Kidnapped! - episode 3

[I'm curled up in the back of my Chevette]

Before I continue I should mention one other event that took place while I was still trying to negotiate with these two ski-masked men. During this time one of them called the other, "Thomas." As soon as he realized what he had done, however, he turned to me and said in a very deliberate tone, "His name is Jefferson and my name is Cochise." Just to make sure I wouldn't forget, he had me repeat it. 

"His name is Jefferson and your's is Cochise," I said as convincingly as I could, while vowing to never forget "Thomas" and wondering what type of person would be so naive as to draw attention to his real name by having me repeat such obvious aliases?  This event had two repercussions. One we will see much later, and the other was that I now knew my plan: I would out smart them! 

Meanwhile, I was curled up in the back of my Chevette. They started the car and promptly stalled as the driver didn't have much luck with my clutch. Backing the car up and driving to the exit was a succession of starts, stops, jerks and stalls. Finally, we got to the exit and the attendant asked for the parking ticket. Now, I assume they had taken their ski masks off at this point, but they had told me to keep my head down and I obliged. I also assume that the attendant could not see me in the back—the white guy in a suit lying down. (We will learn later that the two were black, as I suspected from their voices.) In Boston this would be suspicious. 

I had given them the ticket, but no money. They were anxious to get away from the attendant and the parking garage so they paid the $5 parking charge. At this point I felt pretty good. I was $5 ahead of the game.

[To be continued…]