Misperception

Chapter 7 - A phone call

Deep in my thoughts, still studying maps not knowing exactly what I'm looking for. I was thrown toughly out of my thought stream by the phone ring. It was Sam Martin.

"Hello J, I've news for you. Daphne Clarke has received a phone call from the kidnapper, and heard the voice of her son. Actually he talked to her for half a minute."

"Great news, so the toddler is still alive that is wonderful. Were you able to trace the call, or get any info about the kidnapper?."

"Unfortunately no, the call came from a burner phone with a fake generated number. It came to Miss Clarke's mobile phone and she immediately told us. When we tried to the caller we found it a fake number created by a program easily downloaded everywhere, and almost impossible to trace."

my voice was over annoyed when I replied "You are kidding me, so what did the kidnapper say or request ?."

"It was an electronically muffled voice that just said wait for the next call."

"And the boy !. What did he tell his mother?."

"He just said mommy mommy, I'm playing with the train. Then the call ended"

"Just mommy mommy and the train in half a minute !. Did anyone hear this call beside Miss Clarke ?."

"No, she received the call while she was alone in her office."

"She is sure it is her son's voice then ?."

"Well, she says she is sure it was baby Lewis."

"That is one interesting phone call that leads nowhere. Sam, do you know how many licence plates get stolen per month ?. The average estimate I mean."

"It is not as common as cars get stolen but I would say up to fifty per month mainly in downtown areas of the city, why do you ask about stolen licence plates ? You have a new idea !."

"Yes, the one who steals a licence plate or buy a stolen licence plate can get either one or many. Get us the security photos of the airport entrance from the high road link, and the photos of the parking lots in the same hour we are interested in 8:30 to 9:30 PM on September 20th. I pray we can spot the dark blue Honda whatever its licence plate is."

"Actually J it is a very good idea, I'll ask for them immediately."

"OK and I'll come to your office tomorrow, I want to watch them myself, and of course there will be more follow up on that strange phone call."

Sam was silent for a moment then said with a deep voice "Why do think it is a strange call?."

"It gives no information whatsoever except the boy is still alive according to Miss Clarke. After ten days the kidnapper call with no requests and just say s/he will call again !. What kind of a kidnapper is that !."

"We have a theory that says the kidnapper is a desperate woman who can't have kids, may be mentally unstable. She took baby Lewis as a son and then got moved by his mother's pleadings in the media and called Miss Clarke to let her know that her boy is alive and safe."

"And this theory is inspired by sweet Daphne of course." I said that with a laugh.

with some hesitation Sam replied "You can deduce that, but it is a theory accepted by all the team members."

"I see. Until tomorrow then agent Martin."

"Goodbye."

I was very disappointed at this moment. the theory Sam talked about seemed fantastic to me, it doesn't make any sense. What is sweet Daphne up to now I wonder. I had to get ready to go to the plant nursery with Moira as we agreed. It was one of those days that you wake up feeling that you don't want to step away from your bed, I was exhausted mentally, having a headache, and my heart was still heavy. I got even worse after Sam Martin's phone call and tried as much to avoid Sally not to end up strangling her.