Persephone, Demeter, and Aidoneous
By Gene Aronowitz
She was called Stephanie, but her real name was Persephone, named after the Greek goddess by her mother, Dee, whose first name, Demeter, had a similar origin. Theirs was a testy relationship; Dee was heavy-handed, dogmatic, and overprotective, which disturbed Stephanie, but she had difficulty challenging her mother.
Stephanie went to the 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan to pay her respects and look up at the two blue beams of light, extending, she imagined, up to heaven. Tired, she walked up an almost deserted street toward a subway station when she noticed a man in a dark suit nodding at her. She looked away and sped up, but he grabbed her by her wrist and pulled her through the back door of his SUV. He handcuffed her, his left wrist attached to her right, and told the driver to get going.
Startled, Stephanie made no sound at first, but once inside the car, sobbed, feeling helpless and frightened, then sat sullen and silent as they sped up to the center of the Bronx. Her kidnapper thanked the driver, touched Stephanie’s thigh with his pistol, and, taking her hand, pulled her out of the car and down four flights of steps in a subway station. After a train picked up the only other person present, they climbed down the metal ladder at the end of the platform, walked a few blocks along the tracks, and went through a rusted door. Then, they climbed down a steep stairway where a large man unlocked the suite that included a living room, bedroom, kitchen, bath, a spa with a stationary bike and hot tub, and a dining room, with a table set for ten, used mainly for meetings
The man turned to Stephanie and said, “My name is Don, short for Aidoneus. Sometimes the underbosses call me Don Don, which makes me laugh. I've spent a lot of time watching you. You're very beautiful, and you treat people right. I want you to stay here with me. You won't be able to leave because the door is guarded 24/7. But I won't hurt you, and I promise there will be no unwelcome sex. I hope you will come to accept this situation and perhaps, even, in time, become grow to love me."
Dee, a New York City Council Member, was frantic when Stephanie did not return home that night or the next day. She called the Police Commissioner, who detested her because of her relentless public disdain of police officers. Nevertheless, he decided to do his best to find her daughter. Leaflets with her picture were spread around the city, and appeals were posted on Facebook and Twitter.
A month passed, and Dee feared the worst, for she had not received a ransom note. Increasingly frustrated, she called the Commissioner three or four times a week and was visibly antagonistic toward him at his department’s budget hearing.
Then, the Commissioner heard from two different informants that Stephanie was being held by Don, who was well-known since he and his associates often provided the police with valuable information. The Commissioner got word to Don that he wanted to meet at a neutral spot, and Don agreed. After the customary hug, the Commissioner said, “I know you’re holding Stephanie. If you let her leave, I'll guarantee you another full year of pertection."
Don told Stephanie about the offer. She was ambivalent, welcoming the opportunity to see her mother and friends, but enjoying her new life with Don. She was calm around him, felt safe, and genuinely appreciated. Don’s power and bravado excited her, and sex was great. She loved the hideaway, particularly the huge jazz collection and the unending supply of video recordings, including a complete collection of Woody Allen movies.
