Torben Riise

Emily and the Ransom Torben Riise

A businessman is kidnapped. The kidnappers leave no trail. Months pass without the police having a lead. Emily, a precocious 16-year old girl who has a volunteer job at the local police station where her father is a detective, gets involved in the investigation. In the cruel atmosphere of a cat-and-mouse game, Emily tries to piece together a picture of the kidnappers and where they might be hiding. Before long, she is deeper involved than she ever thought possible. Emily's Dad teaches her the psychology behind kidnapping and terrorism. During a series of phone conversations with the victim s wife, the kidnapper reveals information that, by Emily s interpretation, enables the police to identify who the kidnapper is. Yet, he remains elusive and everyone s patience is tested to the limit. The story intensifies when Emily has to make a life-or-death gamble during the chilling negotiation about the ransom, and it comes to a climax when she uses herself as bait to nab the kidnapper. Besides the plot itself, the underlying theme is Emily's personal development and growing independence as she faces new challenges.