Myron kept quiet. He wondered why the boy was lying.

“Where did the man take you?”

“He told me to drive around the block. We pulled into this parking lot. Then he put something over my head. A burlap bag or something. He made me lie down in the back. Then he started driving. I don’t know where we went. I never saw anything. Next thing I knew I was in a room someplace. I had to keep the bag on my head all the time so I didn’t see anything.”

“You never saw the man’s face?”

“Never.”

“Are you sure it was a man? Could it have been a woman?”

“I heard his voice a few times. It was a man. At least, one of them was.”

“There was more than one?”

Chad nodded. “The day he did this …” He lifted his bandaged hand into view. His face went totally blank. He looked straight ahead, his eyes unfocused. “I had that burlap bag over my head. My hands were handcuffed behind my back.” His voice was as detached as Victoria’s now. “That bag was so itchy. I used to rub my chin against my shoulder. Just for relief. Anyway, the man came in and unlocked the handcuffs. Then he grabbed my hand and put it flat on the table. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t warn me. The whole thing took less than ten seconds. He just put my hand on the table. I never saw a thing. I just heard a whack. Then I felt this weird sensation. Not even pain at first. I didn’t know what it was. Then I felt a warm wetness. From the blood, I guess. The pain came a few seconds later. I passed out. When I woke up, my hand was wrapped. The throbbing was awful. The burlap bag was back over my head. Someone came in. Gave me some pills. It dulled the pain a little. Then I heard voices. Two of them. It sounded like they were arguing.”

Chad Coldren stopped as though out of breath. Myron watched Victoria Wilson. She did not go over and comfort him.

“Were the voices both male?”

“Actually, one sounded like a female. But I was pretty out of it. I can’t say for sure.”

Chad looked back down at his bandages. He moved his fingers a bit. Testing them out.

“What happened next, Chad?”

He kept his eyes on the bandages. “There’s not a lot to tell, Aunt Vee. They kept me that way for a few days. I don’t know how many. They fed me mostly pizza and soda. They brought a phone in one day. Made me call Merion and ask for my dad.”

The ransom call at Merion, Myron thought. The kidnapper’s second call.

“They also made me scream.”

“Made you scream?”

“The guy came in. He told me to scream and to make it scary. Otherwise, he would make me scream for real. So I tried different screams for, like, ten minutes. Until he was satisfied.”

The scream from the call at the mall, Myron thought. The one where Tito demanded a hundred grand.

“That’s about it, Aunt Vee.”

“How did you escape?” Victoria asked.

“I didn’t. They let me go. A little while ago someone led me to a car. I still had the burlap bag on my head. We drove a little. Then the car stopped. Someone opened the door and pulled me out. Next thing I knew, I was free.”

Victoria looked over at Myron. Myron looked back. Then she nodded slowly. Myron took that as his cue.

“He’s lying.”

Chad said, “What?”

Myron turned his attention to him. “You’re lying, Chad. And worse, the police will know you’re lying.”

“What are you talking about?” His eyes sought Victoria’s. “Who is this guy?”

“You used your ATM card at 6:18 P.M. on Thursday on Porter Street,” Myron said.

Chad’s eyes widened. “That wasn’t me. It was the asshole who grabbed me. He took my wallet—”

“It’s on videotape, Chad.”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Then: “They made me.” But his voice was weak.

“I saw the tape, Chad. You were smiling. You were happy. You were not alone. You also spent an evening at the sleazy motel next door.”

Chad lowered his head.

“Chad?” It was Victoria. She did not sound pleased. “Look at me, boy.”

Chad slowly raised his eyes.

“Why are you lying to me?”

“It has nothing to do with what happened, Aunt Vee.”

Her face was unyielding. “Start talking, Chad. And now.”

He looked down again, studying the bandaged hand. “It’s just like I said—except the man didn’t grab me in my car. He knocked on my door at that motel. He came in with a gun. Everything else I told you is the truth.”

“When was this?”

“Friday morning.”

“So why did you lie to me?”

“I promised,” he said. “I just wanted to keep her out of this.”

“Who?” she asked.

Chad looked surprised. “You don’t know?”

“I have the tape,” Myron said, giving a little bluff here. “I haven’t shown it to her yet.”

“Aunt Vee, you have to keep her out of it. This could really hurt her.”

“Honey, listen to me now. I think it’s sweet that you’re trying to protect your girlfriend. But I don’t have time for that.”

Chad looked from Myron to Victoria. “I want to see my mom please.”

“You will, honey. Soon. But first you have to tell me about this girl.”

“I promised that I would keep her out of it.”

“If I can keep her name out of this, I will.”

“I can’t, Aunt Vee.”

“Forget it, Victoria,” Myron said. “If he won’t tell, we can all just watch the tape together. Then we can call the girl on her own. Or maybe the police will find her first. They’ll have a copy of the tape too. They won’t be so worried about her feelings.”

“You don’t understand,” Chad said, looking from Victoria Wilson to Myron, then back at Victoria again. “I promised her. She can get in serious trouble.”

“We’ll talk to her parents, if need be,” Victoria said. “We’ll do what we can.”

“Her parents?” Chad looked confused. “I’m not worried about her parents. She’s old enough.…” His voice died away.

“Who were you with, Chad?”

“I swore I’d never say anything, Aunt Vee.”

“Fine,” Myron said. “We can’t waste time on this, Victoria. Let the police track her down.”