HAUNTED BY THE PAST, PART EIGHT

Paulina was examining the copy the Corys had made of Rachel's letter. (The original was still in the hands of the FBI.)

"This letter," she said, handing it to Matthew,"It doesn't really sound like Rachel."

"It is sort of stilted," Matthew agreed, "But it's Mom's handwriting. The FBI are sure of that."

"Maybe whoever kidnapped Mother dictated it." Amanda suggested.

Paulina shook her head. "Rachel's very clever." she said, "She will have tried to put some sort of message into it - some clue. Let me see it again!"

She read it over silently. "Oh! Of course!"

"WHAT?"

"So - this - Amanda - remember -keep!"

The others looked at her blankly.

" Don't you see?" she cried, "The first letter of each sentence! S-t-a-r-k!"

"STARK!"

(Note: The police and FBI - not to mention Stark - are pretty dumb, not to have noticed! :-D )

"Call Josie! Quick!"

****

"I've brought you a present, Amalie." said Stark. It was a set of gardening tools.

"You're very confident." said Rachel, fingering them, "Tools are also weapons. How do you know I won't attack you with them?"

"You wouldn't want to hurt me - would you?"

"No." said Rachel, "I wouldn't want to hurt you."

('Not unless it becomes necessary.' she added mentally.)

Aloud she said, "I guess this means I can work in the garden. Thank you, Mr Stark."

"Can you not call me Jordan?"

"I might - if you call me Rachel."

****

Josie and half the BCPD entered the Lumina Building.

"We're here to see Jordan Stark!" said Josie.

"Mr Stark is not seeing anyone." said Ms Allen frostily.

"He's going to see us !" Josie nodded to Tibbs and Eliot, who took their places on either side of the door to Stark's office, guns drawn.

"This is not necessary." said Ms Allen.

"POLICE!" Josie burst open the door.

The inner office was empty.

"Where is he? Where's Stark!"

"As I was about to say, Mr Stark has gone out of town." said Ms Allen.

"Where?"

"I have no idea."

"Maybe some time in a holding cell will jog your memory." said Josie, taking out her handcuffs, "You are under arrest, on suspicion of kidnapping!"