Secrets at Cedar Cabin

by Colleen Coble

  He grabbed her arm and shoved her toward the gray metal door. “You’ll find out.” He unlocked the door and opened it, then pushed her ahead of him inside. The place felt cavernous with its high ceilings and open spaces. The floor was stained concrete, and the few high windows were small and didn’t let in much light.

  The Leonard look-alike flipped a switch and industrial lights flooded the space, revealing how old and dingy the place was. Still holding her arm, he marched her across the main room to a small hallway. Doors equipped with big locks appeared along both walls every five feet or so and added to the prison feel. She caught a glimpse of a barren concrete shower room through the only open doorway.

  “The boss wants you stowed until he’s ready to talk to you.” Her captor opened the door at the end of the hall on the right, thrust Bailey inside, and slammed the door shut.

  The lock clicked as she turned back toward the door. Though she knew it was hopeless, she grabbed the knob and yanked on it.

  “Those locks are impossible to crack,” a voice said behind her.

  A young woman sat on one of two narrow cots in the small room. She had the kind of Asian beauty that would make anyone stare in appreciation. Petite and fine-boned, she sat calmly on the bare mattress with her hands folded in her lap. Her black hair touched her shoulders in a jagged cut that looked like she’d taken shears to it herself. She wore jeans and a red T-shirt. A blonde was on the other bed, but she stared out the window and said nothing.

  Bailey approached the black-headed woman. “It sounds like you’ve tried.”

  “I’ve been trying to escape for years. Tonight it’s do or die time though. They’re shipping all of us overseas.” Her small chin tipped up as she narrowed her eyes. “I’m not going.”

  Was that to be her fate too? Bailey went to the window and watched two men with guns conversing. She looked at the girl again. “You have a plan?”

  “I always have a plan. Tonight’s will either end in freedom or death. There is no other option.”

  “What’s your name? I’m Bailey Fleming. I think I’m likely marked for the second option since the judge won’t want me to tell everyone what he’s doing.”

  “You know him?” The girl rose from the cot, and her dark eyes flashed. “I thought he was always too careful to get caught. This is good news. Are people looking for you?”

  “I’m sure there are. The FBI is even on the case.”

  “My brother’s looking too. He’s with the FBI.” Her voice was wistful.

  Bailey gasped. “Are you Ava?”

  Her dark eyes went wide. “I-I am. You know Lance?” Tears shimmered in her eyes.

  Bailey felt as though she could float right off the floor. Lance’s sister was right here in front of her. “I do. He’s been searching tirelessly for you. He’s saved my life already, and I’m sure he’ll figure out where we are.”

  Ava’s mouth turned down and she shook her head. “The judge is full of resources. I’m not so sure Lance can locate this place. We need to get out of here before the boat arrives to take everyone away.”

  “What can we do?”

  “There’s a bathroom across the hall with several windows. I’ve checked them, and several of the bars outside them are loose. I suspect other women have worked on them trying to escape. We have to finish removing them, then sneak out the window. I’m a strong swimmer, and I will swim to the island across the way and fetch help.”

  The plan felt too uncertain to Bailey. “What if we can’t remove the bars?”

  “We have to. Remember what I said—there are only two options.”

  “I think we need a backup. We don’t have any tools for working on the bars. There are two of us. Maybe we can snatch a gun away from one of the guards.”

  Ava went to the window and looked out. “The judge might want to talk to you first. You might be our best hope.”

  Sheba curled in Lance’s lap in the passenger seat of Daniel’s SUV like a big, warm rug. He’d stopped by to feed the cat, but Sheba was so glad to see him he brought her with him. She was the closest thing he had to Bailey right now, and seeing the cat had brought all his worry to the surface. They’d gotten a call from Grayson an hour ago saying they’d found everyone but Bailey.

  The FBI was looking for Harry Whitewell and several of his top men. The FBI pored over every property he owned but had come up empty. And no one knew where Bailey was.

  A thousand scenarios ran through his head, most of them bad. No trace of her had been found other than her abandoned snowshoes, a thermos, and a towel near the spot where a snowplow had turned around. Every snowplow operator employed by the county had been asked about her, but no one had seen her.

  She could be lying frozen in a snowdrift, but he had an urgent feeling that she was in imminent danger—and not from the weather.

  He wanted her in his arms where he could stare into those beautiful green eyes. He wanted to hear her laugh and to see her play with Sheba. He wanted to watch her care for Lily and everyone else who was lucky enough to be in her life.

  His phone rang again, another call from Grayson, and he answered it on the first ring. “You found her?”

  “No, sorry. Ellie talked to Mac and Jason is beginning to get his sight back. That’s great news, but it’s not why I’m calling. Jason is good friends with the judge. When he heard what had happened, he told her about a property where he’s gone fishing with Whitewell. He only went one time, but the judge asked him never to tell anyone about it. That piqued my interest. She texted me directions to the place, and we’re on our way back now. Our ETA is about forty minutes. Zach has arranged for one of his chopper pilots to fly you there immediately. It will be faster than driving. We’ll join you as quickly as we can.”

  A fishing spot wasn’t exactly his idea of a hideout. “Did Jason see anything suspicious out there?”

  “The buildings looked commercial, but he said the place was guarded like Fort Knox with fencing topped by barbed wire. He even thought he saw the glint of a rifle in a guard tower.”

  Lance’s hand stilled from petting the cat, and he sat up. “That sounds interesting.”

  “Doesn’t it though. Where are you now?”

  “About five minutes from the airport. We’re heading there right now.” He thanked Grayson and hung up to tell Daniel what he’d discovered. “I think we should call the supervisor and ask for backup. This might be it.”

  Daniel executed a U-turn and headed for the airport. “It might be a little premature, Lance. A fishing spot with a warehouse doesn’t sound like a place to keep trafficked women. Especially since it’s so remote. Their johns would find it difficult to get out there. Let’s at least check the place out first.”

  Daniel’s reasoning made sense. Lance’s personal involvement in this case could easily cloud his judgment. “Okay, let’s get out there and see it.”

  Daniel nodded. “There’s the airport up ahead. We going by plane or chopper?”

  “Chopper.”

  Daniel pulled into the parking lot, and a trim blonde dressed in a flight suit flagged them down. Daniel parked and Lance got out with Sheba in his arms.

  She jerked her head toward the chopper. “Valerie Baer. Zach told me it was urgent. The bird is fueled and ready to go. I took a look at our destination, and it’s heavily wooded. There’s a small clearing about half a mile from the place where I can set down, but you’ll need to walk the rest of the way. If this is your quarry, I can’t guarantee they won’t see us land.”

  “We’ll take that chance.” Lance followed her to the helicopter with Daniel.

  “What’s with the cat?” she asked.

  “A friend’s cat. She doesn’t like being left alone.” Aware of how stupid it sounded, he grinned. “This isn’t your average cat.”

  “I can see that.” She opened the doors. “Get in.”

  Lance let Daniel climb in first, then handed the cat to him and swung up into the chopper. Sheba leaped onto his lap and lay down as soon a
s he was seated, and her purr started immediately. She didn’t seem to be bothered by the noise of the engine as Valerie started it.

  In a few minutes the chopper was swooping over treetops and houses. They flew over the strait and headed for a spit of forest to the east. As they neared their destination, Valerie pointed out the clearing. By the time she landed the chopper, he’d convinced himself this was a wild-goose chase.

  “If we’re not back in an hour, go back and call this number.” He passed Valerie a card with the field office’s phone number on it.

  She pocketed it. “You taking the cat with you or you want me to keep it?”

  “You can keep her if you don’t mind.” He passed Sheba to Valerie, but the cat let out a hiss and leaped out of her arms, then dashed into the woods. “Great, just great.”

  “Go on and check out the building. I’ll coax the feline out with some smoked salmon I brought.”

  Bailey would be devastated if anything happened to her cat, but all cats loved fish, didn’t they? “Okay, do your best. Come on, Daniel.”

  The two men set off with the GPS on Lance’s phone guiding them along a faint path along the river. The building was just ahead.

  Lance squinted toward a tree. “I think I saw something move.” The movement came again. “It’s Sheba. She followed us.”

  The cat bounded to them, and he picked her up. “Nothing like doing some reconnaissance with a cat.”

  He’d just caught a glimpse of the fence topped by barbed wire when something whined past his head. “Get down!” Lance dove for the fallen leaves as Daniel landed next to him. The cat yowled and shot off into the brush.

  He drew his gun from his holster. “You okay?”

  Daniel had his gun out too. “Yeah, not hit. The shot came from that big tree.”

  “Drop your weapons, both of you.”

  He jerked his gun around to find four men aiming at them.

  “Don’t try it,” a big Asian guy said. “Ease your fingers off that Glock and stand up.”

  His gut had been right about this place. Lance had no choice, so he obeyed.

  Chapter 42

  Bailey paced the tiny room, then paused to look out the window when the gate clanged. She caught her breath as familiar figures came into view. Lance and Daniel.

  She reached out a hand to Ava. “They’ve captured Lance and his partner, Daniel.”

  Ava rushed to the other window. “I can’t believe it—it is Lance!” She fell silent as they watched four men march the FBI agents through the gates and toward the building.

  “I knew he’d figure out where we were, but where are the rest of the agents? I don’t think he’d come here without backup.” Bailey looked past him to the trees but saw nothing but bare branches and leaves blowing in the wind.

  The group stopped in the front yard, and the judge’s men forced the FBI agents to their knees. One of the men held a gun to Lance’s head. Was he going to shoot them right in front of her? Her hands squeezed into fists. She couldn’t let that happen.

  “No!” Bailey beat on the window.

  Lance’s gaze met hers. He held the connection for several moments, and she read the regret in his eyes. No backup was coming. She knew in her bones that the two men were on their own.

  “They’re going to kill them,” Ava whispered. “I can tell by their stance.”

  Maybe if they distracted the men, Lance and Daniel could escape. Bailey searched for something to use to break the glass. She yanked out the top drawer of a small dresser and slammed it into the window. The glass shattered, and the guards looked her way.

  At the distraction Lance reached up and twisted the gun from his captor’s hand. He was on his feet in an instant and held the gun to the man’s head. “Throw down your weapons.”

  The men glanced at each other, then another one of the men snaked out an arm and grabbed Daniel. He put a gun to his head. “Looks like we have a standoff. It’s still four against two. If you shoot you’ll both be dead in two seconds.”

  What could she do to distract them again? Bailey looked around wildly, but when she saw nothing that could help, she turned back to the window. Please, God. There had to be a way to save them.

  She whirled as a key scraped in the metal lock. Harry stepped inside and his grim hazel eyes pinned her in place.

  The smile lifting his lips held no reassurance. “You’ve caused me quite the problems, Bailey. Until today I suffered a bit of regret at the thought of the plans I have for you. You’ve made the sale I have in mind quite easy now. A rich sheik is transferring half a million dollars for you as we speak.”

  Bailey took a step back. Sold? “No!”

  The blur of motion passed in front of Bailey. Her fists out like claws, Ava leaped at Harry and dug her nails into his face.

  He yelped, and blood flowed down his face as she continued to tear at his skin until he grabbed both her shoulders and attempted to pry her away. Ava wrapped both legs around his waist and screamed as she raked his face again with her nails.

  Ava wouldn’t be able to overpower him by herself. Bailey flung herself atop Harry’s back and wrapped both arms around his neck in an effort to choke him. He flailed around, staggered back, and slammed her against the wall.

  The breath left her lungs, and her head spun from the blow. She couldn’t hold on to him and fell back against the wall.

  He managed to fling Ava to the floor, but before he could attack either of them, Jessica awoke from her stupor with a shout and leaped on his back. She grabbed a hank of his thick hair and yanked.

  Harry howled and smacked her against the wall, too, but she clung like a limpet to a rock.

  Bailey shook away her stupor and looked around for a weapon. Nothing. He’d dropped the key to the door, and she snatched it up and unlocked it. The sound of the struggle would bring him help if they didn’t move fast. She motioned to Ava, who darted past her into the hallway.

  In the next instant Harry, his face red, toppled to the floor, and Jessica rolled off of him. Footsteps thundered toward them. They were trapped.

  Lance caught a glimpse of movement in a tree behind them, and Sheba came into view. The cat’s tail was already thrashing behind her, and her fur was up. She crouched on a branch above the men who hadn’t noticed her yet.

  The cat flattened her ears back and launched into the air. Her claws struck Daniel’s captor in the neck, and he screamed, flailing blindly to try to knock Sheba away.

  Daniel twisted out of his grip and disarmed him, then grabbed the ringleader around the neck and put the gun to his head. “Checkmate.”

  The cat released the first man and stalked toward the second. Wide-eyed, the other men backed away and threw their weapons to the ground. Lance picked them up and stuffed them in his belt, then scooped up Sheba, who had finally stopped and was licking her paws.

  Blood trickled from the neck of her victim, and he glared at the cat as he swiped at his skin. “What is that thing?”

  Lance shoved the man he had captured toward the building. “Open the door. Now.”

  The approaching footsteps galvanized Bailey into action. “Jessica, here!” She stepped out into the hall as Jessica rushed for the door.

  Harry turned his head and his eyes promised retribution as he struggled to regain his feet. Seconds before he ran for the door, she slammed it and turned the key in the lock.

  Ava beckoned from the other end of the hall. “This way!”

  Jessica ran toward Ava and the two disappeared around the corner of the hall. Bailey started after them as the footsteps thundered up the stairs toward her, but before she’d gone two feet, Lance called her name.

  “Bailey!”

  “Here, I’m here!”

  She was in his arms in seconds.

  “I was afraid you were dead,” he murmured against her hair.

  His embrace was fierce and felt like coming home. She burrowed into his chest and inhaled the scent of his cologne. He held her tight and pressed a kiss against her
hair. She didn’t want this moment to end, but there was an even happier reunion awaiting him.

  She released him and stepped back. “There’s someone else here you want to see. Come with me.”

  She took him by the hand and led him down the hall and around the corner to another staircase. Her pulse thundered in her ears as she led him down into another room. An outside door stood open, and she caught a glimpse of the other two women standing under a tree.

  “There she is.”

  He lifted a brow, and his forehead furrowed until his gaze went over her shoulder. He stiffened and his eyes widened. “Ava?” He stepped out into the yard.

  “Lance!” Ava barreled into his arms. “I knew you’d find me.”

  Tears wet Bailey’s cheeks as she watched brother and sister embrace. This had been a long time coming, and it was a true miracle. She and Lance had plenty to talk about, but they had all the time in the world to explore their feelings for each other. He needed this time for Ava, and she needed him. After all she’d been through, it would take God’s healing touch to make Ava whole again.

  Bailey’s gaze went to the blonde who hadn’t moved in spite of the open door. Healing for all the women.

  The past two weeks had flown by in a whirlwind for Bailey. While Harry Whitewell’s indictment had Lavender Tides buzzing with shock, she’d taken care of getting power of attorney over her grandmother and had officially moved into Lily’s cabin. She’d taken steps to clean up her diet in hopes of helping to slow the progression of the dementia. With the official diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, the doctor put Lily on meds and had prescribed cold laser treatments on her brain as well. Bailey thought she was seeing signs of improvement in her grandmother’s behavior.

  A cold wind rattled the windows and whistled through the eaves as Bailey prepped the Thanksgiving turkey for the meal later in the day. Pumpkin pie sat cooling on the counter as she bagged the bird and slid it into the electric roaster. Two cherry pies were finishing baking in the oven. When the doorbell rang, she wiped her hands on her apron, then hustled to answer the door before the noise woke Lily, who slept in the recliner with her mouth open.