Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark Read Free Book Online Page A

he told her, the words tumblingfrom his lips. “Then in the morning, the chairman and some of the directors will come here and go on camera with us. We’ll ask for instructions on how to deliver the money, and we’ll demand proof that the girls are still alive.”
    He hesitated. “Margaret, the FBI wants both of us to take lie detector tests.”

14

    A t nine fifteen on Monday night, sitting in his apartment over a shabby hardware store near Main Street in Danbury, Lucas was watching television when a news bulletin interrupted the routine programming. C.F.G.&Y. had agreed to pay the ransom for the Frawley twins. An instant later his special cell phone rang. Lucas turned on the recording device he had purchased on his way home from the airport.
    â€œIt’s beginning to happen,” the hoarse voice whispered.
    Deep Throat, Lucas thought sarcastically. The police have sophisticated voice-imaging stuff. Just in case anything goes wrong, I do have something that will help to cut a deal with them. I deliver you.
    â€œI was watching for the announcement,” he said.
    â€œI called Harry an hour ago,” the Pied Piper told him. “I could hear one of the kids crying. Have you checked on them?”
    â€œI saw them last night. I’d say they were okay.”
    â€œMona is taking good care of them? I don’t want any slipups.”
    This opening was too much for Lucas to resist.“That dumb broad is taking such good care of them that she’s been buying matching outfits for them.”
    This time the voice was not disguised. “Where?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œDoes she plan to have them all dressed up when we dump them? Does she plan to have the cops tracing the clothes, and then some clerk saying, ‘Sure, I remember the woman who bought matching outfits for three-year-olds’?”
    Lucas liked the way the Pied Piper was getting agitated. It took some of the gnawing fear off him. Anything could go wrong. He knew that. He needed to share that worry. “I told Harry not to let her out of the house again,” he said.
    â€œIn forty-eight hours this will be over, and we’ll be home free,” the Pied Piper said. “Tomorrow I make contact and give instructions about the money. Wednesday you pick up the cash. Wednesday night I tell you where to leave the kids. Make sure they’re wearing exactly what they were wearing when you grabbed them.”
    The connection ended.
    Lucas pushed the stop button on the recording device. Seven million for you; half a million each for me and Clint, he thought. I don’t think so, Mr. Pied Piper.

15

    T he time for Robinson Geisler to stand with Margaret and Steve Frawley and address the media was set for ten A.M. on Tuesday morning. None of the other directors elected to be present at the event. As one of them told Geisler, “I voted to pay the ransom, but I’ve got three young kids myself. I don’t want to give anyone any ideas about kidnapping them.”
    Unable to sleep most of the night, at six A.M. Margaret got up. She showered for long minutes, raising her face under the streaming water, feeling it hot against her skin, willing it to dispel the icy chill of her body. Then, wrapped in Steve’s heavy robe, she got back into bed. Steve was up and headed out for a run, slipping through backyards to avoid the media. Suddenly exhausted from the sleepless night, Margaret felt her eyes begin to close.
    It was nine o’clock when Steve awakened her and set a tray with coffee and toast and juice on the night table. “Mr. Geisler just got here,” he said. “You’d better start getting dressed, honey. I’m so glad you got some sleep. When it’s time to go outside, I’ll come up and get you.”
    Margaret forced herself to drink the orange juice and nibble at the toast. Then, sipping the coffee, she got outof bed and began to dress. But as she was pulling