To Save Her Child

by Margaret Daley

  He faced the window again and resumed his staring contest with the rainy day.

  She wasn’t going to admit to Robbie that she was bored, too. The bleak grayness reflected her mood. The rain had been falling for the past twenty-four hours. Josiah had been working a lot in his home office, which she couldn’t begrudge him because he’d rearranged his life to protect her and Robbie. But she missed doing activities with him, and even talking with him. Once she’d opened up about Keith, a deluge had begun. She finally had someone to confide in. She’d felt as though she’d been released from a prison of silence.

  Robbie glanced at Buddy. “I’m bored, too.”

  Ella pressed her lips together. All his toys and books were at their house. Maybe Josiah could take them home so Robbie could get some. She started to say something to her son when her cell phone rang.

  “Hi, David. Josiah told me you had an incident you and some of the others helped with a couple of days ago. How did it turn out?”

  “Two people died in a plane crash not far from Fairbanks. Pilot error. I’m calling to find out if you’d like to work from home next week or take another vacation week. I think we can set up a temporary office at Josiah and Alex’s house. There are some funding reports that are due soon, but if I need to, I can explain they’ll be a little late.”

  “No. I can get them done. You can forward calls to the main number here. It can work. I just need to ask Josiah if it’s all right.”

  “It is. I called him a few minutes ago.”

  “Good.” Ella looked over at what Robbie was doing. He was still at his post at the window.

  “I’ll come over tomorrow afternoon with what you’ll need,” David told her.

  When Ella disconnected the call, she walked over to her son and settled her hand on his shoulder. “Hon, I think we need to get a few of your toys and games from our house. The forecast is for rain through tomorrow, if not longer.”

  Robbie hugged her. “That would be great! Do you think Josiah would be okay with it?”

  Just then, Josiah came into the den and Buddy greeted him. “Yes, I am. We should have done that in the beginning. Especially for days like this when I’m stuck working and the weather isn’t cooperating.”

  Her son punched the air. “Yes!”

  Josiah smiled at Robbie. “We’ll leave in a minute. Linda told me she needed a cookie taster. Do you want the job?”

  “What kind?”

  “Chocolate chip.”

  “I can do it,” Robbie said as he raced from the room with Buddy on his heels.

  Ella drew in a deep breath. “Nothing beats that smell. I may have to apply to be Linda’s taster, too.”

  “Before you do, I have something to tell you about Foster.”

  “You talked with Thomas?”

  He nodded. “Last night Foster was spotted at Big Lake by a man who tried to stop him. Foster knocked the guy out, then tied him up. By the time the man was found and reported it, Foster had been gone for twelve hours. They suspect he’s heading into the backcountry.”

  “So he somehow made his way from Girdwood to Big Lake unseen by the authorities.”

  “The vehicle he was last reported driving has been found. They aren’t sure what he’s driving now.”

  She hadn’t prepared herself enough for the fact that Foster might never be caught. She couldn’t stay at the estate forever. Maybe she would have to leave Alaska and the friends she’d made, not because of her ex-husband, but because of Foster. She didn’t want to feel like a prisoner again and certainly didn’t want it for her son.

  “From the encounter at Big Lake, the police now know Foster has altered his appearance, and has sent out an updated sketch as well as possible variations.”

  “What does he look like now?”

  “Here.” Josiah gave her his cell phone.

  “Blond hair cut short, no beard, glasses.” She could remember when she’d changed her appearance to get away from Keith. It had worked. She prayed Foster’s new look didn’t work as well for him.

  “Mom, can we go now?” Robbie entered the den with a half-eaten chocolate-chip cookie in his hand.

  Josiah turned toward her son. “Yes. I’m finished for the day. You’ll have to show me your stuff.”

  “Can I bring it all?”

  “Robbie! We are not packing up your room to bring here. You get to pick five or six things you want.”

  “Mom, that isn’t much. It’ll be hard to decide.”

  “But I’m confident you’ll be able to do it.”

  Robbie pouted. “I’m glad you are. I’m not.”

  Josiah clasped his shoulder. “I’ll help. Let’s go. Linda said dinner would be ready in an hour.”

  “And she let Robbie have some cookies?”

  “Only one,” Robbie said and popped the last bit into his mouth. “She told me I could have more later.” He headed toward the garage off the kitchen. “Can Buddy come, too?”

  Ella followed her son with Josiah a few steps behind her. “Buddy has been with you every waking moment today. Let’s give him time to rest.” There was no way the dog had been getting his usual amount of sleep.

  Fifteen minutes later, Josiah pulled into her driveway. She hadn’t been home for over a week. “Remember, no more than six items. We aren’t moving into the estate, just visiting. And we don’t have a lot of time.”

  “Yeah. Alex has a date.” Josiah climbed from his truck.

  Curious, Ella hopped from the cab and hurried after Josiah. “With who? I didn’t know she was dating anyone.”

  Josiah chuckled. “Neither did I. Honestly, I think this is a business date.” While Robbie ran ahead to the porch, he leaned close to Ella and whispered, “Trust me. She isn’t serious. She prefers being single.”

  “I certainly understand that.” Ella dug into her purse and withdrew her key, then opened the front door.

  Josiah clasped her arm, stopping her from going inside, while Robbie darted across the threshold. “Not all men are like your ex-husband. Alex was happily married for five years.”

  “I’m glad,” Ella responded, then she turned and called out to Robbie, “Wait up.”

  Josiah moved past Ella and Robbie. “Let me do a quick walk-through first.”

  Her son scuffed his tennis shoes against the floor while Josiah checked the house. When the sound of Josiah’s footsteps returning to the foyer indicated he’d finished, Robbie ran toward the hallway, leading to the bedrooms.

  “He’s done. I need all my time to make some serious decisions about what I’m gonna take.” Passing Josiah, Robbie disappeared around the corner.

  “If I don’t supervise, he’ll manage somehow to bring his whole toy chest. His school backpack is hanging on a peg in the garage.” She heard a slamming sound coming from Robbie’s room. “Will you get it while I corral my son?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  Something else thumped to the floor. She hurried to his bedroom. When she stepped into the entrance, he was looking through a drawer and suddenly plucked a set of action figures out of it then tossed them on the bed.

  “That’s one.” Robbie went to his closet and started to open it.

  “That’s seven action figures. That’s seven items, so...” Something was wrong here. The overhead light was on. She shifted her attention to the window with the blackout shade pulled down. She hadn’t left it that way. Quickly she pulled it up. Her gaze widened at the sight of the window ajar a few inches. “Don’t open the closet.”

  * * *

  Josiah walked through the living room and dining room into the kitchen. He paused at the sink window and looked outside. The rain had let up as they drove here, but now it was starting to come down hard again. He continued his trek to the garage and stepped down into it. Ella’s black Jeep Wrang
ler was parked close to the door, but on the other side was a white Honda.

  The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He pivoted toward the house. Something solid came down on his head. He crumpled to the concrete floor.

  * * *

  As Robbie flung his closet door open, he swiveled around. “Why not? Some of my favorite toys are in there.”

  Expecting someone to come charging out, Ella frantically searched for something to use as a weapon. When no one came out, with Robbie’s baseball bat in hand, she whispered, “Get behind me,” then inched forward.

  Using the wooden stick, she poked behind the clothes hanging up. “Robbie, did you open your window and forget to close it?” She came out of the closet.

  His wide gaze riveted to her. He shook his head, the color washing from his face.

  “Stay behind me. Someone might be in the house.”

  “But Josiah checked each room.”

  He wouldn’t have seen the open window because the shade was pulled down. Her shaky hand withdrew her cell phone from her pocket. She found Thomas’s number and punched it as she crept down the hall to the bathroom. “Thomas, this is Ella. Josiah brought us to our house to get some toys. I think someone has been here. May still be here.” Her whispery voice rasped from her throat.

  “Where’s Josiah?”

  “In the garage.” Ella checked behind the shower curtain in the bathroom.

  “Get him and get out of there. I’m on my way.”

  As she hung up, a crashing sound came from the garage reverberating through the house. Josiah! If she could get to her purse on the hallway table, she could get her gun.

  “Robbie, lock the bathroom door and don’t open it unless it’s me or Josiah. Okay?”

  Fear filled his face. He nodded.

  “You’ll be all right. The police are on their way.”

  She waited a couple of heartbeats until her son clicked the lock in place, then she snuck toward the foyer to get her Glock. One of the first things she’d done after she’d left her husband was learn to shoot a gun to protect herself.

  * * *

  A large man, his back to Josiah, headed for the door into the house. Josiah fought to keep conscious. If he didn’t, Robbie would be kidnapped. He didn’t want him to be taken prisoner. Flashes of his own captivity swamped him for a few seconds. He shut down his emotions and went into combat mode.

  He struggled to his feet, steadying himself while looking around for a weapon. There was nothing within reach. With his head pounding, he moved forward as the large man glanced over his shoulder at him.

  Foster spun around and came toward him like the grizzly Robbie had called him. Josiah charged the man, ramming his left shoulder into Foster’s chest. He slammed back against the wall, the shuddering sound resonating like a shock wave through the garage. The man wound his arm around Josiah and squeezed. His breath leaving his lungs, he kicked Foster, then kneed him as Josiah wrestled to loosen the arms about his torso. Again he struck Foster with the toe of his boot.

  The hulking man shoved away from the wall and drove Josiah into Ella’s car, swooshing out what little air remained in his lungs. Trapped between the hood and Foster, Josiah pounded his fists into the man’s back, gasping for oxygen. Dizziness sapped what strength he had left.

  * * *

  The sounds of fighting coming from the garage sent Ella’s heartbeat racing as she neared the open door. With sweaty hands, she held a baseball bat in one hand and her gun in the other. At the threshold she peered around the door frame while preparing to help Josiah. Foster outweighed him by at least fifty pounds from the pictures she’d seen of the man.

  Her heartbeat thudded against her rib cage as she spied Foster pinning Josiah against her car. Crushing him.

  She had to do something, but she couldn’t shoot Foster. She might hit Josiah, too. Fortifying herself with a deep breath, she laid her gun on the counter nearby and gripped the baseball bat with both hands.

  The police are on the way. I can do this.

  She crept toward the pair and raised the bat.

  Foster looked back, his dark eyes boring into her.

  He started to turn toward her.

  She brought the bat down on his shoulder. The first blow stunned him, but he kept turning. She swung the bat again, connecting with the side of his head. The hulk teetered for a few seconds, then collapsed to the floor.

  She hurried to Josiah. Drawing in deep gulps of air, he slid down the side of the car.

  He reached toward Foster and felt for a pulse. “He’s alive. You need to call the police.”

  “I already did. How do you feel?”

  “I think he cracked a rib. Robbie had it right. He’s like a grizzly bear even without all the facial hair he used to have.” With each breath, Josiah winced.

  Ella gave him the bat. “Hit him if he moves. I left my gun in the kitchen.”

  She hurried inside, snatched it from the counter and returned to the garage. The sight of the pain on Josiah’s face tore at her. “I’m calling an ambulance.”

  “No. I’ve had worse injuries. After the police leave, we’ll go to the emergency room, but I’m not leaving you and Robbie until Foster is hauled away.” Laying the bat on the floor, he held out his hand. “I’ll trade you.”

  “I know how to shoot,” she said as she passed him the gun. “But I’m not going to argue with an injured man.”

  “Where’s Robbie?”

  “Locked in the bathroom.”

  The sight of red lights flashing across the walls prompted Ella to push the button to raise the garage door.

  “I’ll take care of this. Go check on Robbie.” Josiah pushed to his feet using the car as support.

  Ella spied Thomas walking up the driveway. She hurried into the house to let Robbie know everything was all right and to make sure he didn’t see Foster. The man had already traumatized her son enough.

  “Robbie, this is Mom. You can come out now.”

  The lock clicked, and Robbie swung the door wide and rushed into her arms. “I was so scared. I...” Sobs drowned out the rest of his words.

  She hugged him to her. When he quieted, she knelt and clasped his arm. “Honey, the police will take Foster away. We’re safe. And so is Josiah. We have no reason to be afraid anymore.”

  Tears ran down his cheeks unchecked. “I didn’t know—” he gasped for air “—what was going on.”

  “Foster attacked Josiah in the garage. He must have been out there waiting. The important part is that he’ll be put away for a long time.”

  “Where Josiah?”

  “He’s with the police, but you and I are going to sit in the living room and wait until Foster is hauled away. I’m sure the police will want to talk to both of us.”

  “Foster wasn’t in the house?”

  “No, the garage.” She didn’t want him to know that Foster had parked a car in the garage or that in all likelihood he’d been in their house—maybe for hours. She’d have to deal with that, but she didn’t want Robbie to.

  “But my window was opened?”

  She wouldn’t lie to her son, but she would try to play down the fact he was inside at some time. “Yes. He might have gotten in that way or another way. We’ll let the police figure that out. Let’s concentrate on the fact he has finally been caught and we can return home.”

  “I don’t want to,” Robbie cried out and ran into the bathroom, locking the door.

  “Honey, open up please.” She tried turning the knob, hoping she was wrong about the lock. She wasn’t.

  “Go away. I’m safe in here.”

  Looking up and down the hallway produced no great ideas of how to get her son out of the bathroom. There was a part of her that wanted to hide in there with him. “Please, sweetie. You’re safe n
ow. Come out.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed movement and reacted. Hands fisted, she rotated as though she would stop anyone from getting to her son. When she saw it was Josiah and Thomas, she sank against the door. The trembling started in her fingers and quickly spread throughout her body.

  Josiah strode to her and started to pull her to him. “Okay?”

  Remembering his ribs, she sidled away. “I’m okay. You aren’t. I need to get you to the hospital.”

  “Not until I know Robbie is all right. Let me talk to him while Thomas interviews you.”

  “Thanks.” She moved away while Josiah knocked on the door.

  “Robbie, this is Josiah. Can I come in and talk to you?”

  Ella walked toward Thomas at the end of the hall, praying that Robbie would let Josiah in.

  Silence ruled for a long moment.

  “Robbie, I’ll only stay as long as you want.” Josiah’s voice softened, conveying concern.

  Her son unlocked the door and slowly opened it. Ella stepped out of view. She’d wanted to be the one who comforted her child, but if she couldn’t, then she thanked the Lord Josiah was here to help Robbie deal with everything.

  Thomas touched her elbow, drawing her attention to him. “Let’s go in the living room. This whole situation has been tough for Robbie, but also for you, Ella.”

  She hugged her arms to her chest and followed Thomas. When she sank onto the couch, the police detective sat in a chair across from her. In the distance she heard a siren. “Is that an ambulance for Foster?”

  “Yes. While I was in the garage, he regained consciousness but was groggy. Don’t worry. A team of police officers will be guarding him until we get him to the jail. He won’t get away from us. I promise.” Controlled anger hardened his voice. “He won’t terrorize you or any other families again.”

  As her adrenaline subsided, a chill gave her goose bumps from the top of her head to her toes. “I knew something was wrong when I saw Robbie’s blackout shade down and his window cracked open. Now that I think about it, the bed was rumpled.” She shivered, picturing Foster lying on it, waiting for her son. “What if he’d been in the closet rather than the garage? Josiah had a hard time fighting him off. I can’t imagine me trying.”