Ransom (Sue Thomas FBEye)

Ransom - Intro

Lynn quickly fixed a lunch for her two high-school kids. One look at the clock told her they would be late again this morning. The water from the shower was still running. She sighed wondering why she even bothered getting them a bus pass. They hadn't used the transit in ages. She had to admit one bus every hour wasn't very convenient.

"Mom, do we get the car or are you driving us in your nightie?" her second daughter asked with a grin. "You know...Sophia might call...and you don't really want to miss her, do you?" She cuddled to her mother. "Pleeeeeeease," she purred.

Lynn shook her head, unable to hide her smile.

"Thank you, mom. Love you," she whispered, kissing her mother's cheek.

"No fighting with your brother over who's driving back," she warned her daughter.

"Of course not. I'm a perfect little angel." She smiled angelically as she picked up her lunch and the keys. "Brad!!!" she yelled at the closed bathroom door. "Hurry up, or I'm leaving you behind."

When the car finally left the driveway, Lynn let out a sigh of relief. She then picked up her laptop and scrolled through her emails while eating breakfast. The one from her oldest daughter caught her immediate attention.

Hi!

I'm in London. My plane is leaving in one hour. I will call you tonight!

Sophia

Lynn checked the time. Her daughter sent it at 6:13am. She would be landing in Paris very soon. After that Lynn knew her daughter still had a long way to go before she reached her destination, but she was resourceful and she spoke the language. All the train, subway and bus connections shouldn't cause Sophia any problem, figured Lynn who decided, since she couldn't drive anywhere, to spend the day potting in her flowerbeds.

The 10am collect call came as a surprise. Of course Lynn accepted the charges.

"Mom, it's Sophia." Her daughter's voice came out loud and clear. "My calling card doesn't work and I missed the train."

"Where are you?"

"I'm still in Paris. The plane was late. I rebooked the train in one hour but I need to let Antoine know my new arrival time. And I cannot find his phone number which I know I have somewhere with me," Sophia said.

"Is it on the list you gave me?"

"Not sure," she pondered. "I'm on a guy's cell here. I will search some more and call you back."