Shadows 02 Celtic Shadows

by K C West

  “Shut up and get in the car.”

  I twisted free and caught a glimpse of a man with a ski mask pulled over his face. I started to run in the direction of the bike riders. The car and the man followed me. I looked around, but except for the bicyclists, I saw no one.

  “Stop it! Leave me alone!” One of the young men was looking toward me over his shoulder. He shouted something to his companion, and they turned their bikes around. The man who was chasing me grabbed my shoulders and hauled me toward the car.

  “Damn it! No!”

  His gloved hand clamped over my mouth.

  “In the car,” he repeated, breathing hard.

  I fought to catch my own breath and used my elbows and feet to poke and kick him, trying everything I could remember from the self-defense classes I had taken as a student in Boston.

  The bicyclists were pedaling uphill toward us. One of them called out a question that I couldn’t quite hear.

  “Mind your own business!” my assailant shouted in their direction. “She’s run away from her husband, and we’re taking her home!”

  The car’s front door opened. “Shit, what’s taking you so long?”

  “She’s a - Ow! A goddamned hellcat. Give me a hand.”

  As I grappled with the first assailant, the driver joined us. I felt a stabbing pain in my hip, and a cloth covered my nose and mouth, forcing me to inhale a strong chemical. I kept biting and struggling, but my vision blurred, and everything started moving in slow motion.

  One of them pinned my hands behind my back, and I couldn’t feel my legs touching the ground. The bicyclists wouldn’t reach me in time.

  Kim was going to kill me.

  My head made contact with something hard in the backseat, and everything went dark.

  Chapter 12

  The fever held me tightly in its grip. My head throbbed, my eyes burned, and my throat felt like it had been scraped with a rusty razor. I lay on my side, then on my back, but no matter which way I turned, I couldn’t get comfortable. Hell, I didn’t need this now.

  It didn’t help that I was worried about PJ. I told myself that I was worrying over nothing. The threat was real, though, and we had been warned. Now I was imagining the worst.

  PJ had made light of it, saying there were always threats of one kind or another. Even though her dad was an ethical businessman, he made enemies. It was the nature of success.

  A spasm of coughing left me exhausted and breathless. I closed my eyes and slept fitfully for what I thought was a few minutes, but when I awoke and looked at my watch, it was eleven o’clock. I’d been asleep for three hours.

  “PJ?”

  Hearing no response, I called out, “Did you get the medicine?”

  There was only silence.

  “Are you in the bathroom?”

  Pup came whining to my bedside. I remembered PJ telling me that Trevor had taken him for a walk. Either she or he must have returned him to the room while I slept.

  “What’s the matter, boy?” I put out my hand, and he nudged it with his head. “Do you need to go out again? Where’s PJ?”

  My voice was raspy, and every word hurt my throat. Damn. Why did I have to come down with the flu, now of all times?

  I raised my head with effort and glanced at our travel alarm. It agreed with my watch. Shit! PJ should have been back ages ago.

  Her shoulder bag was on the chair. She was probably chatting with Arwel, giving me some peace and quiet.

  I lay back down. After a moment or two with the soft pillow cradling my aching head, a frightening thought crept into my mind.

  She hadn’t taken her bag, just grabbed her wallet. Oh, my God!

  Pup made a beeline for the door. He scratched at the panel, turned toward me, and whined again.

  Forgetting that I was weakened by the fever, I got up too fast. The room started spinning. I groped for the edge of the bed and sat down, waiting until I regained my equilibrium.

  I called Geoff and Trevor’s room. A sleepy voice answered the phone.

  “Sorry if I woke you, Geoff. What time did PJ return from the drugstore? And where is she now?”

  The silence on the other end of the telephone chilled my insides. Despite the fever, I shivered.

  “Geoff, are you there? I want to know what time PJ got back. I need to know where she is.”

  Geoff was still a little slow on the uptake. “Yes, Dr. Blair, I’m here. You said that Dr. Curtis went to the chemist?”

  “You mean you didn’t know?”

  “No. She didn’t ask either of us to accompany her.”

  “Oh, my God, Geoff, she’s been gone over three hours.” I looked around. “I know something’s wrong. Pup senses it, too. He’s very unsettled.”

  I heard Geoff say something to Trevor before getting back to me. “We’ll go and look for her.”

  I hung up the telephone with a muttered, “Thank you.”

  Twelve precious minutes elapsed before Geoff knocked on the door, opened it, and stuck his head in. His face was drawn. “We’ve checked the inn and the courtyard. She’s not here.”

  “Damn it, Geoff, where could she be?” I was still sitting on the edge of the bed, sweating and shaking from fever and fear. My head continued to throb, and I desperately wanted to lie down and sleep. “Damn her anyway, I told her to have one of you go with her.”

  Geoff entered the room and closed the door behind him. “Look, there’s probably nothing to worry about. We’ll find that she went for a walk or something.”

  My fingers curled into fists. “I’m going to kill her with my bare hands.”

  “Yeah, after I do. Trevor’s out looking for her, tracing her steps into the village.” He started to pace the small area in front of the door, raking thick fingers through his hair. “Maybe someone saw her, though it’s a real pea souper out there. There won’t be many people on the street, and it’s late. The chemist is always on call for emergencies, though I doubt he gets many around here, not like in the bigger towns. Still, we’ll wake him if necessary.”

  “She took this threat too lightly.”

  “Exactly when did she leave?”

  “I’ve been pretty muzzy since this bug hit, but I think it was a little before seven o’clock.”

  “Bloody hell! Why didn’t she come for one of us? That’s the reason we’re here - to look out for you two. If you don’t cooperate with us, we can’t do our job.”

  “Don’t tell me. You know PJ. She has a mind of her own.” I wiped a hand across my sweaty forehead, stood, and staggered toward the chair.

  “Go back to bed,” he said, turning me around and urging me back toward the big, old-fashioned bed with its heavy head-and footboards.

  I shook my head and winced at the resulting dizziness. “I have to get dressed.”

  “Not yet, you don’t. We don’t know for sure that Dr. Curtis is in trouble. Even if she is, you’re not going to be able to help her if you’re sick with pneumonia.”

  I groaned. He was right. There was little I could do. I’d try to look on the bright side. She’d show up any minute and wonder what all the fuss was about.

  Geoff pushed me gently onto the overstuffed mattress and covered me with the fluffy quilt. I was in no shape to argue. I sank into the bed’s soft comfort, telling myself the fever was making me overly anxious.

  Fifteen minutes dragged into thirty and then a whole hour. Geoff sat, staring into space. I wondered if he worried that the night had swallowed up his partner, too.

  Finally, I could stand it no longer. I sat up and flung the quilt to one side. “Where the hell is Trevor?”

  “I don’t know, but - ”

  His cell phone rang.

  I fell silent while he answered it. “Yeah. Oh, bugger! What? Where? You’re where?”

  I was on my feet, my fever forgotten. “Please tell me what the hell is going on.”

  “I’ll be right there.” He hung up the phone. “Trevor’s at the police station. I’m going there now.”


  “Not until you tell me what’s happened. Where is she? Is she okay?”

  His hesitation terrified me. “Now, Geoff. I want to know now.”

  “It appears she was abducted.”

  “Oh, shit!” A terrible, gnawing emptiness gripped my belly. “I knew it. I just knew something was wrong.”

  “You should have called us earlier.”

  “I was asleep, damn it!”

  He lifted his hand, palm toward me. “Sorry. I’m just - ” He stopped and started again, his voice more controlled. “Look, there were witnesses, a couple of bicyclists. Maybe we’ll find out exactly what happened and get a description. All we know so far is that she was on her way back from the chemist when she was pulled into a car.” He tried without success to push me back into bed. “You stay put. I have to join Trevor at the police station and see what else we can find out.”

  “I’m coming with you,” I said, and promptly broke into a fit of coughing.

  “You stay here, damn it. If PJ had followed instructions, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

  “I can’t just do nothing.”

  “You can ring Frederick Curtis. Tell him what we know so far. Tell him that Trevor or I will contact him as soon as we have some more information.”

  “Take Pup with you. He’ll know her scent. Maybe there’s still a trail.”

  Geoff grabbed Pup’s leash, and I had my cell phone out before the door closed behind them.

  Frederick was still at his office. “Jesus!” he said, his voice bellowing through the earpiece. “That daughter of mine will be the death of me yet. What else do we know?”

  “Not much, I’m afraid. Geoff and Trevor are at the police station now. There were witnesses, so we should be able to get a description of the abductors. It was dark, though, and very foggy.”

  “Kim.” Frederick’s tone was commanding. “Priscilla e-mailed me that you haven’t been well. I want you to stay put. You aren’t going to be any help to her if you have to be hospitalized.”

  “But I - ”

  “But nothing. I’ve been monitoring the weather over there, and it’s as cold as Boston in late September. Not at all what you’re used to.”

  Despite our predicament, I was forced to smile. We had all changed so much in the past seven months; Frederick Curtis was no exception. “You stay there,” he said. “You hear me? I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “I’d appreciate that,” I said, rubbing my eyes, which had filled with tears.

  “I know you’re worried about her and want to get out and look for her yourself, but it’s important that you stay put to answer any calls. It’s possible the kidnappers could call the inn with ransom instructions.”

  I thought it highly unlikely, but I supposed it was a possibility. “Yes, sir.”

  “Don’t you ‘sir’ me. We’re family. I have to hang up now and get things in motion from this end. And, Kim…”

  “Yes.”

  “Don’t worry. Allow Geoff and Trevor free rein. They’re good men. We’ll get her back.”

  With that, he hung up, and I was left alone with my own frightening thoughts.

  I crawled back into bed and pulled the covers up around my neck. They provided little comfort. I felt so useless, but I guessed it was for the best. I’d be more hindrance than help, out there. I pulled PJ’s pillow close and fell into a fitful sleep.

  I dreamed I was back in the Superstitions and saw Marna rise from the rubble of the earthquake-triggered landslide. She wore a flowing white robe and carried an ornate dagger at her waist.

  As she glided toward me, I extended my hand. She took it and began to chant. I couldn’t understand the words, but they were comforting. I thought it might be a prayer of some kind, one that caused me to slip into another dimension. Her long dark hair spilled around her face, leaving it in shadow, keeping me from looking into her eyes, which I longed to do.

  Then she was gone, and I was back in my bed, awake. My fever had broken, and though I was still terribly weak, I felt better. When Arwel checked on me, I asked her to bring me a bowl of hot soup and some thick slices of wheat bread to go with it. If I was to help find PJ, I had to regain my strength… and soon.

  Chapter 13

  I was aware of pain, overwhelming pain, and though it was a total body experience, it was most intense in my throbbing head and aching right side. My ribs felt like I’d been kicked by a mule. Make that several mules. My cheek rested against a padded seat. Through it, I detected the rhythmic thrumming of a car engine, punctuated with bumps and sudden, shifting turns. The vehicle was moving fast, with no regard for my comfort.

  Some kind of rough material covered my eyes, making my face itch. My hands were bound behind my back with something tough and smooth - maybe plastic or nylon straps. It felt like the same stuff bound my feet. I was trussed up like a hog for the market. Oh, Kimmy. I really screwed up this time.

  There had to be a way out of this predicament. With effort, I ignored the discomfort and temporary blindness and tried to focus my remaining senses. A faint odor of stale cigarettes and fried food lingered in the fibers of the fabric-covered seat where I lay.

  I could hear tires swishing on pavement, light rain on the back window and roof, the hypnotic hissing of windshield wipers, and the tense voices of my captors, as we drove through the darkness.

  Darkness? Was it still night outside, or did it just seem dark because of my blindfold? How long had I been unconscious? Such a stupid thing - going out without the guys or Pup. What must Kim be thinking? I knew she’d be mad, and I didn’t blame her. I was just so incredibly sorry for the grief this must be causing her and Dad.

  Hot tears leaked from under my blindfold. The itching turned to burning. I moved my head and inhaled a strong chemical. That must have been what they put over my face - chloroform, or some modern-day equivalent. We made a quick turn, and my stomach roiled, bringing a wave of nausea so great that I gulped repeatedly, trying to keep my last meal down. I don’t remember moaning, but the front-seat occupants reacted as if I had.

  “You got a complaint back there, Blondie?” His voice sounded surly, with a hint of wicked amusement.

  “Stop the car. I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

  “Oh, shit.” The other man’s voice was thick and muffled, as if he had a cold. “We can’t stop now.”

  There was a cranking noise and some cool air rushed over me.

  “Breathe that in and shut up,” the first guy said.

  In the midst of my discomfort, my brain registered some interesting information. They were American.

  Another wave of nausea hit, and I started retching.

  “Damn it, she’s going to puke up the car!” The thick voice was alarmed.

  “So what? We’ll ditch it anyway.”

  “What if she chokes? She could die before we get to the cottage. The boss’ll have our heads.”

  With a screeching of brakes, the car slid to one side of the road, and it sounded like both front doors flew open. I felt a cold chill on my skin and heard the wind rustling in the trees above us. Woods? A forest? I didn’t hear any rain now, but the air was heavy with moisture.

  I was hoisted out and shoved to the ground, landing on my injured side. Wet grass and pungent earth smacked my face, and the dampness seeped into my shirtsleeve and pant leg.

  “Here.” One of the guys crouched behind me and tugged at my wrists.

  My arms sprang apart, and a tingling sensation raced to my fingertips. There was no time for gratitude. Bracing myself on elbows and knees, I waited for the inevitable: my body’s surrender of lunch, breakfast, and what seemed like all ten toenails.

  I actually felt better afterwards, and pressed my forehead against the wet ground, reinforcing my tenuous bond to Mother Earth and all her living creatures. The thudding of helicopter blades sounded overhead. Was someone searching for me? No, it was too soon to expect help.

  The kinder guy pushed a cloth into my hand.

  “Th
anks,” I mumbled, wiping my mouth and chin.

  His arms wrapped around my waist. “All right. Up you go.”

  As I tried to balance on my hobbled feet, I recognized that another bodily crisis was imminent.

  “Please, wait,” I gasped. “I have to go to the bathroom.”

  He released me with a grunt of disgust. “Jesus H. Christ. What next?”

  I dragged myself a few feet away from him. “Please. I have to nee. Really. I won’t take long, I promise.”

  There was a thrashing in the bushes on the left and heavy footfalls. “What’s going on?”

  His buddy sighed. “Would you believe she has to take a leak? How do we work that?”

  I started to speak, but the mean guy’s swearing drowned out my words. “For two cents, I’d wring her skinny neck and leave her here to rot. She’s more trouble than she’s worth.”

  “Come on, give her a break.”

  “You’re sticking up for her? She broke your nose back there. You should be pissed.”

  I heard a bit of jostling. “Just shut up. It was a lucky kick. Besides, it’s not broken, just real sore.”

  I managed a snicker before my bladder protested again. “Hey! If one of you could just untie my legs, I could crawl into the bushes or something, and I’d be finished in no time.”

  There was a moment of silence.

  “All right, bitch. But I’ve got a needle full of that stuff that put you out before. You do anything funny and I’ll use it, you hear me?”

  “Loud and clear. I’ll behave, but right now, I have to go.”

  I felt a tug at my ankles, and my feet came free. He pressed his hand against my lower back and expelled hot, garlicky breath next to my ear. “Keep the blindfold on or you’re dead. Understand?”

  “Perfectly.” I swallowed bitter-tasting saliva.

  “Okay. Take about five steps and turn to your right. There’s a tree big enough to give you some privacy. We’ll be watching both sides and listening for any funny stuff. If you try anything, you’ll wish you hadn’t.”

  I attempted to stand, but the ground wouldn’t stay level. My legs felt as though I’d been pedaling one of the mountain stages of the Tour de France. I crawled the rest of the way, using an outstretched hand to locate the tree and maneuver around it.