“Well, Kaylee, we won’t have labs back for a bit. Meanwhile, I’m going to close this small laceration on your head and give you instructions.” After a frown directed at Caden, he added, “As I said earlier, it would be a good idea to stay overnight at the very least. Clearly, you’ve been drugged, and it looks like you have a concussion. A situation I’ve seen a time or two before.” A wry grin directed at Caden indicated a long history of dealing with stubborn patients.
“Thanks, but I need to be on my feet and out of here ASAP. A woman’s life is at stake.”
“Whom you can’t help if you get dizzy, fall, and knock yourself unconscious.” Caden relocated to the chair in the corner. “Does she need any prescriptions?”
“She’s up to date on tetanus, so I’d recommend ten cc of relaxation and fun. No overexertion.”
“I can help her with that, Doc.”
“I’d listen to this young man if I were you.” Further details and cautions rolled off the doctor’s tongue as if already knowing the outcome, a preordained speech doomed from the start.
The scalp laceration received several stitches and the rest of her scrapes treated before release into Caden’s care. If she experienced any warning signs mentioned, she’d probably ignore them. He had more respect for parenthood every day.
Chapter Five
Two hours later, with dry clothes and a full stomach after a fast-food burger and fries, Kaylee sat in the passenger seat of Caden’s SUV. In her mind’s eye, a loop of past events leading to her abduction repeated on an endless reel in hopes of picking out the one detail needed to narrow the hunt for the kidnappers. Each pass shored up her resolve to find her abductor and rescue the woman she’d abandoned.
“He could’ve followed me for some time, and I wouldn’t have known it—not with so many people around and all of them strangers. Everything’s changed so much. When did that mall go up?”
“About three years ago. The entire west side saw a boom.”
“If I could hone in on the initial point where he picked me out…”
“You’re thinking too narrow spectrum, and your memory of prior events is still too fuzzy. I think it’s better to work backward until your head clears a bit.”
“You seem to know a lot about these tunnels. How is that? Heck, Reese and I knew about them as kids, but Dad wouldn’t let us explore. He said we’d only find kids partying or looking for trouble. It wasn’t until we ventured through the caverns in Pennsylvania that we developed the driving fascination for them.”
“Once we learned about them as kids, naturally, a mysterious underground maze provided five brothers with endless hours of exploration and pirate games.”
“I wish we’d been closer in age.”
“Yeah, the only reason they took me along was to keep me from blabbing. ’Sides, your dad’s kind of a scary guy. Taking his kids into questionable areas didn’t rank high on our agenda.”
“Did you ever run into trouble down there?”
“No. We heard voices on occasion but took alternate routes to avoid them. Are you sure you want to go back down there?” A small fry fell as he scooped the last of them into his mouth. The slight fumble added a boyish charm and confirmed his mortal status.
A sliver of uncertainty appeared to slice beneath his surface concern. Her dad had taught her to read people, and she’d become adept. Just as in the ER when he’d hesitated before asking questions relating to the physical attack, he now rubbed his jaw and shifted his weight.
“Yes.” It was the second time she’d answered that question. “Are you sure you want to go down there? Perhaps someone modified your system. I sure as shit don’t want to get lost down there.” A compulsion to slip beneath his invisible shield and discover what strained his self-assurance regulated her questions. Her mother called it strength of character, her father referred to it as her personal man go away trait.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. We mapped and marked them as kids. It’s been a while, but I’m betting our system is still present. Matt and Damien are already down there, along with forensics.”
A soft glow from the dash highlighted the slight tightening around his eyes and mouth that had coincided with a heartbeat’s hesitation.
For someone who spent so much time down there, why does the thought of returning cause anxiety?
The strength of Caden’s quiet words painted a colorful picture of his life to date. Buried deep beneath his disciplined armor, she sensed a wealth of humor and a repressed frisky demeanor spoiling to enjoy life to its fullest just as when they were kids.
City lights blurred in the window, dwindling to small businesses including a barbershop, a putt-putt golf center, and a deli advertising their special of the day. The new enterprises and operations gave way to affluent suburbs.
“This looks more familiar. I remember a couple of these houses but was too scared to knock on some stranger’s door. The ice cream shop was closed when I passed.”
“At least you made it to the police station.”
“I guess with the way I looked, nobody wanted to mess with me.”
Colonial revival architecture featured larger footprints with the classical columns framing front doors and perfectly symmetrical sides. Craftsman homes with gable roofs and decorative brackets under the eaves showcased natural materials and finishes with handcrafted workmanship. Each home boasted artfully sculpted hedges and living privacy barriers. She’d photographed dozens of homes for the pure pleasure of studying the nuances of their structures. Something Reese would have also enjoyed.
“Ahead, there’s a small side road that winds around the state park and overlooks the river.” His tone adopted the smoky quality of someone mentally rewinding old experiences.
“And you’d know about this because...” She couldn’t keep the smile out of her voice. With inky-black hair curling at his collar and the darkest blue eyes she’d ever seen, no doubt, he knew every resource available for a young man to woo his girl. Innocent smiles shouldn’t warm her from the inside, nor should his presence lend such comfort, but remnants of the old infatuation doled out a comfort she’d cling to for now.
“That’s the first honest smile I’ve seen. As I was saying, I’m thinking you came out of one of the tunnels near there.”
He’s skilled in the art of conversation and evasion.
The road equaled an eroded path cutting through the reserve. Each pothole and deep rut jolting her against the door reminded her of why she’d come. Find the other captive and put an end to the kidnapper’s zeal for rape and humiliation.
Glossing over particular details of a misspent youth or perhaps something to do with his recent trauma added to Caden’s difficulty with the present task. His hands tightened their grip on the steering wheel as he fought his own demons. Either way, he’d agreed to escort her back to her own Byzantine saga, and she remained grateful for the support.
A popular dog-themed jingle marked an incoming call with Caden’s brisk efficient movements and speech so contrary to his demeanor in dealing with her.
“Yeah, we’re on our way.” Caden glanced over after a brief pause, his narrowed gaze assessing her resolve. “Yep, I remember. Meet you at the lopsided mouth in about twenty.” His lips thinned in a slight grimace, the resulting silence filled with uncertainty.
What happened to him in the tunnels?
“Lopsided mouth? Is that where you got your jaw broken or something?” Images of Caden fighting over a girl flashed through her mind, only he’d be the victor and not the one nursing a black eye and bloody lip.
A grin hitched up one corner of his mouth. “Named for the shape of the opening. You seem to have a pretty low opinion of me. Or is it men in general?” His sudden intake of breath coincided with the dawning in his gaze. “Sorry. After what you’ve been through, I should be more careful with what I say.”
“Don’t be.” Pondering his unvoiced assumption, she added, “I just figured with your looks, well, you’d know all the places lik
e this.”
“Don’t assume anything. I’ve changed.” As if wanting to draw the words back, he reached out and lightly touched her hand.
Warmth from a caring human being seeped through her chilly skeletal frame to cocoon her flesh and bone while smoothing the jagged edges from her soul.
“Sorry, Kaylee, I see things a bit differently nowadays.”
The sharpness of his words had taken her back. In life, she’d found a no-nonsense approach kept her in good standing with her friends. She wanted very much to count him at the top of that list. “No, my fault.” Recent events? “You mean the fuzzy experience?”
“Yeah, that.” He paused a beat. “Listen, Matt’s dog has traced your steps back through the tunnel and found the room where they kept you. There’s nothing there now, but it’s been twenty-four hours, and they’ve had plenty of time to clear things out. The forensics team is still down there so we can only go so far, but you can see the site, and maybe that’ll jar a memory loose, a name, or some other detail.”
“They took the cages?”
“Yeah. And you must have bashed your kidnapper’s head pretty good unless what they’re finding is your blood. Matt said there was a fair amount.”
“My head wasn’t bleeding by the time I woke up. It was already caked. So, most of it probably belongs to the prick who grabbed me—or it could be her blood.”
The river’s tang, a scent she’d loved days ago, strengthened as the road opened into a large, flat, scrubby land. Moonlight silvering the midget waves would have drawn her out for a late-night photo op less than a week ago. She wondered if there’d ever be a normal night again.
A gray SUV sat beside a late-model pickup a short distance from the shoreline. Two men, one she recognized as an older version of Caden, stood in deep conversation when they pulled to a stop. Several others wearing gray coveralls loaded boxes in the Mobile Crime Lab parked behind Matt’s vehicle.
“You don’t have to go down there, Kaylee.” Worry furrowed Caden’s brow.
“Yes, I do. I need to do this.” While there’s plenty of reinforcements and I can see it for what it is. Empty space.
Off to her left, the slope of the land rose in graduated degrees of outcroppings and jagged, sawtooth formations while masking the river’s path. The tip of a dock, visible beyond a craggy protrusion, brought back her initial fear of running into her abductors. She didn’t remember scrambling over the rocky incline, only the silent repetition of her mantra. Move forward. Find civilization.
Irrational fear slowed her movements in exiting the vehicle. Nothing here would bring her harm, only shadows of the past breathed volume and life into her dawdling. Caden rounded the vehicle’s front and strode beside her, his strength a much-needed boost to her battered ego. She’d moved across the country for a fresh start, free of her college sweetheart who’d wanted to see how many women he could screw behind her back. Now, she’d fallen victim to a kidnapper during her first week.
It was time to move forward.
She hated that word, victim. It equated helplessness, powerlessness, weakness. Only one other time in her life had she ever felt weak and didn’t intend to go there again.
“Kaylee, you’re looking like you feel a little better. You remember my brother, Lucas.” Matt loosened Damien’s leash to allow greeting of the newcomers.
Kaylee knelt with the K-9’s approach, glad to have the opportunity to take a deep breath and clear her head. As much as she’d always wanted a dog, circumstances had never been right. Maybe it’s time to rethink that.
“You’re an officer, too?” She had to look up to meet Lucas’ gaze. Like both his siblings, the man stood a head above her.
Lucas offered his hand, a slight shifting of his jaw denoting an ongoing assessment even as his relaxed stance assured confidence. “Hey, it’s what we do. I guess Caden forgot to mention that during your catch-up.”
“Yeah, but don’t hold that against him. He just hasn’t learned any better, yet.” Matt nodded to his brothers before turning toward the rising slope of land she’d scrambled down hours ago.
“Is there any way to track the kidnappers?” Without specific forensic knowledge, she felt like a lost ball in high weeds.
“We parked farther back initially to search for fresh tracks. We found yours, but no others outside, which means they used a deadfall or different exit. Also, there are so many tracks, all the hell over the place, they could have multiple exits. There’s no way for Damien to date a trail.” Matt re-clipped the leash. “Damien and I will lead you through the tunnels. We have extra lights, in case Caden has forgotten the basics. Plus, there are lights set up periodically by the forensic techs already inside.”
“Damien led you all the way here?” The idea of having a dog appealed more by the minute.
“And through the tunnel. To enter the room, well, they must’ve carried you, because Damien drew a dead end. There’s tons of other tracks, and we don’t have an article of the kidnapper’s clothing for him to scent.” Nodding to Caden, Matt hesitated, as if unsure how to approach a difficult subject. “Listen, you don’t have to go inside. Lucas and I can take her.”
“I’m doing this, Matt. Let’s move it.”
Caden’s growled words through clenched teeth eased her back a step until he shook his head and forced a false nonchalance.
“All right. Our symbols and designations are still legible.” Matt pinched the bridge of his nose the same way she did when trying to head off a migraine.
“Figured they would be.” Caden’s gaze slid away, his hesitation in following Lucas and Matt marginal and overshadowed by pure grit.
“Caden, I don’t mind going in with Matt.”
“C’mon kiddo. Let’s do this.” Again, the smile didn’t reach his eyes when he shrugged off her comment and took her by the hand. He kept pace beside her up the steady incline, steadying her when her still damp sneakers slipped on loose sand.
“Kaylee, if you’d like, I can sleep on your couch tonight, in case you have aftereffects of the drugs.” Caden murmured hesitantly.
He’s redirecting.
“Thanks, but I’ll be fine. I’m feeling a lot better.”
Trusting Caden didn’t equate with wanting him in her home. The infernal experience had already changed her, multiplying the growing need to prove her independence. An imagined conversation with her dad explaining the situation flowed through her thoughts.
That won’t be pleasant.
A steady hand at her back when navigating the slick rocks kept her from further injury, but flashbacks of stumbling out of the tunnel and sliding down the incline stopped her in her tracks.
“Remembering something?” Caden lightly touched her shoulder, his warmth keeping her grounded.
“Yeah. Just fumbling my way out and slipping every other step.” When changing clothes in the ER, she’d noticed multiple bruises blooming on her lower legs, but the technicolor changes occurring didn’t rate when compared to the other victim’s suffering.
The gaping black mouth framed by stony outcroppings seemed bigger regardless of the three men with her. Caden kept an even pace beside her, following Matt through a twisted path of craggy rocks. Lucas’ soft steps behind them added a feeling of extra security.
“The first section includes parts we haven’t navigated, Caden, so we’ve marked it with our old system. You’ll see where it branches off.” Matt held Damien’s leash snug as the dog became more excited. “All etched arrows point to the exit, with the number of off-shoots marked accordingly.”
Entering the somber and macabre maze, she swallowed hard to keep her food down. Each step replaced another degree of the sea’s tang with the hopeless, dank reminder of her horror. Intermittent portable lanterns lit large swaths of her path while monstrous shadows cavorted between, waiting to swallow the unwary trespasser. What she saw coincided with bits of memory surging forward, rough brick walls giving way to stone and dirt. Flashbacks churned the burger in her stomach.
> When they came to the next split, Caden cast his light on the upper wall to show her the markings. “All signs are on your left going in and your right coming out.”
Not-so-distant squeaks and hissing brought her attention to a darkened offshoot of the maze. She couldn’t stop her body from trembling. “When I rushed through here before, I knew there were rats. I sensed their movements and think I stepped on one. But seeing all these droppings. Jeez, I’m glad my colon had its affairs in order. Why would there be so many?”
“Dunno. Maybe kids come down here for picnics while telling ghost stories.” The strained smile indicated prior experiences he wouldn’t repeat.
Various gradients of shadows lined the walls where the flux and glow of radiance mimicked her life in general. Her attempt to settle into a once-familiar city had been degraded by dark forces out of her control, yet she’d found a staunch supporter when least expecting it.
Upon arrival, she’d been determined to get squared away before seeking out old friends. Some would have moved, married, or even died. There’d be plenty of time to catch up once she detangled the snarled web woven from brutality and carnal malice.
With further explanations of the numbers underneath each arrow, she understood the navigational system and breathed the dead air a little easier. “Damn, that’s quite some club you guys had as kids.”
Lucas thumped Caden on the back from behind. “Yeah. Lucky we were smart enough to avoid people. ’Sides, being the youngest and a tag along, Caden found enough trouble all on his own.” With a chuckle, he added, “You okay, bro?”
“Peachy.” The mounting tension in Caden’s tone paralleled the tighter ratcheting of a drumhead, changing the pitch and volume the deeper they traveled.
Each step toward her monstrous event augmented her legs’ tremble. When she stumbled over loose rocks, Caden caught and supported her against his body.
Damn, he’s as solid as the walls.
“Hold up a minute, guys. She needs a breather. Drugged, remember?” Caden slanted a perturbed look at his elder siblings before bending to murmur near her ear. “I know how it feels, but you can do this. We can do this.”
Bound By Shadows (The McAllister Justice Series Book 2) Page 5
