Chapter 9 - The Trap at Mercer Fieldhouse
Maya did not go alone.
She also did not tell the kidnappers that.
Officer Bennett wanted the state police involved immediately. Detective Ruiz, now leading the case, agreed. They traced the message to a prepaid phone and found nothing useful.
The next text gave Maya a location.
MERCER FIELDHOUSE. 10 PM. OLD SERVICE ENTRANCE.
The fieldhouse was a private training facility Gordon Mercer had built on the edge of town, officially for youth sports.
Unofficially, it was where Ryan's circle practiced without school supervision.
At 9:58, Maya walked toward the service door carrying an empty metal document box.
A microphone was taped beneath her shirt.
Police units waited beyond the tree line.
Luis had argued until Bennett threatened to handcuff him to his car.
Maya opened the door.
The building was dark except for emergency lights.
"Seth?"
Her voice echoed.
A basketball bounced once somewhere ahead.
Then again.
Ryan stepped out from behind the bleachers.
No brace. No limp.
"You really do think you're a hero now," he said.
Maya kept her hands visible. "Where's Seth?"
"Box first."
"No."
Ryan laughed. "Still giving orders."
"You texted me because you're scared."
His face twitched.
Good.
"My dad isn't scared of you."
"I wasn't talking about your dad."
Ryan moved closer.
"You embarrassed me in front of everyone."
"You did that yourself."
"You think one lucky move makes you tough?"
"No. I think showing up here makes you stupid."
His expression hardened.
A side door opened.
Coach Danner entered.
Maya's pulse jumped.
"Coach?"
Danner raised both hands. "Maya, don't react."
Ryan turned toward him. "What are you doing here?"
Danner looked past him.
"Fixing something I should've fixed years ago."
A crash sounded behind the bleachers.
Seth stumbled out, wrists bound with a plastic zip tie.
Ryan spun.
Danner lunged and shoved him away from Seth.
Maya dropped the box and ran forward.
Ryan grabbed her shoulder.
She twisted free, but he tackled her against the padded wall.
"Police!" Bennett's voice thundered from the entrance.
Ryan froze.
Red and blue lights flooded the high windows.
He released Maya and bolted toward a side exit.
Two officers took him down outside.
Danner cut Seth's hands free.
Maya caught her breath.
"Who took him?"
Seth pointed toward a storage room.
Inside, police found duct tape, burner phones, and the pickup truck used in the abduction.
But no kidnapper.
Then Detective Ruiz came out holding one of the phones.
"Maya," he said, "you need to hear this."
May you like
The last call on the device had been made eight minutes earlier.
To Principal Hargrove.
