Missed: Rafael and Lisa (Cliffside Bay Book 6)

by Tess Thompson

  She cried, unable to answer.

  He shoved her against the car, pinning her to the cold metal with his hips. He ripped the blindfold and the gag off her. They were on a country road. It was dark. Snow continued to fall. Under her feet, there was at least a foot of fresh snow. He held her still by placing his hands on her hips. “I will kill your mother, your best friend, anyone and everyone you love if you ever utter a word to anyone.” His mouth was near her ear. “Tell me you understand, or I’ll kill you right now.”

  “I understand.”

  He yanked the collar of her coat and thrust her away from him. She landed on the cold snow.

  She sobbed, crawling away from the car, but it didn’t matter. He was done with her. He was in the car already, tires spinning as the car lurched forward and sped down the road. His tail lights faded from sight. Darkness enveloped her. She could see nothing, not even the hand in front of her face. Cold assaulted her weary body. She wrapped her arms around her middle, shuddering.

  I’m going to die out here alone. I want to see my mom. Just one more time, God, please.

  Her mother would be home soon, wondering where she was. Panic would set in. Police would be called. A search would ensue, like it had for the missing girl last year. They’d never found her, that missing girl. She’d died alone, like this. They would not look for Gennie here, down a deserted back road.

  She curled into a fetal position and wept without sound, waiting to die. Something poked her side. She reached inside her jacket pocket, curling her fingers over cold metal. Her flashlight. Her father had given it to her the Christmas before he’d died. She carried it everywhere with her. In case you ever get stuck in the dark, he’d said when he’d presented it to her, his brown eyes soft as she pulled it from the package.

  She sat up, wincing from pain, and pressed the button to turn it on, pointing it in front of her, then moved the light in a circle around her. There was a forest on one side of the road and a flat field on the other. A scarecrow stood in the field, weary from the weather, with only a frayed shirt to cover his straw body. She knew this scarecrow. Yes, she knew him. She was near her home. Just down the road, her house waited, warm and familiar. She was close. He’d dumped her near her own home, but she was so disoriented, she hadn’t realized where she was. I will kill your mother. Her teeth chattered with cold and fear. Her mom must never know what had happened. How would she keep it from her? If she walked in the door looking this way, her mom would know.

  Panic rose in her. She vomited into the snow, her head swirling. What time was it? Her mom didn’t get home until almost seven, so she wouldn’t be home yet. If she hurried, Gennie could make it home and clean up before her mom returned. She rose to her feet. Hurry. Hurry. Run if you have to.

  She jumped, startled by a rustling in the trees. Holding her breath, she pointed the light in the direction of the noise and gasped. An elk stood between two trees, hooves buried in the deep snow. Giant antlers tipped as he bowed his head; his breath billowed like clouds in the frigid air. She wiped her nose with the back of her arm.

  The elk snorted, tossing his head.

  “What? What is it?” she whispered. “What do I do?”

  Be brave, sweetheart. It was the voice of her father. Point your flashlight in front of you and follow the light home.