Dear Ellie - Part 31

Author:
William Kovacic
Updated:
Jan 3, 2018 2:29 PM EST

Photo by jlgsgirl Photography: Used by permission

Disclaimer

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental

Dear Ellie - Part 30
Scott Branson is on a path to self-destruction, and Ellie will pay the price

Previouly

We last left Scott held captive by his old fraternity contact, Todd Martz. He will soon meet the Boss, the one behind the child abduction ring, He also meets the execution machine. As of yet, he has not found Carrie. Will she die with his hopes in the execution machine? All unanswered questions that will soon be answered in the next few installments. Let's continue.

Minutes later Todd returned. "I've arranged a meeting with ya and the Boss, Scotty. Being second in command does have its advantages. I want ya to know a meeting like this is very unusual. As a matter of fact, I don't think it's ever happened before. The Boss is a very private person. But then again, you are a very special person.

"Anyone who gets the attention of the Boss is special. Rosie Spenser - she was special, but I think ya even outdid her, Scotty. Ya were persistent, Ya had courage. Ya took a stand. I kinda admire that, my man. Ya have some good qualities. Too bad ya had to misuse them."

Martin cut in. "Todd, you gonna be here? I have to go finish up some last minute checks on the execution machine. We want it to be ready, right?"

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead. I'll babysit!"

On the outside, Scott remained calm. On the inside, he was terrified. In a few minutes, he would be face to face with the Boss. Just where Larson fit in, Scott wasn't sure. Was he the Boss? And what was this execution machine? Time would tell.

Continuing

Footsteps could be heard echoing in the stone walls of the old building. This was it. Scott would now be able to put together the last few pieces of the puzzle - if he lived long enough. His heart was beating faster than he knew it could. One man entered the room.

"Hey, Todd. There s a slight problem with the execution machine. Can you come take a look at it?" It was only David Martin. Scott's heart continued to race. Todd answered, "Yeah, sure thing, just as soon as the Boss gets here. Should be any minute now."

Again, there were footsteps heard as the Boss was on the way to room 235. Todd's orders were to blindfold Scott before the arrival of the Boss. He hurried to it.

"Okay, Scotty my man. I gotta do this if you want to meet the Boss. I gotta blindfold you, but I promise you, I will take it off."

Scott had no choice but to accept the blindfold.

The footsteps ended at the doorway as Scott recognized the voice. "Hello, Child. Now le's see wha's goin' on. Ya sittin' here in the dark. Why would that be, Child?"

"Stella, is that you? Boy, I'm glad to see you - uh, uh, I mean . . . hear you."

Stella ordered, "Todd, take the blindfold off and go see what Dave needs. He says the vehicle isn't ready yet. It needs to be real soon."

Todd removed Scott's blindfold and hurried down the hall. Stella turned her attention to Scott. "Ya see, child, I was really hopin' it didn't end up this way."

"What do you mean - end up this way?"

"Child, we're gonna have to kill ya. Ya got too close to exposin' the operation."

"Stella, you mean you're not here to free me?"

"Honey, I am the Boss."

Scott couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Stella, you promised to help us find Carrie. You're the one who planned to have her taken? We trusted you. We believed in you. Why, Stella? Why?"

"He and Alexander faked those notes and made sure ya would find them. He'd have your fingerprints, but there were too many other obstacles in the way. He could never prove it because I was fightin' for ya. "At leas' give me credit for that, Scott. I knew ya were innocent and I wasn't gonna let an innocent man go to prison. See, I really do have a heart.

"If I wanted to, I could have played Larson's game, and had you arrested. No doubt, Child, we could have done that and you'd be rotting in prison right now. See Child, I really do care. Now, we need to get on with it.

Scott's head was spinning. He uttered a silent prayer for direction, and a wonderful peace came over him. "Stella, I get it. I really do. I understand why you have to kill me. That's okay, but let me ask you this." Hannah Harrison - she was able to reclaim her child, right?"

Stella was surprised. "How did ya hear about that? I made sure the news story went out as jus' a child rescue story. Nothin' else was mentioned 'bout the child."

Scott continued to buy time. "It's really not important, but that is what happened, isn't it?"

"Well, I suppose. We're gonna kill ya anyway, so it don't matter. The Harrison girl, she was to be sold to another party, but the deal fell through. We were stuck with the girl, so we contacted the Harrison's and they bought her back. We took a loss, but at leas' we got somethin'."

"So, kill me, but let me buy back Carrie for Ellie. That's my dying wish."

"If I only could, Honey. If I only could, but ya see Child, she's already been placed in a home. It would be unethical of me to do that." Scott couldn't wrap his mind around that statement. "What if . . ."

Once again, footsteps were heard coming down the hall. Todd broke in, "Stell, we need you for a minute. Can you come take a look at this?

Stella stepped out of the room. Scott moved his wrists up and down and side to side. The ropes loosened slightly but not enough to allow Scott to free himself. He knew he had to act quickly, and this may be the only opportunity he would have. He continued to try to free himself, but Stella and the men returned. He simply didn't have enough time.

"Now, Child, we're gonna untie ya, but remember, there are three guns in the room. Ya don't have any. So don't try nothin' stupid. Jus' because you're not tied doesn't mean you're a free man."

Todd cut the ropes, and Scott could move again. Martin motioned for him to walk over to an old, dusty desk shoved in the corner of the room. He ordered him to sit and threw a pen and paper on the desk.

Stella spoke next. "Now, Child, jus' write what I tell ya."

Scott had to ask, "And just what is it I'm writing?"

Todd had the answer - "Your suicide note."