The Ransom: I Was Kidnapped

By Lois Tennant

 

Elena Cortez, who is still at school, and her mother, are forced to live with her rich uncle, as her father has passed on.  The uncle is not very kind to them and treats them as poor relatives, while he enjoys many luxuries.  One evening, Elena is kidnapped.  She finds herself in a small, dusty room.  One of her kidnappers wants a ransom from her uncle.  She is not sure if her uncle will even pay it.  She knows she has to think of a plan to escape.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lois Tennant
• Release date: Sep 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393359746

Book preview

Description

Elena Cortez and her mother stay with her rich Uncle Mario.  Her father has passed away and they are not being treated very well.  One evening, to her horror, Elena is kidnapped.  Her uncle is expected to pay a ransom for her release.  She knows she has to plan to escape!

Reviews

An exciting story which includes fear and bravery!  Glenda Wilson

A good read for pre-teens and early teens. Hazel Boucher

Introduction

I think you will enjoy getting to know Elena!  She tries to think of plans to escape her predicament and will not give up!

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 1

I don’t think I have been as scared in all my life!  In fact, I am sure of it.  I am in a little room which has a small, dirty window.  All I can see from the window are old roofs with broken tiles.  From that I know I am not in a good area.

I know I am still in Cape Town, because I can see the mountain in the distance.  Only it’s not the side of the mountain I am used to seeing from where I live.

There is just a lumpy mattress on the floor and one dusty blanket.  Not even a pillow.  You can see the floor hasn’t been swept for ages.  There is also quite a big spider-web in the corner!  Luckily I am not afraid of spiders, because this one is quite big.  It has lots of beady eyes and waits for insects to gobble up! 

They bring me take-away food now and then and some cool drink.  I have to use a bucket in the corner for a toilet.  It’s terrible, really terrible!  Thank goodness it has a lid and there is a roll of paper.

To cut a long story short, my name is Elena Cortez.  My mom and I stay with my uncle, Mario (or 'Buddy' as some of his friends call him) .  He has a huge mansion of a house with about 50 rooms (well, it feels like that) and we have two small ones right at the end near a small kitchen. 

Dad has been gone for two years now.  He was really sick.  In a month he had died.  Mom and I still cry when we think about it.

Uncle Mario is Dad’s younger brother.  They were in business together – something to do with imports and exports.  Dad was always happy and cheerful.  We shared the house with Uncle Mario (who is not married) and he always said Dad was the real ‘money-spinner’.  I suppose that means he made the most money for their company.

When the lawyers read Dad’s will, Mom said that it said that Uncle Mario would take care of us.  We were not left any money of our own, but Uncle Mario must make sure that we ‘lack for nothing’. 

What does that mean, I wonder?  We lack a decent room for each of us and we cook our own food in a mini-kitchen.  I haven’t had new shoes for ages.  In fact, the ones I have on now have a crack in the sole.

There is also what Mom calls  'a trust' for my education.  That means that Dad put some money in an account so that if I want to study further (like become a doctor or a lawyer or something fancy) there will be money to pay the university fees.  I actually want to work in a museum and find out things about old fossils and so on - but maybe that costs money too, so I won't say anything until the time comes.   

To get back to where we stay: Uncle Mario has three servants to cook and clean for him, plus a gardener and a chauffeur.  They just ignore us, like we are the poor relatives.  Well, perhaps we are.

I go to school (at least I did until I was kidnapped – but I’m getting to that part) and Uncle Mario pays my school fees.  He gives Mom a bit of money most months to buy things that we need, like deodorant and shampoo.  Sometimes his friends come for dinner and if they see us lurking around,  I suppose we should look like we are decent people, that’s why he gives the money.

Chapter 2

Sometimes when Uncle Mario is in a good mood, he gives me a bit of pocket money.  That is what happened last Saturday, which would be two days ago.  My friend, Marty, and I, went to the movies. 

Marty is short for Martin.  He is in my class and we have been friends since Grade 1, when I used to share my