He tightened his arms in a parting squeeze before setting her away and gazing into her eyes. “Don’t lose hope, honey. Everything will be okay.”
Samantha took a step back before dropping her hands to her sides and smiling wistfully. “From your lips to God’s ears, as Elvina used to say.”
“We’ll be done here soon. Why don’t you go keep Lindy company?”
Taking her nod as one of agreement, John started back to speak with his chief where he became embroiled in heated speculation over whether or not Ben Southerland may have arranged the kidnapping and ordered his flunkies to lay down false clues to divert suspicion. That discussion was so absorbing, he failed to notice that Samantha’s car was gone until nearly half an hour later.
Returning to the patrol car with the intent of asking Lindy if she knew when Sam had left, he was stunned. The seat was empty. Danny’s mother was gone, too.
* * *
“Thanks for offering me a lift,” Lindy told Samantha.
“No problem. The chief said he was finished with you and me for now. He’ll want us to look at pictures of criminals later, but until then we may as well go home. I couldn’t see either of us sitting there, stewing and twiddling our thumbs, any longer than absolutely necessary.”
“There’s more to your kindness than that, I know. And I don’t mind. Not really. You’ve been good to my son and me in spite of all you know about us.”
“Danny needed my help and I gave it gladly.” She took her eyes off the road long enough to glance at her passenger. The woman’s hands were clasped in her lap so tightly that her knuckles were almost white.
“I was just doing what I thought was best,” Lindy said softly. “And now look at the mess I’ve made.”
“It’s not all your fault. If your husband wasn’t involved with criminals Danny would still be with you.” She paused to give her words time to sink in before adding, “I think you should tell me everything. Even the smallest detail may help. You must have noticed odd things about Ben’s behavior.”
“I certainly did.” Lindy slewed sideways in the seat so she was facing Samantha. “He’s been hard to please for as long as we’ve been married, but lately he’s gotten much worse. It’s as if I’m living with a totally different person. Know what I mean?”
“Oh, yes. My father had a Jekyll and Hyde personality, only the change in him was caused by too much alcohol. Does Ben drink?”
“No. Not a drop. Until recently he’s seemed pretty happy about everything.”
“He changed that drastically?”
Lindy nodded. “Yes. He kept coming home from work more wired than I’d ever seen him and then losing his temper over the stupidest things, like how his steak was cooked or whether Danny remembered his table manners. It was scary. I never knew what was going to set him off.”
“How about his friends? Did they notice anything?”
“Lot of them started avoiding us. I guess they were as puzzled as I was when Ben was so on edge all the time. He had meetings at night, too. Secret meetings. I was supposed to be sleeping but I saw men come and go at odd hours, sometimes two or three times a night.”
“Drugs?” Samantha asked.
“If it was, Ben wasn’t taking them himself.” She shuddered with a stifled sob and chewed her lower lip. “I suppose it might have been that kind of thing. I just don’t see how a man like my husband got involved with criminals or what his role could have been. He spent his days sitting in a stuffy office, not roaming around the streets.”
“He works as a CPA, right?”
“Not exactly. He’s an investment counselor.” She named a well-respected firm. “Basically, he tells people how to use their money to make the most profit.”
Sam’s eyebrows arched and her eyes widened as she made the connection. “Money? That sounds familiar. What did his bosses at work have to say about the fact that he’s now a wanted fugitive?”
“They didn’t like it a bit when the police contacted them and told them what had happened at the hospital. They sent a representative to interview me right away. When I assured them the incident had nothing to do with Ben’s job, they told me I’d better hope I was right because they were going to start an audit of his accounts.”
“They did? Do the police know about that?”
Lindy shrugged. “I suppose so. They investigated the firm when they were looking for clues to where Ben had gone, so they must.”
“How about you? Do you have any idea where he might be?” The other woman’s hesitation told Sam as much as her words would have and she had to bite her tongue to keep from insisting on an immediate explanation.
Finally, Lindy sighed. “There was a summer cabin we used to visit, this side of Mountain View,” she said. “I haven’t been there in so long I doubt I could find it.”
“What about using GPS?”
“You’d have to have coordinates to start with and I have no idea what those might be. All I remember is it was a little way off the main road that leads to Sylamore. It could be anywhere up in the hills. That’s really rough terrain and there are a lot of unmarked dirt trails.”
“I know,” Samantha said. “They don’t call it Stone County for nothing. Listen, it’s going to be dark in an hour or so but I’m not ready to quit looking. We could head over that way and see if something comes back to you when you see the area. What do you say?”
The forlorn mother seemed to brighten. She smiled slightly. “Do you think we could? Since my car was stolen I have no way to go anywhere on my own. If you don’t mind, I’d like to try. Anything to help find Danny.”
“My pleasure,” Sam said as she turned west. “Just say whatever comes to mind as we drive, even if it seems silly.”
“At this point, everything I think or say seems totally irrational,” Lindy confessed. “It’s as if I’m living a nightmare where I hear Danny calling to me, can’t find him and can’t wake up, either.” She took a noisy, shaky breath. “Do you have children?”
“Not the human kind,” Sam said. “I know it isn’t the same thing you’re going through, but when you love someone or something the way I do, the loss can feel just as unbearable.”
“Tell me what happened,” Lindy said compassionately as she straightened and adjusted her seat belt across her shoulder. “Maybe listening to your story will help me think more clearly.”
“All right. When I was fifteen I saw this poor little puppy being abused and stole him to save his life. That’s how it all started.”
* * *
John’s world had gone spinning out of control the instant he realized he’d lost track of Samantha. If he could have trusted her to have headed straight home he might have worried less. However, she had taken Lindy with her so there was no telling what she was getting herself into.
He immediately tried to phone her and the call went to voice mail. Furious, he pounded his fist into his palm. They had a kidnapping to solve, the sooner the better, and he was having to concern himself with the woman who drove him to distraction on a regular basis. If she had conspired specifically to unhinge him she could not have done a better job of it.
Although he was hesitant to bother Chief Kelso with his personal problems he decided it was wisest to confess. He had expected a gruff reprimand. Instead, Kelso laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“You are, Waltham. I knew how you’d react when you discovered your girlfriend was gone.”
“You knew she was leaving? Why didn’t you stop her?”
“Stop her? No way. I gave her my blessing when she suggested offering Mrs. Southerland a ride home. Harlan and I figured that woman knew more than she was admitting and would try to sneak off, anyway. Thanks to Samantha, we know exactly where she is. We have an unmarked car following them right now. Don’t worry.”
“How can you be sure she won’t ditch the tail?” John was holding his breath.
“Because there’s a bug on her, too.”
“Is that legal?”
Levi Kelso arched a brow. “Samantha happened to give us permission. Even if she hadn’t, a little boy is missing. If it was your son, Waltham, what would you have done?”
“Bugged her,” John replied without delay. “Which way did they go?”
“Toward Melbourne and Sylamore. I take it you intend to head that direction yourself.”
“I am off duty, chief. With your permission I’ll provide extra backup.”
“Sure. You’d do it, anyway,” he said wryly. “Just watch yourself. We’ll keep you advised by radio. The tracking car Harlan sent has about a half-hour head start but you should be able to overtake it. Adelaide Crowe is driving. She reported that Samantha is taking it real easy, as if she and her passenger are looking for something along the road, so don’t go charging up to them and blow the whole operation.”
“Gotcha.” John was already jogging toward his truck. He didn’t have the benefit of a siren or flashing lights but that was just as well. As the chief had warned, the less attention he attracted, the better.
The chances of those two women finding Danny were slim to none, yet John wasn’t ready to write off their efforts quite so soon. Lindy might be directing Samantha, and if that was the case they could actually be successful.
His biggest concern was how involved Sam would get if and when she confronted the men who had snatched the child. She’d already kicked one of them where he lived and was just stubborn and feisty enough to try something equally as dangerous a second time.
Hands fisting on the wheel he put the pedal to the metal and roared out of town.
Saying a prayer occurred to him. He couldn’t bring himself to start. He was too worried. Too angry. Surely, God wouldn’t take kindly to a plea that came from such an unforgiving heart.
If anything happened to Samantha—his Samantha—he would never forgive himself. Or his chief. Whether Kelso had meant for her to get so deeply involved or not, he hadn’t taken steps to stop her.
As far as John was concerned, that was the same as sending an unarmed novice into a cage full of hungry lions.
These were not biblical times and Samantha was not Daniel. The way he saw it, if she got too close to solving the crime, her chances of emerging unscathed were zero to none.
FIFTEEN
Rays from the setting sun were blindingly bright. Squinting, Samantha lowered the driver’s side visor.
“How much farther do you think it may be?” she asked Lindy. “We’re running out of daylight.”
“I don’t know.” There was a catch in the other woman’s voice. “Trying to find the way to the cabin was probably foolish but I just couldn’t sit home and wait for news that something terrible had happened to my Danny.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” Sam said. “I don’t think it’s at all silly to do whatever we can. We’re not hurting anything. Even if there’s only a slim chance, at least we’re trying.”
The police chief had assured Samantha that there was going to be someone discreetly following them, although she hadn’t been able to spot any specific car. Considering the serpentine road that led to and from Sylamore, that wasn’t very surprising.
She checked her mirrors. Still no visible tail. That might be a bad sign if they actually found the cabin they were looking for. Since they hadn’t seen anything that had jogged Lindy’s memory so far, however, that was not likely to be a problem. Samantha figured it was enough that she’d gotten the woman to admit to a possible hideout. The police could use that lead to search for both Danny and Ben later.
Weary, she eased the car onto the gravel shoulder of the road as soon as it was wide enough to safely do so. Her hands were cramping from gripping the steering wheel so tightly. She shrugged, rotated her neck and limbered up her arms to help ease painful knots in her muscles.
“We’ve covered the section of road where you said you thought the cabin cutoff was,” Samantha said. “Don’t you think we should head back to Serenity? They might have had word about Danny by now.”
Lindy nodded slowly, sadly, and pulled her cell phone from her purse with trembling hands. “I gave the police my number. They haven’t called.”
Her pleading expression and obvious pain touched Samantha’s heart. She checked her own cell and noticed a series of missed personal calls—all from John’s number. Uh-oh. If he had good news, fine. If he’d been calling merely to chew her out for ditching him—even for a good reason—that was another story.
Choosing to lay aside the phone and reassure her companion before replying to the missed calls she said, “Okay. We’ll go a few miles farther. But then we’re turning around. It’ll be dark before we get home as it is.”
Lindy grabbed her hands and held tight, as if she might somehow draw on Samantha’s strength. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what I’d do if I had to be by myself right now.”
“You have friends you can call to stay with you when you get home, don’t you?”
“Yes, and no. Like I said before, since Ben got so touchy, a lot of folks have been avoiding us.”
“Have you told Brother Logan Malloy about the physical abuse?” Samantha asked gently, mentioning the familiar pastor. The shock she saw on her companion’s face made her anticipate a denial.
Instead, Lindy averted her gaze as if embarrassed and shook her head. “No. I haven’t told anyone. It wasn’t so serious when Ben slapped me, but when he began to hit my son I stood up to him.”
“Then how did Danny land in the hospital this last time?”
“I didn’t see it coming in time to intervene and Ben…” Lindy cupped her face in her hands and began to sob as if her heart was breaking.
Empathetic, Samantha patted her shoulder, handed her a packet of tissues, sat back and let her cry. There was catharsis in tears. And if anyone was entitled to weep it was this poor woman.
Eventually spent, Lindy sniffled, blew her nose and apologized. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lose control like that. I just can’t stop thinking about my poor little boy.”
“No problem. I’ve felt like having a good cry myself, more than once, particularly in the past few weeks. Just when it seems things are as bad as they can possibly be, they surprise me and get worse.”
“I know what you mean. When Ben’s personality changed so radically I didn’t know what to do. I suppose I shouldn’t have stayed with him but he’s my husband. I took holy vows and I want to honor them.” She sniffled. “What should I do? I have to protect Danny, too.”
“We’ll work that out in court,” Samantha assured her. “Remember, the judge is your friend. And because I represent Danny through CASA, I’ll be able to give the recommendation that he remain with you as long as his father stops hurting him.” Assuming Ben is even in the home after the police get through prosecuting him for hurting John, she added to herself, hoping that that violent man would get jail time for the assault at the hospital.
“Can you help that much? Really?” There was a glimmer of hope in the young woman’s quavering tone.
“We’ll see,” Sam hedged because she knew she might have jeopardized her CASA assignment by becoming too friendly with Lindy. “The ideal situation is one in which the child stays in the home and the parents get counseling. The court can actually order your husband to participate.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful.”
“Yes, it would. Are you feeling better now?”
“Much. But plans for the future won’t matter until I have my Danny back, safe and sound.”
“The police will find him for you. I know they will,” Sam said, praying she was right.
>
She checked her side mirror for oncoming traffic. That’s when she saw the unmarked car slowing and pulling off the road behind her. Speaking of the police. It’s about time they showed up.
Since she didn’t want Lindy to lose confidence in her by learning they had been followed by design, Sam decided to walk back and reassure the deputy that all was well. Then she could ask him to report the possibility of a hidden cabin in that area, too, so the rest of the searchers would have clues about where else to look.
She palmed her cell phone and opened the car door. While she was outside she’d be able to return John’s calls without being overheard. Hopefully, he’d listen to her explanation before he started to scold.
“Wait right here,” she told her companion, forcing a cheery smile. “I think the people behind us may be lost. I’ll go see if they need directions.”
“Are you sure…?”
Samantha was already out of the car and striding purposefully toward the vehicle idling behind her. It was a good thing that this guy was driving an unmarked car or the subterfuge would have been revealed.
She pushed the button on her phone to return John’s calls as she walked. Before one full ring he answered.
“Samantha!”
“Simmer down. I’m fine. Lindy and I are on the road near Sylamore but we’re about to turn around and head home. Have you had any word about Danny?”
“No.” His voice sounded hoarse, gruff.
“Okay. Don’t worry. The cop who’s been following us just pulled over. I’m going to go tell him our plans. Then I’ll fill you in, too.”
“Samantha!” John was shouting. “Did you say him?”
“Yes. Hold on a sec.”
Not waiting for his reply because she had reached her destination she lowered the phone, paused by the driver’s door and watched as the tinted window rolled down.
The man behind the wheel was wearing dark glasses and had a ball cap pulled low in the front so the brim shaded his face. It wasn’t a fancy disguise but it was probably all he’d need for his current assignment because it made him resemble nearly every other man in the rural area.
Threat of Darkness Page 15
