While I was in London this past weekend having what I thought was an exciting time, it turns out the real action was back at home . . .
Saturday, April 2, 8:47pm
So, earlier today, I heard walkie-talkies in the hallway. It sounded like people were looking for someone. I figured someone had locked themselves out and the maintenance people were looking around.
Just now, Froupie and I were sitting on the couch studying when we hear a dog outside the door. Maybe one of our neighbors has gotten a dog and is bringing it home. The dog seems very agitated, and Froupie gets progressively more concerned. The dog gets more worked up and now it sounds like someone is torturing the poor thing. Then I hear walkie talkies right outside our door and the dog starts scratching at things.
Froupie jumps off and heads to the bedroom. I go to the door and and look through the peephole and I finally see what's been going on all day.
There are police officers with a police dog outside our door. The dog is scratching at the door of our neighbor across the hall. They knock on her door.
"Police. Let us in."
I worry about what the dog is smelling. Drugs? Not our neighbor. Dead body? My heart sinks. Poor girl. Dying so far from home with no friends to notice her passing. Maybe her lab people finally got worried after she hadn't shown up for a week and called the police.
The door opens slowly and an Asian woman comes out. I can't make her out through the peephole, but I think it's our neighbor.
She bends at the waist. I'm momentarily confused until I realize she had opened the door holding her slippers and has dropped them down and is now putting them on.
Meanwhile, the police ask her several times if she's alone. She assures them that she is, but the police seem unconvinced.
They walk in with their dog and with their guns drawn. I notice that someone who looks like Dennis [our building manager] is with them. He stays outside and again asks her if anyone has come into her apartment.
By now, Froupie has gained some courage and comes out and sits under the dining table.
Maybe the guy had sneaked in and she wasn't even aware of it. Maybe it's an undocumented relative. Who knows?
I step away from the door, worried that there could be a shoot-out and I may get hit by a stray bullet.
I hear them walk out of her apartment and move their search down the hall.
I worry that someone might have sneaked in to our place while I was letting Froupie wander outside earlier with the door open. I do a full search of the place, with the phone in my hand just in case. No one is here.
Then I worry that the police and the dog may come into our place and scare Froupie. Plus, the bathroom is a mess and, if the guy is Dennis, Froupie will be discovered. I can't do anything about the last two, but I can clean up.
So, the bathroom is a little cleaner now.
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Providence, Mass. police investigating kidnapping
By NBC 10 News
Published: April 02, 2011
Providence Police as well as Malden, Mass. police are investigating a kidnapping early Saturday morning at the Regency Plaza.
Officials say a person was kidnapped and taken by force to Malden at about 2 a.m. The victim was found at 160 Pleasant St. according to Malden police.
According to police a second victim was involved in the incident but was not taken from the Regency Plaza.
Officials say no arrests have been made in the case. Malden police as well as Providence, state and the FBI Task Force is investigating the incident.
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Saturday, April 2, 9:35pm
The laundry has been put away. The bed has been made. I hear voices down the hall and I know our apartment is next. I'm rushing to hang my pants, but can't find a hanger. I quickly fold them and leave them on your vanity chair.
I hear a key turning in our door and then a knock. It's an older man in a fireman's outfit, asking if he can come in. I say sure. He has a kind face and a smile.
A lady cop follows. Short hair and a muscular build. They're standing outside our door, waiting for something. I hear the dog from up the hall.
"Blood! Come here," she yells.
She asks for confirmation that they can come in. I say sure, but that I have a cat, who'll be scared of the dog.
The fireman laughs. She doesn't see the humor and keeps looking at me, trying to size me up. Does she think I'm their suspect?
She turns and motions down the hall with her hand to her partners.
"The cat won't run out?" asks the fireman.
"We have permission to search this unit," she yells down the hall.
"No. He's been hiding under the bed since all this started," I answer.
He laughs. "They're just finishing up another unit," says the fireman.
A few seconds later, the guy that looked like Dennis through the peep hole comes over. He's wearing a sweater with a police badge at the neck. He asks me again if they can come in. I stand out of the way and let them in. He and another male cop come in. No guns drawn this time. Just flashlights. I turn to make sure the dog isn't coming in, but Blood and the lady cop have disappeared.
They do a pretty cursory search. One of them opens and closes the laundry room door, walks into the bathroom with his flashlight, then into the office.
The other one, Dennis's double, goes into our room.
The one who went into the office is now out. It didn't take that long. I wonder if he really looked around that much.
"Has anyone has come knocking on your door?" he asks. "Have you seen or heard anyone running frantically down the hall?"
I tell them I just heard commotion from them earlier, but that no one had come knocking.
Dennis's twin is now done with our room and heads straight toward me with his Blackberry facing out.
I see a picture of an Asian guy. I see his name: Hui X...? I can't make out the rest of the name. He looks like a young guy. Kind of nerdy. A little awkward.
"If this guy or anyone comes knocking on your door, asking to be let in... Anyone with a sob story," he says.
I complete his sentence with a question: "I'll call 911?"
"You call 911," he confirms.
I feel like I'm a pro at this cop stuff because I knew that I should call 911. A second later I feel stupid for feeling like a pro.
They leave. I close the door and lock it. Froupie is still scared under the bed, but I'm finally relaxed. I was worried about Dennis seeing Froupie and the cops seeing a messy apartment. But that's over now. However, there may or may not be an Asian kidnapper on the loose, and I'm still not entirely convinced he's not in the apartment.
I search again. This time looking under the sinks and the cupboards. I look in the little AC inlet. No one is here.
I'm going to put on "Psych" and iron my shirts.
Then I'll have a drink and put a bunch of chairs behind our apartment door before going to sleep.
TOMORROW: The conclusion to our mystery . . .
