by Joyce
"I found a basement window that's broken out,” Steve said, coming back to her.
Rae followed him. There was a gaping, dark hole in the house's foundation. Both the window and part of the concrete were gone. It was a tight squeeze but she managed to push herself feet first through the window. She dropped down into the basement. For a moment, she was blinded by the darkness.
Steve came down beside her and squeezed her hand. “All right?"
"Yes.” It was obvious that no one had been down there in years. Wherever Bryce was in the house, they weren't keeping her there. Piles of debris from the broken window littered the floor. The basement smelled strongly like wild animals had slept there. There were two sets of stairs leading up.
"I'll take that one.” Rae chose the second set of stairs. “If you find Bryce, get her out of the house."
"What about you?"
"I'll get out. If I find her, I'll do the same thing. Don't waste a lot of time. She's in an old parlor area. If you find it and she's not there, get out."
"All right.” He grabbed her hand and leaned forward to kiss her quickly on the mouth. “Be careful, huh?"
Rae followed the second set of stairs up the wall. It was a lucky guess. The stairs opened up in the old foyer. It was cold and dark. Leaves were piled on the once impressive marble floors. She could see the wide antebellum staircase sweeping to the second floor. There was no light from upstairs.
Walking like a cat, she followed the hallway. She hoped it would lead her to the little room where she saw Bryce. She tried to look in rooms without opening the doors in case the hinges squeaked. Most of them were open. She came to a tiny door just off the kitchen. There was warmth and a little light coming from under the door.
Carefully, Rae tried to open the door. It wasn't locked. Mary and Duke had intimidated Bryce enough that they knew she wouldn't try to escape. Where would she go anyway? She pushed opened the door and scooted into the room, quickly closing it behind her.
Bryce looked up from the chair where she spent the last two days. “You're the angel!"
"Shh!” Rae cautioned. “I'm not really an angel. I'm a friend of your Uncle Steve. I'm here to take you home."
Bryce started to cry and Rae went to her. “What's wrong?"
"I want to go home. Please take me home."
"I will, honey. You hold on and we're going to walk right out of here, okay? But I need you to do what I say and I need you to be as quiet as you can. Can you do that for me?"
Bryce nodded solemnly, not saying a word.
"Good. I'm going to pick you up. Don't be scared. We're going to go out through the basement. It will be dark down there but my car is right outside. We'll be back in Atlanta before you know it."
"Will my mommy be there?” Bryce asked in a thin voice.
"No doubt about it.” Rae didn't tell Bryce that her mother wouldn't want to know that she was rescued. “Now, hold on when I pick you up. Okay. Here we go."
Getting out of the house was almost absurdly easy. With Duke gone and Mary engrossed watching television in the kitchen, there was no problem. Bryce hid her head against Rae's shoulder when they got into the basement but otherwise the girl was calm. Rae hoped Steve was already outside.
She pushed Bryce out of the basement window first, telling her to stand still until she could follow her. Bryce nodded against her shoulder. She stood right in front of the empty windowpane while Rae struggled out of the aperture.
They were both out. The air was fresh after the rank smell in the basement. As Rae picked Bryce up in her arms again, the van came back into the yard. She started to run towards the far side of the house. She could still elude them and get to the car. Bryce began to cry softly. A shot was fired into the cold air.
"I could pick off you and that rat you're carrying. Put her down and head back this way,” Duke's voice rang out in warning.
Rae didn't know what else to do but comply. If she was shot or Bryce was hurt, she would lose anyway. She didn't put Bryce down. She carried her stubbornly back to the house. “You won't get away with this!"
Duke laughed. “Oh, I think we will. I think we already have."
Rae went quietly with Bryce crying sadly against her shoulder.
Mary was waiting anxiously in the kitchen for Duke to return. “You!"
"Hi Mary,” Rae said warmly. “I hope you're ready to go to prison for the rest of your life."
"Shut up!” Mary yelled at her. Then she turned to Duke. “I think your boss is trying to pull something funny on us."
"What do you mean?” Duke demanded.
"I mean that they're reporting that the girl is being set free. Some FBI lady says the kidnappers told her that the girl was free now and they're looking for her."
"Where?"
"I don't know.” Mary started to cry. “I knew this was gonna go all wrong. I begged you—"
"Never mind! You two—” He held the gun on Bryce and Rae. “Get in that room and shut up."
"You've got what you wanted.” Rae tried to get him to change his mind. “Before I can get out of here to tell anyone, you can be long gone. Let us go!"
"I said shut up!"
Bryce cried louder and clung to Rae. “Please don't let him hurt me."
"It's okay,” she told the child. “He's not going to hurt you."
"Shh! It's back on again,” Mary told them.
Duke forgot about them temporarily while he listened to the news broadcast. Rae wished she thought there was any possible chance to get Bryce out around him. But he was blocking the doorway. He still held the shotgun loosely in his hand.
"You said she wouldn't be hurt,” Rae reminded Mary.
"I didn't want to do this at all! Duke wanted the money. Now we're gonna go to jail."
"But you can make it easier on yourself if you turn Bryce in to the police. It won't be as bad. You might get parole out of it."
Mary looked at Duke. He was engrossed in the TV news. “I'd like to help. I would. It's just that—"
"What are you two babbling about?” Duke turned on them both. “I'll decide what's gonna happen here. Mary, watch the drive. You two! In the parlor. Now!"
"Look this isn't happening the way you want it to,” Rae told them both. “I know you think you have a handle on it but you don't."
"If I tell you again to get in there—"
"Let her talk,” Mary declared. “She might be able to make some sense of all this, Duke! She's been out there with them."
"She's the boss’ slut,” Duke said with a laugh. “What does she know?"
"I've been helping Al and Sam. I know where they're looking for you. If you let us go now, I'll tell you what they're doing so you can get away. If not, you could run right into a trap."
"Can you help us?” Mary asked helplessly.
"No, she can't help us.” He viciously slapped Rae across the side of the face.
She fell against a chair and then to the floor. She managed to cushion Bryce's fall with her body. A wooden spoke from the chair pierced her side. She moved away before he could follow through with a vicious kick. Her head was reeling. It was all she could do to keep from vomiting. She closed her eyes and played dead. Bryce cried harder and held on to her while Mary tried to move her.
"Duke, you've made such a mess of this,” a familiar voice told him. “You'll be lucky if I pay you anything at all."
It was Steve. Rae glanced up at him as he lounged in the doorway. She groaned. Her eyes refused to focus. She dropped her head back to the floor.
Mary dragged Bryce into the other room. She locked the door behind her. When the girl was secure, she came quickly back into the kitchen. “Mr. Williams. We're so happy to see you! We didn't know when you were coming."
"Steve!” Duke shook his hand. “What the hell's going on out there?"
"It's a trick,” Steve told them. “The FBI agent came up with it to trap you. They think you'll do something dumb because you've panicked."
Mary and Duke laughed out
loud.
Steve laughed with them. “I know you wouldn't do anything to screw this up, would you?"
"Of course not, sir!” Duke humbled himself. “We've managed. It's been tough but I know you'll look out for us. What are we doing with the girl?"
"We're going to go through with the prearranged pick up. No reason to panic. They're looking at the wrong end of the state for you."
Mary almost collapsed with joy and relief. “Thank God you've come for us!"
Steve grinned. “Did you ever doubt it? This has gone exactly as I planned."
Rae didn't open her eyes but she could feel the attention shift to her.
"What about this one?” Duke nudged her with his boot.
Steve sighed. “I think she knows too much. I hate to do it. She's been fun. But I think it's best if we get rid of her."
"It'll cost you more if you want us to do it,” Duke told him flatly.
"You've done enough. I'll take care of her. How hard could it be?"
"You can use my gun, if you like.” Duke held the shotgun out to him.
"That's okay.” Steve bent down and retrieved the gun from Rae's pocket. “I'll use this one. It's mine anyway."
"What about the money?” Mary questioned before she gathered her things together.
"I didn't forgot. It's in your bank account already.” Steve shook Duke's hand. “I won't forget what you've done here either."
Duke preened. “That two million will make sure we don't forget you either, boss!"
"I'll get the girl.” Mary headed towards the door. “Aren't you worried about her seeing you?"
Steve snapped his fingers. “You're right. It's one thing to hear my name and another to see me, isn't it? Thanks, Mary!"
"I'll cover her head,” Mary promised with a wide grin.
Duke went out to start the car and Mary walked across the old wooden floorboards with her precious burden. Bryce was still crying softly but she already knew what was happening to her. Mary kept her word and pulled a blanket over her face.
"Almost over now, Bryce,” she spoke gently to the girl. “Almost over."
Rae heard the door close on them. The car was starting to leave the drive. She groaned and tried to sit up. She put her hand to her side. Her fingers came away sticky with her blood. “Ahh ... nice ruse."
"Thanks.” He helped her to her feet. “It was all I could think to do. Are you all right?"
"Never mind. We have to stop them."
"All we have to do is be ready for them,” Steve explained quickly. “They won't get far. I slashed one of the tires on the van."
Chapter Seventeen
"We've only got one gun.” Rae's side wasn't punctured deeply but it hurt like hell.
"You take it.” Steve handed her the gun. “We have the element of surprise too."
"But we can't use the gun unless we're sure Bryce is clear."
Steve agreed, positioning himself behind the door with a chair.
Rae was on the other side. She looked down at the blood on her hand and was swamped by a vision. She was standing in the swamp again outside a small town in Maryland. She could feel the mist on her face and knew with terrible certainty that they were going to find Denise Little dead. The dogs quit sniffing and baying. They came to a stop and dug their paws into the rich ground to find a grisly treasure.
Rae shook herself back into awareness as the screen door swung open. Heavy footsteps approached the door across the porch. Steve struck first, catching Duke across the midsection. Then Rae came down heavily with the gun on the back of his head. Duke slumped on the floor.
"He left Mary and Bryce in the car.” Steve ran out the door.
Before Rae could see what happened, there was a gunshot. As she came around the door, Steve fell back against her. His weight dragged her to the floor. The gun was pinned beneath them. She looked up into the barrel of a weapon that was leveled at her chin.
"What are you doing here?” Sharin asked with a smirk contorting her pretty face.
Rae looked at Steve's wound. It was in his chest, close to his shoulder. His jacket was bloody and his eyes were closed. “Steve?"
"I'm okay.” He pushed himself up, holding his arm at an awkward angle.
"You two are a mess.” Sharin looked at Rae's bloody side. “What are you doing out here anyway?"
"We found your land purchases,” Steve growled at her. “What the hell are you doing, Sharin? You've got it all for God's sake!"
"Got it all? What are you talking about? You have it all, Steve! The money. The power. You have everything! David frittered away what little he had, worrying about what people thought of him and his social responsibilities to the world."
"You killed him,” Steve accused.
Sharin pushed back a lock of her blond hair. “You can't prove that."
"Maybe not. But I can prove that you're here and you're responsible for the kidnapping."
"You still don't get it, do you?” She laughed harshly. “Picture this. You and your little friend here got into a fight with the people you hired to kidnap Bryce. They killed you. Bryce and I went home after the anonymous tip that helped the FBI find you here. Case closed. Just like David."
"You told David the truth, didn't you?” Rae shifted the conversation. “You told him that Bryce was Steve's child."
Steve glared at Rae but the smile left Sharin's face. “It doesn't matter now, does it?"
"Is it true?” Steve wanted to know.
Sharin shrugged. “Maybe. David was inept at most things. We were trying to have a baby. It doesn't really matter genetically which Williams fathered her. I have her proxy, her guardianship, and the money. With you out of the way, I have it all! I would've been happy with you in prison, Steve. I didn't want it to come to this."
Duke woke up and groaned. He took in the situation at once and charged towards Sharin with the force of a bull.
"What are you doing, you idiot?” Sharin choked out before he slammed into her.
"Taking what's mine! I won't let you screw this up too, you bitch!"
"I'm the one who paid you! I'm the one who set this up! It wasn't Steve! It wasn't—"
The gun went off again.
"Get Bryce!” Steve dragged himself of the floor.
Rae was already off the porch. She didn't wait to see who the winner was in the match. She was running for the van. Mary and Bryce waited halfway down the drive. She heard the gun go off again but didn't look back. The sun was starting to set from behind the tall Jack Pines. It painted the sky a rosy orange hue and lent crispness to the air. Already the shadows lengthened from the old house to the road. Night was falling.
Mary screamed when she saw her. Rae knew she had a tiny lead that might save their lives. If Duke was the first one out of that house and not Steve. She punched the other woman and took Bryce from her.
"Just a minute and we'll be out of here.” Rae clutched Bryce to her uninjured side. “We are definitely going home."
"What about my mommy?” Bryce asked her pitifully.
Rae held her close. “We'll come back for her later. Hold tight, Bryce."
She ran as fast as she could away from the house. There was a large stand of pine trees off to the side of the front yard. Lessie's cryptic words came back to her. Hide in the trees. She ran for them, thinking they would provide cover. If Duke couldn't find her for a while, she had a chance of getting away. She knew she couldn't keep up that speed carrying Bryce for very long. She had to make every second count.
It was getting dark quickly. She was running out of breath. She was terrified of running into a tree. Bryce was whimpering softly but she was holding on to her angel as hard as she could.
Rae couldn't hear anyone running through the yard behind them. She didn't think Duke reached the trees yet. There was no sound in the freezing evening air except her labored breathing and frantic footsteps. Most importantly, there was no gunfire. She didn't think he'd hesitate to kill them now. Duke probably killed Sharin. She wasn't s
ure about Steve. She could only pray he got out.
The pine trees were dripping wet with heavy dew that would be frost by morning. Rae wasn't a marathon runner. Bryce's weight and the long way she already ran were taking their toll on her. Her arms were sagging and her legs were cramping. She didn't know if she could go much further. Duke wasn't carrying a child. He could probably find them easily.
She saw the pile of brush and almost fell over it as she heard someone come into the forest, pushing through the branches.
"Come back out here,” Duke called out to her. “If I have to look through this forest for you, I'll kill both of you!"
Rae tried to put Bryce down but the child whimpered and held on to her.
"I'm only putting you down for a second, honey.” She wheezed and tried to catch her breath. “Then we're going to get into this pile of stuff and wait for the good guys. How does that sound?"
"Okay,” Bryce said slowly. “It's cold."
"I know.” She didn't have time to get Bryce a jacket. She took off her own jacket and wrapped it around the girl. Then she moved a few pieces of brush. It created a hollow big enough for them to slide into. In the daylight, it wouldn't be much of a hiding spot but in the darkness, it would be difficult to find.
Rae lay down in the hollow and brought Bryce down beside her. Then she pulled the branches back in place over the top of them. She held Bryce tightly in her arms and prayed that Duke wouldn't think to look for them there. Her heart was pounding loudly enough to fill the whole forest. She knew it was her imagination. She held on to Bryce and tried to make herself relax.
She heard something a few minutes later but it didn't come by where they were hiding. Someone lumbered through the trees a few yards away from their hiding place. When Duke yelled at them to come out again, his voice was a long way off.
"Are you really my angel?” Bryce whispered close to Rae's ear.
"Yes,” Rae whispered back. For that night, she was whatever Bryce wanted her to be.
The night was deep and frozen. Bryce fell asleep. Rae's arms went numb holding her but she didn't move. Her eyes burned through the brush over their head as the stars wheeled in the sky high above them. She waited and prayed for the first gray light of morning. Maybe they wouldn't be safe in the daylight but she'd feel safer. They could follow the forest until they reached the next road and then look for help. She kept herself from thinking about Steve and what happened back at the house. She couldn't help them both. Bryce needed her more than Steve at that point.
