“No. I don’t understand.” I hear the anger coursing through my words.
Declan frowns. “You both seem like friendly, practical people. I have a very small amount of flexibility here, so let me use it to make things as comfortable as they can be.”
Diane, as if on cue, comes back inside, and Alice emerges from the bedroom. She’s wearing a big sweater over leggings, and black sneakers. She’s carrying her weekend travel bag, a plain canvas tote with her monogram on the front. I can see some socks and jeans sticking out of the top, along with her makeup bag. She seems oddly resolute, only a little bit nervous. “I can bring my phone and wallet?”
Declan nods. Diane walks over with a Ziploc bag, a label, and a Sharpie. She holds the open bag in front of Alice, who drops her phone and wallet into the bag. Diane seals the bag, affixes the label over the top, initials it. She hands it to Declan, who also initials.
“No jewelry,” Diane says.
Alice removes the necklace I gave her for Christmas, the one with the black pearl pendant. She’s worn it every day since I gave it to her. I hold on to her hand, unwilling to let go. I’m pretty sure I’m more nervous than she is. She leans in to kiss me and whispers, “It will be fine. Please don’t worry.” Then she looks at Declan, her eyes a challenge. “Shall we go?”
He gives her a slightly pained look. “I wish it were that easy.”
Diane puts the duffel bag on the table. “I just need to conduct a quick search, to make sure you don’t have anything on you.”
“Seriously?” I ask.
“Ma’am, can I have you stand over here and put your hands against the wall?”
Alice gives me a wry smile, as if this is all some kind of game, nothing to be concerned about. “Yes, ma’am,” she says to Diane lightly.
“Is this necessary?” I demand.
“Just part of the procedure.” Declan refuses to meet my eyes. “We don’t want anyone harming themselves on our watch.”
As Diane pats Alice down, Declan turns to me. “To be honest, it’s not always this calm. When people disregard a directive, sometimes it means they’re not quite prepared to go with us. Understandably, the procedures were designed with that in mind.”
Alice has her back to me, her hands against the wall. It seems incredibly surreal. Diane reaches into the duffel bag and removes chain restraints. She clicks each side around Alice’s ankles. Alice doesn’t move.
“Really.” I step toward my wife. “This has gone too far.”
Declan pushes me back. “This is why people never ignore the directives. It’s an effective deterrent.”
“Ma’am,” Diane instructs, “can you turn around and extend your arms in front of you.” Alice does as she is told. Diane pulls something made of canvas, buckles, and chains out of the bag. Alice seems to realize what it is before I do. Her face goes ashen.
Diane slides the straitjacket onto her outstretched arms.
“I won’t let you do this!” I say, lunging toward Declan. Declan’s forearm hits my throat, his left leg pivots, and I’m on the floor, Declan standing over me. I’m struggling to catch my breath, stunned; it all happened so quickly.
“Leave him alone!” Alice shouts, helpless.
“We’ll do this the easy way, right?” Declan says to me.
I try to speak but can’t, so I nod instead. Declan pulls me back to my feet. It is only then that I realize that he is at least forty pounds heavier than I am.
Diane looks at Declan. “Headgear?”
“Headgear?” Alice blurts out. The terror in her voice is heartbreaking.
“Can you promise me that there will be no yelling?” Declan asks her. “I want a quiet ride.”
“Yes, yes, of course.”
He considers that a moment, then nods.
As Diane pulls a strap through Alice’s legs and begins to fasten it in the back, Alice asks, “Do we have to go out the front door? I don’t want the neighbors to see me like this. Can we leave through the garage?”
Declan glances at Diane. “I don’t see why not,” he says.
I lead the three of them through the kitchen and down the back stairs. I press the opener, and the garage door creeps up. Declan unlocks the SUV and opens the back door. I keep telling myself this is a bad dream. This isn’t really happening.
Diane nudges Alice past me. Alice hesitates, then she turns back to me. For a second, I fear she’s going to try to run. “I love you,” she says, kissing me. She looks into my eyes. “Don’t call the police, Jake. Promise me.”
I pull her into a tight hug, panicked. “Let’s go,” Declan commands. When I don’t move, he seizes my forearm in his large hands. In an instant, I’m back on my knees, a sharp pain piercing through my shoulder.
Diane helps Alice work her way awkwardly into the backseat. When she is in place, Diane pulls the seatbelt down and snaps her in. I struggle to my feet. My heart is pounding. Declan hands me a card. There’s a phone number on it, nothing more. “In case of emergency, contact this number.” He locks eyes with mine. “Only in an emergency. Understood? Keep your cell with you, she’ll call. It’s not as bad as it looks.”
Declan and Diane climb into the SUV and pull out of the driveway. I wave at the blacked-out back window, though it’s unclear if Alice can see me.
38
The house feels quiet and empty. I don’t know what to do with myself. I watch television, pace the hallway, read the news, and pour a bowl of cereal that I’m too distraught to eat, all while watching my phone, willing it to ring. I want to call the police. Why did she make me promise not to? I try to imagine what she was thinking, and I think I understand: a big news story of a kidnapping, television cameras, all the sordid speculation about our private lives. That would crush her.