“What happened?”
“They took her. They took my Rebekah.”
Turning, he saw Rebekah’s father come toward him. The older man was shaking his head, as if he couldn’t process the fact that his daughter was gone again. Matt trailed behind the man. The look on his face said it all. These monsters managed to breach the security of the ranch and got to her.
“Analise heard screaming and ran out to see what was going on. She headed toward the sounds of Rebekah’s screams and found a dark van right about there.” Pointing, he indicated to where a couple ranch hands slash agents were working under a set of bright lights. “They were shoving Rebekah into a van.
“Matt, if they have her they will kill her.” Turning, he went to run back to his truck. He was going to that club and would get her back.
“Nathaniel, you need to calm down.” Matt grabbed his arm.
“Calm down? They are going to kill her,” he screamed as he tried to yank free.
“Son, Matt is right. You need to calm down.”
His father’s voice had him turning. He saw Rebekah’s father had gone to his wife and was now sitting on the ground with his arms around her, trying to soothe her. She was rocking, holding a white flip-flop in her hands. Not just any flip-flop, but Rebekah’s favorite pair of white rubber ones. It hit him then that while he had spoken the truth, it was a truth better left unsaid. Everyone here knew the chances of getting her back alive was slim. For him to voice it was to remove what little hope her parents needed to hang on to right now.
“So, what is the plan? Tell me you have a plan.”
“Your mom is on the phone with Savannah setting something up. For now, we are gathering whatever evidence we can.”
“Do we have evidence? Other than her shoe?” He indicated where her mother sat still clutching that darn flip-flop.
“Tire tracks; some of the guys are working on getting a casting for identification of the treads. Then there was a rag found that I suspect will yield traces of chloroform. The lab will have to test it to confirm though.”
“Matt.”
Turning, he saw his mother come toward them. He hoped Savannah gave them a game plan. He couldn’t stand the waiting with nothing to do.
“Savannah three-wayed agent Tidwell into the conversation. He is calling the local FBI field office to get some agents together to raid the club. Homeland Security will be working with them on this. He said for us to gather what evidence we can, and someone will come by to collect it.”
“Thank you, Stella.” Matt responded.
“Mamm?” Going into his mother’s arms, he clung to her.
“We will get her back, son.” Her voice soothing as she held him tight.
“Nathaniel, would you go gather all those financial records and your notes from my office. That way the FBI can have those to use against these bastards. Maybe with your notes and their experts they can find what we missed.” Matt ordered.
Grateful for something to do, he let go of his mother and headed toward the main house. He couldn’t figure out what she was doing out there this late at night. What would possess her to go wandering around alone again? Did she have another nightmare that sent her running? Even if she did, how did they know where to find her? Something didn’t add up, but he would be willing to bet the same person responsible for his grandparents’ death and Lacey’s was behind this.
Inside the house, an eerie silence greeted him. Making his way to Matt’s office, he was startled to see Analise on the stairs.
“I just got the children back to sleep. Is there any news?”
“Matt sent me in to grab some papers. The FBI is coming to collect what all we have.”
“What about getting Rebekah back?” She finished her descent down the stairs.
Her eyes were bloodshot, and her cheeks still wet with tears. He reached for her and hugged her tight. “Mom said the FBI was planning to raid the club.”
“Do you think they took her there?” Her face was buried against his chest. Her body trembling as she continued to cry.
“I doubt it. These people are smart. They wouldn’t make that kind of mistake.” He soothed her hair and kissed the top of her head. This sweet young woman had quickly ingrained herself into his heart. She was like the sister he had always wanted but was never given by his parents. He would give anything to be able to spare her any of this.
“I agree. Well, I am going back upstairs. I do not feel safe leaving the children alone.”
Turning, he made his way into Matt’s office. The file along with his notes were still on the table. Grabbing his notes, he shoved them inside the file. Heading out, he found himself upstairs standing just inside her room. The scent of her shampoo lingered. He should have stayed home. He wasn’t sure what he could have done if he had been home. He just knew not being here left her more vulnerable. He wanted to stay here surrounded by the scent of her. Rising, he headed back out to join the others. They would find her. He wouldn’t rest till she was back safe, and those monsters were stopped.
Chapter 25
Parking at the end of the driveway, he lifted her limp body from the car. He knew where the security cameras were, so it was easy to traverse the property unseen. As he got close, he kept watch for the odd person awake at this hour. Seeing no one about, he slipped around the side of the house.
Using his key, he entered through the French doors and slipped quietly into the kitchen. He laid her body on the floor. The alarm keypad was in the front foyer. He debated for a moment about going and disengaging the alarm. With a wicked smile, he ran out the French doors not bothering to close them.
Continuing to avoid the security cameras, he made his way back to his car. He heard the alarm begin to sound. Slipping into the driver seat, he took off. Matt would regret not providing better security. He wished he could stick and around and watch the chaos. Maybe next time.
Chapter 26
Nathaniel heard his mother’s voice yelling his name. What was she doing in the bunkhouse? Sleep tried to keep him held in its grasp. His mother’s voice continued to yell his name. He was vaguely aware of other voices. Sitting up, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
“What is going on?” He shook the cobwebs from his head and tried to focus on his mother. She was saying something about Rebekah and Analise, but the fog of sleep made most of it gibberish.
“Hold up. Give me a second.” Standing, he headed to the kitchenette. Splashing icy water on his face, his senses became alert. “Ok, what are you going on about?”
“Rebekah has been stabbed multiple times. Analise is working on her now. A life flight is in route.” Her voice shook, and tears streaked her face.
“What do you mean? Where did they find her?” This couldn’t be happening. Not another woman he cared about. Not again.
“The kitchen. Nathaniel, someone got into the house.”
He could hear his mother’s fear. It mirrored his own. Bolting from the bunk house, he ran for the main house. His legs didn’t want to cooperate with him. Even though he ran, every step was difficult. The distance seemed longer than ever before. It felt like an eternity, but he finally reached the house. He burst into the kitchen and abruptly stopped. Analise was kneeling and working on Rebekah. The world around him spun. He was no longer in the kitchen. He was back in time.
Standing at the DJ equipment, he watched his stepmother, Lacey, dance with Agent David. Fog from the machine swirled around. All the guests seemed to be having a wonderful time. If he was pressed to answer, he would have to admit this was a great Halloween party.
He heard a noise and screams. It took his brain a moment to process what he was seeing. His stepmother was holding her throat. Blood poured out from around her fingers. David catching her and lowering her to the floor. Analise rushing over to assist. His mother standing then collapsing to the floor. Complete chaos.
Focusing on the present, he went to Rebekah. Kneeling beside her, he stroked the side of her head. There was so much blood
. It flowed from the wound in her chest and pooled on the kitchen floor. Death hung like a hooded vale over the room. He raged and prayed in rapid succession inside his head.
“She kept muttering something about saving Ruth. Saving her daughter.”
“Daughter?” What was Analise talking about. Rebekah had a daughter? That didn’t make sense at all. Where had the child been this whole time? If the monsters that had Rebekah have the child, there was no way they would keep the child alive.
“I think she got her memories back.” She looked toward the doors. “Where is that chopper?”
“Where is everyone?”
“Matt is calling people. Your mother was tasked with getting you then searching the property. Your father is upstairs with the children.” Stopping chest compressions, she breathed into Rebekah’s mouth. Resuming chest compressions, she looked at him. “Go check on Kirk. The children might be more than he can handle right now.”
Standing, he headed for the stairs. In the hallway he could hear Rebekah’s mother crying and her father trying to comfort his wife. Taking the stairs two at a time, he knew his father needed no help. This was Analise’s way of keeping him busy. He found his father in the nursery. Little Matthew was sound asleep in his bed. Aurora was in his father’s arms as he gently rocked the small girl.
“The little ones woke up when the alarm went off.” He stated, his voice flat and devoid of emotions.
“Analise sent me up to help you.”
“Not much to be done in here. How is she?”
“Barely hanging on.” He stated. He tried to get the image of her lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood out of his mind. He feared though it would forever be burned into his brain. The same way that Lacey’s death never left him.
His gaze zeroed in on the shotgun near his father. It was like he was in a dream, no way his father would be anywhere near a gun. His world tilted. “What is that doing in here?”
“That man, whoever he is, got into the house. I will not sit here with no way to protect the little ones.” He patted Aurora’s back, as if to reassure himself that she was indeed safe.
“Do you know how to shoot one of those things?” Nathaniel asked.
“Well enough to stop any threat that comes through that door.”
Before he could question his father’s abilities further, his mother came into the room.
“Let’s go. You get to go on your first rescue mission.”
Following his mother, he met Matt in the foyer. A million thoughts swirled and clashed inside his head. He just prayed they found that child alive and unharmed.
Chapter 27
Standing the window, he thought again of the last time he has stood in this very hospital. His step mother had been shot. That terrible night ended with him losing a very special person. Fear knotted his stomach as he stared out the window to a bright sunny day. It felt off. How could the sun shine so brightly and life go on for so many when a young woman was at this very moment fighting for her life. It didn't seem right to him. He knew these next few hours would pass as a blip in his life. Or they would be the final trauma that shattered everything within him.
Turning from the window he paced the floors. Straightened magazines on the tables. Paced the floors some more. He was barely aware of the others in the room. Her mother and father were silently praying. His mother and Matt were sitting off across the room and whispering. He could hear their voices but not make out the words. Stopping at the window he stared out again into the hospital courtyard. People walked with hurried steps. Everyone out there seemed to have somewhere to be and something urgent to do. He had nothing but to wait. So much waiting. Remembering the action that followed when he first left the ranch, he smiled. They found Ruth and got her safely away from the monsters that held her captive. Rebekah had to pull through. Ruth needed her mommy. Both of them had been through so much. They deserved a happily ever after. At one time he would have believed they didn't exist. However, he had his mother and father and Matt and Analise as living testaments that happily ever afters did in fact exist.
He willed himself to sit down and tried to calm his runaway thoughts before they ate him alive. Somewhere in the distance someone was typing on a keyboard. The click click click was driving him insane. He wanted someone to come bring them news about Rebekah before he got up and did something to that keyboard he would later regret. Focusing on the clicking of the keyboard he busied himself with delicious thoughts of all the evil things he could do to that blasted keyboard.
“Nathaniel,” his mother’s voice broke through his thoughts. Looking up at her, he saw the fear in her eyes “She will be alright.”
“Mother do you really believe that? Alright like Lacey was alright?” His questions thrown out like a challenge. Daring her to disagree.
“Nathaniel. Rebekah is not Lacey.”
“You’re right she isn’t Lacey. Lacey was shot in the throat and died in this very hospital. Rebekah was stabbed repeatedly.”
“She is young. She will survive this. I have to believe that until told otherwise. So should you.” Sitting next to him she took his hand in hers.
Silently he prayed his mother was right. Rebekah was young and she had so much to live for. She deserved her happily ever after and he had to believe she would get it. To believe anything else would destroy him completely. Squeezing her hand, he clung to his mother like a lifeline in storm-tossed ocean.
Chapter 28
She was unaware of what happened or where she was. A constant beeping sound assaulted her ears. Where was it coming from? It continued to beep, and she vowed that when she found it she would annihilate it. Plastic crinkled under her head when she turned to identify the source. It was Deja vu. As her eyes focused she saw Nathaniel in the chair next to the bed.
“What happened?” She tried to sit up, Nathaniel placed his hand on her shoulder to stop her.
“You’re in a hospital. You need to lay still. I will go and get the doctor.” Rising, he left the room.
Laying there she knew she was helpless. Not wanting to be dependent on anyone ever again, she tried to sit up. Pain sliced through her chest. She gripped the bedrails and tried again. Sweat broke out on her brow. It was too much. Laying her head back on the pillow, she waited. She had so many questions, to which she was being forced to wait before getting any answers.
Nathaniel returned shortly with a short, balding, middle-aged man in tow. He reminded her of a leprechaun who was missing part of his hair. The corner of her lips turned up in a weak smile as she wondered if he had a pot of gold. She contemplated whether it would be rude to ask.
“I am Dr. Jones. You gave us all a pretty good scare there for a little while. How are you feeling?” He busied himself looking at the print out on one of the machines.
“My chest hurts every time I move.” Her face contorted with pain as she tried to use her hand to indicate where the majority of the pain was.
“You have a pain pump hooked up.” He handed her the control. “Just press the button as you need it. It is regulated to a minimum of 15 minutes, so no risk of overdosing. You have been unconscious for a week, so you will be sore. Not to mention the fact a knife plunged into your chest. So, use it. No reason to be in pain.” He busied himself with examining her.
“Ruth? Nathaniel, you have to find her.” She tried to push the doctor away and sit up again. Her daughter was in danger. She had to get to her, protect her from the evil men who had her.
“We already have her. She is at the ranch with your parents. You worry about getting better.”
“I need my daughter.” The doctor gently held her shoulders to keep her still. She was glad her little Ruth was safe. She worried though about how her absence had affected the little girl. Did she cry for her momma? Did the men hit her to shut her up? For so long they had used Ruth as a means to control her. They knew that she would do anything she was told, so long as her baby girl was safe.
“Rebekah, you were stabbed several times
. You were in surgery for hours. Then unconscious for a week. You need to relax and rest. You are no good to your daughter if you are dead.” Nathaniel moved to stand on the other side of her and took her hand in his. “Please rest and get better. Ruth is having a blast at the ranch with her new-found grandparents.”
She smiled at the thought of Ruth with grandparents. Her parents had always been loving and devoted to her as she grew up. She could picture her mother sewing a faceless doll and her father carving a wooden horse for Ruth, the same as they had done for her when she was little. It gave her comfort to know that sweet, bubbly Ruth would now know what a real loving home was like. Finally, if nothing else happened her daughter was free from the evil men.
She was glad when the doctor finally left the room. She pressed the button on the controller and closed her eyes. She waited patiently for the pain medicine to kick in and relieve her. She didn’t have to wait long before it sucked her into a dark abyss.
***
With her peacefully sleeping after she used the pain pump, Nathaniel slipped out of the room. Time to grab a quick bite to eat. He wasn’t fond of the hospital cafeteria, but he didn’t want to be too far from her. Inside the cafeteria, he grabbed a sandwich and sweet tea. He sat alone in a corner table, watching people come and go from the room.
Fear was a shackle around him. He tried to shake it off, but each time he thought about about Rebekah the fear wrapped around him again. The fear brought with it the terrible ‘what if’ game. He had been playing the game off and on since she was kidnapped. As he sat staring at his food, the game began again. All the million things that could have happened. Or the million things he could have done to prevent her from being hurt. He felt like his brain was firing off a million unhelpful thoughts at once.
Unable to eat, he stood and dumped his tray in the trash can. He headed back to Rebekah’s room. Outside the door, he stopped and called home. He was grateful it was his mother that answered the phone. Hearing her voice helped to ground him some in the present and stop the ‘what if’ game for now. When he finished the call, he went back into the room. Resuming his spot next to her bed, he picked up her hand and and clung to it. He gave her
The Making of a Centaur Page 10
