THE DIXIE DETECTIVE AGENCY
CHAPTER SIX
The Wine sisters eventually wiggled loose from their bindings and reported to Tonya Hyde. The two private detectives were indeed becoming a nuisance. She had already been thinking of Dixie as the key to getting at Virginia and Georgia. Now she had to think of how to do it. Posing as a potential client was out of the question, at least going to her office was. Surely she would be recognized. Then she realized. There was a link in the chain she could use who wasn´t already known to Dixie.
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The following morning, Dixie received a phone call. The caller was a woman, who said she needed the agency´s help desperately, but could not afford to be seen entering a private detective´s office. It wasn´t usual in D.C., but made sure to tell where she was going, on the off chance it was a trap. She agreed to meet the prospective client in Rock Creek Park at one p.m., on the bench nearest the main entrance.
Dixie made sure to arrive ahead of schedule. She wanted to look the place over, to see if there was somebody else watching the bench or the client had been followed. The first part was negative, and she would have to wait for the other. As she sat on the bench, she looked around all she saw was a pair of young women jogging toward her. Their hair was tucked underneath baseball caps and they wore wrap around sunglasses. One wore a blue sports bra and matching shorts, while the other wore a white t-shirt and track shorts. The slowed down as they approached the bench and smiled at Dixie, who noticed they were the same height.
Soon, a woman about Dixie´s own age approached. “Are you Dixie Kupp?’
“I am,’ Dixie said.
“My name is Etta Apple,’ the woman said.
“The wife of Congressman Apple.’
“Yes. Could we walk as we speak?’
“Sure.’
They got up and made their way down the path.
“I think I might know your family,’ Mrs. Apple said as they walked along. “Your maiden name was Dixie Recht.’
“That´s right,’ Dixie said, hoping the woman would get to the case at hand.
“I think some people are threatening my husband, so he´ll support the ball they want passed .’
“Physical threats? Against you or your children?’
“Yes.’
“I´m certainly interested. Go on.’
They stopped abruptly and Mrs. Apple stood with her back to the park, Dixie with her back to the road. “I had an anonymous note slipped under the door of my house with a picture of my daughter,’ Mrs. Apple began. She began a rambling, incoherent ramble as Dixie became aware of a van stopping behind her and a door opening. A powerful hand was clamped over Dixie´s mouth and a strong arm around her waist. She was dragged into the van with were gag was stuffed into her mouth, her wrist were bound and a large cloth secured over her eyes.
After a while, she was taken from the van and into a building. The blindfold was removed and she saw a chair await her. She was seated into the chair, with no attempt to change the ropes around her wrists. A large length of rope secured her chest and upper arms to back of the chair, while a short one went around her ankles. She looked up and saw herself confronted by Tonya Hyde.
“So nice of you to drop by,’ Tonya said. She was carrying Dixie´s purse. After rummaging around for a bit, she produced Dixie´s video phone. “I suppose your two young friends have these as well. They might like to see you.’