by Diane Capri
Sarah heard the sound of the high-powered rifle, saw the blaze of flame, just before someone rushed toward her, pushing her aside. The sound of bullet striking flesh thudded loudly. She heard the grunt, saw Joshua reach out to grab the young man before he fell. Answering gunshots went off in the woods. Someone was yelling. Seconds. Everything had happened in seconds.
Joshua lowered the body to the ground, placing his hands over the chest wound trying to stem the flow of blood. Sarah gasped. She knew the face. She’d seen it in her dreams. Rob.
“Oh, God,” Gavin whispered. Kneeling beside Rob, he took Joshua’s place, applying pressure to the wound, cursing silently as blood gushed over his fingers. Not too late. Dammit, not this time.
“Gavin?” Sarah placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Find Nikki.” Gavin didn’t look up. He couldn’t meet her eyes. Couldn’t bear the sympathy and pain.
“Call Edgewood, Joshua. Get us some help over here.”
Gavin could hear Joshua on the cell phone, heard Sarah’s pounding footsteps as she raced toward the trees.
“Gavin…” The whisper pulled his attention from the blood seeping through his fingers. He looked into Rob’s eyes.
“Don’t talk. The doctor’s on the way.”
“Couldn’t let her die. Not like Cory. Knew the son-of-a-bitch was gonna shoot.” Rob coughed, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his lips. “Carl?”
Gavin thought about lying, telling him Carl was okay. The pale blue eyes pinned him with a steady gaze and he shook his head. “I don’t know.”
A smile tugged at Rob’s lips as he gazed at something behind Gavin. “Can you see her?”
Gavin turned, looking in the direction of Rob’s gaze. Cory stood there. “Yeah, I see her.”
“I gotta go, bro.”
“No.” Gavin spoke through clenched teeth, hot tears spilling down his face.
With great effort, Rob moved his hand, covering Gavin’s. “That Sarah, she’s pretty special.”
Gavin nodded, clutching Rob’s hand.
“And the little girl?”
Gavin smiled through his tears. “Very special.”
Rob coughed again, and Gavin could hear the death rattle.
“Do me a favor?” Rob whispered.
“Anything.”
“Marry her.” Rob squeezed his hand. “And tell Carl I said payback’s hell.”
Gavin felt the hand grow limp. He stared into the sightless blue eyes through blinding tears. Bowing his head he let the tears flow freely. Too late. He was always too damn late.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Ignoring the branches that slapped at her face, Sarah raced through the trees, lungs on fire. Somewhere ahead of her a madman had her little girl. She cried out in frustration, as the pain became unbearable. Holding her side, she hunched over trying to catch her breath. How far had she run? A mile? Two? The roaring in her ears drowned out all other sound, as sweat burned her eyes, blinding her. She had to stop. She leaned against a tree for support as she wiped the sweat from her face, slowing her ragged breathing. Dawn was breaking, and she scanned the forest in front of her. She’d broken her own rules, rushing in blindly. She didn’t even know where her own men were. What if she’d shot one of them? What if she’d shot Carl?
The roaring had subsided and she stood listening, straining her ears to catch the slightest whisper or breaking branch. The forest was silent except for her ragged breathing, pounding heart. Where the hell were they? Grief threatened to overcome her. She didn’t know if Juanita and José were dead or alive. The body count was way too high. Five little girls had lost their lives because she’d run away. Closing her eyes, she struggled for control; the image of Gavin kneeling beside his brother flashed before her eyes. She heard his anguished voice, “Find Nikki.” That was all that was important now. She swore softly as she straightened her spine. “No more, Williams. You’re not taking one more person from me.”
“Sheriff!”
“Over here, Matt.”
“We’ve got somebody here.”
Sarah turned toward the sound, moving swiftly, but cautiously this time, her eyes scanning the trees around her. Matt and Jed approached her, carrying a huge black man, cursing and yelling. Blood flowed from the bullet wound in his left leg.
“Put him down.” Holstering her gun, Sarah knelt beside Carl, gently probing the wound. “Looks like the bullet went straight through. I need your belt, Matt.”
Sarah took the belt, fashioned a make-shift tourniquet, and stood up. “Take him to the house. I’m going after Williams.”
“Wasn’t Williams. And you’re too late.” Carl struggled to sit up, grimacing as the movement started a fresh wave of pain.
“What do you mean it wasn’t Williams?”
“Campbell. Bastard had a car parked other side of the woods. Heard him drive off right after he shot me.” Carl fumbled in his pocket for his cigarettes.
Sarah knelt again, her eyes level with Carl’s. “Tell me everything you know about the man who’s got my daughter.”
#
Gavin watched quietly as Rob’s body was loaded into the hearse. Doc had made the call official at 6:30 a.m. The forest loomed in front of him. Sarah was in there, maybe lying somewhere bleeding, dying. He ached to go after her. Do something, anything besides stand here helpless. He knew Joshua was right, though. Too many people in the woods made it more dangerous. At least they hadn’t heard any additional shots. He had to believe she was okay. Otherwise, he’d go insane.
“At least Juanita and José are going to be okay.” Joshua had come up behind him.
“Yeah, at least,” Gavin stated flatly, turning toward the house.
“McAllister!” Joshua called after him. “We need to talk.”
“What about?” Gavin couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the blood covering Joshua’s hands. Rob’s blood.
“Claire Nix.”
Rage flared in Gavin’s eyes. He’d just lost his brother. Nikki was missing and Sarah might already be dead. Right now he didn’t give a damn about Claire Nix.
Joshua approached him, ignoring the rage. “Just listen to me. Hear me out, okay? Sarah’s already got her hands full. So have you. From the looks of things, we’re all going to have our hands full. I worked out a deal with the mayor. You agree not to press charges; he agrees they’ll get out of Glade Springs. Hell, out of West Virginia. All I’m trying to do is eliminate one more problem for Sarah. What do you say?”
Gavin unclenched his hands, allowing the rage to flow out of him. What difference did it make? And it would eliminate a problem. One he’d totally forgotten about. Meeting the steady green gaze he nodded. “Get it in writing.”
“I’ll get the damn thing notarized.”
Gavin noted the change in Joshua’s posture, the slight glazing of the eyes, head tilted to one side. He was listening to something, or someone.
Down by the Old Mill Stream … The melody played loud and clear inside Joshua’s head.
Joshua turned abruptly and headed for his Jeep. “Tell Sarah I had to go. Something I had to do.”
Gavin grabbed his arm, turning him around. “Not so fast. What’d they tell you?”
Joshua hesitated. “It’s not really words. Usually it’s a song, a melody. Sometimes it’s not really clear. Sometimes it’s crystal clear.”
“This time?”
“I’m going to the old mill out on Elliott Pike.”
Gavin let go of his arm. “I’m going with you.”
#
He paced the floor, glancing out the window. He needed a drink. No…no drinking. He had to be clear, ready. Everything was going just as planned.
You left the note.
“Fuck.” He kicked the wall. That fucking whore was shacked up with McAllister. He’d seen them together. The ache was becoming a constant pain. He needed to hear her scream. Ease the pain. Needed to ease the pain.
Reaching for the whiskey, he poured a shot, downing it. The
bitch was too old.
But she screams.
He laughed viciously. She screamed.
An hour later he felt exhilarated. The pain gone. He laughed with joy, the sound of her coarse screams still echoing through the room. Why hadn’t he thought of this before?
Because it’s perverted. Sick.
He laughed again, his eyes on the blood stains on her buttocks, the sound of her whimpers exciting him. Just like a virgin. Nothing that felt that good could be sick. It was the killing that was wrong. And that was her fault.
The image on the bed shimmered, changed, the dull brown hair becoming flaming locks of red. He closed his eyes, remembering how he’d felt the night he stood over her, watching her sleep. It would have been so easy to slit her throat. Too easy. He wanted her to know he was here, feel his presence around her until she could think of nothing else. Then he would take her. Pleasure coursed through his body. He wouldn’t kill her. Sarah was strong. A fighter. Whistling, he jogged up the steps. If he was careful, she might even last a week.
#
“There was always something about that man that made my skin crawl.” Millie poured another cup of coffee, glancing fondly at Clarence as she cut him a piece of applesauce cake.
“What about the wife?”
“Never met her. Don’t think she got out much.”
“Nobody found that a little strange for a minister’s wife? I mean, shouldn’t she be out in the community, ministering to the sick or whatever?”
“Humph,” Millie snorted. “You men, always categorizing. Have us all still barefoot and pregnant if it was up to you.”
Clarence grinned sheepishly. “Now, Millicent, you know I don’t think that way. Didn’t you think it a little odd that she never left the house? They were here more than two months.”
Millie pondered what Clarence had said. “Didn’t really think about it. Don’t make no never mind, though. Disappeared just like they came.”
“Could be they’re still here somewhere.” Clarence took another bite of cake and washed it down with Millie’s special coffee. “Makes sense they were here for a reason. Seems like they’d stick around until they got whatever it was they came for.”
Millie frowned, muddling over Clarence’s words. The Reverend had taken an awful lot of interest in Nikki. Almost seemed obsessed with her. For the second time that morning Millie felt the spine-tingling chill. She reached for the phone, dialing the sheriff’s office. The chill deepened, sinking into her bones as the rings went on and on. She hung up and dialed Sarah’s number.
“Damn,” she whispered as she hung up the phone. There was no answer at Sarah’s either. She hesitated only seconds before dialing Joshua’s home number.
“Hello.”
“Mary?”
“Hey, Millie. I wondered when you were going to call. Grandpa’s got that liniment ready for you.”
“Why bless you, child. But that’s not the reason I called. Need Joshua’s cell phone number.”
“Is everything okay?”
Millie heard the panic in Mary’s voice. Dammit, she didn’t want to upset the girl.
“Everything’s fine. Got a cat stuck up in my tree.”
Mary laughed, relief in her voice. “It’s 449-3456.”
“Thank you, honey. I’ll be by real soon.”
“Bye, Millie.”
Millie dialed the number, impatiently tapping her fingers as she listened to the rings.
“Cross.”
“Joshua, it’s Millie. Why ain’t nobody answering at the sheriff’s office? Ain’t nobody answering at Sarah’s either.”
Joshua hesitated, knowing he’d never get away from Millie unless he told her the truth. “Cooper’s got Nikki.”
“Oh, God.” Millie sat down, reaching up to clutch the hand Clarence laid gently on her shoulder.
“What can we do?”
“We’ll get him, Millie.” A nagging worry had begun in the back of Joshua’s mind. Millie said there was no answer at the sheriff’s office. Ella Mae should have been there by now.
“Millie, there is one thing you can do for me. Run out to the old Sampson place and check on Ella Mae. Got one of those bad feelings.”
Millie nodded as she hung up. She grabbed her purse and the chocolate cake. “Come on Clarence, we gotta go.”
Clarence had only heard a small portion of the conversation, but it was enough to know that Millie was rushing into danger. He reached into the glove compartment, pulled out the .38, checked to make sure it was loaded, and clicked off the safety. Patting Millie’s hand, he put the car in gear. “Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Nikki shivered as she glanced around the small dusty room. Her chin quivered, tears coursing down her cheeks. She didn’t like it here. She wanted to go home.
Be brave, Nikki.
“Where’s my mommy?” Nikki whispered. She was glad the pretty lady was here. She wanted to be brave, but she was scared.
Cory patted her hand as they listened to the sound of approaching footsteps. He won’t hurt you.
Jeremiah Campbell looked at the little girl sitting hunched on the bench. So much like his little Isabella. Betty would see it. Know that God had sent her to them. A gift. That’s what she was. A gift from God. The three of them would go away somewhere and live happily ever after.
“I brought you some breakfast.” Jeremiah placed the plate on the bench along with a glass of milk and sat down a few feet away. He loved to just look at her.
Nikki glanced at the plate filled with bacon, eggs and fruit. The pretty lady had said he wouldn’t hurt her. And she was hungry. Picking up the plate she nibbled at the fruit. It tasted old. The bacon and eggs were salty and cold. Putting the plate on the bench she drank the glass of milk.
Jeremiah watched her face as she tasted each item. He’d done something wrong. She didn’t like the food. At least she’d drunk the milk. He smiled at her, reaching out to push the hair back behind her ear.
“I’m sorry, Issie. I’m not a very good cook. Soon we’ll be home and Mommy can fix you a real meal.”
“My name’s Nikki.”
Jeremiah blinked, the smile disappearing from his face. “Of course it is.”
Taking the plate and glass he left, closing and locking the door behind him.
#
Carl met the steely blue gaze. Gorgeous and dangerous. Gavin sure had landed himself one hell of a package. No wonder he’d been bowled over. Why, hell, if I was thirty years younger…Sarah repeated her demand. “I said, tell me everything you know about the man who’s got my daughter.”
“Name’s Jeremiah Campbell. He and his wife Betty live in New York. Their little girl, Isabella, was the first one killed. Campbell went off his rocker. Crazy as a loon. Thought the bastard was institutionalized, but I guess they let him out.” Carl grimaced as pain shot through his leg again. “Dammit, woman, can’t we do this at the house? Or are you gonna let me sit here and bleed to death?”
“What’s he want with Nikki?” Sarah ignored the grimace, and the questions.
“Damned if I know. Didn’t know he was after the girl until tonight.”
“What else do you know?”
Carl lit a cigarette and puffed on it, blowing the smoke in Sarah’s face. “I know if you don’t get off your ass and get me out of here, you’re gonna have a dead FBI agent on your hands. It’s a wonder Rob ain’t already got here and shot the lot of you. Damn fools.”
Sarah couldn’t ignore the grief that washed over her at the mention of Rob’s name. Carl didn’t know his partner had been shot. Or that he might already be dead. José and Juanita might be dead. So many losses. All of them her fault.
Sarah closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as a single tear slid down her face. “I’m sorry, Mr. Jackson. Matt, Jed, let’s get him back to the house.”
Sarah ignored the urge to run, setting a steady pace, stopping occasionally to check the tourniquet. Her efforts were met with
stony glares and bursts of profanity. Relief surged through her at the sight of the three Edgewood police officers headed their way.
“Thank God,” she whispered, hugging Arthur Daniels.
“We got here as quick as we could.” Turning to Matt and Jed struggling under the weight of Carl’s huge frame, he grinned. “Looks like you guys have got your hands full.”
“Everybody’s a fucking comedian,” Carl grumbled.
Ignoring the comment, Daniels turned to Sarah. “What can we do to help?”
Sarah motioned him to walk a short distance away with her. Keeping her voice low she filled him in on what she knew and what had happened so far.
“What happened at the house?” Sarah asked, her heart clenching as she held her breath.
“José and Juanita are fine. Knocked out, but Doc doesn’t think there’s any concussion or anything.” His gaze slid to Carl, and then quickly away. “The other agent died about half an hour ago.”
Closing her eyes Sarah let relief and guilt wash over her. Thank God, José and Juanita were okay. She’d expected the news about Rob, but somehow it hurt so much worse to have someone put it into words.
“Does he know?” Daniels nodded toward Carl.
“I didn’t tell him. Thought it might be better to get him back to the doctor first. I understand they were really close.”
Daniels nodded. “I’ll have Bill and Sam take over for Matt and Jed. They look really bushed.”
“Let Matt and Jed help. He’s lost a lot of blood. Would you mind if I went on ahead?”
“Get on out of here. I can handle this.”
“Thanks, Art. You might want to check the tourniquet before you leave.” As an afterthought Sarah added, “Mr. Jackson’s bark is a lot worse than his bite.”
Daniels smiled. “I think I can handle him.”
Sarah waved, taking off at a steady jog. Arthur Daniels was six foot five inches of solid muscle. There weren’t many people he couldn’t handle.
#
Millie felt the slight tremble in her legs as she approached the door. She was suddenly thankful that Clarence had the gun. And she knew without asking he knew how to use it. The door opened, just as she raised her hand to knock.
