As they stepped out into the cold air again, Sabre looked around for a way to escape. The sun had already set, but a street lamp illuminated the area. Murdock saw her looking around and stuck the gun in her back to remind her of his power. "Let's take your car, Sabre," he said.
"Where are we going?" Alexis asked.
"On an adventure," Murdock said, putting more pressure on the gun. "Where is your car?"
"Right there," Sabre said, pointing to the little green BMW.
Murdock looked at the car. "Never mind," he said. "I forgot you brought the Beemer. It won't hold all of us. We'll take my car, but you're driving." Murdock directed them about half of a block to his car. Sabre wondered how he knew she had more than one car. She always drove the BMW to court. What else did he know about her? Murdock opened the back door for Alexis on the passenger side. He held the gun above the roof of the car, aiming it at Sabre as she walked around to slide into the driver's seat. Then Murdock got into the car. "Don't forget to buckle up, sweetheart," he said to Alexis. "You, too," he told Sabre.
Murdock directed her to the freeway. They drove east toward the mountains, the traffic thick; many holiday travelers were already on the road. Sabre considered ramming into a car in front of her. Then they would have to stop and maybe she could get help, but it would just put more people in danger. "This isn't necessary, you know," she said.
"Oh, but it is," he replied. "Just drive where I tell you. No one needs to get hurt," Murdock said, sounding more like a statement of fact than a threat.
They drove for over an hour, twisting and turning through the back roads in the mountains. Sabre, unfamiliar with the area, tried to watch for every landmark she could, but everything looked the same, just trees and more trees. It had been a long time since she'd seen a street sign or a building. She tried to remember everything so she'd be able to return if she and Alexis could escape.
By the time they pulled off the pavement onto a dirt road, which seemed to lead to nowhere, it had been miles since they had passed any homes. Sabre glanced at the odometer: 32.2. She kept saying it over and over again in her head. They reached a little cabin, hidden by the trees, driving to within about sixty feet of it. She looked at the odometer and saw 33.8. One point six miles, just over a mile and a half to the road. She had no idea what direction they were going, though; without the sun, Sabre had no sense of direction. From the time they had left the freeway, she'd tried to keep her directions straight, but they'd made so many turns she really had no idea.
"Stop the car. Turn it off," Murdock said. He reached over and pulled the keys out of the ignition. "Just sit still. I'm coming around to open your door."
She was being held hostage and her captor wanted to be a gentleman. Alexis and Murdock climbed out of the car, and he walked around to the driver's side and opened her door. When she knew Alexis couldn't hear her, she whispered, "What are you doing? You'll go to jail for this."
"Come on," he said. "Let's go in. It's cold out here."
Murdock led them both into the cabin and turned on the light. The large room contained a living room, dining area, and kitchen. On the left, a six-foot-long counter separated the kitchen from the living area. An old, maple dining room table and four chairs sat across the room from the stove and refrigerator. On the right side were a sofa, a couple of easy chairs, and a huge fireplace with a pile of wood next to it. There was no television or stereo in the room, just a bookcase full of books. The old furnishings seemed to have fared well for their age. Across from the front door was a closed door Sabre surmised led to the bedrooms and bathroom. Sabre shivered. It didn't feel much warmer inside than out. She placed her arm around Alexis to keep her warm.
"Sweetheart, step away from Sabre," Murdock said. Alexis pulled away and moved to her father's side. Then, although speaking to Alexis, he kept his eyes on Sabre. "I know you may not like what I'm going to have to do right now, but I need to do it. You need to trust your father, and everything will be okay."
A chill went down Sabre's back. For the first time since Murdock had brandished the gun, she feared for her life. He's so calm and calculating. I'm going to die. She looked at Alexis and saw her eyes open wide with fright. Her face solemn, she just nodded. Murdock said, "Good. Now, I may need your help. Come here."
Sabre looked for a way out, but Murdock stood between her and the door. She expected him to pull his gun and shoot her, or at least knock her out. He opened a drawer and pulled out some rope. He walked toward her, "Miss Brown, I'm not going to hurt you, but I need to tie you up or Alexis and I won't get any rest. Do you understand?"
As he came toward her with the rope, Sabre darted to the right. He reached out for her. She slipped back behind the table. He came closer. She moved around the table, getting as close as she could to the door. She yelled, "Alexis, run! Run for the door!" Sabre turned and moved toward the door. She glanced at Alexis and saw her standing frozen. She wouldn't or couldn't defy her father.
Sabre's hesitation cost her. Murdock tackled her. In spite of her efforts, she hit the floor. She tried to hold her head up, but she couldn't. She felt warm, wet blood trickle down her cheek.
Murdock grabbed her arms and put them behind her. Sitting on her hands, he tied the rope tightly around her ankles. He pulled her up by her arm, pushed her into a chair, and tied her hands behind it, as though he'd roped a calf in a rodeo – and he did it all in record time.
Sabre wiggled to free herself, but it only seemed to make the ropes tighter. She wanted to scream, but it would scare Alexis and wouldn't serve any purpose. She hurt from the fall, and the ropes cut into her wrists. She tried to stay calm and think rationally. "Gaylord, you don't need to do this. I won't try to run again."
Murdock didn't respond. He double-checked the knots.
"Gaylord, listen to me," she said. He ignored her. "Why are you doing this?" Her voice got a little louder.
He turned toward her slowly and deliberately. He leaned over and looked her straight in the eyes with the same piercing look he gave her in court when she set the case for trial. He stared at her for what seemed like minutes. Sabre could feel the hatred penetrate right through her. He stood up, smiled, and said, "I need to light a fire. It's cold in here." He walked over to the fireplace.
Sabre shivered from the cold dampness in the room and from the fear filling her. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Alexis took a step toward her. She saw her sweet little face, her eyes veiled in sadness. She came closer.
"Alexis, are you okay?"
"Not too close," Murdock spoke up from across the room. "That's far enough."
When her father spoke, Alexis stopped. She stood about three feet in front of Sabre, "I . . . I'm okay," she said. "Are you?" Then, she mouthed with her quivering lips, "I'm sorry."
Sabre tried to compose herself for Alexis' sake. Her heart ached for her. "I'm fine," Sabre said. "I'm mainly cold, but I'll be better when the fire's burning."
Without saying a word, Alexis walked to the sofa, took a throw cover off the back of it, and took it to Sabre. She placed it around Sabre's shoulders and tucked in the sides so it wouldn't fall off. She looked up at her father, took three steps back, and stopped. "Thank you," Sabre said. "That's much better, and I'm already feeling the heat from the fire." When Alexis didn't respond, Sabre motioned with her head toward a chair a few feet from her and said, "Why don't you sit and . . . ."
Murdock, brushing his hands together to knock off any remaining debris, said, "Okay, the fire's going good. It'll be warm in here in no time." He acted as if they were a happy little family on vacation in the woods. "Let's have some dinner. You two must be starved. Alexis, give me a hand."
Murdock stood up. Alexis followed him into the kitchen area. He leaned over and reached toward Alexis, put one hand on each shoulder and looked her straight in the eye. He lowered his voice, but not enough to keep Sabre from hearing. "Sweetheart, I know you like Ms. Brown, but remember she is one of them. We have to protect ourselves, so you need
to do what I tell you. You need to trust me to keep you safe. Do you understand?" he said sternly, but with compassion.
Alexis looked him in the eye, and without speaking, nodded her head. "I've always kept you safe, haven't I?" She nodded again. Without hurting her, he tightened his grip on her shoulders and spoke a little louder. "Haven't I?"
Her response was meek, "Yes, Father."
"Okay, now you know you cannot untie her, right?"
Alexis nodded again and her father looked at her intensely. "Right," she said.
"What have you told Ms. Brown about our family?"
"Nothing, Father," she responded. He stared at her. "Honest, Father; I haven't told her anything."
Murdock put his arm around her and pulled her near, "That's my girl. I knew I could count on you. No matter what we go through, we always come out of it together, don't we?"
"Yes, Father."
"So I can trust you to do what I tell you, right?"
"Right, Father."
Sabre observed the two of them as they interacted in the kitchen. They were very efficient. She could see the strong bond between them. She had been hoping Alexis would be able to help her escape, but it didn't look promising. Whether out of fear or love for her father, Sabre didn't believe Alexis would defy him. It appeared Murdock felt comfortable in that belief as well.
"So what happens now?"
"Now, Ms. Brown," Murdock said with a little smile, "we eat our dinner. We get some sleep, and tomorrow I celebrate Thanksgiving Day with my beautiful daughter."
CHAPTER 29
"Are you sure? Could there be some mistake?" Joe asked the FBI agent.
"No mistake, Joe," Howard said. "I should have more information for you soon."
"Thanks, Howard." Joe hung up, stunned. He had to let Sabre know. She could be in more danger than they thought. He dialed Sabre's cell; when she didn't answer, he hung up.
He dialed her office and reached voice mail. "Hi Sabre, this is Joe Carriage. Please call me as soon as you receive this message. I have some information for you." He tried her home phone and again heard only voice mail. "Hi Sabre, Joe Carriage here. Please call me. It's important I talk to you right away." He waited for a few minutes and tried her cell one more time. "Hello, Sabre. Joe Carriage. I called you at your office and at home, but I just realized you may be traveling for the holiday and can't retrieve your messages. Please call me on my cell the minute you get this message, no matter what time it is."
Joe cooked a quick dinner and sat down to watch a movie. After a couple of hours without a call from Sabre, he tried her cell one more time. He fell asleep on the sofa with the television on, waiting for her call.
Leaves rustling in the wind awakened Joe at three-thirty in the morning. He still hadn't heard from Sabre. He shut off the television, and went to bed.
Joe woke again to the phone ringing.
"Joe, it's Brett. They arrested Bill Davis this morning. Along with charges of tampering with evidence, accepting bribes, tax evasion, and several other things, they charged him with the murder of Steve Parker."
"So IA is finally doing something right. Do you know where they got the information to nail him?"
"Yup, it came from Ruby Sterling. She apparently gave them a mouthful. They also arrested both of the guys who nabbed Elizabeth Murdock."
"Do they have any information on her?"
"It doesn't appear so. Those goons aren't talking. I guess they're getting more out of Davis than they are those two."
"Well, that ought to make life a little easier at the office."
"It'll be a lot easier and back to normal before long. By the way, they also charged him with attempted murder on you."
Joe felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He took his shower, dressed for dinner, and tried Sabre again. By the time he reached his parents' house, he had called Sabre four more times. Although concerned, he decided to chalk it up to the holiday. She's probably having a nice, peaceful meal with her family, in which case this information can wait. She'll call me tomorrow.
~~~
Sabre heard her phone ringing in her bag in the other room. She wondered who might be calling, realizing no one would be missing her yet. Her mother didn't expect her until Thursday.
She turned to make herself more comfortable, her thoughts interrupted by the pain in her wrists and ankles from the rope holding them tied together. She had tried all night to shed the constraints, wriggling and twisting back and forth in an attempt to pull her hands out of the ropes, rubbing her skin raw. Between the ropes and her fear of Murdock coming into the room at any moment to kill her, Sabre had little sleep and so many questions.
She could feel dampness on the bed from her burning, bleeding wrists. She ached from lying in the same position for so many hours. She was so cold. Sabre struggled, trying to move the blankets more tightly around her. With her feet tied to the bed and her hands tied behind her back, she bent over as far as she could, taking hold of the blankets with her teeth. Although she moved the blanket a few inches, she gagged from the mouthful of wool fabric and couldn't hold on to it. Dropping the two blankets, she tried again with just one. She pulled the blanket as far as she could with her teeth, but now it covered her face. Feeling claustrophobic, she lifted her chin to push it off. She had to get it off, no matter how cold she felt. After more twisting and turning, she nodded her head until the blanket fell down part way.
Though shivering, Sabre could at least breathe again. She thought about her nice, comfortable bed at home where she could fold the sheet neatly over the top of the blanket and keep it off her face, where she could tuck the blankets around her and keep warm. She shook from head to toe, her teeth chattering. She lay in frustration, her back now exposed to the cold air. The smell of pumpkin pie filled her nostrils.
Sabre heard heavy footsteps outside her door. It opened, and Murdock stood in the shadows. "Happy Thanksgiving, Ms. Brown," he said, as if nothing were wrong. Sabre stared at him, incredulous. She couldn't think of anything appropriate to say.
"Brr . . . It's cold in here. Come on. I've built up the fire in the fireplace." He untied her ankles from the end of the bed.
Free of the rope, Sabre stretched her legs and flexed her ankles. She stepped onto the floor, the blankets falling off her. The floor felt like ice under her stocking feet. She trembled, the cold cutting through her to the bone.
The fire enticed her. She walked in front of Murdock, down the short hallway to the living room. The smell of pumpkin grew stronger and stimulated her hunger. Sabre went straight to the fire, standing as close as she could.
"Is that better?" Murdock sounded concerned.
Sabre didn't get it. "Why are you doing this?"
In the same tone, Murdock responded with a question. "Why are you keeping my daughter from me?"
"It's my job to keep her safe. Unfortunately, I don't know enough about you to know if you are the best placement for her."
"You're right. You don't know me, and you don't know Alexis. We've done just fine for ten years without interference from outsiders." His voice grew louder. "You drive around in your little BMW and live in your fancy new condo. You come into our lives with your self-righteous attitudes. We don't need you to tell us how to live our lives."
Alexis walked into the room. Murdock turned to her and his voice became pleasant. "Good morning, sweet pea."
"Good morning."
"You ready to help your father with Thanksgiving dinner?"
"Sure," Alexis said. She looked at Sabre, as if to make sure she was all right.
Murdock walked over to Alexis, put his arm around her shoulder, and led her into the kitchen area. "I've already put the turkey in the oven, and I baked a pumpkin pie early this morning. You can cut up the stuff for the salad, but first you better have a muffin." They walked to the counter. Alexis put a blueberry muffin on a plate. She looked up at her father. He said, "Go ahead; take one for Ms. Brown. You never could let a stray go hungry. But she stays tied. You can
feed it to her."
Alexis took the muffin to Sabre. Although it was awkward having someone feed her, she was thankful to be eating. Sabre forced a smile on her face, "Thank you, Alexis."
"You're welcome, Ms. Sabre."
Sabre, feeling warm, moved away from the fire and sat down in the nearest chair. She watched as Alexis and Murdock prepared the Thanksgiving dinner. Alexis cut up the salad, making it ready for Murdock to toss. She peeled the potatoes. He cooked them and mashed them. She put the miniature marshmallows on the sweet potatoes after they were partially cooked, being careful not to burn herself on the hot pan. Murdock didn't like the marshmallows, but he didn't object since it was one of Alexis' favorites and one of the few dishes she remembered her mother making for her.
Alexis and her father conversed while they worked, but Alexis didn't behave like her usual chatty self. She would respond to his questions or comments and occasionally ask how to do something, but she didn't appear to be enjoying herself. Sabre wondered if this was her normal demeanor around her father. If not, Murdock didn't seem to notice.
As Alexis retrieved the plates from the cupboard, Murdock spoke, "Don't forget to set an extra plate. We have a guest coming for dinner."
For a moment Sabre thought there was someone else coming, but she realized he meant her. A guest. How bizarre. He acted as though she weren't in the room. She watched his every move to learn everything she could about him, to see his weaknesses, to see if she could use anything he said or did to help her escape. She spent most of her time trying to figure out ways to get away, but without Alexis' help and willingness to go with her, it didn't look hopeful.
Sabre sat in the chair for hours watching Alexis and her father create their masterpiece, like an old fifties movie, the warm room glowing from the fireplace and the smell of turkey in the air.
Her phone rang again. Was it her mother looking for her? Marla? The police? Her mind raced with crazy thoughts. She worried about her mother and feared for Alexis; her wrists hurt from the ropes cutting into her, and she wondered if she would be alive tomorrow.
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