Case 11: The Rothstadt Kidnapping

Solution

To win, you must have:

1. Been the first player to arrive at 1 Planters Lane (Z).

The Story

Ned Cracchiolo was a small-time hood working for the Franco brothers. After his sister, Donna, was fired by the bank for lying about her education on her job application, Ned came up with the idea of kidnapping Nathan Rothstadt's son, Daniel. It took him awhile to talk Donna into going along with the idea. He spent many days working out the details on how to snatch the kid, to arrange the money drop, get the ransom and stay out of jail. Six months later, on Friday the 13th, they were ready to try it.

As Daniel walked along Station Drive, heading for the Mall, Donna drove up next to him and asked him how to get to Bolton Road. When Daniel came over to the car to give her directions, Ned jumped out of the back and grabbed Daniel.

Donna drove her brother and a terrified Daniel to 1 Planters Lane. Ned had borrowed the keys to the place from Rocky Caputto, another employee of the Franco brothers. The house had been sold to the Francos when an investment syndicate couldn't get a zoning variance to open a private club there. Franco had kept the place fixed up and available in case he had to entertain out-of-town contacts. Ned had borrowed the keys on the pretext that he had a hot date for that night.

Ned arranged for Donna to pick up the money while he took care of Daniel. Ned planned to kill Daniel as soon as he got off the phone with the Rothstadts, then meet Donna and take off with half a million dollars.