She grabbed her own backpack, gathered up some of her loose items that were spread around, stuffed them into the pack, and stepped from the tent. She looked around in dismay. Billy and Chad had already left, gone, and abandoned her.
She was miles from the main road and unsure which way was the correct route to safety. She hadn’t paid much attention when they hiked here, trusting the guys knew where they were going. She could easily get lost if she headed out in the wrong direction. She berated herself for being so mindless. She stood still, distressed and fearful, trying to get her bearings.
One thing was for sure, she couldn’t stay here.
She slung her backpack over her shoulder and hurried along the beach. If the Lincolns were still around, she would ask if they would let her stay with them, and maybe they would give her a lift back to town.
She hurried around the beach, shaking at everything that moved, every tree that rustled by the breeze, and every small creature of nature that played among the trees. She was ever fearful the killer was behind her. Or maybe he was ahead. She didn’t know who to trust. Even Jake might be the killer, but she had to do something.
“Holly?”
She stopped short and spun around, unsure who called her name.
“Holly. Here, in the cave.”
She turned toward the sound in time to see Jake duck out. He looked at her curiously. “Are you all right?”
She studied him carefully. He seemed sincere, concerned. Could she trust him?
“It’s Rosie,” she answered carefully.
“What about her?”
She looked him straight in the eye, watching for his reaction. “She’s dead.”
“Dead? How? What?”
“Somebody killed her,” Holly answered, looking instinctively back toward the camp she’d just left. Suddenly, the tears came. She dropped her head and sobbed hysterically. She felt his arms around her, patting her hair, comforting her, soothing her as she shook uncontrollably.
Eventually, her sobs diminished and he stepped back, leaned over, and held her by the shoulders. “Where is she?” he asked.
Holly wiped at her cheek and motioned down the beach. “She’s back there, near our camp.”
“And where are the guys you were with?”
She sobbed again and a tear fell. “They ran away and left me. I had no choice but to look for you.” She raised her head. “Can I stay here? Is that ok?”
“Absolutely,” he said, and glanced around. “I’m not sure how safe any of us are right now, but you’re welcome to stay.”
CHAPTER 49
Sunday, 7:35 AM
VARICK LUCAS raised his eyes and froze, his hand on the padlock. Another helicopter was in the area, its choppy rhythm coming from a distance away. It wasn’t as close as the last one, but it made him uneasy. They might be looking for him, and if so, it would be just a matter of time.
He had to get the game underway and get out of here.
He pulled the key from his pocket and frowned at the small chips of wood and bark that clung to the lock. Someone had tried to break in. He glanced around apprehensively and saw a short log a few feet away, tossed aside. He picked it up and examined it, sure now his suspicion was correct.
Someone had definitely been here. He suspected it would happen sooner or later, but it was too early. He wasn’t ready for them.
Rounding the cabin, he checked the locks on the shutters. They were secure and seemed untouched.
He returned to the front of the cabin, unlocked the padlock, eased the door open, and stepped inside. He ducked as the blade of an oar zipped through the air and crashed into the solid door frame, narrowly missing his head.
His right hand shot up and he grabbed the oar, then stood and glared at his attacker through the dimness of the small room.
“Did you think I wouldn’t be ready for you?” he asked, as he moved forward, forcing Annie to take a step backwards.
She dropped onto the cot and watched him while he struck a match and lit the lantern, then closed the door.
“Good thing I locked the shutters,” he said with a curt laugh.
“You didn’t have to come back so soon,” she said. “It was rather pleasant here without you.”
He laughed again, this time long and hard. When he was done, he took a deep breath and sat on the chair near the cot. He leaned forward and studied her carefully. She was brave, at least on the exterior. It was hard to tell what was going on inside, but she sure put up a fearless facade.
“How did you untie yourself?” he asked.
She didn’t answer.
“I rather expected it, anyway,” he said offhandedly, and stood again. “By the way, we have to move.”
She looked at him curiously. “I quite like it here,” she said.
“And why is that? So they can come back to rescue you?” He chuckled, evil and low. “That won’t happen. I’ve taken care of them.”
Something crossed her face—something like fear, or apprehension, or maybe unbelief. Maybe a combination of all three. That’s exactly what he wanted. Keep her guessing. Keep them all guessing.
“Where are we moving to?” she finally asked.
Ah, there it was. She was curious and couldn’t help herself. When he didn’t answer, she shrugged, pretending it didn’t matter. But he knew it mattered to her, very much indeed.
“You’ll see,” he said.
He found a six-foot length of cord in a box and stuffed it into his back pocket, then retrieved the pieces of rope she’d tossed in the corner, and examined them. He tied the two pieces together, tested the knot, and held it in front of her.
“Afraid I have to tie you up again,” he said.
She shrugged. “Do what you have to.”
He wondered how long she could keep up that plucky attitude. He saw right through it. If she only knew what he knew—.
He stepped closer to the cot. “Lie down.”
She lay back and crossed her arms.
“On your face,” he said.
She rolled over.
He tied her wrists together—tighter this time, then ran the cord down her back to one ankle, tied it securely, then to the other ankle, leaving a length of several inches between her feet.
Leaning over, he wrapped his arms around her waist, dragged her off the cot, and set her on her feet. He felt her trembling with fear in spite of her brave face.
“Can you walk?” he asked.
She took a short step forward.
“Good enough,” he said. “How does it feel?”
“It feels comfortable.”
He laughed. “Now I know you’re lying. They used to tie me up like that when I was in prison. At first, it was like that all the time, whenever they moved me. Course, they used chains and cuffs, but it was anything but comfortable.” He laughed again. “Then they relaxed a bit after that because I became a model inmate.”
“You sure had them fooled.”
“It wasn’t hard. Course, a lot of the screws were always careful, but there were a few you could fool. They thought they were rehabilitating you, and you smile pretty at them, but they didn’t know I was just aching to cut their slimy throats.”
She was looking the other way as if not listening. He knew she heard him. “Do I have to gag you, or will you keep your mouth shut?”
“You don’t have to gag me,” she answered.
He squinted at her, hoping he could trust her, then turned suddenly and blew out the lantern. He spun her around and grabbed the rope at her back. “Enough talk. Time to move.”
He prodded her toward the door, opened it, and secured the padlock in place behind them. “Walk,” he said, pointing toward the forest.
She hobbled her way across the clearing, her hampered legs causing her to stumble on the uneven ground. He wasn’t in a hurry anyway. They were away from the cabin, the coast was clear, and the game continued.
She slipped backwards navigating up a grade, so he pushed her from behind, patiently
prodding her upwards and onwards.
In a few minutes, the sound of a stream could be heard in the distance and grew louder as they approached it. This was close to where he’d seen the girl bathing, a little further upstream from here.
He gripped the rope at her back as he prodded her into the stream, then across to the other side.
“In there,” he said, pointing to a limestone cave formed in the side of a cliff. “You’ll be safe there.”
She didn’t move, so he pushed at her, forcing her to walk or lose her balance. A trickle of water pooled at their feet as it made its way from the cave, down the cliff, and joined the stream below. He pushed her deep into the hundred-foot long cavern. The air was damp, the high ceiling dripping with moisture and puddling on the smooth limestone floor.
He pointed toward one of the many stalagmites rising from the floor near the back of the cave. “Sit there and lean back.”
She objected at first, so he spurred her forward by a grip on her shoulder. She hit the column and dropped to her knees, then rolled and sat with her back against the tapering rock formation.
He pulled the rope from his back pocket, tied it securely to one wrist, wrapped it around the column, then back to the other wrist. He tugged on the cord to make sure it was snug. She winced at the pain, but it was necessary to tie her tightly. There were no shutters to keep her in if she got free from the ropes.
“You won’t be able to get loose this time,” he said. “So save your strength.”
He stood back and observed her a moment, then strode toward the entrance. “They won’t hear you either,” he called back over his shoulder. “So save your voice as well.”
CHAPTER 50
Sunday, 8:05 AM
JAKE HAD LEFT HOLLY in the cave and had paced the beach for what seemed like hours, keeping an eye out for anyone who might be lurking around, be it friend or foe.
His worry for the boys deepened with each passing moment. With Holly’s frightening revelation that Rosie had been brutally murdered, it seemed obvious the killer targeted people at random, and no one was safe.
His heart jumped, ecstatic to hear a familiar voice call his name. “Dad.” He spun around to see Matty and Kyle racing down the grade from the campsite.
His displeasure with the boys, and the dread for their safety he felt a moment ago vanished. He raced to his son, crouched down, and pulled him close with one arm, the other around Kyle.
“Where’ve you been?” he asked Matty, the relief in his voice mixed with gentle rebuke.
Kyle spoke up, eagerness in his voice. “We found the cabin.”
Jake pushed back and looked at Kyle. “You found the cabin?”
Kyle shook his head vigorously and pointed vaguely toward the forest. “It’s that way.”
He’d spent hours looking for that cabin, almost given up hope, and the boys had found it.
“Mom’s in the cabin,” Matty announced in an excited tone. “We talked to her but couldn’t break the lock.”
Jake’s jaw dropped. It took a moment for the realization to sink in. They had found Annie.
“She said to come and get you,” Kyle put in. “All the windows are locked and so is the door.”
Jake hugged the boys again, his heart racing. He had to get there right away. “Where is it?” he asked. “Is she ok? Is your mother all right?
“She said she’s fine, Dad,” Matty said. “We can show you where it is.”
Jake had a choice to make. If he dared let the boys take him there, he might put them in danger. On the other hand, they knew where the cabin was and were sure they could find it again.
He made the difficult decision. “I want you boys to stay here. If you can explain to me where the cabin is, I’ll go by myself.”
Kyle looked at Matty. “Can you explain?”
“Sure, it’s easy.” Matty reached into his pocket and removed his compass. “You have to go to the clearing where the bear was.” He pointed to a spot on the compass. “Then you have to go this way.”
Jake looked at the compass. “West-northwest?”
“I think so.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure, Dad. Just a few minutes past the clearing there’s a big hill, like a cliff. If you see that, you’re going the right way. Then just keep going, follow the compass, and watch for it.”
He had missed that area entirely. It seemed like he’d searched everywhere but there, always going in the wrong direction, too far south. He was irritated at himself, but eager to get going.
Jake took the compass from Matty, put it into his pocket, and headed down the beach, beckoning to the boys. “Come on guys, back to the cave.”
“Do we have to?” Kyle asked.
“Yes, and there’s someone I want you to meet.”
They followed him to the cave and ducked inside. Holly sat on a sleeping bag and looked up when they appeared. She gave them a weak smile and said, “Hi.”
Matty looked at her curiously and said, “Hello.” He looked at his father, and then back at Holly. “You’re the girl we met in town the other day. The backpackers.”
“Yes, I am,” she said. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“Where are the rest of them?” Kyle asked.
She paused. “It’s just me now. The others are … off on their own.”
“This is Holly,” Jake said. “They were camping at the end of the lake. The rest of her companions left, and we’re going to take care of her until we leave.”
Kyle looked at Holly closely. “She doesn’t look like anybody needs to take care of her.”
Jake chuckled. “Maybe not, but for now, she’s going to stay here and watch you while I’m gone.”
Jake explained the situation to Holly in as few words as possible, and then raised a finger toward the boys. “I want both of you to remain in this cave until I get back. No excuses this time. Is that understood?”
Matty nodded. “Understood.”
“I’ll make sure they stay, Mr. Lincoln,” Holly said.
Jake hated to leave them alone, but again, he had no choice. His wife needed him, and needed him immediately.
“I won’t be long,” he said, giving Matty a quick hug. “Remember, do as Holly says.”
Matty nodded. “We’ll be ok, Dad. Go get Mom.”
Jake ducked from the cave and ran from the beach into the forest. He didn’t stop to rest, leaping over branches and fallen trees, dodging bushes, up and down grades, until he finally reached the clearing. He stopped, panting for breath, and rested a few moments before digging the compass from his pocket.
West-northwest. He looked across the clearing, checked his bearings, and started off again.
Matty had given him great directions, and in a few minutes, he came across the cliff the boy had mentioned. Two sets of footprints were visible in patches of loose soil at the base, and more marks where the boys had scrambled up the eroded hill.
He followed Matty’s instructions and a few minutes later, his heart jumped when the distinct pattern of the outer wall of a cabin came into view. He had found it.
He crept closer and stopped a few feet back from the edge of the clearing surrounding the building. He listened for telltale sounds someone else might be close by, but nothing but the constant voice of nature could be heard.
From where he stood, the padlock was visible on the front door. He moved over to his left. The shutters at the side of the building were closed; everything appeared exactly the way the boys had described it.
Annie must be inside.
He strode to the door, pulled at the unyielding lock, and then banged on the heavy wooden panel. He waited but no answer came, and there was no indication anyone was inside. He banged again. Nothing.
“Annie,” he called, over and over, to no avail.
He could try to break in but a closer look at the lock revealed it was too sturdy. No amount of whacking at it without the proper tool would do anything. He should’ve brought a tire iron f
rom the SUV, and he contemplated going back for it. No, that would waste precious time.
He went to the side of the building, checked the shutters, and found the same type of padlock. The hinges were solid and assembled in such a way they weren’t accessible from the outside.
He banged on the solid shutters, not expecting an answer. None came.
He considered the situation. Something had taken place since the boys were here. It didn’t appear Annie was inside and he concluded if no one was around, then the kidnapper must have taken Annie somewhere else.
Had the kidnapper been aware the boys had found the cabin? If not, why did he take Annie away? But if so, why’d he let the boys go, knowing they would return and tell somebody? Is that what he wanted? Is he lurking around here right now, watching, and waiting?
Jake looked around uneasily. Something didn’t seem logical.
His fear for Annie’s safety increased and he tried to think clearly. If the kidnapper had meant to harm her, why’d he keep her locked up, rather than killing her immediately? What would be his reasoning?
What was his plan, and where could they be?
CHAPTER 51
Sunday, 8:33 AM
ANNIE STRUGGLED against the stubborn ropes that held her firmly to the column. If she could get loose from them, there were no padlocks, doors, or shutters, between her and freedom.
She had tried rubbing the ropes against the stalagmite but it was uneven, and the cord seemed to be wedged into a natural groove, not willing to budge in either direction. It kept her from sliding the ropes up the column to attempt a standing position and she was forced to stay in one spot.
She recalled her conversation with Varick Lucas. She’d tried to hide her fear from him, putting on a brave face, but the truth was, she was terrified. His unpredictable actions made it difficult for her to judge what his plans were. But whatever they were, it wasn’t something she relished being a part of.
Justice Overdue: A Private Investigator Mystery Series Page 18
