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

on black jeans, she stopped. A week ago this evening I went shopping for birthday dresses for the twins at the outlet mall on Route 7, she thought. While I was there I dashed into the sports store and picked up a new running suit, a red one, because the twins loved my old red sweats. Maybe whoever has them is letting them watch television. Maybe in less than half an hour they’ll be seeing us.
    â€œI like red because it’s a happy color,” Kelly had told her, her tone solemn.
    I’ll wear red for them today, Margaret decided, as she yanked the new jacket and pants from the hanger. She dressed quickly as her mind began to focus on what Steve had told her. After the broadcast, they were going to take the lie detector tests. How could they even imagine that Steve and I had anything to do with this? she wondered.
    After she tied her sneakers, she made the bed, then sat on the edge of it, her hands folded, her head bent. Dear God, let them come home safely. Please. Please.
    She did not realize Steve was in the room until he asked, “Are you ready, sweetheart?” He came over to her, took her face in his hands, and kissed her. Then he let his fingers run over her shoulders, entwining them in her hair.
    Margaret knew that he had been on the verge of collapse before they learned that the ransom would be paid. She had thought he was asleep during the night, but at some point he had said quietly, “Marg, the only reason the FBI wants us to take a lie detector test is becauseof that brother of mine. I know what the agents are thinking. Richie leaving Friday to drive to North Carolina to see Mom looks to them as though he was creating an alibi for himself. He hasn’t visited her in a year. Then the minute I told Carlson I had been wondering if the company would volunteer the ransom, I realized I became a suspect. But that’s Carlson’s job. I want him to be suspicious of everyone.”
    It’s Carlson’s job to find my children, Margaret thought, as she and Steve walked down the stairs. In the foyer she approached Robinson Geisler. “I am so grateful to you and your company,” she said. Steve opened the door and took her hand as cameras began to flash. Joined by Geisler, they walked to the table and chairs that had been set up for the interview. She was glad to see that Franklin Bailey, who had offered to be the intermediary, was also present. She had met him for the first time in the post office when she was buying stamps. Kelly had darted out the door, and he had grabbed her at the curb before she could run into the busy street.
    The overnight rain had stopped. The late March morning hinted of spring. Margaret looked blankly at the gathered media, at the police officers holding back the onlookers, at the row of media trucks parked along the road. She had heard that people who are dying sometimes have a sense of hovering above the scene, of being observers rather than participants of the event that was centered around them. She listened to Robinson Geisler offer to pay the ransom, and to Steve’s insistence that they must have proof the girls were still alive,and to Franklin Bailey as he offered his services as contact person and slowly gave his phone number.
    â€œMrs. Frawley, now that you know the kidnapper’s demands are being met, what is your greatest fear?” someone asked.
    A stupid question, Margaret thought before answering. “Of course my greatest fear is that somehow something will go wrong between the payment of the ransom and the return of our children. The longer the delay, the greater the chance something might happen. I believe Kathy was beginning to get a cold. She goes into bronchitis easily. We almost lost her when she was an infant.” She stared into the camera. “Please, I beg of you, if she is sick, get her to a doctor, or at least get some medicine for her. The girls were just wearing pajamas when you took them.”
    Her voice