Bud used to tell me that every good story starts in the middle. I guess that’s where my story starts too. My name is Kalyana.
I used to work in a bookstore called Hender’s. It’s this little shop in the old town district. It’s a nice area, trees, parks and lots of quaint little shops. Hender’s is where I first met Mal and if my story has a beginning it would be there. The day I met Mal is the day that everything changed.
I was putting away books. The books always seemed to need to be put on the bottom shelf when customers walked in the store. I swear I spent half my time on my knees in those days. I was on my knees when Mal approached me from behind and asked if I could help him find a book. I looked up at him and smiled politely.
“Which book are you looking for? We’ve got a few as you can see.” He smiled down at me. It struck me that he was rather hansom.
“The one that I am looking for is called ‘Plot it yourself.’” I noticed his eyes and I also noticed that his smile didn’t spread to them.
“I don’t think I have that one, but I can look it up if you like.”
“Yes, thank you.”
I stood and motioned for him to proceed me to the desk where the computer was set. Instead he bowed slightly and backed up a step to let me pass.
“You’re quite the gentleman and such a fun accent too. England?”
He laughed and the smile on his lips finally spread to his eyes.
“Yes. I’m from a small village in the north and I do try to be a gentleman on occasion.” He replied.
“Lucky me, I get to see one of those occasions.”
He laughed again, more heartily this time.
“My name is Mallory. Mallory Madison.”
“Mine is Kalyana. It’s nice to meet you Mr. Madison.”
“It is to meet you too, Miss Ana.”
“No my name is Kalyana, just one word. You may call me Kaly if you want.”
“In that case you may call me Mal.”
I must have blushed a little or something because his self assured smile faltered. He looked like he wanted to say something desperately. I decided to take pity on him.
“Well let’s have a look for that book, shall we?” I said extra cheerfully.
“I would like that very much. The title is ‘Plot it yourself.’ It’s a Nero Wolfe mystery.”
“I know those, Rex Stout is the author right?”
“Correct.” His face seemed to brighten and I couldn’t help smiling back at him.
I checked the computer’s inventory database and found the correct entry. We didn’t have a copy.
“I don’t have it in the store. Would you like to see if I can order one for you? It shouldn’t take that long to get here.”
“No, thank you.” He was looking at me very intently.
“Alright, is there anything else that I can do for you today?”
“Yes, there is.” He said.
I waited for him to continue. He just looked at me and smiled. His gaze was intense and it was starting to unnerve me. Finally I got tired of waiting.
“Well, what is it that I do for you?” I asked.
“Call me by my name.” It was a command, not a question.
“What is it that I can do for you Mal?”
“Have dinner with me tonight. 7:30?” Only the time was a question.
“Uh, that sounds nice, but…”
“Kalyana!!!” I had turned my back to the shop’s door and someone else had come in without me hearing them. I spun around and there stood Bud.
“Hey, Bud! Just give me…” I didn’t get to finish my sentence because Bud rushed in and picked me up. He spun me around once before setting me down and hugging me tightly.
“I missed you, Kaly.” He spoke quietly in to the hair just above my ear.
“I missed you too, but you were only gone a week.”
“A week can be a long time Kaly.” I laughed and I could smell him. Bud always smelled good. I heard a quiet cough behind me and I remembered what I was supposed to be doing.
“Bud? Bud!”
“What?” He asked innocently.
“I need to work now,” I said.
“Oh, okay.” He gave me an affectionate squeeze before he let me go. Bud looked down at me, his face serious and he held my gaze with his beautiful green eyes. I hadn’t really noticed before how beautiful Bud’s eyes were. “Kaly, you are to call me when you get off.”
“I will, I promise.”
There was another quiet cough behind me.
“Sorry.” I looked briefly behind me. “Bud, two minutes after I clock out I promise.”
Bud smiled broadly, waved at me and left.
“I’m sorry, Mal.” I said as I turned back to face him.
“So I take it you have plans for tonight?”
“Yes I do, perhaps another time. Is there anything else for you today?”
The look in Mal’s eyes was starting to creep me out. I had begun to wish that he would just go away.
“No, I suppose not. Have a pleasant evening, Miss Kalyana.”
“Have a pleasant evening, Mr. Madison.”
He gave me half a smile and left the shop. I thought that would be the end of it.
It was not.
For the next few hours I alternated between concentrating on work and wondering what was going on with Bud. He had never been much of a hugger, at least not with me. I love hugs and I would occasionally demand hugs from him and he would taunt me that I was affection starved and we would laugh. I finished the stocking and figured out what was wrong with the bell on the door. I didn’t want anyone else sneaking in on me.
At seven it was time to close the shop and at 7:15 I locked the door and began to walk to my car. I dialed Bud’s number while I waited to cross the street to get to my car. I waited two rings and he answered.
“Hello beautiful!”
“That’s a fun, new way for you to answer the phone.”
“I speak only the truth. What’s your plan for tonight?” he asked.
“I’m making dinner for Grandpa, after that nothing. What about you?”
“Well that depends on your next answer.”
“Oh, really?” I was beginning to enjoy the banter. The traffic was light and I didn’t have to wait long to cross the street. I stood next to my car as I dug in my bag for the keys. “What is it that you would like to… What the crap?” There was a loud revving behind me that had distracted me. It was the deep revving of a large vehicle.
“What is it, Kaly?” Bud asked.
I turned to see a large van pulling up fast. It stopped beside me. Its side door was already open and there was a man crouched in the opening. He was wearing a mask. I screamed and ran. I made it to the sidewalk on the other side of my car, but the man in the mask was too quick for me. He caught me by the arm and pulled me toward him. I still had the phone so I screamed into it, “Bud, I’m being kidnapped! Call the Police!”
The masked man hit me across the face and I dropped the phone. He pulled me to him. I fought him, but he was strong. He was stronger than I was. His hand covered my nose and mouth and for one absurd moment I thought that his hand was really fluffy.
My last conscious thought was, “No my darling. That would be the rag in his hand.”
“Kaly? Kalyana?!” Bud screamed into his phone.
He was sitting on his living room couch. Nearby two people were playing a videogame. Fidelity Corin Hinkley looked from the TV’s screen when she heard Bud’s scream. James looked at his roommate too. James was the first to speak again.
“Bud, what’s going on?”
“Kaly, she said she was being kidnapped.”
“What?!” Fidelity screamed. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number from her contact list. “It’s Fidelity Corin. A friend of mine has been taken.” There was a pause and then, “Understood.”
Speaking to the men she said, “We need to go to where she was taken from. James, call 911.” James pulled out his phone and dialed while Bud began to search for his keys.
“Police want to know where she was taken from.”
“Probably in front of her store. Bud?” Bud nodded. James relayed the location and the three of them headed for Bud’s Jeep.
There was bright light streaming in when I woke up. I couldn’t make anything out. My head was throbbing. I got myself together enough to try and sit up. I was in a bed. The sheets were soft and the blankets were warm. All the blood rushed from my head, my vision went dark and I fell back.
It was dark when I opened my eyes again.
“Hello beautiful. Welcome back to the living.” I knew that voice, but I couldn’t place where I knew it from.
“My head hurts.” I grumbled.
“I know. I’m sorry Kaly,” said the voice.
“Where am I?” The fog had started to lift a little and I was beginning feel scared.
“You are safe.”
“Where are my clothes?” I was wearing a white cotton slip and nothing else.
“They are not here.”
My vision was coming back now. I was beginning to be able to distinguish shapes around the room. I sat up and I found his face. Mallory Madison.
“Why am I here?”
“Why won’t you say my name?” Mal’s voice sounded tired and sad.
“Answer my questions and I’ll call you by your name.” I was really becoming frightened now. It took everything I had left to keep my voice steady. Mal took a long pause.
“You are here, because I wanted you here.”
“What in the hell does that mean, Mal?”
“Kaly, I don’t know how to explain it without making myself sound worse.”
“Try.” I had been praying that this was all just a bad dream. I had hoped to wake up at any moment. Mal’s next speech broke that hope.
“Kaly, I am in need of a wife. I consulted an expert in finding the right people. She told me to go to that God forsaken town and into your little store. She told me what to do and what to ask for and what you might say. She told me what the responses of my future wife would be, your responses Kaly. She told me you would be my wife, but only if we. It doesn’t matter. Kaly I didn’t believe her. I didn’t believe one word she said until I saw you. Your beauty, the love that surrounds you like a, a halo, those are what convinced me that you were the one. When that boy came and threatened to take you away, I became frightened. I acted without regard to the consequences, but what’s done is done.” Mal’s voice had grown quieter the longer he talked. In his last sentence Mal’s voice cracked. We sat in silence for what felt like a long time.
“I want to go home. Mal, take me home.”
“I can’t Kaly. I’m sorry.”
“Mal please! Take me home, I want to go home, I want to be at my home!” I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer and once they came I couldn’t stop them. Mal was growing more uncomfortable by the moment.
“Kaly, I’m sorry. This is your home now.”
I continued to sob.
“Try to get some rest.” Mal stood and walked to the ornate door behind him. He looked back at me. Just like in the book store he looked like he wanted to say something desperately.
“I’m sorry Kaly. I wish that there was another way.” He left the room. I gathered the blankets around me tightly and tried to control myself. Eventually my pounding head forced me to lie back down.
By the time Bud, Fidelity and James arrived in front of the store the police were already there and a crowd had gathered.
