Border Breach

by Darlene L. Turner

  “Arson. We found a gas can in the alley behind the shop. Seems pretty stupid to leave the evidence behind.”

  Hudson sipped his soda. “Obviously, whoever started the fire didn’t care if we found out it was arson. Pretty blatant.”

  “Can we check the can for fingerprints?” Kaylin wrote “Arson but by who?” in her notebook.

  “Send it to Bianca, Chief,” Hudson said. “If there are fingerprints on it, the Ident team will find them.”

  “Will do. Chat later.” He clicked off the call.

  “Doesn’t surprise me.” Kaylin took the final bite of her sub and crumpled up the wrapper.

  Hudson leafed through the ledger. “This book is full of entries. Looks like this arrangement has been going on for a couple of years.”

  “But I thought doda was just making a comeback.”

  “It is, but we had takedowns as far back as nine years ago. It died down, but for some reason it has become the drug of choice lately.”

  “What makes it so special?”

  “Perhaps because it’s easier to traffic under the radar.”

  They spent the next couple of hours poring over the entries, looking for a common thread. Each delivery had the same MO. Shipment arrived one day and left one week later.

  She glanced at her watch. Nine thirty. “Anything else to investigate tonight?”

  “I think we’ve had enough for one day. How about we meet early tomorrow? Say seven?” He threw his sub wrapper in the nearby trash can.

  She gathered her belongings and stood. “Okay, then. I’m headed back to Diane’s. See you tomorrow.”

  He rubbed her arm. “Stay safe.”

  His tender touch soothed her. The handsome officer certainly knew how to draw a woman in. His smile illuminated his face. She studied his lips and imagined them on hers. Would they be soft? Smooth?

  Stop it, Kaylin. He’s off-limits. So are you. Remember the baggage.

  She shifted her weight in order to change her concentration and stop the romantic thoughts. “Will do.”

  Kaylin exited into the parking lot.

  The night air’s mugginess washed over her tired body. She removed the elastic from her ponytail and fluffed her hair, letting the gentle breeze flow through it. The day had been full of adventure but also dead ends. Hopefully tomorrow would be better and the interview with the Olivers informative. They needed answers.

  Fifteen minutes later, she opened the door at Diane’s darkened house. Had she gone to bed early? Kaylin flipped the kitchen light on and stopped in her tracks.

  Dishes lay broken on the floor. The table was overturned, chairs smashed.

  A sob caught in her throat. “Diane?”

  A squeak on the wooden floor to the right caught her attention. She turned, but too late.

  A wet cloth was clamped over her mouth and leathery hands grabbed her into a vise grip. She struggled to free herself, till the scent of chloroform reached her nostrils.

  Darkness entangled her, pulling her into its deadly clutches.

  * * *

  Kaylin bolted awake, gasping for air from a dream that was more like a nightmare. Her heart thumped as she looked around the room. She lay on a wooden bench; restraints bound her hands and ankles. Where was she? How long had she been out? She checked her watch. 7:30 a.m. She’d been unconscious all night. Had Hudson started a search for her when she didn’t show up at their meeting that morning?

  Mustiness filled her nose. The room’s dampness sent shivers racing through her body. She looked around and saw a canoe on the other side of the room. Lawn chairs were piled up beside it. Waves crashed outside the small building. Someone had brought her to a boathouse. But who was her captor?

  She pulled at the ropes on her wrists. If she could only free herself, she could untie her feet and escape before whoever held her returned. She bit the restraints and tugged.

  Her breath came in rapid bursts. She threw her hands back in her lap as tears stung her eyes. It was useless. The ropes were too tight.

  Had someone left her here to die?

  Surely God had abandoned her?

  Again.

  She could almost hear Diane tell her to trust God and that He would never leave her.

  Diane. Was she okay?

  Her muscles tightened as fear and panic threatened to overtake her. Before she realized what she said, she heard herself pray. “God? Are You there?” Heat flushed her cheeks. “I can’t find You. Please show me where to look.”

  Tears flowed down her cheeks as Diane’s face flashed before her. God had given her this amazing woman who’d taken her in when she’d felt abandoned by her father. Where would she have been without her? Still on the streets with those vagrants who’d tried to attack her.

  Maybe God had watched over her, but she had failed to see it. She hung her head. How could she have been so blind?

  “I’m sorry, God. Can You forgive me?”

  She jerked her head up. If she wanted God to forgive her, she’d also have to do the same with her father. Impossible. She couldn’t. Did that make her a terrible person? Unlovable? No one had cared for her as a child, and when she grew up, even Jake had failed to love her. Except for when it had suited him.

  Her brother had abandoned her, too.

  No one loved her.

  Wait. Diane had told her God loved her unconditionally. It didn’t matter what she had done in her life, He would always be there for her. No matter what. He had paid the ultimate price for her. All she’d learned at church came tumbling back like a snowball rolling downhill, collecting snow and growing. It overwhelmed her, causing her heart to tighten.

  She sobbed. Was it true? Could it be that He had never left her? That she had been the one who had moved away?

  Kaylin wiped her tears with the back of her bound hands. “God, if You’re there, save me. I surrender myself to You.”

  Peace washed over her like a bucket of cold water dumped on her during a warm summer day. She breathed in and exhaled loudly. God’s got this. She heard the words Diane always said to her.

  Now she finally believed it.

  “Thank You, God.” A smile tugged at her lips before forming. He now lived in her.

  Footsteps sounded outside the boathouse, wrenching her from her thoughts.

  Her heartbeat caught in her throat, holding her captive.

  The door creaked open and her captor stepped into the sun’s rays shining through the window. His face no longer featureless.

  She fought for a breath.

  Jake?

  * * *

  Hudson checked his watch for the fifth time. 7:45 a.m. Where was Kaylin? He tightened his jaw. He grabbed his cell phone and punched in her new number, tapping his toe as he waited. All he got was voice mail. Again.

  “Ugh!” He threw the cell phone on his desk.

  “What’s up, Steeves?”

  Hudson jumped, knocking over his pens, and turned around to see his boss. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”

  “Why are you so grumpy?”

  He shook his head. He had to rein in his feelings and fast. He bent over and gathered his pens, putting them back in the holder. “Kaylin was supposed to be here at seven. We wanted to run to the hospital early to interrogate the Olivers.”

  “Call her again. We don’t have time to wait around.” He stormed back into his office.

  The vein in Hudson’s neck pulsed. Ever since his witness had died in that previous case, his boss had had it in for him. What did he have to do to prove his worth?

  He grabbed his phone and tried Kaylin again. Voice mail. It wasn’t like her to be late. He dialed Diane’s number. No answer. What was going on?

  His cell phone rang. “Steeves here.”

  “Constable Steeves, this is Brett Walker. I’m the warden at the South West Detention
Centre.”

  Hudson perked up. “How can I help you?”

  “You left your card with one of the guards to advise you if anything of interest came up on the prisoner Jake Shepherd. I wanted to let you know he escaped our custody last night.”

  “What?” Hudson sprang out of his chair. “Why am I only being informed now?”

  “The guard who had your card just came on duty.”

  “What happened?”

  “We were transferring him to the maximum security site of Collins Bay Institution in Kingston. The van was in an accident and he got loose. We haven’t been able to locate him.”

  The hair on his arms prickled. Kaylin’s absence and Jake’s escape couldn’t be a coincidence. Something wasn’t right.

  Lord, help me to be wrong. Protect her.

  “I appreciate you letting me know. Keep me updated.”

  “Will do.”

  Hudson clicked off the call and ran into his boss’s office. “Jake Shepherd escaped custody last night and Kaylin is missing. This isn’t good.”

  Miller whistled. “Take a drive to her place. See if she’s there. We’ll try and triangulate her cell.”

  “I’m guessing it’s off because it keeps going to voice mail right away. I’ll check her friend Diane’s place, where she’s been staying, and get back to you.” He rushed out to his cruiser and squealed out of the parking lot, turning on his siren and flashing lights. He needed to make it to Diane’s place as fast as he could.

  Seven minutes later, he pulled in front of Diane’s house and jumped out of the vehicle.

  Kaylin’s Honda was not parked in the driveway. Her protection detail was missing. Someone will pay for this.

  He took the front steps two at a time and stopped. The door was ajar. He pulled out his 9 mm and stepped through the entrance. “Kaylin? Diane? Are you here?”

  Moans sounded upstairs.

  He inched his way up, hugging the wall while raising his weapon. “Kaylin? Diane?”

  More muffled screams.

  He opened the bedroom door to find an older woman on the bed, gagged and tied to the headboard.

  He holstered his gun and ran to her side. He pulled the gag off and untied her. “Where’s Kaylin?” He didn’t recognize his own shaky voice. Get a grip. You’re not helping anyone by panicking.

  “I don’t know, but a masked man broke into my house and tied me up. I heard Kaylin come home, but then nothing.” Her hair was matted to her head, her eyes wild.

  Kaylin was gone.

  Jake had taken her. It was the only answer.

  I have to find Kaylin, Lord. Before he hurts her.

  Hudson had seen the look in Jake’s eyes when he’d spoken to Kaylin at the detention center. He was still infatuated with her, and the fact that she’d helped put him away must have only escalated his anger.

  She was in immediate danger.

  He looked down at the woman who he knew had to be Diane. “You okay? Did he hurt you?”

  “No.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Find Kaylin.”

  He pulled out his phone and hit Sergeant Miller’s number.

  “Anything, Steeves?”

  “She’s not here and her car is gone. What about her cell phone?”

  “It’s off. I’ve put out a BOLO for her car and have contacted the OPP and Windsor police to help scour the city. Even CBSA officers are hunting. We’ll find her.”

  He gripped his cell phone tighter. “Why wasn’t an officer watching her?”

  “I pulled them.”

  “You what?”

  Why would his boss pull the Windsor police chief’s daughter’s protection? Something was not right.

  “You heard me. We need to cut down on overtime costs. I had to do it.”

  There had to be more to the story, but Hudson put it behind him. He had to concentrate on Kaylin right now. “Listen, send Forensics to this address.” He gave the sergeant Diane’s address and filled him in on the situation he’d found at the scene. “She’s okay, but we need Forensics to check her place out.” He tugged at his collar. “Jake Shepherd is dangerous. Do a full sweep on him. Places he visited, properties he owned. All of it.”

  “I’ll get Ident out there right away and have Bianca investigate Shepherd.”

  Hudson shoved his cell phone into his pocket. He needed to find Kaylin. But where should he start?

  Think, Hudson, think.

  Before it was too late.

  THIRTEEN

  Kaylin stared into the ruthless eyes of Jake Shepherd. The hulk stood over her smiling. He ran his fingers down her arm and she cringed, wiggling in her restraints. Even if she could get free, there was no way she’d be able to take this muscular man down. She’d have to outsmart him instead. But how?

  “I’ve been waiting for this day.” He circled the bench, stopping to caress her arms and face. “I’ve missed you.” His raspy voice personified evil.

  Her body quivered. Was this really happening? “How did you get out of jail, Jake?”

  “Does it matter? I’m free and we can be together now.”

  Her muscles flinched. “That will never happen.”

  He leaned down, so he was inches away from her face. “Why? You don’t think Hudson is going to come to your rescue, do you?”

  His coffee breath repulsed her and she turned her head to stop the nausea. “He’ll find you.”

  His laughter boomed in the small boathouse. “He doesn’t even know you’re missing. I drove us here in your car.”

  No! It can’t be.

  God, help me. Show me what to do.

  He grabbed her cheeks and turned her head back to look at him. “You put me away, and I always said I’d get even with you. You’ll do as I say or face the consequences.”

  He slapped her.

  Her cheek stung at his attack and tears threatened to fall. She inhaled a rattled breath, holding it for five seconds. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry. She turned her head. That was when she spotted it. Her cell phone sat on a ledge beside the door. She needed to get to it.

  “Do you know what I went through in prison? Beatings upon beatings until I finally worked up my strength to get back at the gangs in there. They never knew what hit them. Even killed a man.”

  He was a murderer, too? There was no telling what he’d do to her if she didn’t give in to his demands.

  I’m going to die. Just as I was getting to know You, Lord.

  Her palms turned clammy. What could she do? She wiggled her hands to see if she could slip them out. This time she felt the restraints loosen. She had to keep him talking. Give Hudson time to find her. “Why did you get into selling drugs, Jake? You had it all. Good job. Me. What happened?” She twisted her hands again.

  “It wasn’t enough. I wanted more. More money, more prestige.”

  “But don’t you know money isn’t everything?”

  He walked to the small window and peered out. “Oh yes, it is, and I’m going to make a fortune.”

  What did he mean? He should have learned his lesson the first time. Obviously, jail time hadn’t made him any smarter. “And how do you plan on doing that?”

  “I have my ways and they involve you.”

  She grimaced. “I will not help you do anything. You hear me?”

  “Yes, you will.”

  “Hudson will stop you.”

  He grunted. “Hardly. I’m going to keep you away from him. Now he’ll have to pay the price.”

  She needed to stop him from hurting Hudson. Images of what he’d do to the handsome constable exploded through her mind, leaving her breathless. “Keep him out of it. We’re just working on a case together. That’s all.”

  Even though she wished they were more.

  The realization startled her. When had her feelings fo
r Hudson changed? They’d only started working together a few days ago.

  “Liar. I can see it in your eyes. You like him,” Jake spat out. “Didn’t you get my text? I warned you, but you didn’t listen.”

  He was behind the texts? What about the intruder in her home? Had that been his doing, too? “How did you get a phone to text me? And how did you get my number?”

  “I bribed a guard and he got me a burner. Hid it in a hole in the wall.” He smirked. “A black hat hacker got me your number.”

  “Who ransacked my apartment?” She pulled at the ropes. They loosened more.

  He rubbed his bald head. “I had an ex-con do that for me. He kept me informed of your shenanigans. How you’ve been hanging around Steeves. Even after my warning, you still didn’t listen.”

  “Tell me about your plan to make money.” As much as it chilled her to hear his plans for her, she had to keep him talking.

  “You’ll see.” His cell phone rang and he turned his back toward her. “Yup. Got what you want. Where can we meet?”

  Who was he talking to?

  “Got it. See you then.” He walked over and grabbed her by the arm. “Get up. We’re going for a walk.”

  “How can I with ropes around my ankles?” One more wiggle and she would be free of her hand restraints.

  He untied her feet and pulled her up.

  The ropes on her hands loosened enough for her to shimmy out of them.

  She mustered up courage and thrust her elbow deep into his stomach with all her strength.

  He doubled over and lost his balance.

  She rushed over to the ledge, snatched her cell phone and raced out of the boathouse.

  * * *

  Hudson’s cell phone buzzed. He grabbed it out of his pocket and swiped the screen. Kaylin.

  Thank You, Lord.

  “Kaylin, where are you?” He sat up straighter in his car and pressed the cell phone harder into his ear to hear her every word.

  “At a boathouse somewhere by the river.” Her words came out breathless.

  She was running.

  “Is Jake with you?”