by Jane Jamison
Sandra gave a slight shake of her head. “I need you to come inside.”
Julie’s stomach tightened. She was used to listening to her instincts, and right now, they were telling her to stay outside. “Why? You don’t need to pack. We can get you whatever you need, but we have to get going.”
Sandra’s eyes glittered. “I really need your help inside. Please.”
No. Don’t.
And yet, what else could she do? Her only other choices were to stand there until she could convince Sandra to go to her car—who knew how long that would take?—or leave and call the police.
“Okay, but let’s make this fast.”
Relief calmed the worry on Sandra’s face. “Thank you.”
The woman stepped back, moving the door open very slowly and giving Julie just enough room to slip inside. “What do you need help with?”
The door slammed shut, revealing the man hiding behind it. “Hi, bitch. Good to see you could make the party.”
Julie reached for the door and yanked on it, but Randall took hold, shoving Sandra out of the way and blocking any further attempt at escaping. She backed up, keeping her gaze locked on him.
“I’m sorry. He made me call you.”
“Sit down and shut up.” Randall grabbed Sandra’s arm then flung her to the sofa.
Confused and afraid, Julie scanned the living room, noting the sliding glass door leading to the back. The kitchen was to the left with another door exiting out the side of the house.
“Don’t waste your breath. You wouldn’t make it five feet before I’d kill you.” Randall held up a gun and pointed it at her.
“What do you want? What are you doing here?”
His sneer lifted the side of his mouth, his dark eyes hard and cold. “You know what I want, bitch. I want my wife and kid back. As for this cunt? She got lucky.”
Sandra sobbed quietly on the couch. “He broke in. I couldn’t stop him.”
“You raped her?” She could barely get the words out.
“Nah. She wanted it bad, and I gave it to her. Best fuck she’s ever had, I bet.”
Sandra fell against the arm of the couch and curled into a fetal position. “Please. I did what you wanted. Please go. Leave me alone.”
“We’re not done yet.” Randall motioned for Julie to sit in the armchair. “It’s your turn to play pretend.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I told you. I want my wife and kid back. You’re going to help me get them.”
“Like hell I will.”
“Hey, bitch, I’m hell and you will.” He thrust the phone at her. “You call that fucking shelter and get my wife on the phone. Tell her to get Molly and meet you at the park.”
“I won’t.”
“Yeah, you will or the both of you die.” He licked his lips. “After I’ve fucked you. Hey, better yet. I’m going to watch you two get it on and then I’ll fuck both of you.” His laugh was pure evil. “I’ll fuck you until your fucking cunts bleed.”
She had no doubt he’d fulfill his promise. “What are you going to do if they come to the park?”
“Just a little family reunion. I’m not going to hurt them.” He gave her a curious look. “Don’t you get it, bitch? If you and that goddamn shelter hadn’t gotten in the way, my family would be together.”
“I won’t call.”
He thrust the phone closer and pointed the gun at Sandra. “Do it or she dies. Now.”
Sandra’s sobs changed into soft whimpers. “Please don’t let him kill me.”
Julie frantically tried to think of anything to get them out of the situation. Fear and worry, however, froze her mind, leaving her with no way out.
Randall cocked an eyebrow. “You know I’ll kill her. And after I shoot her, I’ll take you into the bedroom. With her husband away on a business trip, no one will find you until your bodies start stinking up the place.”
“So he’s not really a cop?”
“Nah. That was just part of the story. Pretty good, huh?” He cocked the hammer back on the revolver. “Call.”
She had no choice. Maybe, just maybe, they’d get lucky and Brenna would hear the alarm in her voice.
“Okay, okay. I’m calling.” Taking the phone, she called the shelter. She leaned against the back of the chair, keeping her eyes on Randall. The phone at the shelter rang once, then twice, then a third time before the manager, Sheryl, picked up.
“Women’s shelter. This is Sheryl. How can I help you?”
“Sheryl, it’s Julie.” She prayed her voice sounded steady.
“Hi, girl. What’s going on? You rushed out of here so fast I thought a tiger was after you. Is anything wrong?”
Not a tiger. A big rat.
“No. Nothing’s wrong. Could you please put Brenna on?”
“Sure thing.” There was a jumble of noises as Sheryl called out. “Brenna, Julie’s on the phone. Can you pick it up on the kitchen extension?”
Randall grinned wide, mouthed a silent “well, all right!” then turned in a circle, his elation getting the best of him.
As he did, she reached into her pocket. Easing her cell phone out, she could glance at it without making a show of what she was doing. Carefully, she turned down the volume then touched the speed dial number to call Ryan.
“Hello?”
She eased her phone back into her pocket. “Brenna, it’s Julie.”
Randall gestured for her to get on with it.
“Hi. What’s up?”
“I need you to do me a favor.”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“Can you get Molly and come to the park a couple of blocks over? You know the one, right?”
“The park where we went a couple of weeks ago? Uh-huh. But don’t you think it’s getting kind of late?”
“I know, but can you do it?”
“Will you tell me why? Do you want me to bring some of the other moms and children?”
“No.” She’d said it too forcefully, causing Randall to scowl. “I mean. No, don’t bring anyone else. It’s a surprise for Molly.” A clog formed in her throat at the lie.
“Really? But you’ve already done so much for her. I don’t know, Julie. I mean, I’m grateful and all, but you might be spoiling my daughter.” Her chuckle rippled through the phone’s receiver. “Oh, what the heck, spoil away.”
“I like spoiling her. Besides, the surprise is for you, too.”
“But, Julie, is it safe? You said Randall’s out on bail.”
She closed her eyes, hating herself for what she had to say. “No, he’s back inside. They got him.”
The sound of Brenna’s relieved sigh was loud and clear. “Then, of course, we’ll come.” Brenna’s happy tone replaced her sigh. “But don’t go doing anything more for me.”
“So you’ll come?” She tried not to sound urgent, but it was hard not to with the gun still pointed at Sandra. “You can borrow the shelter’s van. I know no one’s using it today.”
“When do you want to meet?”
Randall whispered the answer, his hot breath flowing over her ear.
“Right now. I’ll be waiting for you by the slides.”
“Okay. I’ll have to get one of the other moms to finish the art project, but we’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“Great. I’ll see you soon.” She leaned away from Randall when he took the phone away. “Oh, and be careful.” It was a last-ditch effort to get Brenna to realize something was wrong.
“I will be.”
Randall ended the call. “You fucking bitch. I know what you were trying to do. I’m not an idiot.”
Julie couldn’t react fast enough. The back of his hand struck her cheek, knocking her to the floor. She went to her hands and knees, her vision blurred, and her mind spun in turmoil.
* * * *
Julie wasn’t certain what happened next. She heard Sandra crying out. Her cries, however, ended after a few moments. Lying on the floor, she couldn’t get her tho
ughts together or her body to work the right way. Had she passed out?
She heard Randall approaching and then was yanked upward. Pain burned into her scalp as he pulled her onto her feet.
“Get up, damn it.”
Slowly, her vision cleared. She struggled to get away, but she was too weak to put up much of a fight. Sandra lay on the floor next to the couch. A circle of blood flowed outward from beneath her head. “What did you do to her?”
“What do people say? Oh, yeah. ‘She’s gone to a better place.’”
Realization chilled her to the bone. “Fuck you.”
“Nah, bitch, fuck you. Let’s go and get my family.” He turned loose of her hair and pushed her toward the front door. “Stay quiet. You scream and you die. You got it?”
She didn’t answer. The best she could do was to stay on her feet as he shoved her outside and closed the door behind him.
Should I run to the car?
Yet before she could decide, he took her arm roughly and led her around to the back of the house. The old, rust-covered pickup he’d been driving when he’d come to the shelter was parked at the side of a back road.
“Get in.”
She had no choice. He had the gun in his pocket but could easily pull it out before she had a chance to get away. All she could do was obey him.
Chapter Ten
Randall stopped the pickup on the street adjacent to the park. Julie scanned the area, but the park was empty.
Thank God there aren’t any other kids here. She wouldn’t put it past Randall to shoot at innocent children if they got in his way.
“What now?” she asked.
“We wait for them to show up.”
Had Ryan gotten her call? It was a long shot, but she prayed it would work. If not, how would she save herself as well as Brenna and Molly?
“What are you going to do when they get here?”
“Never mind. All you have to do is stay put. If you don’t, I’ll put a bullet in your head.”
She gripped the edge of her seat, her fingers pushing deep into the torn cloth. Time ticked by slowly as she tried desperately to think of a way to escape. Failing that, a way to warn Brenna. No matter what, she couldn’t let Randall take Brenna and Molly. But would dying keep them safe? Or would her death be in vain with him killing her then forcing his wife and daughter to go with him?
“What if they don’t show?”
“Then you die, bitch.” Randall clutched the back of her neck. She bit back a cry. “But not until we have a hell of a good time.”
Someone, please help me.
Breathing was hard as her heart pounded and her nerves frazzled. She waited, her gaze searching the road, at once dreading and hoping for Brenna’s arrival. When at last she saw Brenna arrive in the shelter’s van, she knew she’d sacrifice herself to save them.
“There they are.” Randall’s voice was filled with excitement and blatant need.
She hated to believe it, and yet, she knew it was true. He loved them, even if his love was distorted and awful.
Molly slid out of the van with her mother’s help. The child dashed toward the slides. Brenna called after her, concern etching lines in her face.
The closer mother and child came to the slides, the worse Julie felt. Randall could easily slip out of the van and get to them before they’d have a chance to get away. “Please, Randall, don’t do this. Let them go.”
“Shut the fuck up.” He jerked his head toward the playground. “That’s my family. No one’s going to keep me from my family.”
“How did you get out of jail? Who posted your bail?” Maybe she could distract him. If she could, Brenna might see them and run.
“What?” He glared at her, irritated that she was drawing his attention away from his wife and child. “None of your fucking business.”
“Was it a friend? Maybe a girlfriend?”
“Shut up,” he hissed and shoved her against the door. All she had to do was open the door and jump out. But if she did, what would happen to Brenna and Molly?
“Tell me. I have to know.” Her gaze shifted to the gun and back, locking to his eyes. “At least give me that before you kill me. Because you’re going to kill me. I know it.”
“You’re a smart bitch, aren’t you?” He kept darting his focus between her and Brenna. “I met this guy the other day in a bar. Said he just got out of prison and needed to teach his bitch of a girlfriend a lesson. Said she volunteered at a women’s shelter. It didn’t take us long to put two and two together and figure out what you whores had done.”
A sick feeling swamped her. How had Hank found out? She’d started work at the shelter after he’d gone to prison.
“Hank bailed you out of jail? Hank Arlan?”
“The one and only. He was the one who planned all this shit.”
“What’d he tell you to do?”
“He told me how to lure my bitch here and use you to do it. Said I should call him over to the house once you made the call to the shelter, but I figured why not keep you along for the ride? Three hostages are better than one. Besides, I’m done taking orders from anyone.” He sneered, obviously proud of his plan.
He was going to take all of them. She was desperate. If she died to protect Brenna and Molly, then at least her death would have value.
“Look.” She pointed toward the playground. When Randall turned his head, she shoved the door open, half jumping, half falling out of the pickup. She bolted away from the park, hoping to draw Randall into chasing her. “Brenna, run! Randall’s here! He has a gun!”
“Fuck!” Randall was out of the pickup and running after her, but not for long.
“Julie!”
Julie slammed to a stop, whirling around to see Brenna clutching Molly to her as Randall changed directions and started running toward them. “Run, Brenna!”
Mother and daughter took off, but Randall was already almost upon them. Julie took off after the trio. Randall was so close, only a couple of yards behind Brenna and Molly.
Suddenly, Randall was knocked off his feet. Ryan rolled with him, tumbling several yards together. The men grappled, fighting for control of the gun.
Thank God he got my call.
Coming from another direction, Dane dashed over to Brenna and Molly and put his body between them and the two men fighting on the ground. Julie startled when Micah grabbed her from behind.
“Move.” He pushed her toward the others. As soon as she was with them, Dane started herding them away from the fight.
“What about Ryan?” She kept glancing over her shoulder. Ryan was on top of Randall, but Randall wasn’t giving up. Micah rushed toward the men.
“Just keep moving toward the van.”
Her breath hitched in her throat as adrenaline mixed with the ebbing fear. As they neared the van, however, a gunshot rang out.
She would’ve sworn her heart stopped. Dreading what she might find, she turned back.
Ryan’s red gaze lifted to hers then lowered to the man beneath him. A steadily growing dark spot spread over the man’s shirt. He lay still, his arms flung outward, one hand still holding the gun.
“Ryan?” She doubted he could’ve heard her whisper, and yet, he lifted his head and met her gaze again. The red was no longer in his eyes, replaced with his usual silver color.
Confusion struck her. Red eyes? But how?
Brenna let out a cry and clutched Dane’s arm. She turned, putting her back to the men sprawled on the ground. “Who is it? Who’s been shot?”
“Ryan’s okay. Keep going.” Dane put his hand on Molly’s shoulder, forcing her to look away. “Take her to the van, Brenna.”
Brenna clutched her daughter’s hand and took her away from her dead father. She didn’t look back and didn’t allow Molly to look, either.
Dane wrapped Julie into his arms. “Are you hurt?”
“No. Just shaken up.” She leaned against him, needing every bit of his support. “I’m so glad you showed up.”
“Me, too.”
She trembled, even as he tightened his hold on her. “Go join them in the van. We’ll call the police and handle things from here.”
She drew in a long, ragged breath. Brenna was consoling a crying Molly in the interior of the van. Suddenly, she felt like an outsider and wanted to give them time alone. They’d lost a husband and father, and although he hadn’t been a good man, they’d still loved him.
“I think they need time to themselves.”
“Then sit in my Jeep. You look like you could use a little time alone, too.” He pulled the keys out of his pocket and put them in her hand. “Close your eyes and try to relax. Turn the radio on to some soothing music. You’ve been through hell and back.”
She gripped the keys hard enough to hurt her palm. “Randall killed a woman. Her name’s Sandra Watkins.” Pulling out her phone, she flipped to the GPS entry. “He made her call the shelter and lure me to her home.” Her mind whirled. “There’s so much I don’t understand.”
“Just trust us for now.” He took the phone and glanced at the address. “I’ll tell the police. They’ll get someone over there right away. Now go on.”
She nodded then pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.” Night had fallen, and she hadn’t even noticed.
“No problem.”
Walking proved to more difficult than she would’ve imagined. She felt as though she’d aged fifty years. Stiffness filled her joints, causing her to ache every time she took a step. She finally made it to the Jeep and found it unlocked. Too tired to walk around and get into the passenger side, she pulled her tired body behind the steering wheel. After one last glance at the scene on the playground, she slumped into the seat and closed her eyes.
“Don’t scream, honeybun. I’d hate to splatter your brains all over these nice leather seats.”
Julie sat up, her body tensing. She reached for the door handle then froze as the cold end of a gun pressed behind her ear. “Hank.”
“Your one and only.” He chuckled. “Stay quiet and no one gets hurt. Don’t let your boy toys think anything’s wrong.”
