by Edwin Dasso
“That makes sense. Elise, you’ve got to believe me. He’s dangerous. And if he discovers you found me, you’ll become a target, too. You have to get out of here before he comes back.”
She gazed at Jasper, now curled into the passenger seat. “What do you think, boy? Is this guy telling us the truth?”
Jasper let out two woofs then wagged his tail.
“The man who abducted you…what did he look like?”
Deke scratched his head. “I don’t know. Honestly, I haven’t actually seen the guy. Only his eyes…on the rare occasions he opens the viewer to give me something. But he talks when he drives…I’m not sure if he mutters to me or himself, but God, his droning voice makes my skin crawl.”
“Come on, Deke. You had to have gotten a glimpse of him when he jumped you.”
“I’ve been racking my brain to remember. The night he abducted me is so sketchy…One minute I was rinsing the soap from my hair, and a blink later, an arm wrapped around my neck and squeezed until I blacked out. Even if the guy had attacked from the front, between shampoo suds and shower streams, my vision was too blurred to identify anyone. For a brief moment, I thought I saw his reflection in the wall mirror…but” ––challenging his memory, he rubbed his fingertips on the center of his forehead in a circular motion then raised his gaze to meet Elise’s. He shook his head ––“the face I saw was mine.”
15
Thoughts spinning, Deke paced the tiny room. For the life of him, he had no idea why this man targeted him––or maybe…could his target be Elise? He didn’t want to scare her, but the possibility existed. If only he could remember the man’s face.
He shrugged. “I know that’s impossible. But when I close my eyes and really try to visualize that night, I only see myself in the locker room…no one else. Maybe the trauma or shock suppressed my memory.”
“Okay, let’s rethink this. You say you’ve been locked in this rig since a guy kidnapped you from the Combine locker room, right?”
He nodded. “I’m not sure how long ago that was. Weeks for sure…maybe a month? Damn. Time is meaningless in here. I don’t have a frickin’ calendar, and with no windows, I can’t even tell if it’s day or night.” He frowned. “How long have I been missing?”
She blew out a soft puff of air. “That’s the problem, Deke. And why your story is so hard to believe.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You never went missing. In fact––” Her stare intensified, as if her thoughts clarified something. “I was with you at the cabin…” Her voice softened. “...less than an hour ago.”
“What? No way.”
Elise’s gaze lowered. “At least, I thought he was you.” After a long pause, she peered directly into his eyes. “Could someone be impersonating you?”
He drew back and scratched the stubble on his chin as her comment sank in. Why would someone want to take his place? Why would his abductor bring him to Elise’s Lake Lanier property? He must have parked the truck cab close enough to the cabin to keep an eye on Deke, but far enough away to make it impossible to hear Deke’s cries for help. But if Elise wasn’t his target, why involve her? Perhaps for leverage? Could Deke possess or know something his double sought? If so, he might threaten to hurt Elise to obtain what he needed. No. If his double wanted something, he would have already laid out demands.
Deke’s attention refocused on Elise. God, she was so beautiful. He missed her so much. An ache lodged beneath his sternum. His biggest fear leapt from his own safety to hers. He could tell her curiosity flew into overdrive by the look on her face. And he knew, once she set her mind on something, she wouldn’t let go until she had answers. He’d always attributed that asset to her journalistic curiosity. But now, the attribute had become a liability. “Seriously, Elise. You have to leave before it’s too late.”
“Wait a minute.” Her brow wrinkled and her lips pooched to the side. “What if your memory is spot-on? What if you couldn’t visualize the reflection of the guy who abducted you, because he was you…I mean, what if he looked exactly like you? I think the reflection you saw in the mirror was your double.”
“What? I don’t have a twin. That’s impossible.”
“Considering I just left you at my cabin, the premise makes perfect sense. If––and that is a huge if––you’re telling the truth, someone has taken your place…someone who has gone to great lengths…maybe to be a first-round draft pick?”
Angling his head, he pinched his eyebrows together. “That might make sense...in a twisted sort of way. If I wasn’t missing, no one would be looking for me. So, you think the guy who’s holding me captive took my place. But how could he slide into my life…and why?”
“Plastic surgery can perform miracles these days.” She shook her head. “That could explain a lot. But how could he act exactly like you…and know what you know? The thought never occurred to doubt you weren’t you…and who does that?”
“I have to say, the guy I thought was you gave me no reason to question your identity...he lives in your apartment, has your phone and wallet, and knows everything about you. If he could fool me, he could easily fool everyone else.” She dropped her gaze toward Jasper. “…except Jaz.” She ran a hand over his soft blond fur. “You knew, didn’t you, boy?”
“How would Jaz know?”
“For weeks, Jasper has acted really odd around you…I mean, the other you. He growled…never jumped up on your lap or licked your face…and he doesn’t bring toys to play with the imposter like he does you. In fact, the only time Jaz settles down around the fake Deke is when he gives him a dog biscuit and, even then, he backs off to eat the treat. Why didn’t I connect the dots?”
“Dogs can sense things people can’t. He knew that imposter wasn’t me, even though he looks like me.” Deke pressed his head against the cold steel and peered through the viewer toward Jasper. “Didn’t you, boy?”
Jaz stood and raised his paws to the viewer then gave Deke several slobbery licks.
“See, Jaz knows I’m me. That’s got to prove to you I’m the real Deke Madigan.”
“Yeah. As weird as this whole situation is, I think I’m starting to believe you. Now that I think about it, I saw so many signs…the odd remarks, and” ––she snapped a gaze to Deke––“What’s your favorite vegetable?”
“What? Why?”
“Just humor me, Deke.”
“You already know the answer to that question. Brussels sprouts, but they have to be crispy.”
“I rest my case.”
He pressed a hand on the divider. “You believe me?”
“I’m definitely leaning in that direction.”
“Then you see why it’s so important you get out of here. Go back to the cabin and don’t let him know you’re on to him.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s sleeping and will be out for a while. He drank more than a bottle of wine. Besides, we’ve got to get you out of here.” She ran a hand around the panel then stopped at the padlock.
“I’ve tried everything…there’s no way out of this hellhole. I think he designed this whole sleeper cab for the purpose of kidnapping me. But what I can’t figure out is why.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, but realizing fake Deke at my place isn’t you explains a lot.”
“You said that before. What do you mean?”
She bit the corner of her lower lip. “I thought my anxiety was all in my head. I rationalized I was just freaked out about the murder.”
Deke’s eyes went wide. “Murder? What murder?”
Her gaze lowered to the floor for a long beat before returning to meet his.
“Come on, Elise. I know you. When you bite your bottom lip, I know you’re really worried.”
She pressed her lips together then smiled. “You really are my Deke…not the lying bastard in my cabin. Thank God.”
“Finally. Now, tell me about the murder.”
“A woman in my condo complex. But that’s not important now.”
He took a step back and wrung his hands, pacing the width of the small room. “You don’t know that. What if the woman in your complex saw something that might have exposed him? I have no doubt my double is capable of murder.” The thought of how close the guy was to Elise prickled the hairs on the back of his neck and twisted his stomach. “So, what did you mean when you said that explains a lot?”
“My gut feelings were right all along. Now, I understand why I felt weird around him at times…why his touch made me feel creepy…and why he drank so much and didn’t like Brussels sprouts.”
Deke laughed. “That’s a helluva tell. A lot of people don’t like Brussels sprouts.”
“But you love them…he really tried to take your place…but he wasn’t you.”
Deke lowered his gaze to his bare feet. “He gave me basic needs, but never shoes. I wonder why.”
“Maybe he didn’t anticipate you wear different sizes.”
Deke returned his gaze to Elise. “Either that, or he figured if I ever managed to escape, I wouldn’t get far barefoot. I assume he had access to my apartment and clothing. Does he dress like me? What was he wearing at the cabin tonight?”
She chuckled. “The last time I saw him…nothing. He was buck-naked.”
“Shit.” He pounded a fist on the steel panel then yanked it back in pain. “That son of a bitch.” He glared through the viewer. “If he touched a hair on your head––”
“I’m fine. And we never slept together...not since the Combine.” She ran a hand over the cold steel until her fingers wrapped around the padlock again. She yanked…hard. “We need to get you out of here, Deke.”
“Yes. And quickly. I’m telling you, Elise. That guy is crazy. He talks to himself and says irrational things. If he finds out you know he’s not the real Deke Madigan, he might––”
“Then we can’t let him know I’m on to him. I wonder why he’d go to the trouble of plastic surgery to take over your life?”
“After listening to him for the last few weeks, I’m pretty sure his life sucks. But I don’t know why he chose me.”
“Are you kidding? An NFL football star. Isn’t that every boy’s dream?”
He raked a hand through his hair. “I suppose that fantasy is right up there…but he’ll have to perform to stay on the team. I’ve worked my ass off to get there. Even if he’s athletic and can throw a ball, he won’t be able to compete in the NFL.”
“Who knows what lurks in the mind of a madman?” Again, she tugged on the padlock, then searched through the console, glove compartment, and under the seats. “He must have the key with him. To get you out of here, I have to go back to the cabin.”
“No, Elise.” A pang of sheer terror coursed through his veins. “Your plan is too dangerous. You don’t know what that guy is capable of.”
“I’ll be careful. But I can’t get you out of here without a key, or at least something to cut off the padlock. I’m pretty sure my dad has something in his shed to slice through the lock. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Again, the knot in his stomach twisted. “Why don’t you call 911? I’m sure they can get me out of here.”
“I would, but if the guy is a psychopath, he won’t react rationally. He might take me captive if the police show up, and there’s no way they could get close enough without Daddy’s alarm sounding––which I armed after Deke––I mean, your imposter arrived. If the police turn down the road to our cabin, they’ll trip the alarm. We have to catch fake Deke completely by surprise. Besides, I want to be sure you’re free and safe before we bring in the police.”
“I’m not concerned about myself, Elise. Given the chance, I know I can take him. Now that he thinks he has succeeded, he’ll slip up. When he does, I’ll escape.”
“Since you’re locked up at the moment, you have no choice but to do things my way. But don’t worry. Your double obviously wants me in the picture. He’s been good to me, so I think we’re safe as long as he thinks everyone believes he’s you.”
Deke reached a hand through the viewer and brushed a finger over her cheek. “I love you, Elise Sloan. Please, be careful. If anything happens to you, I––”
“Nothing will happen to us. Come on, Jaz.” She clapped her hands together twice.
Jasper immediately followed then halted. Turning, he stared at the truck, barked, then bolted into the cab.
“Go with Elise, Jaz. I’ll be fine. You need to protect her.” Deke had no idea how much Jasper understood, but the dog’s intelligence continually amazed him.
Jaz returned to Elise, but he hesitated several times, peering over his shoulder toward Deke.
“Good boy.” Elise called out to Deke, “Just sit tight. I promise I’ll come back when I find the key or something to break the lock.” She gazed at Jasper. “This time, we’ll take the path, boy. It’s shorter and much easier. Heel.”
Jasper followed her command.
Deke watched Elise until she disappeared from the viewer. No longer could he sit back and wait for an opportunity to escape. Every moment Elise spent near his double heightened her danger. The guy might be stone-cold crazy, but he was smart, and he clearly thought out every detail of Deke’s abduction. If Elise slipped up one time, he’d turn on her in a heartbeat. Deke couldn’t let that happen. To keep her safe, he had to escape…now. But how?
16
Daryl glared as Elise jogged into the dark forest, yelling for Jasper. He knew the mutt would be a problem from day one, but straying from his plan presented a greater risk. At least, he subdued the mongrel’s hostility with dog biscuits. Of course, wearing Madigan’s clothes didn’t hurt, either, but the dog knew something was off and remained cautious. If push came to shove, he’d get rid of the dog. For two years, Daryl had memorized every detail about his mark. If he could fool Elise, he could fool the world. And no mutt would stand in the way of his success.
He strolled toward the hot tub then slid into the warm, bubbling water. Tilting his head onto the edge of the spa, he stared at the stars sparkling against the dark velvet sky. This was the life he’d dreamed of since he was a child. A life his momma told him could be his if he worked hard in school. And he did. He sat at the front of the class, studied every subject, completed all his homework, and made good grades.
When the other kids played outside, Daryl sat and studied in the back room of wherever his momma worked…the truck stop…then the diner. But, when Momma started working as a custodian in the Calvary General Hospital, she said Doc Wilson noticed her interest in the patients and thought she looked familiar. Turned out, she’d met him when she first came to town. Daryl was too young to remember, though. But the doc hired her as an assistant and a few years later, she’d saved enough money for a down payment on their little house.
Yeah, Daryl worked hard, all right. He swore one day he’d be better than the kids who called him trailer trash. Unfortunately, when his momma fell sick, he lost his chance to go to college. He dropped out of school and worked his butt off to pay the bills. He didn’t blame her. She was a good mother, and he knew she did her best. But sometimes, doing your best wasn’t good enough. Anger seethed inside at the thought of his childhood. His muscles tightened and his fingers curled into clenched fists. Daryl wouldn’t let anyone stand in his way…even if he had to commit murder to stop them.
Having searched every inch of his prison for weeks, Deke had found nothing he could use to assist in his escape. Sifting through the drawer next to the sink, he found a single set of plastic silverware, a plastic package of paper plates, a box of crackers, a jar of peanut butter, a squeeze bottle of honey, a box of cereal, a salt and pepper shaker, instant coffee with one cup, and three loaves of bread––which he moved to the fridge to keep them from growing moldy. The small fridge held two dozen eggs, a hunk of cheese, two sticks of butter, a big plastic jar of nuts…but no milk for cereal or coffee.
The drawer beneath the pull-down bed held two pairs of boxers, a t-shirt, a sweatshirt with matching pants, one
toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste, an electric shaver, a towel and washcloth, and three rolls of toilet paper.
His double was definitely smart. Plastic silverware gave Deke nothing to pry open any part of the room. The flat-surfaced electric stove had two burners. One held a frying pan, and the other a pot. Little chance of catching anything on fire.
Peanut butter and honey sandwiches with eggs weren’t conducive to staying in shape, and he knew his current condition fell far short of what he’d been at the Combine, despite the pushups, sit-ups, and old-fashioned calisthenics he kept up daily when his captor wasn’t around. He worked out not only to maintain some semblance of his training for after he escaped, but also to make sure his physical fitness stayed well beyond that of his nemesis.
Though his meager food kept him alive, what concerned him was when the food ran out. His captor had yet to show his face––which Elise described as his double––let alone offer to bring him a damn thing above what he’d already provided. Deke had the sinking feeling that his days were numbered…yet, for some reason, this guy wanted him alive––at least, so far. Now that Deke knew he was close to Elise’s cabin and the creep had taken over his life…and fiancée, the stakes skyrocketed. Not that she wasn’t one of the smartest and most resourceful women he’d ever known, but the guy was certifiable, and Deke didn’t want Elise anywhere near the man.
His thoughts spun around what might happen when Elise returned, and he froze first on an embrace. If that maniac touched one hair on her head…a burning knot twisted in Deke’s belly, shooting a wave of fiery heat down his arms and legs. To protect Elise, Deke had to escape…now. But how? He’d exhausted every idea over the weeks he’d spent in this living hell. No way out existed––and that was unacceptable.
He squeezed his fists, tensing every muscle in his body, then let out a bloodcurdling howl. “Ahhhhhhhhhhh.” Losing all control, Deke kicked the steel walls then spun, tossing, punching, and kicking everything around the entire room. After at least a two-minute bout against his prison, he calmed and gazed around, concluding he’d accomplished exactly nothing aside from crumpling the few life-saving necessities he had. He collapsed onto the bed, emotionally and physically drained. “Dear God, please help me save Elise.”
