High-Stakes Inheritance

by Susan Sleeman

  Mia rang Sydney back. “Does your uncle still have that place on the lake?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Call 911 and tell them you think Nikki took Eddie there.”

  “What? Eddie who?”

  “No time to explain…just do it. Russ’s office will understand.”

  Mia clicked off and dropped her cell into her coat pocket. She ignored the clicking blinker and turned south. The cabin was less than two miles away. In high school she used to party with Sydney’s cousin and his friends at the cabin. It was so secluded no one ever caught them. A perfect place for Nikki to hide Eddie.

  She took the sharp curves like a race-car driver until she reached the highway, and headed east. She probably should have called Russ, but he needed to find Jessie and bringing Eddie in shouldn’t be a big deal. Though she couldn’t handle him earlier, she was sure when she explained what happened and that Pope could come after Eddie next, he’d be willing to go with her to the police station.

  At the cabin driveway, Mia slowed and turned right. She maneuvered the car as far down the rutted drive as she could without risking Eddie seeing her headlights.

  Without a flashlight, her trip down the steep incline was slow. One car was parked in the drive. She didn’t know what kind of car Nikki drove but this was a small car, a good choice for a teenager.

  Keeping low, Mia made her way to the vehicle and looked inside. A girl’s garter, pink fuzzy dice, and a lipstick on a string hung on the rearview mirror. Nikki’s car for sure.

  Mia squatted and watched the cabin for signs of life.

  There. A flash inside.

  They were smart enough not to turn on any lamps and they moved around by flashlight. She approached the back door with caution. Slowly, she turned the knob and slipped inside. She could easily get to the front room where she saw the flashlight without turning on a light. She crept along the kitchen cupboards and stepped into the hall.

  Soft crying came from the bedroom at the end. A muted conversation drifted from the front room. All of the rooms remained dark.

  Indecision crowded in. If she eavesdropped on the conversation, she might learn something that could help her. She stuck with her plan and turned toward the family room.

  “Who’s gonna believe me?” A male voice sounding like Eddie asked.

  “I can vouch for you. I’ve never been in trouble. They’ll believe me.” Mia guessed that was Nikki.

  “Nah, I can’t risk it. If they think I had something to do with this, I’ll go away for a long time. You need to take the kid to the cops and tell them what happened.”

  Kid?

  “And what about you? You gonna hoof it all the way back to Portland?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m not turnin’ myself in.”

  Before either of them decided to make a move it was time to announce her presence. She spun around the corner and felt along the wall where she knew a switch was located.

  Light flooded the room, blinding her. She blinked and counted on Eddie having the same reaction so he didn’t jump her or run.

  “Mia,” Nikki shouted. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “What’s going on? Who’s in the bedroom?”

  Nikki’s gaze flitted to the doorway. “This isn’t what it looks like.”

  “Shut up, Nikki. Don’t tell her anything.” Eddie crossed his arms.

  “No, you shut up, Eddie. You didn’t do anything wrong. Mia will help us.”

  “Oh, yeah, she’s all about helping,” he said, sarcasm liberally flowing.

  “I asked who’s in the bedroom.”

  “Jessie Morgan.”

  “What? Jessie!” Mia yelled. “It’s Mia. Are you all right?”

  Mia heard the door creak open and the slide of small feet on the wood floor of the hallway. Dressed in teddy bear footed pj’s, Jessie turned the corner, spotted Mia and raced ahead. Jessie slammed into Mia and wrapped her arms around her waist as if she’d never let go again.

  “You okay?” Mia clutched her and bent her head to lay it on Jessie’s soft curls.

  She nodded. “Eddie saved me.”

  Mia looked at Eddie. “If ever there was a time for you to talk to me, now’s the time.”

  Nikki nudged him. “Do it. You can trust her.”

  His gaze raced around the room as if he were looking for any way out other than placing his trust in her. Mia knew the feeling. She’d just been in the same spot with Ryan. She hoped Eddie was smarter than she was and took the best route.

  He slapped his palms on his knees, just below the hem of his baggy shorts, and stared at Mia as if daring her to question him. “I was fightin’ with Chuck. You saw that. But then when you left, Chuck pinned me down. I got to thinkin’ and was worried I would get into trouble and get sent back to juvie. I convinced Chuck to let me up. I went outside and ran around the back of the trailer. I saw this dude sneaking up in the dark. I figured it was one of the guys playing a joke. So I kept goin’. Then I spotted a car and thought about stealin’ it or hiding in the back to get out of there. I opened the front door and found a phone on the seat.”

  He stopped to glance at Nikki who returned his gaze with a nod of encouragement.

  Eddie continued. “Nikki gave me her number to use after I got out of this stupid program. So I called her. She said she’d come talk to me. We decided to meet at that place out in the woods where we did the trust exercises. Then I heard this noise in the backseat. Jessie was on the floor. Tied up with tape over her mouth. When she saw me she started crying.”

  Jessie let go of Mia and ran to Eddie. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I was scared. But Eddie said he would help me.”

  Eddie nodded. “So I picked her up and ran into the woods. We waited for Nikki to get there. Then we came here.”

  “You’re a hero, Eddie.” Mia’s voice rang with conviction.

  “You believe me?”

  “Of course and so will the police.” Mia crossed the room and patted him on the back. Then it dawned on her. He probably didn’t have any idea what happened to Chuck. “Did you see the guy who went into the trailer?”

  “I saw him come out and drive away. I don’t think he knew Jessie was gone when he left.”

  “Well, he knows now.” A crusty male voice came from the hallway as a gun-toting hand shot around the corner. A hand connected to the man she’d come to know as Lincoln Pope.

  Ryan left Ian in charge at the rec center and headed for the lodge. He’d been torn between making sure the staff and students were safe and checking on Mia who’d foolishly fled into the night. The students and staff had a deputy. Mia was alone; she needed him.

  He reached the lodge and found the door unlocked. Panic blasted into his body.

  Had Pope gotten to Mia, too?

  God, please, no. Don’t let anything happen to Mia.

  Eyes wild, searching for anything that might help him find her, his gaze landed on Wally’s gun cabinet. He didn’t know where she was, but at least he could be armed as he went in search.

  The cabinet was locked. He grabbed a bird statue and crashed it into the glass. He chose a revolver Wally had taught all of them to shoot one summer.

  Why hadn’t Mia thought to take this gun? Maybe she didn’t have the chance.

  Making sure it held a full clip, he shoved the holstered weapon into his belt then ran outside to the sound of Russ’s squad car careening down the driveway. He slammed on his brakes, nearly sideswiping Ryan’s truck and causing the squad car to fishtail to a stop.

  Russ lowered the window. “Mia found Eddie. They’re at Nate Tucker’s cabin. I’m headed there now and will call if I hear anything.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Ryan said. “I’m coming with you.” He shot around the front of the car before Russ could take off again. He jerked open the door.

  “This is official business.” Russ glared at him across the front seat. “You need to wait here.”

  Ryan slid in. “Then you’re gonna have to waste t
ime dragging me out of here. I’m not moving.”

  Russ upped the intensity of his gaze, but Ryan fired back a more deadly glare.

  “Fine.” Russ shifted into gear. “I don’t have time to waste arguing, but when we get to the cabin, you stay in the car.” He flipped on the lights and siren and they headed south on the highway leaving a wailing trail in their wake.

  Ryan buckled his seat belt as Russ turned his attention to piloting the car.

  At the speed they soon reached, Ryan decided to keep quiet for the ride so Russ could concentrate. They’d only argue about what would happen when they got to the cabin anyway. Not that Ryan had a question in his mind about what he would do. He would be out of the car before Russ could stop him.

  As they approached the intersection nearest to the cabin, Russ flipped off the sirens and strobing lights. “Don’t want to tell them we’re coming.”

  He slowed and navigated the turn, leaning the car so precariously Ryan had to grab the door handle to keep from sliding into Russ.

  The car righted itself in waves. The radio squawked, begging for Russ’s already divided attention. Ryan issued a prayer for safety then listened in to see what he could pick up from the initial police speak Russ traded with his dispatcher.

  “I have a call to patch through the 911 operator from a Mia Blackburn,” the female dispatcher said dispassionately. “She says it’s regarding your missing niece.”

  No need to interpret that. Ryan sat forward and shared a worried look with Russ.

  “Russ, are you there?” Mia’s shaky voice came through the radio loud and clear.

  “Go ahead, Mia.”

  “I have Jessie at the cabin with me.”

  “Is she okay?” Russ shouted as if yelling would make the answer what he wanted to hear.

  “She’s fine. A little scared, but fine.”

  A scuffling noise and arguing voices came over the phone. Russ slowed the car and stared at Ryan.

  “Morgan, this is Lincoln Pope. Since you know all about me, I won’t bother introducing myself.” Pope ended with a disembodied laugh.

  “He has Mia and Jessie,” Ryan whispered and clenched his fist to keep from smashing it into the dashboard. “You need to speed up again.”

  Russ made a slashing motion across his throat and pointed at the cabin’s driveway up ahead.

  “What do you want, Pope?” Russ asked as he maneuvered the vehicle around another squad car parked at the mouth of the driveway and turned on to the unpaved drive.

  “I want to get out of here alive, and you’re gonna help me do it.”

  “Not a chance, Pope,” Russ spat back and sent the car down the steep drive.

  “You forget. I have your niece here, and I’m not opposed to hurting her.” He paused. “Hold that thought.” The phone fell silent.

  “What he’s up to?” Russ brought the car near the house and parked behind the other cars in the driveway.

  Ryan scanned the cabin and spotted light seeping out from the blinds. “They’re in the family room. Someone’s looking through the blinds.”

  “That you in the driveway?” Pope asked all irritated. “’Cause if it is, I suggest you back on oughta here if you want to help your niece.”

  “Let’s cut to the chase, Pope. What do you want?” Russ demanded.

  “Listen up, Morgan. I’ll only say this once. I want a clear path to my car. Get all your men off the property and make sure there are no roadblocks. If I see one person or one roadblock, your pretty little niece is history.”

  “How do I know you won’t hurt her anyway?”

  “Guess you’ll just have to trust me.” He laughed again. “Call me back when your men have cleared out. Oh, and Morgan, I’ll be watching your car leave so don’t try anything funny.” The line went dead.

  Ryan reached for the door handle. “I’m going in there.”

  Russ grabbed Ryan’s arm. “No way, bro. You don’t have a clue what to do in there.”

  Ryan shook him off. “So what do you suggest? That we sit around and wait for Pope to kill again? One of us has to go in. You never came to the parties out here so you don’t know your way around, but I did. There’s a cellar entrance we all used, and I know the interior layout of the cabin. I can get in without Pope knowing.”

  “Then what? You walk up to Pope and say, ‘Pretty please let them go’.”

  Ryan ignored the sarcasm and slipped the gun from his waistband.

  “You’re crazy…you’ve only shot at a target. You don’t know how to use that against someone.”

  “It’s their only chance. You know as well as I do that Pope will kill them once he doesn’t need them anymore. They’ve got a better chance with me.”

  “I don’t know.” Russ ran a hand around the back of his neck. “Pope might see you get out of the car.”

  “Not from this distance if we turn off the dome light. He doesn’t know I’m with you so when you drive off he’ll be fine.” Ryan grabbed his brother’s arm. “C’mon, Russ. I can do this. Thanks to Wally I know how to use a gun. And I have a vested interest in succeeding.”

  Russ stared ahead. “You won’t take any chances? Put them in more danger?”

  “Scout’s honor.”

  “Don’t make me regret doing this.” He reached up and flipped off the dome light. “Now, get outta here.”

  Ryan slipped silently from the car and duckwalked into the cover of the woods bordering the drive. Waiting for Russ to turn around and head out, he concentrated on catching his breath.

  What would he find inside? The sight of Cara lying in her own blood invaded his mind. Terror pierced his heart.

  Mia and other’s lives depended on him. What if he failed again? He couldn’t do this. Not alone anyway.

  His words to Mia, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, reverberated through his brain. What kind of a Christian was he if he told Mia to live these words, but didn’t follow them himself?

  As Russ’s car retreated up the drive, Ryan lifted his head.

  Father, I don’t know why this is happening. I’m terrified for Mia and the others. I ask You to keep them safe. Help me to trust that you will keep them alive.

  Waiting for miraculous intervention, Ryan eased out of his space and headed for whatever faced him in the cabin.

  Mia slid down the wall next to Jessie as directed by Pope. He’d lined the four of them up like sitting ducks and that’s just what she felt like. He stood at the window, his body odor from half-moons of perspiration under his arms fouling the air. He lifted blind slats then looked back at them, his eyes wild and rimmed in red.

  Mia had to figure out how to get these kids out of here safely. But how? She was in over her head. Only a miracle could save them. A miracle? If Ryan were here, he’d pray. Maybe it was time she tried it, too. What could it hurt if she did?

  Okay, God. We haven’t talked in a long time. Things have been going kind of badly lately and I was wondering if You might help me out here. I know I don’t deserve anything with how I’ve acted toward You, but Jessie, Eddie and Nikki need You. Send us a miracle. Show us a safe way out of here.

  A loud peal of laughter snapped her eyes open. Pope stared at her, his mouth cracked in a sneer above a nonexistent chin covered with grayed whiskers. His glazed eyes said that he enjoyed inflicting terror on the innocent. She heard a car moving in the distance but her hope shriveled away as the sound of the engine receded.

  He whipped his face toward the window. “That’s better. The cops have turned tail and run.” He cackled as he crossed the room and sat facing them in an easy chair. “Thanks for leading me here, Mia. Looks like things might work out just fine. I knew if I watched you, you’d bring me straight to my little Jessie.”

  His fond tone when he said Jessie’s name crept along Mia’s nerves and filled her with rage. The desire to lunge for his throat was nearly overwhelming. But she had to keep calm and try to manipulate him as he thought he was doing to her. Maybe
if she got him talking about what he’d done, he’d get cocky and relax, giving her an opening.

  “So why are you doing this?” she asked.

  He arched an eyebrow that wrinkled his shaved scalp. “Thought a smart girl like you would have it all figured out by now.”

  “You’re too good, I guess.” She lightened her tone to keep him talking. “I owe you big time for that smash on my head when you plowed into me with the camera.”

  He smirked. “You thought you were so smart. Didn’t count on me outwittin’ you, did ya? All I had to do was close my eyes like you were doin’.”

  Anger flared inside her at his confidence. She wanted to leap across the room and claw at his smug smile.

  Count to ten and blow off his snide comments, then refocus.

  “Why didn’t you just take off when you had a chance?”

  His narrowed eyes turned mean. “That’s for me to know and you to find out. Besides, we’ll have lots of time for talkin’ since you’re gonna drive me out of here.”

  He thought this would scare her, but she’d willingly go with him to protect Jessie and maybe get a chance to free her.

  “So tell me,” she said, “how’d you find out about Jessie in the first place?”

  He grinned wide, revealing a missing tooth on the right side. “Not that you’re gonna make it out of here, but if you did, I’d suggest upping the security on your wireless network. Your e-mail to the good police chief proved to be very enjoyable.”

  Anguish shot into her. If she hadn’t e-mailed Russ, Pope would never have known about Jessie. Still, there was nothing she could do about it now. She just had to keep trying things until God provided that miracle.

  She tried not to let him see how upset she was over his news. “You didn’t say exactly what’s gonna happen now?”

  He scrubbed his hand over tired eyes. “Why don’t you just shut up for a while. I’ve got some thinkin’ to do.”

  Mia complied. If there was any good news in all of this, it was that Pope didn’t appear crazy. Mean, ornery, and a murderer, but not crazy. And that she could work with. Someone who’d gone over the edge was another story.