A kidnapping pulls together five men who had ties from many years previous. They would have to use all of their skills to facilitate a positive outcome.
Five young boys explore their world similar to that of any boy at the age of ten. In the small community of Dale Flats, Oregon. John Vale the more than frequent leader of this assortment of pubescent testosterone infused boys. Takes them through many adventures. Including one none of them would have foreseen coming their way.
The five of them would have to pull all of their talents together to help John get his two most favorite belongings back to him. Almost twenty years later the five of them are brought together under the direction of Ken Spader.
As a top rated pitcher for the New York Yankees. John is a prime suspect for just such a caper. Will he and his long time friends have the where with all to bring this episode in their lives to a positive conclusion? Read on to find out. Not always is childhood the training ground for a safe, happy, and productive future.
The boys training would be more than tested. Will John get his prized possessions back? Will the five of them continue on as best friends? Only time will tell and the adventures in a place called Beaverpots a very long time ago.
Excerpt
Thud! The ball sinks into the catchers glove. The umpire lets out a shrill "Strike!" With the theatrics of a Broadway dancer.
I look behind me at the catcher who shrugs his shoulders then gives me a wink. I then look to the Umpire as I step back from the plate. He looks back at me timidly...he knows how I can go off. I think about laying into him then think if he's going to call an obvious low and inside pitch a strike, odds are he will call an outside pitch a ball as well.
I step back into the batters box. I stare down the pitcher as he shakes his head responding to the catchers signal. He winds up. I can see by his posture he is going for another inside pitch. Thud!
"Strike two!"
The umpire screams out. I again step back from the plate. I turn to the umpire. He is looking away, good thing. The look I was giving him would have curled his toes. The fans were going wild. They loved to see me in situations like this, but they also knew I was great at getting out of them. I step back in for the next pitch.
Odds are the pitcher will throw an outside change-up figuring I will get sucked in. The pitcher winds up and delivers his pitch. Sure enough he has taken the power off and it's drifting to the outside.
I have this great ability to slow the game down in my head and tune out the crowds yelling and jeering. The ball seems to hang motionless in mid air as I strike it with just the right swing.
The ball leaves the bat with a resounding "CRACK!" As it sails out over center field and into the stands for another home run bringing in two more runs for us, putting us in the lead by one run. The crowd goes wild. Even though they hate me...they have to love me.
The fans were anxious. I could hear them. Even though I was stuffed away in the bowels of New York Stadium. I was lacing up my cleats getting ready for the eighth inning when Paul our head coach storms into the locker room of the New York Yankees. A team I was fortunate enough to be playing with for the third season.
I thought to myself as the coach droned on. I certainly was living my dream. Ever since I was a little boy, baseball was all I could think about and my Father had encouraged me to get as good as I could. I can hardly remember a day when I wasn't throwing a baseball, hitting, catching, and learning the sport that would define my life.
I was their lead pitcher and had developed a rather unique persona, at least unique for me. And only when I stepped into the stadium in front of the thousands of fans, or dealt with the press.
I was for a better word a "Prick". My fans loved to hate me and I returned the favor. Not that I really hated them, in fact I much rather liked them very much, but to keep the energy flowing season to season I had to keep up appearances.
Three seasons into a five season contract. The money was great, my marriage was great, my daughter was great and I could not think of anything that was not great right now, at this moment.
I had lost my Father last year to liver cancer, and my Mother had died when I was very young. No siblings, and no other family that I am aware of. All I can remember about growing up was baseball. It's all I ever wanted to do.
We won that game and were ready to move onto the World Series. We had needed this game to make it. My pitching was so-so, but it created the right mood for the fans, and with our heavy hitting we pulled it off. Time for a little celebration.
We would get a bit of a break before the first game of the Series. The drive home was quiet as I went over the game in my head. I often do this, trying to find chinks in the armour of the other team I guess.
It always seems to improve my next game. I pull into the driveway of a modest but well built home in a safe and quiet upper class neighbourhood.
Lots of BMW's and Porsche's. There were only a couple of lights on as I walked to the door. It was nearly one am and my wife Julie would be sleeping. I brushed my teeth. Then off to dream land.
I always feel great after a good nights sleep. I open my eyes and roll over. As usual Julie is already up and getting breakfast for Chloe. She is five and one real smart little girl. I love them both very much and would do anything for them. Julie's family live across country in San Diego whom we visit on special occasions.
I was born in a small town in Oregon not too far from the coast. I moved to New York to play with the Yankees four years ago. I'm thirty two years old and have everything I could possibly want in life.
I grab a cup of coffee and sit down at the table after kissing my lovely wife and daughter. The usual chit chat at breakfast then open the newspaper to the sports section. Again, no surprises here. The sports critics put a pretty good spin on our win but of course have a field day with me.
It's tough being a prick all the time at work, but my agent has convinced me it's the best thing for my contract, the team, and my family's future. I would guess for him as well. Julie sits across from me opening mail and mumbling every once in awhile about one of the bills.
She is tall and athletic looking with long dark hair rolling over her shoulders. A contagious smile that accents her perfect blue eyes. She is two years younger than me but is so much smarter. I was truly lucky when I met Julie for the first time at a baseball game many years ago. It helps to have a wife that enjoys the game.
Chloe sits contently eating her favourite breakfast...Fruit Loops. At five years of age she has her Mothers smarts but my blonde hair, and of course big bright blue eyes.
Julie looks to me as she looks at an envelope she's holding.
"Hey sweetie."
She calls me that when everything in her life is going well.
"There's a letter here for you from Oregon."
"Let's have a look."
I say as I reach across the table and knock over my orange juice in the process.
"Shit!"
"John..."
Julie looks at me as she says.
"Not in front of Chloe."
I look at her, then I look at Chloe as I wipe up the mess.
"It's OK Daddy, I know what it means, but I never say it."
"Good for you honey."
I say with some relief. She is really the reason I do what I do. I love her so much.
I open the letter, quickly look it over and put it down on the table.
"What is it?"
Julie asks.
"Nothing much, something about a class reunion I'm not going to."
Julie is silent as she starts to eat her breakfast.
"Look, I just don't think it's a good idea. I mean I haven't seen anybody in years and I would feel out of place”.
“The only one I have kept track of is Ken, and that's only because his picture is plastered all over the paper as one of the top lawyers on the east coast."
Without looking up Julie takes a sip of coffee then says.
"Why don't you at least try to connect with Ken, and a few of your close buddies from school?"
"I'll think about. I've got to get going...big day with fans, agent, and team meeting about our first playoff game."
I grab my briefcase and car keys, kiss my girls goodbye after telling them I love them more than anything, and out to the car, then drive into the city.
The drive was crazy as usual and I put my day in with the team, my agent, my manager, and my fans. As much as they jeered me when playing, they still wanted my autograph and bought the t-shirts and ball caps.
At lunch I call home to see how the girls are doing. They're playing games and doing stuff in the garden, so again, it's a good day. Five o'clock rolls around and time to rap it up for the day.
The coach has scheduled our first practice in three days from now. We get a whole three days off, and of course he says to us all to take it easy and stay in shape for our first playoff game the next evening. We are home team.
The drive home is slower than usual, must be a traffic problem up ahead. I call Julie on my cell phone to let her know I'll be later than expected. No answer...she must be busy with Chloe.
Chloe was my number one fan and came to many of my games. She liked to sit close to the action so she could cheer me on. It always made me feel privileged when I turned to look at both Julie and her clapping and waving their hands.
Sometimes Chloe would have a yellow mustache from the mustard on her hot dog she was doing her best to eat. They would both be at our first playoff game. A smile came across my face as I continued the slow drive home.
I pull into the driveway. Julie's car is in its usual place and Chloe's small bike is thrown down recklessly on the lawn. I pick it up as I walk to the front door. I fumble for my keys. As I start to insert the key the door swings open on its own. I've told Julie and Chloe both that I want the front door locked at all times. I get nervous when I'm not with them.
I know there are some really creepy guys out there. I let Julie and Chloe know I'm home. No response...they must be in the back yard. As I walk through the house to the back door I feel something strange, can't explain it, just weird.
As I slide open the patio door I can see no one is in the yard. I retrace my steps and go upstairs. I again call for Julie and Chloe...no response, maybe they're over at the neighbours.
It could only be the Jones, we don't see too much of our other neighbour on the other side. I knock on Bill's front door, a few minutes later Bill opens the door and says hi. I ask if Julie and Chloe have dropped by. Bill yells back to his wife Sharon.
"Sharon, have you seen Julie and Chloe today?"
Sharon answers as she approach's the door.
"No I haven't, hi John. I did see them both in the garden earlier today." "Thanks Sharon...we'll have to get together soon the summer is almost over,"
They both agree as I turn and head back to the house.
I look for a note in the usual place and find none. I am now getting concerned. I tell myself everything is alright, maybe they just went for a walk. Maybe to the corner store for something. I grab a beer from the fridge and sit down to calm myself. It is uncommonly quiet for this time of day. I take a drink of beer from the bottle and place it on the table where I sit staring at the backyard.
The ringing of the phone startles me and I knock over the beer which breaks into hundreds of pieces as it hits the marble floor. I quickly turn to grab the phone.
"Yes...hello?"
It's Julie on the other end. For a split second a sense of calm over takes me.
"John....Chloe and I are alright..."
She is suddenly cut off as I hear her and Chloe chattering in the background. My heart almost jumps through my rib cage as I shout into the receiver. "Julie, Chloe!!
Nothing.
"Julie!!”
Then a calm and obviously male voice comes on the line. I am now trembling from fear and not knowing what is happening. The voice continues in a calm and rehearsed manner.
"Mr. Vale, I want you to listen to what I have to say, it is very important that you do everything you are told or the safety of your wife and daughter will be compromised. Do you understand?"
I struggle for words.
"Are they OK? I need to know they are OK."
The voice returns as calmly as before. "They are OK for now, and they will remain that way if you follow my instructions to the letter. Do you understand Mr. Vale?"
I pause to collect myself.
"Yes...yes I do. What do you want, I'll give you anything, just don't hurt them."
I am now trembling with fear and a million thoughts are running through my head. The calm voice starts in again.
"Mr. Vale you will go to your office and look in the top middle drawer, there you will find instructions. If you do not follow them to the letter, your wife and daughter will be killed. Do you understand Mr. Vale?"
There is a long pause. He comes back with a little tension in his voice this time.
"Do you understand Mr. Vale?"
I quietly agree.
"Yes...yes I do."
All I hear now on the other end is a dial tone. He is gone. I drop the phone and rush to my office and reach for the top middle drawer of my desk. I nervously look in and see an envelope amongst pens, rulers, and other desk paraphernalia.
I think to myself, “How the hell did this guy get into my home and plant a letter in my desk without anyone knowing?” I had installed one of the best alarm systems money could buy.
My hands are shaking as I open the envelope. As I read the letter I begin to sob. I can't hold back the tears as I read the demands of what I consider to be a crazed man. I am to put five hundred thousand dollars in hundreds and fifties in a large black duffel bag and bring it to a location to be given in forty eight hours.
There will be a call here at the house at exactly six PM two days from now. If I do not answer that call my wife and daughter will be killed. If I do not have exactly the five hundred thousand dollars in the bag, my wife and daughter will be killed. If I tell the police or FBI, my wife and daughter will be killed. Then I read a PS at the bottom. It's short and something I don't understand. It reads.
"You and your buddies owe me."
I run to the bathroom and vomit. I am still shaking and wondering if this is all a dream. I go back to my desk and sit down. I reach for the letter and lean back in the chair. I look up for a moment to look at a picture of my wife and Chloe. As I touch the photo I look next to it. There is a picture of me and my boyhood friends, my dad, and two police officers...all smiling. I grab it and start to drift off.
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