by Nikki Rose
As the day turned to night, the casual talking and dancing turned wilder. Most people traded in their beers for stronger shots and somewhere along the way, I’d lost track of Derek completely.
“Hey, Caroline.” Camy called to me, stumbling up to the bonfire with Marcus half holding her up as she giggled. “We’re all doing vodka shots by the lake. You should come.”
“No thanks. I think I’ve had my fill.” I held up my one drink. After the night before I couldn’t bare the thought of another bender.
“You interested in something a little different?” Marcus gave a devilish grin. He pulled out a bag of what looked like sugar cubes and I tilted my head in confusion.
“What is that?”
“Sugar cubes.” Marcus sounded shocked and a little dumbfounded that I had to ask. I had to be missing something because what grown man carries around sugar cubes?
Camy must have noticed my confusion because she grinned brightly and broke the silence. “They’re laced. With LSD?”
My eyes widened and I tried to hide the shocked look. I was at their party. Who was I to judge? But, I was way out of my comfort zone. “Oh. I didn’t know.”
“So you want some?” Marcus offered out his hand with a couple cubes on it and I had to fight the urge to step back.
I shook my head instead. “No, thank you. It’s not really my thing.”
“It’s cool. I got some other goodies in my bag that might be more up your alley.” He tilted his head and studied me intently for a moment which made me squirm. “You seem like more of an X girl to me.”
“X? Oh, no. Really I’m fine. Thanks”
“Okay, sweetness. If you change your mind, just let me know.”
“Okay. Thanks.” I wouldn’t be changing my mind but what else do you say to be polite when someone offers you drugs.”
I started paying closer attention to everyone around the camp. The whole feel was different than the night before. A group sat hunched over by the picnic table, snorting something. A glint from a lighter reflected off a spoon as one guy prepared something and another readied a needle. I took a deep breath. I was way over my head. The wilder everyone got, the more I regretted my choice to escape to the woods with Derek. I should have known better but all I could think of was just needing to get away, clear my head, and I couldn’t do that with Chris.
Chris. I missed him. I wished I was curled up on the couch watching some stupid action movie with him instead of watching Derek pop sugar cubes infused with LSD and stare at a tree’s bark for half an hour. Being the only semi-sober person at a party sucked, but I could never bring myself to do more than a couple drinks. I was definitely not the type to take drugs. Call me a control freak but I never liked the idea of something other than myself controlling my perception and the way I acted.
Everyone was becoming more and more obnoxious as the night went on and I needed time away from it all. I decided to take a short walk.
I followed the same old walking trail that led its way down the side of the lake and to the small clearing. It had been so beautiful earlier and tonight it would be my escape. The lake looked so peaceful and calm at night, like a giant sheet of glass with a small island set off in the middle. The large moon was so clear, its light giving everything a soft silvery glow.
From the shore, I could make out another group of campers set up on the island. Their campfire flickered and sent crazy shadows dancing on the treeline. A few couples danced near the fire and other clusters of people broke off into smaller groups. I stood there silently watching them for several minutes until a loud blood-curdling scream drew my attention to one of the groups closer to the fire. There stood four men, two held another by the shoulders as he screamed while the forth pulled a large pocket knife from his midsection.
Bright red blood poured from his abdomen as I stared in shock. The man holding the knife plunged it back into the man’s gut again. I opened my mouth to scream, to cry out for what I wasn’t sure but a large hand cupped over my mouth and muffled my screams while a strong arm held me in place.
I fought and screamed against the hand that silenced me while watching the horror show in front of me. The man pulled the knife out again, plunging it two more times until the two released the man and he fell to the ground.
“Shut up. You want them to come after you next? If they think you saw anything, you’re dead.” Derek’s raspy voice hissed in my ear as he finally tugged me back from the edge of the water and back along the pathway.
He was still pretty messed up from the drugs but there was some clarity in his eyes. He had a point about not letting those guys see me.
“Let’s go in my tent for the night.” He gave me a lascivious look and I knew what he had on his mind. It made me wonder what I’d ever seen in him.
“Are you crazy? I can’t even think about that after what we’ve just seen. We need to call the police or an ambulance or something.”
“You mind your own fucking business. We aren’t gonna say anything, do you understand me?” His fingers dug painfully into my bicep as he drug me toward the tent.
“Okay, but no sex tonight. I just want to go to sleep.”
“Whatever. Let’s just get in the tent.”
“I have to pee first.”
He gave a sigh of annoyance. “Okay. Pee then meet me in the tent.”
I nodded and walked into the woods to find a hidden spot that would be private enough before I pulled out my phone and turned it back on. I’d turned it off earlier so Chris couldn’t follow me but now I wish he would have. I didn’t want to be there with Derek any more. I just wanted to go home.
I scrolled down to Chris’s number and hit send but my phone just beeped.
No signal.
I walked a little ways farther from the camp and hit send again but there was still no signal.
Regret tore at my insides. I just wanted to be safe at home but instead I was stuck in a camp with a bunch of people so high that they didn’t even realize a man lay bleeding and probably dying just a stone's throw from where they stood partying and drinking.
As a last resort, I tried sending Chris a text.
I typed out a quick text and hit send but the text status remained stuck at Sending... My only hope was that once I moved around the campsite, I might happen upon a signal and it would send. Until then, I just needed to play it cool and keep a low profile.
Lucky for me, by the time I got back to the tent Derek had already passed out. I climbed in as quietly as possible and settled in on the other side to try to get some sleep. The moment I closed my eyes, all I could see was that poor man from across the river while his screams echoed in my mind.
Chapter 21
I paced just outside the study as I waited for Director Applegate to finish his phone call to speak with me. It had been two days since I’d last seen her. I couldn’t explain what happened the night before or what had happened to Caroline. I’d screwed up — bad. But it was time to face the consequences of my actions. I’d never completely failed a mission so bad in my life.
Chances were, he’d take me off the assignment, but I didn’t care. I’d search to the ends of the world for her—assignment or not. The Director slammed down his phone and waved me in.
Before I could make it to his desk, he was already questioning me. “Any sign of her?”
“No, Sir. We scanned all the security footage and there was nothing. I saw her go out to take Peterson that cupcake and return promptly to the house. About an hour later, the security footage goes dark for about twenty minutes. After that there’s nothing”
“That had to be the hackers. They must have disabled the security system wirelessly and broke in to get her. Where the hell were you during all this?”
“I — uh. I fell asleep at the computer in here, sir.” I had to struggle to maintain our eye contact. I’d never been so ashamed but I refused to show weakness.
Director Applegate lifted a brow as his gaze burned through me. “You fell asleep
at the computer?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“That doesn’t sound like you. Sit. What happened?”
“I don’t know.” I lowered myself into one of the leather chairs opposite him and finally showing the first sign of weakness, I dropped my head into my hands.
“Walk me through everything.” His voice was still stern but there was a hint of something different there. Sympathy.
I lifted my head from my hands and met his gaze again. I didn’t see my war-hardened Director. I saw a father, searching for his child.
Caroline had been kind of quiet the passed few days so I can’t speak to exactly where her mindset was. She stayed in her room for the most part except when she came down to bake cupcakes. I had to run a quick errand—.”
“To help Hunter with that interrogation.” He finished my thought and I nodded.
“But, I made sure she would be staying home while I was gone. Mason came to watch her. Security was still at the gate and I wasn’t gone long. She was finishing icing the cupcakes when I got back. I could tell she needed her space, so I went into the study to look over some files and review security footage.”
“And you didn’t see anything unusual up until this point?”
“No, Sir. She came into the study and offered me a cupcake, then said she was taking one to Peterson in the guardhouse. I told her to come right back which the security footage confirms.”
“The security footage? But you didn’t see her come back?”
“No, Sir. Everything after that is a complete blank until I woke up the next morning.”
“And Peterson never saw anything either?”
“Not after — shit.” I slammed my fists into my thighs. “Not after she brought him the cupcake.”
“You don’t think...”
“She drugged us.”
“But, why? Where would she go?”
“She was getting cabin fever being stuck in the house so much. I’d done my best to take her out but my guess is that she wanted time away from the constant security.”
“I’m calling Amanda to see if she’s heard anything.” Director Applegate pulled out his cell and started punching in numbers while I walked into the hall and called our tech guy, Mikey.
“Hey, Chris. Man, I heard what happened. That sucks.”
“Hey, Mikey. Listen, I need you to do a trace on Caroline’s phone..”
“Already done. Boss man called me the second he heard she was missing. I got nothing.”
“Try again. Maybe its been turned back on. Also, can you check the last time it had service?”
“Yeah, just a sec. Let me see what I can do.” I could hear him viciously typing on the keyboard. “I got nothing, man. She’s either taken the battery completely out of her phone or she’s out of cell range.”
“Damn it. Thanks Mikey. It was worth a try.”
“I’ll leave the trace running. If her phone turns back on, I’ll get a loca —.”
A ding on my phone signaled an incoming text. I glanced at the phone and my heart nearly stopped.
Caroline.
CAROLINE: I’m so sorry. I needed to get away. Went on a trip but it’s horrible here and I want to come home. There’s no service to call but we are somewhere passed the Lower Ausable Lake. I’m hoping this message gets to you.
She left. She wasn’t taken. It was a mix of relief and anger. How could she have done that? Worrying me and her father so much. But the overwhelming feeling was that she was safe. Not only was she safe but she wanted to come home.
I bursted into the Directors study without knocking.
“Let me call you right back.” He put the phone down and stepped toward me. “What is it?”
“She texted me.”
“Oh thank God. Is she okay?”
“Seems so. She said she’s sorry. She just had to get away for a little while. She wants to come home but there was no service to call.”
“Who is she with?”
“She didn’t say.”
“If I had to guess, I’d say that trouble making guy she’s been seeing.”
“That prick...”
“I’ll kill him. Let’s go.” The Director started toward the door and froze. “Damn it. I need to call and cancel my meeting with the director of homeland today.”
“It’s a good four hour drive. Let me go pick her up. She might be more receptive if it’s just one of us anyway so she doesn’t feel ganged up on.
“She’s my daughter. I should be the one —.”
“I’ll call as soon as I get her.” I pleaded. I needed to get to her as soon as possible and there were so many things we needed to talk about that couldn’t be said with the Director there.
“Fine. I want hourly updates.”
“Yes, sir.”
I rushed out the door without even looking back as I made my way to my car and spun out of the driveway. That four hour drive would be more like three if there was anything I could do to help it. And there was.
Chapter 22
“Up and at ‘em, babe. It’s time to hit the road.” Derek’s voice cut through the haze and I rubbed my eyes to clear away the sleep.
The night had been horrible. I’d stayed awake with images and sounds of that poor man being stabbed running on a loop in my head. Sometime in the early morning I must have dozed off but I was still groggy as I sat up.
“Where are we going?”
“Up the road a bit. We’re gonna catch up with some other friends of mine a little farther north.”
“I really think I should be getting home. My dad is going to be furious.”
“He’s going to be furious if you go home now or in a few days.”
“But the longer I’m gone the more worried he’ll be.”
“Well then look at it this way. If he’s worried, he’ll just be relieved when you get back instead of pissed off.”
I tilted my head and gave Derek a serious look. “I need to go home.”
He jerked the blanket off of me and bunched it into a ball before throwing it out of the tent. “Don’t be ridiculous. You said you needed to get away for awhile. That’s what we’re doing.”
“I know and thank you for that but, I really think I need —.”
“Get the fuck out of the tent and into the damn car. I didn’t drive five hours for two nights.”
His words set me back and for the first time in awhile, I was speechless. I’d never heard Derek talk to me like that. My blood boiled and my cheeks heated as I fought back my anger. I swallowed hard and straightened my back. I’d never been one to bite my tongue or hold back punches but being out in the middle of nowhere with no cell service was not the time to pick a fight. He was obviously hung over and that can make anyone irritable. He was right about one thing, I had needed to get away and clear my head. I just didn’t expect the group we were hanging out with to be so wild. Maybe that was why he was wanting to move on to another campsite. Maybe he didn’t really like them either and was ready to meet up with some other friends.
“Okay. Is there anything I can do to help pack?” I forced a smile and followed him out of the tent. Which seemed to work at calming his temper. His shoulders relaxed and the tension melt from his body in an instant.
“Nah, I got it. You may want to eat something before we hit the road, though. I think there’s some snacks leftover near the fire if you want to grab something for the ride.
“Okay.”
I hurried over to the smoldering pile of charred wood and ashes that had been a raging fire the night before. There was no sign of Camy or Marcus but hangover treatments were in full gear with everyone complaining and groaning about it being too bright or too loud. Perhaps they were nursing their hangovers in the privacy of their own tent. I grabbed up a couple granola bars and a stick of beef jerky from the pile of snacks. Most of the junk food and candy were gone but I was glad to have something a little healthier to eat.
I checked the service on my phone but there was still no signal. Hope
fully once we drove a little farther we’d get into range. I just wanted to go home after the living nightmare I’d experienced the night before. I glanced around the campsite one last time, sad I wouldn’t get to say bye to the only two people I’d really hung out with during our stay.
Derek had already put my backpack in the backseat and was packing the tent in the trunk when I made it to the car.
“Ready to go?”
“Yep.”
“Good. Hop in.” Derek seemed cheerier now and I was relieved his hangover seemed to have faded away as quickly as it had come.
I got in the car and buckled my seatbelt as the engine came to life and he peeled out of the campsite without even a glance back. “That was some night, last night.” I was hesitant to bring it up so I decided to broach the subject cautiously.
“Yeah. It was a blast, right?”
I shrugged my shoulders and looked out the window wishing I hadn’t brought it up at all.
“What? You didn’t have a good time?”
I scrunched up my nose and chose my words carefully. “It just wasn’t really my scene.”
“We’ve always had so much fun together. You liked cutting loose before.”
“I know and I do. I just — I feel bad about how I left.”
“Well don’t. That tyrant father of yours has controlled you for too long. His lackeys can’t get to you now.”
I knew he meant it as a good thing to offer me a chance to relax and let loose but the idea that Chris couldn’t get to me sent a sickening feeling settling in the pit of my stomach.
While Derek focused on the road, I glanced at my phone again, hoping to keep it out of site. He’d told me to leave it off so they couldn’t track it but a part of me hoped they would.
No Signal...
I slipped my phone back in my pocket and let out a sigh. “So where did you say we were headed?”
“A great little campsite in the Giant Mountain Wilderness. It’s only a couple hours away. I think you’ll like these people better. They are kind of a rich bunch. They make camping look like a socialite’s event.”
