Chapter No. 42 Time of Terror

The night air hung like a vaporous mist that clung to skin with an uncomfortable clamminess. The muggy feeling didn't bother Kathy Tuller all that much because she knew that the sea breeze would bring relief.

She had stayed much later than normal teaching the Micronesian mermaids some new routines. They didn't seem to mind long hours, and she didn't mind either. It gave a purpose to her life.

But now she faced the prospect of driving home at night, a practice that was not encouraged by Marineland. She scanned the parking lot and found no hint of a problem. After building up courage, she walked across the south parking lot with a quickened pace. It was late, and bad things come out of the night.

Nervously looking around, she approached a Ford Probe and stuck her key into the driver door lock. She saw the reflection of a white glow in the window and it startled her. That simple emotional reaction robbed her attention just long enough. A hand passed in front of her face, but she was powerless to do anything about it. Her nose and mouth were enveloped with a cloth soaked in ether. The darkness of night quickly crept into her brain.
The muscular man was dressed totally in black. Even his face was covered with a black ski mask. He wasted no time in carrying the limp female to a gray Econoline van parked near the corner of the lot. He placed her in the back, closed the doors, walked to the driver's side, and got in.

His activities did not go unseen. A black Regal sat at the opposite corner of the lot during the entire episode, and it started up and followed the van from the parking lot.
The van casually made its way down Sausalito. No use attracting attention, especially from the cops. But the van's driver noted a tail. The tail's headlights were particularly bright, and the right lamp was aimed to high. He turned to the man in the right seat and frowned. "Someone's on our tail."

The burly man in the right seat frowned back. "Is it the cops?"

"I doubt it. No markings."

The driver took a deep breath. "Could be detectives."

"Cut down a side street."

The driver sped up. The first side street was narrow and passed between two boarded-up stores. The houses were close to the street and only a few had driveways or garages. Many needed repairs, or at least some paint.

The occupants of the van didn't care. They wasted no time in admiring the architectural variations of the neighborhood.

The driver of the Econoline van felt a bump. He turned to look into his side mirror at the looming image of a Buick Regal. His hand reached for the door handle, but the man in the right seat shook his head. The driver heeded the nonverbal command and sped off with the Regal in close pursuit.

The van made a quick turn at the first intersection, and the Regal followed. The street was even narrower, with older, more rundown cars parked on both sides. Suddenly, a pickup truck pulled out of a side street, blocking the path of the van. The van's driver tried to back up but was blocked by the Regal.

A young man jumped out of the Regal and shot through the van's windows with a silencer-equipped gun. A popping sound and the noise of breaking glass did not draw much attention in this neighborhood. Most residents were used to such noises, especially at night.

The young man dragged a female body from the back of the van and threw it into the trunk of the Regal. The pickup truck backed up and the Buick Regal backed into a driveway and then sped off into the mist.

The next morning, Karen noticed that Kathy's car was parked in its usual spot, but its owner had not reported in. It worried her, especially in light of what Margaret had said the day before. She wasted no time in contacting her mentor.

Margaret sounded distant. "What is it Karen?"

"I haven't seen Kathy, Mrs. Hauptman. Her car is still in the parking lot, but she's not here. I'm scared."

There was a pause before Margaret spoke again. "I'll contact Willis. Maybe he knows something. You wait there and see if she calls in. Ok?"

"Ok." The reply did not convey confidence.

Margaret was confident that she knew what had happened, and it gave her a queasy stomach.

She made her way to the Institute, but her gait did not have its usual buoyant nature. In fact, she found it hard to hide her depression.

You can't let this get you down, old gal. Get mad, not sad. It's time for action, not sulking. This Stram business has gone on long enough.

"Are you all right, Margaret?"

Margaret turned around. "Oh, Joyce." She flashed a weak smile. "I'm sorry. It's just--" She shook her head and bit her lip.

"What's wrong?" Conners asked, her brow creasing much more than usual.

"Kathy's missing, and I'm certain it has something to do with Stram."

"That bastard! Evidently, he didn't find you sufficiently entertaining."

"The only good thing is that we have his wife. She's a sadistic devil. She enjoys torturing people."

"What about her husband?"

Margaret stopped. "I don't think he's as nuts as she is. I hope he isn't for Kathy's sake."

Conners sighed. "I hope you're right. I'm too old for this anxiety shit. I just want to get on with my work."

Margaret lowered her eyes.

Conners placed her hand on Margaret's back. "Look, don't get too down about this. They'll find her. I'm sure they will."

Margaret gave her a less-than-enthusiastic smile.

###

Margaret stared directly into Willis' eyes. "Kathy Tuller is missing, Her car is still in the parking lot, but she's nowhere to be found."

Willis lowered his eyes. "Yeah, I know."

"You know damn well who's taken her," she yelled at him.

Willis rubbed his brow. "Now Mrs. Hauptman, we can't jump to conclusions. At least, not yet."

She shook her head. "I don't have to jump to a conclusion. The conclusion is as plain as the nose on your face."

He punched a number into his console. "I'll see if the police have anything."

After several rings: "This is Ralph Willis at the Pacific Institute of Oceanography. One of our trainers hasn't reported in and her car is still in the parking lot." He paused. "Ok, Well, let me know . . . Yes. Good bye."

"They haven't had any reports of a young woman being . . . We'll just have to wait."

Lines in Margaret's face deepened. "I hate this. We'll never have any peace as long as this . . . this Stram is still out there."

Willis grinned, but only briefly. "Well, at least we have his wife to bargain with."

"I hope that's all he wants." Margaret bowed her head for an instant and then looked back up at Willis. "Let me know if you get any word."

"I will, Mrs. Hauptman. Don't you worry. We'll get her back."

Easier said than done. Margaret knew what Stram and his henchmen were capable of. She felt responsible for Kathy's predicament, and it made her sick.