Final Mend

by Angela Smith

  Winona took the paper, and Jake peered over her shoulder. He studied the words, but they swam in his vision.

  “Your package will be delivered at the appropriate time,” Winona read. “You know the spot.” She waved the paper, the sound a carillon that filled Jake with resentment.

  “That’s it?” he asked. “What does that mean?”

  “We think Amy is the package.”

  • • •

  Winona watched Jake crumble before her. He kept his chin up, his shoulders straight, but his lips sagged, his eyes grew glassy. He fell to the couch.

  It was her fault. All her fault. They never should have left.

  But then again, if they hadn’t, the police probably would have been knocking on their hotel door and arresting Jake.

  “Her vehicle was found at a roadside park,” Garret said.

  Jake jumped up. “A roadside park?”

  “We have cops canvassing the area now. They’ve set up checkpoints up and down the major highways. So far, nothing.”

  Jake grabbed his phone and punched in a number. Winona assumed he was calling Lillian.

  “What about her cell phone?” Winona asked Garret as Jake hung up and tried again.

  “It was found in the console of her car. We’re going through the numbers she’s called and tracking those, but chances are she has another phone she’s using. We’re searching all kinds of records, trying to figure it out. Some of my contacts are breaking laws by not going through proper procedures, and most are doing it only because there’s a little girl involved.”

  Jake paced. Helplessness overwhelmed Winona. She could do nothing but pray Lillian hadn’t done something crazy, like sell her only child to a monster for no telling what.

  She wanted to bury her face in her hands and bawl like a baby. Wail. Scream. Throw a fit. The urge became almost unbearable. She slipped outside and let the door slam behind her, then took off running down the hill. Tears of worry wrenched out of her as hard rain fell on her, pummeling her with the wrath she deserved.

  The rain felt moldy, the smell a sweaty stench in her throat. She let the downpour pelt her with the beating she deserved.

  What could she have done differently? If they had stayed, Jake would probably be in jail right now. But then, jail might be the best place for him so he couldn’t do anything stupid.

  She was gone all of five minutes. She hated to be gone much longer in case something happened. The pace she ran felt like a marathon.

  Reagan stood under the roof, waiting for her, concern etched on her face. She handed Winona a cup of coffee. “Are you okay?”

  “No,” Winona cried. She swiped away a tear. “No, I’m not okay.”

  Reagan wrapped her in her arms. “We’re all praying for her.”

  “If I hadn’t been such a failure, we wouldn’t have to.”

  Reagan stepped back and stroked Winona’s hair away from her tears. “What do you mean, a failure? This is none of your fault.”

  “Yes, it is. I should have taken Jake seriously. I should have been investigating that woman. Surveillance. I should have done surveillance on her. I should have done my job.”

  “Technically, you’re retired. And once Amy was found, it didn’t seem necessary.”

  “Garret considered it necessary. If he hadn’t found out what he had so far …”

  “He did all of that last night after Lillian claimed Jake had kidnapped Amy. And Garret had talked to Jake yesterday, so he knew it wasn’t true. He was awake all night doing whatever it is he does to investigate. He hasn’t slept. You would have done the same thing.”

  Instead, she’d been on the mountain making love to Jake under the stars.

  Winona squared her shoulders. What was done was done, and there was no changing that. But she’d do what she could to fix it. “True. And now it’s time to find the bitch.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “He’s a fed! He’d a fucking fed!”

  Well, an ex-fed. But that made no difference. Lillian didn’t bother correcting the man on the phone. Kevin. The man who wanted to buy her daughter.

  Ben held the phone with one hand, the steering wheel with the other, and drove like the hounds of hell were after him. Lillian could hear the entire conversation, Kevin’s irate voice louder than the rain pounding on the vehicle.

  Her selfishness had escalated her to the desperation point. Desperate enough to kill, have someone killed, and even sell her own daughter. And Dillon, poor Dillon, had nothing to do with anything, despite what Jake thought. Dillon was an innocent pawn and looked good on her arm when the cameras were rolling and she needed to grieve. She’d dumped him once she no longer needed him for money. Besides, he was a pansy and she now had the money to be picky.

  “We’re heading to the cabin now, boss. We’re out of harm’s way. They’ll never find us. We’ll be there soon.”

  “I can’t trust you …” His voice grew garbled, and Ben flinched.

  Lillian finally had her whole life in front of her. She’d never wanted to be a mother, but she’d look like a horrible mom if she gave her daughter up. Ben had made things easy by getting Brandon out of the picture and finding a buyer for Amy. With Amy being kidnapped, Lillian could grieve and might even have a chance to be famous. She wouldn’t be just another poor soul whose daughter had been killed. She could change the world.

  When Amy had escaped, Lillian had had no choice but to act like a rejoicing mother and wait for a better opportunity. Accusing Jake was her perfect opportunity, but Ben had insisted she accompany them until the exchange so that she could keep watch on her daughter.

  And now, fear raged in her belly. She was almost positive Ben planned to kill her.

  “Mo—uh, Lilly?” Amy’s voice wavered, and Lillian trembled. She glanced in the backseat, where Amy huddled.

  “Everything’s fine, darling. Take a nap. Don’t listen to what the adults are doing up front.”

  “Who …”

  “Shh,” Lillian said.

  Ben thrust the phone to Lillian. “He wants directions.”

  Chills deluged Lillian’s spine. She faced the front and hesitated before taking the phone. His first name was all she knew about him. She’d never met him, never wanted to meet him. Ben was the fence between Lillian and Kevin. He was supposed to make the exchange and hand her daughter over without Lillian ever meeting them. She had chosen the cabin as the spot because it was remote and Jake was probably the only person alive who knew about its existence. One treacherous mountain trail led up to the cabin, and the rest by way of public roads. Amy couldn’t walk out and into a café to be found again.

  But they could easily dispose of Lillian’s body.

  The truck bounced, and Lillian let out a soft yip. Ben’s face had narrowed considerably ever since he heard the news about Garret being a federal agent, and now his face contorted into a painful grimace.

  “Uh, hello?”

  Kevin’s screeches were garbles. Her chest expanded in fear, making her breath flighty. She squinted, as if that would open her ears and her mind and tell her what to do.

  She stumbled over the directions as she shouted them to Kevin, but all she heard was static. They had reached an area of the mountain that made phone calls difficult. Maybe he couldn’t hear her. Maybe they couldn’t trace them and figure out where they were.

  Maybe she could give them wrong directions. They’d never know the difference. Besides, with this rain it was unlikely anyone would reach the cabin anytime soon.

  Sheets of rain fell as the truck bounced through the narrow road. Trees tangled together, butting heads, twisting into a furl of branches.

  She should have played the damsel to Jake. He didn’t like her, didn’t trust her, but he loved Amy and would do anything for her. He’d even offered to give her mommy money, but Lillian had been too afraid of breaking the deal she’d already made with Ben. And too greedy. If she gave her daughter away, she’d look like a bad parent.

  “You’d better n
ot be playing me,” Kevin said. This time the line was clear and his voice harsh.

  “I’m not. It’s just if this rain doesn’t let up, it’s dangerous to try to find this place right now.” Lillian straightened her spine against the seat rest to stay strong, and kept her voice from wavering and pleading. She’d save those for later, if she needed them. Maybe she could still use her womanly wiles. She used her silken-growl voice, the one Brandon had liked her to use when she showered his body with kisses. “You’re better off waiting a day or two,” she continued.

  “Why’s that? You don’t think I’d enjoy being stuck with a pretty woman and her child in a remote cabin?”

  Cold flushed through her, tightening into heat in her throat. She shuddered, closing her eyes in a fight to remain strong. “No … I’m just worried you wouldn’t make it. It gets muddy and there are a lot of creeks to cross. It’s … dangerous.” That part, she could believe. She’d never felt safe at this cabin.

  “Well, thanks for worrying about me, pretty girl. You let Ben know to hole up for a few days and I’ll call him later to discuss new arrangements.”

  Lillian glanced at Ben, hoping he could hear Kevin’s conversation. Holing up meant not killing her. At least, not yet. That would give her more time to formulate her own plan.

  “Yes, sir. We have plenty of rations to last at least a week.”

  “Good. Good. Let me talk to Ben.”

  “You know that none of this matters, right?” she asked, deciding to be brave and lay it all on the line.

  “None of what matters?”

  “The fact this FBI agent is involved. I realize it’s an inconvenience, but I’m willing to pay you more money for the trouble. The only reason he’s helping is because he’s Jake’s friend. He’s retired, and Jake will grow bored and stop looking for us if he doesn’t go to jail first. He’s an addict, and he’ll soon fall into his addiction. Neither of them will be a problem for long.”

  “And what about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “Will you be a problem?”

  “No. I—”

  “You’ve been a problem in the past. Changing our deal.”

  “I panicked.”

  “What if you panic again?”

  Lillian had panicked after Amy had been found, and she’d considered backing out of their deal entirely. At this point, she’d doubted this man would have ever let her back out.

  She couldn’t afford to think of the plans Kevin had for her daughter. He’d find a better home for her, and Lillian could start a new life where nobody knew her. Perhaps she could pay Kevin to give her a new identity and she could start over somewhere else.

  “Ben was the one who screwed up, not me,” Lillian said.

  “I’ll take care of Ben. And I’ll take care of you.”

  • • •

  Jake grabbed Winona when she came back in. She was drenched from the rain, and Reagan brought her a towel and clothes.

  He wrapped his arms around her and planted his chin on the top of her head, closing his eyes. He wanted to reassure her that this wasn’t her fault. He didn’t blame her, and she shouldn’t blame herself. It would have happened no matter what. Lillian had a plan, and she’d see to it that her plan succeeded. If Jake had still been in Wyoming, the cops would have arrested him, Garret wouldn’t be here to help, and Amy would still be missing.

  Things happened for a reason. They were here now, and he planned to find Amy.

  And Lillian.

  Winona didn’t hug him. Her body remained stiff. He pulled away to arm’s distance and kept his hands on her shoulders. “Whatever you’re thinking, this is not your fault.”

  She nodded once and rolled her eyes upward.

  “Winona.” He gave her a little shake.

  “We should have gone back.”

  “No. I’d probably be in jail if we went back. We didn’t go back. Stop blaming yourself.”

  She nodded again, but he wasn’t sure she believed him. He understood. He blamed himself constantly for the things that had recently happened.

  His phone shrilled and he jerked away to dig it out of his pocket. The number said unavailable, and he wasted no time answering.

  “Hello?”

  “Jake!” Lillian said in a whispery soft shrill. “Jake!”

  His heart stopped, then pounded with a force he thought would knock him to the floor.

  “Lillian?” He glanced at Garret, snapped his fingers, and mouthed her name. He wasn’t sure how all the high-end fancy-smancy police tracing worked, but he needed a trace on this call. “Where the hell are you?”

  “I don’t know.” Her words gurgled like she was in an underground well that was filling with water.

  “Is Amy with you? Is she okay?”

  “Yes. Yes, she’s okay.” Her voice sounded desperate but far away.

  “What happened? Your car was found on the side of the road.”

  “I was having car problems. I pulled over, and some guy pulled over, too. He put a gun to my head and told me and Amy to get out and come with him. I didn’t know what to do.”

  Doubt flashed like a hot wire, revving with suspicion. He didn’t know if she’d had car trouble, but that could easily be checked. He still suspected she had something to do with this.

  “I think Brandon was involved in something terrible,” Lillian whispered.

  “Why would you think that?” he growled. He didn’t like where this was headed. Lillian was definitely involved, and now she’d sully Brandon’s name to get out of her predicament.

  “I mean, why do this? Isn’t it a bit strange? He’s killed, Amy is kidnapped. Again.”

  “Where are you?” he asked again.

  Lillian hesitated. The silence amplified the pounding of his heart. His frayed nerves culminated into dizziness. He closed his eyes, but the blackness was too terrifying. “Lillian?”

  “He took us to Brandon’s favorite place in the whole world. Brandon had always wanted to retire here and spend his life fishing. But we’re stuck on this mountain. Even if I figured out a way to get us out of here, the rain will make it impossible to leave.”

  This time, Jake closed his eyes and kept them closed. Let the blackness hit. He knew exactly where they were going, and it wasn’t going to be easy to get there.

  “How can you deny he wasn’t involved in something that didn’t get him killed?” Lillian whispered.

  “I’m not denying that. He was involved with you, wasn’t he?”

  “Fuck you.” Venom dulled her voice. He’d taken the antidote years ago. Replaced it with hatred. It took every ounce of his control not to respond. Amy’s safety was in her hands.

  This wasn’t Brandon’s doing. He hadn’t been involved in anything that would harm his daughter. No way in hell. Brandon’s morality was absolute. He’d never—never. The only mistake he’d ever made in life was hooking up with Lillian, but Lillian had reeled him in with her pregnancy. And he’d have never turned his back on his child.

  He glanced at Garret. His best choice was to give the phone to Garret, let him talk sense to Lillian. Help her get out of there, away from this guy.

  “I … oh shit,” Lillian whispered, her voice warbling higher in fear. “I stole the guy’s phone. I’ve got to go before he catches me.”

  She ended the call, leaving him standing there, lost and terrified. Three pair of eyes watched him. Winona, who still hadn’t changed into dry clothes. Garret’s, whose quizzical arch implied Jake would solve it all now that Lillian had called, and Reagan, who looked just as confused and worried as ever.

  “That was Lillian,” he said.

  “We’re tracing the call now,” Garret said. “We’ll pinpoint her location soon.”

  That seemed to get Winona going. She ran to the bathroom with her clothes, probably to change. Jake hit send on his phone to redial the number, but nothing happened.

  “I know where they are.”

  “Where?”

  “She said Brandon�
��s favorite place. The place he wants to retire. He owned a small cabin on a mountain that’s virtually impassable in the snow without a snowmobile. Heavy rains like this make it difficult. The trailhead is small, covered with trees and branches. Very backwoods. Lots of forests. The trail gets muddy when it rains. There’s a public road that takes you up to the trail, but creeks run the gamut of them. It takes a lot to make ’em rise but when they rise, you can’t cross.”

  “We’ll take the helicopter.”

  Jake shook his head. “I could get there faster. Besides, a helicopter might get you close, but not close enough. I’m going in.”

  “You wait. We’ll figure out a game plan.”

  “I don’t have time to wait. My game plan is to drive up there, save Amy, and get the hell out before the creeks rise. She said it was raining, but it takes more than this. I’ve been there before. Been stuck there before.”

  “You don’t know how much it’s rained there. Could have been more than here, and it’s already rained a lot.”

  Jake shrugged and turned. “Maybe. But it’s a risk I’ll take.”

  “No. Dammit, Jake, you wait.” Garret grabbed his phone. “I’ll make a few quick calls.”

  “You go ahead and do that. I’ve got something to check in my truck. Be right back.”

  Jake walked out the door with no intention of returning. Winona must have guessed that, because she grabbed her tote and followed.

  “I’m going with you.”

  “No.”

  She grabbed his elbow and forced him to turn and face her. Rain assaulted them, falling in rivulets down their face.

  “It’s too dangerous.”

  “Too dangerous to go alone. And I’m more than capable.” She thrust Chayton’s keys to Jake’s chest. “But I think we should take Chayton’s Jeep.”

  What, she wasn’t going to take away more of Jake’s manhood by demanding he let her drive?

  “The weather sucks. It’s iffy we’ll even make it up the mountain, much less down.”

  “That’s why we take Chayton’s Jeep. Come on,” she said, when Garret opened the door of the house and hollered.

  They scampered to Chayton’s Jeep. Jake revved the engine. Garret ran out of the house, arms flailing. Jake chuckled, but it wasn’t a funny laugh.