Twist

Owen Conroy drove his Lexus between the two brick columns marking his driveway, then braked hard as he passed the willows that shielded the house from the road. Parked on the curved drive were two white Chevrolet Cavaliers and one black-and-white police cruiser.

Conroy sat still for a moment, then pressed the heel of a palm against his forehead. "What in heaven's name," he said softly, then eased off the brake and pulled up behind the closest Cavalier.

Leaving his briefcase on the front passenger seat, Conroy got out of the car and marched toward the front door of the large Tudor-style house. He was still some yards away when the door opened and his wife Catherine came running out to meet him. "What in heaven's name--" he began.

"Oh, Owen," Catherine cried, wrapping her arms around his chest. "Gail has been kidnapped!"