Page 95 of Merciless Monster

Fuck! I was hoping to keep the cops out of this mess, but now it’s too late.

My cell phone rings. It’s not a number I recognize so I answer.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Mia. Listen to me very carefully. Tell the teacher to call the police and tell them that Angelo’s aunt has him and that it’s all okay.”

“What?”

“If you want to see your son again, then do it.”

The call ends.

My hands are shaking so violently, I can barely hold onto the phone.

“Uhm, it’s okay,” I stutter. “My sister just called. She says she has Angelo. I’m so sorry. It’s a long story. I’m so sorry about this,” I tell the principal.

Dad stares at me as if I’ve gone mad. Probably because he of all people knows I don’t have a sister, and also he no doubt knows who that was who just called. He nudges me.

“Are you sure you want to call off the police?” he whispers to me while the principal consoles the teacher.

I nod.

“This is highly unorthodox, Mia,” the principal says with a stern face.

“I know. I’m so very sorry. My sister does that sometimes. I do apologize again for the fuss.”

It takes a lot of apologizing and consoling before Dad and I are able to leave the school without further chastising.

“You want to catch me up?” Dad says as soon as we’re out of earshot of the school staff.

I share with him what the caller said.

“What are we supposed to do now? Those bastards have Angelo!” he barks out of frustration.

“I know, Dad. I’m sure he’ll call again with instructions.”

“We better pray that he does.”

I’m in too much shock to cry. All I can do is stare out blankly into space, white knuckling my phone.

“Let’s go back to the house and wait for the call there. No point in hanging around the school,” Dad says.

“Okay.”

“Are you alright to drive, my love?”

“What? Yeah. I’m fine.”

“They won’t hurt him, Mia. They aren’t fools. They need you and you need Angelo. This is a warning, is all.”

I nod.

Oh, God. Please don’t let them hurt my boy, Please.

Dad follows me home. It’s all I can do not to drive into a ditch. I’m beside myself with stress and grief. I did not see this coming.

I’m still trembling all over by the time I pull into the driveway. I notice something at the front door. The closer I get to the house the bigger and clearer the object becomes. Oh, God! It’s Angelo!

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