Kidnapped

Chapter 9

Max stared out the car window, fighting nausea. He always got carsick easily, and now his stomach rumbled from the chocolate he'd eaten. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly.

He knew he should stay alert. He should try to figure out where he was, so when he got a chance to call home, he could tell his mother how to find him.

Max intended to call as soon as possible. This man couldn't watch him every second. When Daniel fell asleep or went to the bathroom, Max would sneak to the phone and call Mom.

He knew Daniel had driven across the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, but Max hadn't recognized anything else. He didn't go to Seattle very often; he knew only major landmarks such as the Space Needle and Safeco Field.

He pressed his forehead against the cool window glass and kept his eyes shut until the car stopped.

They were at the end of a driveway next to a small office building. Daniel opened the trunk and lifted out a cardboard box. Max watched him stomp the box flat, then carry it to a Dumpster at the end of the driveway.

Daniel got back in the car and drove off. This time Max looked out the window, but he still didn't recognize anything. Soon Daniel drove into a large apartment complex. The car slowed, going over a series of speed bumps. Rows of buildings, each with adjoining carports, lined the driveway. The road turned several times, but the buildings they passed all looked the same.

The car clock said 4:48. Tears puddled in Max's eyes. Mom got off work at 4:30; she got home at 4:45.

I should be home now, Max thought as he rubbed his itchy arms. I should be playing with Poochie or eating an apple. I should be telling Mom about the movie we saw at school today or throwing a ball at the garage.

Sometimes the three of them took Poochie for a walk before dinner or went out together to buy groceries or run errands. Whatever Mom and Elizabeth were doing, Max wished he were doing it with them.

The car stopped in one of the carports. "Hop out," Daniel said. "We're home."

Max followed the man up a flight of stairs and watched as he unlocked an apartment door. Inside, he saw dozens of new computer games and toys. A scooter leaned against the wall next to the door, and stuffed animals covered one end of the couch. A stack of unopened board games towered on an end table. Max recognized Clue and Candyland. The room looked like a toy store.

Max looked around for a telephone but didn't see one.

"Want to watch a movie?" Daniel asked.

"No. I want to call my mom." Max expected Daniel to refuse. He had decided Daniel was lying; Mom didn't know where Max was. He figured he'd have to call when Daniel didn't know.

"Okay," Daniel said.

"I can call her?"

"Sure. She probably wants to talk to you, too, and I need to let her know you got here safely. What's the number? Save me looking it up in the book."

Surprised, Max gave the number. Maybe Daniel hadn't lied. If he had, he'd never let Max talk to his mom.

Daniel took a cell phone out of his pants pocket and punched all the numbers except the last one. Instead of seven, he hit "off." He held the phone to his ear, turning his head so Max could see his face as he talked.

"Hello," he said. "Is Rita there?"

He paused, as if listening. Then he said, "What? Who is this?" He looked shocked. "What happened?" he asked. "When?"

After a few seconds, he said "Oh, no!"

Max pulled on his earlobe. Daniel was hearing bad news.

"That's terrible!" Daniel said.