The car ride was smooth as I drove through the quiet streets. Some people were out, but it was peaceful for the most part. I pulled in front of the building where the seminar was being held and waited. I waited…and waited…and waited. I checked my watch impatiently. Nine fifteen? The seminar was supposed to be over at nine. I got out of the car and shut the door. I guess I’d go inside and see what was happening. As I neared the building I noticed that it was dark. So I knocked. “Anybody there?” I shouted. No answer. “Adrienne?” I banged on the door, this time a bit more forcefully. Nobody was there. “Strange…” Something crunched under my foot. A bag? “What’s this?” I picked it up and gasped because I recognized it immediately. It was Adrienne’s bag. Something was wrong. A feeling of doom washed over me as I hurried back to the car. I was about to start it when I noticed something. There was a paper on the windshield. “Trash? At this hour…” I grumbled and opened the window so that I could reach out and grab the paper. I was about to crumble the paper and get rid of it when something caught my eye. Something told me to read that paper. This is what it said:

Mr. Whitmore,

We are informing you here and now that we have your granddaughter, Adrienne Whitmore. She is safe and unhurt. She will stay that way if you cooperate fully with us. We expect one million dollars for her safe return. Other negotiations can be made, of course. We suggest that you act quickly on this matter. You know that a life is easily disposable. If you do not cooperate with us, we will do what we think is best. Catch our drift? We’ll be waiting for your answer.

“Adrienne has been kidnapped!” I gasped. I slammed the car door open and ran for a telephone. “Mr. Whitmore! I need to speak to Whitmore!” I shouted into the receiver. He got on the line.
“Yes, what is it?”
“This is Helga Sinclair, sir. Adrienne has been kidnapped!”
Silence. He couldn’t find words for a moment. Finally he spoke. “You’re certain?” His voice was choked as if he were trying to stop himself from crying.
“I am. I have a ransom note right here.”
“Get home, Helga. I need that note. I’m calling the police right away!”
“Sir…” The phone went dead. I ran back to the car and sped to the mansion. The police were there by the time I pulled up the driveway. I got out of the car, note in hand, and ran for the mansion.
“Helga!” Whitmore shouted when he saw me.
“The note, sir.”
I shoved it into his hands. He read it with big eyes and then turned to me. “This is true! It’s not a lie!” I nodded gravely. He sighed deeply. “We must find her at all costs. She is all that I have left.”
“I understand, sir.” I turned to the police. “We need a full search party out now. I mean it! Move it people! Search every building in the city. If there is any trace of Adrienne Whitmore’s whereabouts, I want to know immediately! Let’s go!” Hundreds of policemen were on call by then. I took charge of a group of them. I had to find her. I had done so many things in my life that left a burden on my conscience. We were going to find Adrienne. I was not going to be left with that guilty feeling again. Unfortunately, our search was in vain. We searched late into the night and came up with nothing. I trudged back to the mansion wearily at two o’clock in the morning. The search would resume tomorrow. When I got home I found Whitmore pacing and pacing. He looked at me for answers.
“Any sign of her? Anything?”
I felt horrible, but I shook my head. “Not a trace.”
He collapsed into a big chair. “I’m going to lose her. I’m going to lose her. I’m going to lose…”
“No you’re not, sir. I promise you that we’ll find her.” I was walking to my room when the telephone rang. “Who’s calling at this hour?” I muttered to myself.
“Ms. Sinclair!” said one of the servants.
“Yes?”
“The call is for you. ”
“Thank you.” I was very suspicious as I took the phone. “Hello?”
“Lieutenant?”
“Commander Rourke? What business do you have calling me at this late hour?”
“I heard that Ms. Whitmore has gone missing. I’m offering you my deepest sympathies.”
“At this hour? You’re not too convincing. What do you want?”
“I was also going to offer you my aid in finding her. I might have a lead.”
“You WHAT?”
“Just what I said. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Rourke!”
“Good-night Lieutenant.” Then silence. I held the phone in disbelief. The servant returned.
“Bad news Ms. Sinclair? Something wrong?”
I shook my head as I handed the phone to him. “No…nothing at all.”