by Laurel Veil
He was allowed to take out a maximum of five hundred dollars, so that’s just what he did. He eased the car up next to the machine and stuck in his card. He typed in his pin and made a few selections. In less than sixty seconds, he was on his way.
He drove straight back to the fairgrounds and parked behind the hall. He covered the car up with an old tarp and went inside.
Erica and I had been sitting in complete silence until Anthony finally returned.
“I got it,” he told her as he patted his back pocket. “Piece of cake. I heard them talking about us on the radio, though, so I’ll find us another car tomorrow, and we’ll get outta here.”
He looked at me; he knew I was listening even though I wasn’t looking at him. “It’s too bad, though. I was looking forward to having some fun with her mom and maybe even that fat little friend of hers.” He laughed.
I can’t let them take me from here. I’ve got to get away. Please, God, help me!
XXXVII
Thursday Morning
Bri awoke just as dawn first broke. It had been so hard for her to fall asleep last night. All she could think about was Ash. What is she doing? she wondered. Is she OK? When will she be back? What if…she doesn’t come back? She has to come back; today is her birthday.
Though Bri was upset, she had been extremely positive the last couple of days. She always had focused on when, but sadly if was now slithering its way into her thoughts.
She had made so many plans that involved Ash. All her plans involved Ash. She wanted to throw her a birthday party. They were supposed to go to homecoming and prom. There were formals to buy and dances to dance and pictures to be taken. Who would ride with her to school or work? There was absolutely no way she’d ever set foot in Fit City again. All the fun times they’d spent at the fairgrounds and the Road House would soon just be memories.
Bri could no longer stand being alone inside her head. She forced herself out of bed and got ready for school. She tried her best to curl, tease, and primp, but she just didn’t feel like herself. She had lost her flare.
She gave up and resorted to pulling her hair back in a French braid. She put on very little makeup, and her clothes were far from blingy. She gave herself a once-over in the mirror before walking out of her room. She was a robot getting through her routine.
“Hey, Mom.”
Nina turned around. “Hi, Brianne. I’m glad you’re up. I have to leave a little early today. I thought I was going to miss you.”
“I’m up but not by choice.”
“Couldn’t sleep, huh?”
“No. I won’t be able to until Ashley gets home.”
“I know, sweetie. I feel like a zombie myself.” Nina walked over to Bri and put her arms around her. “I can’t even imagine how Beth and Mark are feeling right now.” She let Bri go and headed to the coffeepot. She grabbed her favorite mug from the cabinet and poured herself a cup.
They stood in silence for a moment.
Nina glanced at the clock on the wall then took one last sip. “I gotta run. J.T. is starting a big job today. I promised I’d get there early and help make sure things run smoothly.”
“Have fun,” Bri said with mild sarcasm.
“See ya tonight.” She gave Bri one last hug and left.
Bri made herself some toast and a cup of coffee. She read the front, back, and both sides of a box of cereal that was sitting on the table. When she was done, she put her dishes in the sink and headed outside. She didn’t have much of an appetite. She actually had lost a couple of pounds from worrying.
To her surprise Cole was sitting in the driveway waiting for her. He got out of his car as she approached.
“You may not want to be seen with me today,” Bri said, pouting. “I’ll forgive you this one time if you want to turn around and get back in your car and leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” said Cole.
Bri choked up a little at his response. She was always making jokes, but she was in a lot of pain right now. “I’m just not feeling like myself,” she managed to say.
Cole stepped forward, and she fell into his arms. She tried not to cry, but it was no use. She’d been fighting the tears back for so long.
When she was finished, he held her face in his hands., “I think you look beautiful. And I’m going to drive you to school today.”
He gave her another long hug then walked her to the passenger door. Once he got in he reached into the backseat and grabbed a brightly colored bouquet of flowers.
“Cole.”
“It’s going to be OK.”
“OK,” Bri said, falling into his embrace once again.
XXXVIII
Thursday Midmorning
Trent drove his cousin’s wife, Kate, to the hospital to see Travis. Her mother would be up later and give her a ride home.
They rode in silence. She was lost in thought about her husband, and Trent was drowning in his sorrow for Ashley.
“Any word on Ashley?” Kate asked.
Trent shook his head.
He’d had another restless night. He’d driven the streets all day yesterday, asking everyone he saw if they’d seen anything. Then he drove the streets all night, hoping he might see Anthony come out of hiding.
When he shut his eyes, he was tormented with nightmares that wouldn’t end. They were always the same—he frantically searched for Ashley and could hear her voice. She was so close, but he never could reach her. And then there were the other dreams where his Uncle Chase or Mark approached him in silence, and with a mere look from them, he’d know that Ashley was dead. He’d wake up in a sweat whenever he had this one.
He looked over at Kate and felt a little guilty for being so consumed with his own misery. He had neglected her. He wanted nothing more than to have his cousin return home to her. Travis and Kate had been together since they were kids and had been married for three years. They’d been talking about starting a family when he was shot. For the past few months, Kate rarely had left his side. The doctors said he had brain activity, and there was a good chance he could wake up one day. Kate was counting on that, and so was Trent.
XXXIX
Now or Never
Anthony finally left. I pretended to be asleep when he and Erica had spoken earlier. He was going to leave her vehicle in a crowded lot where it wouldn’t be noticed and hot-wire another to get the three of us out of town.
I had to do something. It was now or never. I lay still long enough to hear Anthony drive off. I didn’t know how long he’d be gone, so I had to act quickly. Neither he nor Erica had locked the door. Erica didn’t have her gun where I could see it, so it must have been strapped to her leg. I had to be careful.
I barely opened my eyes—only enough so I could see Erica was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. She had her head back, and her eyes were closed. I guess she figured as long as I was still asleep, she would relax too. I inched my hand to my waistband and pulled out the little tube of pepper spray my mother had given me. It was dark, so I had to feel to make sure I was holding it correctly.
Very quietly I rolled myself onto my stomach. I put my knees up under me and pushed myself up. My eyes were fixed on Erica the entire time. She never moved. I took a step toward her and stopped, listened, and waited. When she didn’t respond, I took another step. Then another. She moved! I froze. Then she opened her eyes and looked right at me.
“What the hell!” she yelled.
“I’m just going to the restroom,” I said quickly.
She didn’t buy it and pulled up her pant leg. My pulse quickened. My hands were shaking, and I dropped the tube of pepper spray. I heard it clank and roll. I looked for it, but it was too dark in there. Erica almost had her gun out of its holster. I didn’t think; I lunged for her like a football player and tackled her flat to the floor.
With both hands I grabbed her hair and pulled as hard as I could while she screamed. We toppled over, and I was on my back. Something was under me—my pepper spray!
Just as I clutched it, I saw a flash of light and heard an explosion. I was stunned for a moment; then I pumped the pepper spray into her eyes repeatedly. She dropped the gun and clawed at her eyes. I continued to squirt it. I stopped when I heard a vehicle outside. Anthony? I grabbed Erica’s gun and held it tightly as I ran out the door. Without looking I headed straight for the woods. I ran until I found a thicket of yaupons where I could hide myself. I was out of breath. I was thirsty. I was tired. And…I was bleeding!
XL
Business as Usual
J.T. stood in front of Nina’s desk. He was a burly man, with a barrel for a chest and hands like leather.
She hung up the phone. “OK, J.T. That was Cecil. The first round of supplies is being delivered as we speak, so you can go ahead and get your crew out there pronto and get started.”
Nina wasn’t in the mood for small talk this morning. She glanced at her cell to see if Bri had texted her, and then she clicked away on her keyboard. When J.T. didn’t leave, she looked up again. He was still watching her.
“You really are what makes things run around here, aren’t ya?”
She straightened her posture. “I think I do all right, yes. Why?” She raised an eyebrow. “You want to give me another raise?”
He smiled devilishly. “Sorta. Maybe a new title is more like it.”
“A new title?” Nina gave him a confused look. “What are you talking about?”
He struggled for words as he sat down in the chair across from her desk. “I heard about the Devoe girl. I know she’s Brianne’s best friend. I really appreciate your being here, but if you need to go home with everything that’s going on, I underst—”
Nina put her hand up to stop him. “I’m touched by your concern, J.T.” She paused for a moment to blink away the tears that threatened to form. “Unfortunately there’s nothing we can do right now. Bri’s actually at school hoping she’ll find out something from her classmates.”
“I can’t imagine how hard things must be for you both right now.” J.T.’s thick fingers fumbled with the ball cap in his hands. “You know how it is anytime something terrible happens—it gets you thinking about how short life is and how little time we have.”
Nina studied his face, not knowing where this was going.
“I know I’m not doing this right, but I don’t want to waste any more time.” He got up and knelt next to Nina.
“J.T.?”
“Nina, I want to be there for you and Bri. Would you do me the honor of being my partner in business and in life? Will you marry me?”
XLI
Room 471
Trent and Kate grabbed a couple of small Styrofoam cups of coffee and headed to the elevator. How many times had they done this routine? How many more times would they?
When the bell dinged and the doors slid open, they stepped out and made the long walk to room 471.
Trent hated the smell of hospitals. No matter how many times he came here, he couldn’t get used to it. He was pulled out of his thoughts by the surprised look on Kate’s face when they entered the room.
“What is it?” he asked.
She placed her coffee on the table next to the bed and walked quickly to Travis. “I saw him move his fingers when we walked in, Trent!” She stroked her husband’s hair. “Travis. Travis, I’m here. It’s me, honey. It’s Kate. I’m here.” A tear rolled down her cheek. She continued, “Trent is here too, baby.” She looked at Trent, her face heavy with emotion. She must have seen doubt in his eyes. “I did, Trent. I saw his fingers move.”
“I know, Kate. I believe you.” He stepped over and patted her on the back. They each pulled up a chair and sat with Travis like they had done a hundred times before.
Trent was relieved when he got a call from Chase telling him to come to the Devoes’. They had received a few calls on the tip line and were going to check them out. Chase didn’t feel very confident they were going to get anywhere with them, but it beat sitting around doing nothing.
Trent had to keep busy or his feelings of guilt would consume him. Ashley was his responsibility, and she had been abducted while under his watch. If Mack hadn’t let them go early that night, he would have been there to walk her to her car. Why hadn’t he headed to the theater earlier because of the bad weather?
Chase had warned him not to get emotionally involved. “It’ll be risky, son, should something go wrong. For goodness sake, Ashley’s not even eighteen—and you’re a cop!” He was barely twenty-one, though, and she had just turned eighteen today.
He didn’t care about any of that now. Not anymore. All he cared about was finding Ashley. So much for not getting emotionally involved; he was in love.
XLII
The Hunt
Anthony drove the speed limit and never saw a cop. He found a very busy grocery store outside of town and pulled into the lot. He put on a baseball cap and walked to a nearby parking garage.
Everyone at this building most likely had returned from lunch and wouldn’t be looking for their car for another five to six hours when it would be time to go home. That would give him a pretty good head start.
He found an unlocked Corolla then slipped inside and worked frantically under the steering column. Within a minute he was driving out of the parking structure.
He went through the drive-through at another bank and withdrew another five hundred dollars and headed back to Erica.
Anthony was surprised when he approached the fairgrounds and saw a construction crew at work. There were numerous trucks and large machinery. Men were crawling all over the place like ants. Because of the chaos, Anthony was able to slip behind the hall without being noticed. He got out quickly and covered the car with the tarp.
Panic ran through him when he saw that the door to the hall was ajar. Then he saw a few drops of what looked like dried blood on the ground. He drew his pistol and slowly made his way inside. He flinched when he closed the door and saw Erica was standing behind it. Her eyes were red and almost completely swollen shut.
“Where is she?” Anthony hissed.
“She attacked me!”
“I can see that! Where is she?”
“I don’t know. My gun went off. I think she was shot. She took off running. I can’t see, so I can’t tell you which way! She couldn’t have gone far.”
Sweat beaded up on Anthony’s forehead. He raked his fingers through his hair. Then he pulled out his phone and dialed Mark.
XLIII
Worth a Shot
Trent and Cole pulled up at the Devoes’ at the same time. Bri waved at Trent as she got out of Cole’s car.
“Anything new?” she asked.
Trent shook his head then shook Cole’s hand. The three went inside together.
Mark gave them the rundown. “Well, he withdrew money from two different ATMs.” He pointed to a map on the coffee table. “Here and here. They’re both drive-throughs. One withdrawal occurred less than an hour ago, which means they’re still close.”
Ring! Everyone jumped at the sound of the phone.
Mark picked up. “Mark here.”
“Put fifty thousand in my account by Friday or she’s dead.” Click!
“Hello? Hello? Hello?” Mark’s face drained of all color.
“What is it, Mark?” screamed Beth. “Was it him? What did he say?”
His mouth was dry. “It was him.” His voice cracked. “The connection was terrible. It was hard to hear. There was a lot of noise in the background. He said he wants fifty thousand dollars by Monday or—”
He couldn’t finish the sentence. Everyone knew what he wasn’t willing to say. Beth gasped, and he held her.
“What do you mean it was noisy, Mark?” asked Trent.
Mark looked up at him and tried to recall the conversation. “Uh, I’m not sure. It was just loud.”
Bri stepped out of the room to answer a call from her mom.
A moment later she came back in the room and spoke to Mark.
“That w
as my mom checking in. She said J.T. was going to call the police. His crew told him that they saw some vagrants in the warehouse at the fairgrounds where they’re working today. You don’t suppose…”
Mark and Trent glanced at each other. “It’s worth a shot,” said Mark. As they headed for the door he called over his shoulder, “Call for backup, Chase, and meet us there!”
XLIV
Cat and Mouse
Anthony scouted the building, quickly looking for traces of blood, hoping that by some miracle Ashley was hiding in there, waiting for them to leave. No such luck.
He didn’t think she went to the street, because he would have seen her when he pulled up. That just left the woods adjacent to the fairgrounds.
Erica didn’t know how badly Ashley was wounded. If it was severe, she wouldn’t have made it too far, and Anthony could take her with him. He knew Erica was useless right now; he uncovered the car and had her wait inside it.
He heard the leaves crunching beneath his feet, but not one of them had a single drop of blood on them. He scanned the trees too. Maybe Ashley had leaned against them for support and left a trace. He saw nothing. He heard sirens in the distance, and they sounded like they were getting closer. He didn’t have any more time. He had to go.
He headed back toward the warehouse but stopped when he saw the first of several squad cars arrive. He turned around and ran.
“There!” yelled Trent. Almost a dozen men took off after him.
Anthony almost lost his balance on the rocks beneath his feet. He stopped when something on a larger rock caught his eye. Blood!
He spun around. There was another smear a few feet away. Then he noticed the thicket of yaupons. He peered in and saw Ashley lying curled up in a ball. She was hunched over and clutching her stomach.
