No Second Chance

This chapter starts with third person omniscient narration as Lydia looks at an old photograph from her sitcom, Family Laughs. She reminisces that the father on the show was a drinker and the two boys who played her brothers failed badly at music careers after the show ended. Lydia, who was known as Larissa Dane at the time, was a star from the age of 6 to 13, but her parents divorced over her money during the last season of the show, and her father committed suicide. As for her mother, she “remarried a con artist who disappeared with the money” (124). Larissa had an overdose at 15 and was institutionalized.

Looking at another photograph, Lydia thinks of how she once broke her arm and was injected with painkillers by the studio doctor so she could complete filming the episode. She does not feel sorry for herself, however. She theorizes that “the loss of the spotlight” is what damages child star; all they know is how to be a star, so they are not equipped to transition to a normal life (125). The narration explains her history of sexual promiscuity, self-harm, and drugs: “She did them to lash out, to hurt something or someone. Her mistake, she realized in rehab after a truly horrific and violent incident, was that she was hurting herself” (125). Rather than harm herself, she decided to harm the “pitiful masses […] who had worshiped her” (125-136), inflicting her pain on others.

Lydia had met Heshy when he saved her from an assault by orderlies while they were institutionalized. Heshy later kills the orderlies and helps Lydia kick her drug habit. They have been using their current falsified identities for a decade after escaping together and changing their looks. Lydia and Heshy are lovers.

Lydia calls Marc, switching on the voice modulator.

Marc’s first-person narration returns as the reader experiences the ransom call from his perspective. Before he answers the call, Rachel reminds him to be strong in his negotiation, saying, “If they intend to let her go, they will be flexible” (128). Marc takes her advice and tells Lydia that he will only hand over the ransom money if Tara is given to him at the same time.

Lydia responds by threatening to hang up and not call back for another year and a half. Marc continues to follow Rachel’s lead and remains steadfast in his insistence on a direct swap: the money will be handed over when Tara is handed over. Lydia hangs up on Marc.

Marc gives in to panic. Rachel tries to reassure him, first stating that he acted correctly and that they mightn’t do the exchange because they can’t. Marc is stressed that Tara may actually be dead, but he tells himself to “compartmentalize.”

Rachel asks Marc about Monica’s disc from Most Valuable Detection. Although the disk is back at his house, Rachel suggests visiting the MVD offices since they are already in Newark.

Lydia plays with a pistol as she talks to Heshy, who tells her that she acted correctly by hanging up on Marc. This mirrors Rachel’s words to Marc after Lydia hung up on him. Heshy advises Lydia to abandon their ransom plan, but he can tell that Lydia wants Marc to suffer. Heshy tells Lydia that Marc will suffer more if they never call him back, but Lydia wants to take the ransom and kill Marc. Heshy immediately agrees.

Marc returns as the first-person narrator. He and Rachel are visiting MVD’s modern office building, with Marc holding onto the ransom money. Rachel uses an ID card that identifies her as a former FBI agent with the receptionists, and they are admitted to the office of Conrad Dorfman, MVD’s executive vice president.

Rachel disingenuously hints that she is also a private investigator in order to gain Dorfman’s trust and begins to question him regarding Monica’s disc. Dorfman tells her that clients set their own passwords for discs and that he cannot help. He refuses to further divulge information without a warrant, causing Rachel to threaten him with the weight of the FBI.

Dorfman waits a moment and then there is a knock on the door. He leaves briefly and returns to loom over Rachel, telling her that their president, Malcolm Deward is a former FBI agent and found that she has no backing with the organization. Dorfman then unceremoniously ejects Marc and Rachel from his office.

Marc questions Rachel regarding why they were kicked out of Dorfman’s office, but she stonewalls him. They return to Marc’s home by evening, and Rachel suggests further DNA tests to verify if the baby hair in both ransom demands belongs to Tara. She has a friend with a private lab who takes possession of the hair samples, along with a blood sample from Marc to test DNA against. Results will be back in a day or two.

Meanwhile, Rachel starts using her surveillance equipment. She installs a GPS tracker called a “Q-Logger” in a hole she cuts in a random bundle of the ransom money, along with another Q-Logger in the bag itself. The trackers display their locations on Rachel’s Palm Pilot PDA (personal digital assistant).

Rachel then discusses why she broke up with Marc in college. Her father repeatedly cheated on her mother, leading to their divorce around the time Rachel and Marc first met. Rachel saw how devastated her mother had been from her father’s infidelity, so she immediately broke up with Marc when she heard about his one-night stand while she was studying abroad in Italy. She now thinks that she “overreacted,” and Marc sees that she is “reaching out” to him (142). He keeps silent, however, too emotionally drained by the kidnapping situation to say anything.

Lenny breaks the silence by calling Marc. Rachel gestures to Marc to not disclose details about the new ransom demand, and Marc listens to her. Lenny mentions that Marc’s mother told him about Marc seeing Edgar while walking his father and warns Marc against trusting him. He also knows Marc contacted Rachel and asks if there is anything wrong. Marc lies that everything is fine, and Lenny calls him on it, but does not press further. Marc cancels their weekly racquetball match that is scheduled for the following morning, and Lenny offers his help again before hanging up. Rachel sees that Marc is very stressed and promises that they will bring Tara home if the kidnappers have not already killed her. Marc narrates his uncertainty regarding her promise to close the chapter: “And for the first time, I was not sure that I believed her” (142).

Narration for this chapter is third-person omniscient again, but this time begins with Agent Tickner. He has been off the Seidman case for a long time and has focused (along with the rest of the FBI, post 9/11) on terrorism cases. However, he has just received a report that Rachel and Marc visited MVD that day, with Rachel posing as a private investigator. The report was generated because Malcolm Deward called to verify Rachel’s status. Tickner delegates further background investigation to a subordinate and states that he will visit MVD himself, before reminiscing that “he and Rachel had gone through training together at Quantico” (144). He calls Detective Regan to consult before he leaves and tells him about Marc and Rachel’s visit to MVD.

The narration remains in the third person, but the focus shifts to Lydia, who has just finished dying her hair black. She and Heshy are planning to ambush Marc. The plan, in Lydia’s words, is to “confirm that he has the money...Then I kill him...the beauty of it is, the murder will automatically get tied to the original shooting” (145). As the reader later discovers, Lydia has possession of Marc’s missing gun.

Heshy wants to be the one to kill Marc to spare Lydia from any danger, but Lydia reiterates that she will be the one to kill him. Lydia is under the impression that she will never be caught. If she ever is arrested, she doubts she will ever be convicted because the tragedy of being a child star with a traumatic history will earn her so much public sympathy that no jury could resist. Heshy acquiesces, and they begin to leave. Lydia mentions someone named Pavel, who is a part of their plan. Heshy clarifies that he is the man in the flannel shirt that Marc saw on the day of the first ransom drop-off and again at the park with his father. As they leave, it is revealed that there is a sleeping child in the back of the car, although it is not specified that the child is Tara. Lydia calls Marc with the voice modulator on as Heshy begins to drive.

Marc is narrating once again. Marc and Rachel are eating pizza like they did in college and are falling back into familiar patterns. Marc remains hopeful, despite himself, that Tara is still alive. Lydia’s call comes through close to 10 PM, and she begins the call by telling Marc that he will be allowed to see Tara. Lydia tells Marc that she knows he has not called the police yet but wants to be certain. She tells him to drive towards New York City alone and to “use the two-way radio feature on the phone” to receive further instructions once he reaches the George Washington Bridge (148). Marc agrees and Lydia tells him she expects his radio signal within one hour.

The narration is in third person, once again focusing on Agent Tickner. Tickner has made Dorfman return to the office that evening to answer questions, indicating that Tickner is urgently seeking answers. Dorfman tells Tickner about Rachel and Marc’s visit, including their request for the password to Monica’s CD. He did not agree to their request because Deward was instructed by his FBI contacts to not cooperate with Rachel.

Tickner thinks to himself about Rachel, recalling that he had once thought highly of her, but is now feeling suspicious that she is involved with Marc’s case. Tickner’s subordinate calls him with interesting information from Marc’s phone records: While he has never called Rachel, there is a record of Rachel calling Marc’s home three months before the day of the shootings and Tara’s kidnapping. He also relays that another agent is investigating Rachel’s apartment and has found an old picture from college of Rachel and Mark attending a formal dance together. Tickner is beyond curious at this latest revelation. Dorfman mentions that there is a backup CD with Monica’s files available and Tickner requests to see it.

Marc is narrating once again. Rachel attempts to convince him to wear a camera embedded in a bulletproof vest, but Marc thinks it is too risky. She plans to accompany Marc to the ransom exchange by hiding in the trunk of his car. However, before they can depart, Detective Regan arrives at Marc’s house. Rachel instantly guesses that their visit to MVD is likely the reason for Regan’s arrival and goes to hide in Marc’s garage. She gives Marc the following guidance for his conversation with Regan: “Tell him I went back to D.C. If he presses, tell him I’m an old friend and leave it at that...Just be firm and get him out of there” (154).

Marc opens his door before Regan can knock in an attempt to speak to him before Regan can enter his house, but Regan walks right in. Marc tries to tell Regan that he cannot talk to him at that moment, but Regan tells him they have new information. He asks where Marc has been, and Marc tells him to get out: “I’m going to ask you to leave because I know answering your questions will bring me no closer to finding my daughter [...] Kindly get the hell out of my house” (155). Regan concedes, but closes their conversation with what seems to be a major revelation: Rachel’s husband is dead because Rachel is the one who shot him. Marc doesn’t believe Regan, asking why Rachel isn’t in jail if she has committed murder. Regan tells him to ask Rachel that question instead.

Marc returns to the garage and tells Rachel that Regan asked about their visit to MVD. Marc does not mention her husband’s death, but privately has momentary doubts about her. Marc rejects Rachel’s offer to wear a bulletproof vest once again, and they head off with Rachel hiding in Marc’s trunk.

Narration switches back to Marc, who is driving towards New York City. He contacts Lydia, who directs him to Fort Tryon Park and tells him to exit the vehicle. Lydia directs Marc to bring the ransom money to a small and unlit fenced-off park next to a subway station. Meanwhile, Rachel sneaks out of the trunk, armed with a pistol, night-vision goggles, and the PDA for the GPS transmitters. She follows Marc from a distance as he heads towards the subway station.

Narration switches to third person for Agent Tickner, to whom Dorfman is showing Monica’s MVD photos. They are surveillance photos of Rachel, causing Tickner to feel that Monica has “risen from the dead to point a finger” at her (158). Agent Tickner wakes up Edgar and Carson Portman to show them Monica’s photos of Rachel. Edgar is shocked and reveals to Tickner that he gave Marc another $2 million for a new ransom demand. Tickner asks if the demand is legitimate, and Edgar tells him about the included hair samples, which are now all with Rachel’s expert. Edgar suspects that Monica surveilled Rachel because Marc was being unfaithful, but Tickner stays silent. Tickner’s subordinate then calls with the news that Marc’s automatic toll pass was triggered heading into New York.

Marc narrates as Lydia directs him into the darkness of the park by the subway station. He is told to drop the money, but he refuses until he sees Tara. In response, a flashlight beam illuminates the silhouette of a man with a toddler next to him.

Narration is third person, focusing on Lydia as she waits in the dark to ambush Marc, wishing she could see his face at the moment he thinks he has seen Tara again. After she uses her flashlight to verify that Marc has left the ransom money on the ground, she directs him to continue forward to the child as she prepares to execute him in the darkness.

Narration switches focus to Rachel, who first thinks that Marc has entered the subway. She eventually notices Lydia’s flashlight and realizes that Marc is in the small, fenced off park adjacent to the subway. She finds a vantage point that allows her to look down into the park and puts on her night-vision goggles. Just as she spots Lydia about to shoot Marc, Heshy grabs her from behind with a hand over her mouth, which blocks any chance she has to warn Marc.

The third person narration now follows Tickner and Regan, who are driving together to follow Marc’s automatic toll pass signal across the George Washington Bridge. After a bit of light banter, the two investigators begin to go over the facts of the case. Tickner thinks it is likely that Marc and Rachel murdered Monica, kept Tara safely hidden, and are stealing as much money from Edgar as possible through a fake ransom scheme. However, Regan raises the point that Marc was believed dead from his injuries when he was found, which complicates any theory that he was involved. Rachel would also know that the FBI could track Marc’s automatic toll pass signals, so it is unlikely that they are currently attempting to abscond with the money. Tickner’s subordinate calls with news that the NYPD has found Marc’s car in Fort Tryon Park and the two investigators drive towards it.

Marc is narrating once again. He briefly hears movement from Heshy seizing Rachel, but he hears nothing further and continues towards the toddler at the end of the path in front of him.

Rachel attempts to fight off Heshy. As Heshy asphyxiates her, she reaches for her gun. Heshy disarms her, knocks her to the ground, and resumes suffocating her, but he is interrupted by a passing police car. He sends an abort signal to Lydia and Pavel, then knocks Rachel out.

Narration switches to Lydia, who abandons her ambush of Marc when Heshy’s abort message comes through. She dumps her gun and phone, then grabs the ransom money and escapes with Heshy.

Marc narrates as he continues towards the toddler’s last visible location. Pavel obeys Heshy’s signal to abort, and Marc hears someone running away with a child. Marc begins to run towards the sounds, guessing at likely paths, until he hears an exclamation of surprise from some bushes. A businessman has been interrupted mid-tryst with a young male prostitute. When Marc questions him about the fleeing kidnapper with a child, the businessman angrily tells Marc to leave. Marc slaps the man, who then abashedly points Marc in the right direction. Marc runs past more male prostitutes, one of whom points him towards the distant figure of a man running with a child under his arm. Marc follows, but Regan, Tickner and two other police officers stop him with guns drawn. Marc decides to risk being shot by the police and continues to run after Pavel. In an effort to lead the police to Pavel, Marc tries to remain in their sight.

After an extended chase past Cabrini Chapel, Marc thinks he has lost Pavel. However, Marc hears Pavel start his car and is able to pull open the driver’s door as Pavel drives away. Marc identifies Pavel as the same man in flannel that he had seen at the first ransom drop-off and again at the park with his father. Pavel accelerates and Marc falls hard, but not before visually confirming that the toddler was not Tara.