long time. So I want 3.7 million US Dollars from you in cash.” He paused. “After which, you will have your daughter back. Is that clear?”

“Yes, I-I understand. But how is my daughter doing? Is she okay? And why are you doing this?” Bob’s voice was now breaking. His face had become moist with sweat.

“She’s alive. When the time is right, you will understand why I am doing this. For now your concern should be to organize the money if you want to see your daughter alive,” Keith gritted.

“Thank you for keeping her alive. But on the amount, can you please consider reducing it. I don’t have that amount of money right now. Please.”

“My offer is nonnegotiable,” the man said without faltering.

Bob closed his eyes, and then opened them. He quickly took out a handkerchief from the inner pocket of his charcoal grey designer jacket and whipped out the water that was forming on his face. “Okay, I understand. Please whatever you do, don’t hurt my daughter. I will organize all the money that you want and…”

“You have three hours to organize the money. I will call you back in three hours for further instructions. Is that clear?” he interrupted.

“Yes, yes, it is clear,” Bob confirmed.

“One more thing…”

There was a silence. Bob checked his cellphone to see if the call was still on. When he saw the call was still active, he said, “I am listening.”

“If you want your daughter alive, then I advise you don’t call or involve the police. Is that clear?”

“Yes. No police. You have my word.”

“Good. Then wait for my call. In the meantime, I will send you a small footage of your daughter.” he cut the call.

***

Wearing a black hood, only revealing a small portion of his face, Keith walked out of a phone booth, and after looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching him, he headed for his truck which was parked across the road.

***

Bob had removed his phone from his ear, but still held on to it. He stared at the phone in his hands, his mouth open.

“Honey, what is going on?” Nora asked. She had never seen Bob look so terrified.

Bob closed his mouth and then opened to speak, but he couldn’t say any word. He was just staring at the phone in his hands.

“Who was that? Bianca asked as she walked into the room. She went straight to the same couch she had sat on before and made herself comfortable.

“Someone kidnapped Emily,” Bob said shakenly.

“What? What do they want? Bianca asked, shocked.

Bob went quiet for several moments. He looked confused and horrified. Three million Dollars? Where the hell will I get that amount of money from? He thought.

Nora squeezed Bob’s free hand to get his attention. “Honey, please say something.”

“They are asking for over three million dollars. And they want it in three hours,” Bob informed.

“All that?” Bianca asked, shocked.

“Do we even have that kind of money?” Nora asked.

Bob was lost in thoughts again. Three million dollars? That’s the worth of my business. Maybe I should involve the police. They will know what to do.

Nora’s phone flashed again. She quickly declined the call and swept a quick glance over Bob, but Bob who was still deep in thoughts to notice. I told this i***t not to call me when I am at home.