“DJ.” Tears choked off her words. She raised her hand to her mouth. He clutched Herman, his Teddy bear, in his arms. Before she could rush inside, the man slammed the door in her face.
“I’ll ask one more time. Where’s the money?” he asked.
“It’s on top of Kimi’s car.” She tamped down her anxiety. “It was too heavy to carry all the way up here.”
The man released a slew of expletives and grabbed her by the back of the neck.
Her shoulders stiffened at his touch. His breath reeked of whiskey.
“Go get the money or I’ll dump the kid over the side of the cliff.” He growled.
“Like I said, it’s too heavy. Besides, it’d be smarter for you to get it on your way out of here.”
He appeared to consider that for a moment. “We’ll both go, and if it ain’t there, we’ll see if your kid can fly. Move.” He pulled a gun from his back.
Tracy gasped.
“I said move!” He pointed the weapon toward the living room. “Hold up.” He went to the bedroom and returned with a blue duffle bag. “Watch the kid,” he said to Kimi.
She caught him by the arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To get the rest of the money.”
“Not without me.” She grabbed the bag. “And not with this.”
Tracy took a step back from the gun.
“Don’t move.” The man swung it toward her. “You can carry it then. Here.” He handed the bag off to Kimi and walked to the back room where he came out with a sleeping DJ in his arms.
“What are you doing?” Tracy rushed up to him.
“Insurance. If you got a bunch of cops out there, this kid will make a better shield than you.” He swung DJ over his shoulder and pulled the gun back out. “Now move it.” He pointed with his head for her to head out the back. Kimi trailed behind.
Tracy’s heart pounded so loud she could barely hear the water bouncing off the cliff.
They finally came to the cars parked in the clearing.
“There.” Tracy pointed a shaky finger. “Now let me have my child.”
“Not until I count it to make sure it’s all there.”
“You don’t have time.” Her voice shook. “I called the police before I went into the cabin. They’ll be here any minute.”
“Let’s just go,” Kimi said.
“She’s lying, or they’d be here by now.” He sneered at Kimi like she was an idiot.
“Please, leave.” Tracy placed her hand on DJ’s hip. “I just want my son. Consider it a reward for taking care of him.”
“Shut up.” He turned toward the bag and lifted it with his gun hand. He nodded as if agreeing it was heavy enough for the money. He went to release DJ onto the ground, but Tracy grabbed him before he hit the dirt.
“Move,” the man said, “and I’ll shoot you in the back, then make sure he’s dead too.”
DJ snuggled into Tracy’s neck. She inhaled his sweat, clinging to him. He was heavier than she recalled. She kissed his cheek. So good to have him in her arms again.
“What are these?” He pulled out the bonds.
“It’s all I had. But they’re worth more than a hundred thousand.” She took a step back. Her chest rose and fell with each breath she took. Her entire body shook.
“How am I going to cash these without getting caught?”
“I assume you can do so in whatever foreign country you’re headed.”
He looked from her to the bonds, then back. “In order to do that, I’ll need to get away.”
“I’m figuring about three hours. Enough time to get to the Jacksonville airport and on a plane to wherever you want to go.”
“Come on, let’s go.” Kimi stepped toward the trail. “It’s enough to last us a long time.”
The man stared at Tracy with cold eyes.
“You gave me what I wanted.” She kissed the side of DJ’s head. “I don’t really care where you go. From what I know, you had nothing to do with this. It was all her.” She nodded to Kimi. “Leave her behind. I’ll be more than happy to place the blame—”
“He’s not going to leave me.”
Tracy glanced between the two. Doubt filled Kimi’s eyes but the man’s stare held steady on DJ’s back. Fear overcame her. She spun around and took off running.
Chapter 84
It took a second for Tommy to realize the woman was trying to run away. The weight of the kid slowed her considerably. Before she hit the footpath, he slammed her into the ground. She held one arm around the boy, with the other she clawed at the earth to free herself.
She reeked of sweat, hairspray, and urine. He assumed the sour smell came off the kid.
“You women, always gotta make things difficult, don’t you?” He tangled his hand in her hair and jerked her head up about six inches and slammed her face into the ground. She didn’t move for a moment, apparently stunned. A woman like her wouldn’t be used to being smacked around.
He yanked her to her feet.
“Please,” she said. “Don’t hurt us.”
“Can’t take chances.” He cupped his hand under her arms and pulled her toward the cliff.
She dug the heels of her shoes into the ground to slow him but he lifted her and the boy. She screamed. He dropped her and covered her mouth with his dirty hand.
Together, she and the kid were a lot harder to move than the one would be. He dragged her to within a few feet of the edge of the cliff. She pushed back, fear on her face but like a momma bear, she had yet to let loose of her kid. He released her, and she fell to her knees.
“By the way, your sister’s dead.” He gave her a kick in the side.
She winced.
He pried Tracy Allen’s fingers from the boy.
“No. Please.” She grabbed his leg.
He kicked at her again, releasing her hold. With a smile, he stood over her, the kid in his arms. Kimi took a step back.
“He’s just a child. He doesn’t know anything.”
The woman was right. And killing the kid would guarantee him a needle in the arm and less chance of protection in a foreign country. Tommy dropped DJ to the ground.
He jerked Tracy Allen to her feet. “Too bad I can’t say the same for you.”
“No, wait. Please.” Her eyes were wide.
He gave one hard push, and she disappeared over the edge.
Chapter 85
Myrna listened more intently; sure she’d heard a scream. The three could be having fun. Girls liked to scream about anything. A grin came over her face recalling how she used to scream when Harold chased her down the hallway into the bedroom. The smile faded within a second. Too bad once there he couldn’t fulfill the promise from the excitement.
She looked again across the street. All was now quiet. Maybe they took their play back inside.
Myrna went back to digging up some flowers from her garden to replant on top of Sonny’s grave. He’d like that. She recalled how as a pup, he’d always dig up her flower bed to bury his bones or her pancakes.
The one thing even her dog wouldn’t eat. She laughed at the memory.
Him digging, her chasing him away. It was like a game she’d miss come spring.
After tugging up three plants, she headed inside to check on Harold sitting in his wheelchair staring out the upstairs window.
“How are you holding up?” She touched him on the shoulder. “Gonna be quiet around here without him.”
He nodded. She walked over and glanced out the window at the Braddocks’ cabin. Ginger jumped up. She pulled the cat into her arms. The feline’s soft rhythmic purring soothed her soul.
“I knew you couldn’t stay mad at me.” She glanced over her shoulder to Harold. “Something’s going on across the way. Heard some yelling this morning. Maybe even gunshots last night.”
He glared at her.
“Okay. Okay. They might have been fireworks. I was half asleep. Besides, what do I know about gunshots.” She paused. “Maybe I should call and let
the police know that they’re up here.”
Harold’s mouth moved up and down, but no sound came out.
“I know. I know.” she said. “It’s none of my business. Besides, I have other things to take care of. Let me get them flowers replanted, then I’ll fix you lunch.” She’d just leave the Braddocks to their own business, and then maybe they’d stay out of hers.
Chapter 86
Pain shot through Jenny’s head. Her eyes didn’t want to open. Cold. Numb. Couldn’t move. Her head hurt. In fact, most of her body was sore. Her eyes fluttered. Light entered, only making the pain worse. She closed them and sucked down a breath.
Where was she? She tried to remember.
DJ.
Her eyes darted open sending prickles of more pain into her brain. She closed them and waited a moment, then reopened them slowly, adjusting to the light a little at a time. She turned her head one way then the other. That side hurt more.
She reached her hand up and touched her head. Something tacky. Her fingers came back red. Blood.
The gun.
She glanced around. The silhouette of a washer and dryer were in the corner of the dim room. Boxes to her left lined the wall like small houses, some higher than others. The air was heavy with mildew. The only light came through a small window. Grams’ basement.
Her body refused to move. Was she paralyzed? Probably not since she felt the cold cement floor. After a second, she bent her left leg and realized someone had bundled her up in a sheet. She removed it and sat up slowly. Glancing around, she realized she was at the bottom of the basement stairs.
Finally, up on all fours, she stood. A wave of pain hit her. Nausea followed. She grabbed the wooden stair railing to keep from going over. Though it was only four steps, the door seemed a million miles away.
The skittering of claws scratched along the concrete floor behind her sending a chill up her spine. She hated the rats that invaded Grams’ house. Gary had suggested spraying peppermint oil to get rid of them. She should have listened.
Cold raced from her toes to her hair follicles. What had happened? She forced herself to remember.
Kimi. Some guy. Were they still up there? And where was DJ?
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, DJ.” Her mouth was dry.
Jenny climbed the steps, each slower than the last. At the top, she twisted the doorknob. It gave easily, but the chain was on. She jerked. No power. Had to get out of here. Dizziness overcame her. She fell to one knee.
“No, please. Let me get out.”
After a deep breath, she rose to her feet and jerked a couple more times. This time the chain gave a bit. She pulled again. This time the door flew open. Jenny tiptoed down the hallway. DJ was gone. She had to get help. Using her hands for balance, she inched her way to the front door.
Chapter 87
Kimi stared at the bottom of the cliff. Tracy had landed with a thud. “You think she’s still alive?”
Tommy shrugged. “Don’t care.”
“What are you going to do about the kid?”
“I ain’t got time to deal with him.” Tommy flung the large black bag over his shoulder. “Might fall over. That’s between him and God.”
“But he can identify me.” Kimi rushed to keep up, the blue duffle bag weighing her down.
“Not my problem. That’s yours.” He didn’t slow a step. “I’ve got other things on my mind than protecting your ass.”
“But I’d protect you.”
“Right.” He stopped and looked back at her. “Is that why you took off without a word? Filmore’s probably got a hit out on both of us right now.” He spun on his heel and headed to the truck. His fingers felt through his pocket for his keys.
“You got my keys?” He asked Kimi.
“Why would I have your keys?” She dumped the blue bag on the ground. With a swipe of her arm, she removed sweat from her forehead. “I told you this money was for you to start your own film.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. With you as my star. Yet, you also don’t want to do other men. So how can you do the movies?” He slammed the large bag on the hood and looked around. In a moment, he snapped his fingers.
“I left them on the end table,” he said. “Go get them.”
“Right. I’m not leaving you to take off with all that money.”
“I ain’t going nowhere without keys. Also, grab some stuff to pawn.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“That makes two of us.” He pulled the gun from behind his back. “And since I don’t really need you anymore.”
“What are you doing?” Kimi held her hand up.
“Aint gonna take long to find another like you.”
“I love you.”
“That’s why you left me to have to deal with Filmore?”
“I did this for you. For us.”
He sneered.
“No, Tommy. No.” She turned to run.
Crack! Sudden pain crashed into her back. She felt around. Her fingers came back covered in blood. She turned and dropped to the ground.
“Sorry babe.” Tommy used his boot to push her.
At once she flailing through the air, then icy cold water hit. Kimi tried to move her legs but couldn’t. Her head went under.
Chapter 88
A loud noise startled Tracy, but she refused to move. She had to be sure Kimi and that guy had left. After a second of silence, she sat up. Excruciating pain shot through her right arm. Dizziness set in. She inhaled forcing herself to remain upright. Cold air swept down her back.
Why hadn’t she called the police?
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
No. She was concerned for her son. Most parents would have done the same thing.
She had to focus on finding DJ. If Jenny hadn’t come up by herself, one of them could have remained in the car. That might have ensured no one got hurt.
“Why didn’t you listen to me?” As angry as she was at her sister, she didn’t want her to be dead. And now DJ was up there somewhere.
Tracy sucked in a deep breath to calm the pain. Her wounded arm was useless. She located a stone to her left and used it to pull herself up a foot from where she landed. She took a deep breath then shoved her foot into the side of the cliff and pulled herself up even further. Each step harder and more exhausting than the one before. No matter how sore her muscles were, how much pain she was in, there was no stopping. She stood with her feet firmly planted on the side of the cliff.
A gust of wind threatened to knock her off, so she gripped a large bush. Once the wind subsided, she climbed up further. As long as she focused on DJ, she could do anything.
Tracy reached for a jagged stone. She shoved her foot into the cliff wall. Her hand slipped, and the ground gave way.
She screamed. Frantically she grabbed at the rocks, grass, and branches sticking out. Sharp stones jabbed into her face and body. Sparkles of pain came over her. She tumbled down, skidding to a stop a few feet from the water. She was coated in cold mud.
Tracy wiped at a splash of water from her cheek with her dirty sleeve. Her vision went white. She sucked in a few deep breaths until her vision returned. Scratches covered her arms and stomach. She coughed up sediment. The taste of dirt rushed down her throat. Her arm was killing her.
How was she going to do this?
Water splashed against her shoe. She shook it off and almost lost her footing. When she glanced down, she spotted a body floating in the water.
Chapter 89
Myrna automatically ducked sure that was a gunshot earlier, not fireworks. And now she’d heard another scream. This one wasn’t giggles or fun. It was time to get finished and call the police. She didn’t care what Harold said, something was going on over there, and she was tired of it.
She patted the dirt down around the flowers. They weren’t plants usually grown in the forest, but the dog had liked them.
“I have to go now. Once things die down, I’ll come back and sit with you a spell.”
She push
ed the wheelbarrow down the path. Two bags lay on top of the black truck. She shoved the wheelbarrow into some bushes and inched closer. With one last glance over her shoulder, she stepped forward. No one was inside the vehicle.
One of those bags might hint to what was going on inside that house. Might be drugs or weapons since she’d heard shots fired. She poked the bag with her finger then unzipped the small blue one in one long swoop. The sound echoed in the quiet woods.
She peeked inside. Her breath left her. She’d never seen so much money in her life.
This had to do with that missing boy, she was sure of it. Maybe the Braddocks had been keeping that boy up here away from his father. Then, of course, one of them killed Daniel Allen.
No matter what, something major was going on, and she’d not let them get away with it. She pulled the wheelbarrow from the bushes and pushed it over to the truck where she dropped the bags in. She lifted the handles of the wheelbarrow and forced it onto the path, a bit unsteady at first, but she’d get there as long as the people who wanted this money weren’t around.
Time to call the police like she should have done when she first saw Daniel Allen. She mentally kicked herself for being so greedy and only worried about herself. That boy had been more important than anything she’d been doing.
Her breaths came out in spurts as she rounded the private drive. Be her luck to have a heart attack before she could get those stuck-up Braddocks in trouble. At the street, she skidded to a stop.
“What the…” she muttered.
Jenny Carlisle was sitting in the middle of the road.
Chapter 90
Tommy rushed into the cabin. His keys were on the table where he’d left them. He went into the bedroom and grabbed some jewelry. He wasn’t sure if the stones were real, but he’d at least get something for them.
When he walked out, he noticed blood drops on the floor. He followed them back to the basement. The door was wide open, the sheet unrolled, and Jenny C. gone.
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