Flee From Evil (32 page)

Too much time to think. Cassandra was infinitely grateful for the sound of her SUV as it drove up to the house. Lew, wearing a T-shirt and jeans, stepped out and strode the sidewalk. She checked her watch. Boy, he cut it close.

Fifteen minutes till eight o’clock. Cassandra opened the door as Lew lifted his fist to knock. His brow see-sawed. “Ready?”

She twisted her face to stop the burn through her sinus passages, and shook her head.

He held up the collection of keys. “Well, your car is.”

Cassandra figured Lew wasn’t the warm, fuzzy type who’d hug her and talk her through her emotional depths. She’d have to buck it up and do what needed to be done. Standing straighter, she took the keys from Lew’s hand. “Thanks.”

He stepped inside and grunted. “This the bag?”

She nodded.

He picked it up and opened it. “D’you count it?”

“About a hundred times.”

He dropped it on the couch and paced between the rooms.

Now, Cassandra was getting extra nervous. Why hadn’t he left? “Is there something I could get you?”

“Nope. Just waitin’.”

“For what?” Did she need to pay him something?

He nodded to the phone on the dining room table. “The call.”

She was about to ask why, when it rang. Cassandra’s heart thundered inside her chest. Her mind whirled in confusion as she wrung her hands. Lew’s eyes narrowed. He gestured for her to pick it up.

Sucking in oxygen, she clicked it on. “Hello?”

“Hello, my friend.”

Cassandra almost told him that working on her house did not make him a friend, but then realized she couldn’t tip him off to what she knew. She pressed her lips tight.

“Are you ready to take a drive?” The distorted voice was cloying.

“Just tell me where.”

“Interstate 70 West. You’ll be on it for a while. Bring your cell phone. Leave it on.” Click.

That was it? That was all he was going to tell her?

“What’d he say?” Lew broke in to her thoughts.

She shook her head as if to flick out the nightmare. “Interstate 70 West. No more.”

“Then we better get moving.” Lew was out the door before she could protest.

She ran after him. “You can’t come. He said for me to be alone.”

Lew only smirked as he opened the passenger-side door. “You’ll be alone. Or at least you’ll look like it.” He pushed the seat back, climbed onto the floor. Cassandra’s mouth dropped open as he lifted what looked like a glove compartment from a hinge and folded his wiry build underneath it. His hands reached toward the base of the seat, and using a lever, he clicked it back into place.

“How did you do this?”

“Billy has some old friends who like to hide stuff.” He lifted the faux glove compartment and caught her attention. “Don’t worry. None of them know what it’s for.”

After arranging the floor mat, she could barely tell he was there.

Cassandra cranked the engine. It purred. The unfamiliar sound gave her comfort. “Will you be all right in there? I have a feeling this is going to be a long drive.”

“Don’t worry about me,” the muffled voice returned. “You’ll need the long drive to get used to the upgrades.”

“Upgrades?” How much had the repairs required? “What do you mean?”

“Let’s just say, your car has a little more power than it used to.”

Chapter Thirty-One

It took a good, long while to control the hitch in Sophie’s sobs. She didn’t know how long because with bound eyes, she still couldn’t see a clock. All she knew was that every inch of her felt raw, like she’d been scrubbed with sandpaper.

The room had been so silent she heard Sky’s breathing all the way across it. A rustling sounded, reminding her he was human. Or was he?

She decided to speak. “Now that I know who you are, why can’t you take the duct tape off my face?”

“No.” The answer was harsh, but at least he didn’t use the voice distorter anymore.

“Why not?”

No answer.

“Why?” she screamed. She had nothing left to lose after all.

“Shut up, Sophie.”

How could she have ever seen this guy as sweet, thoughtful, caring? Images of his teasing grin when he leaned through the car window encouraging her to try parallel parking again, assaulted her memories. The clap of a high-five with Tibo—whose face had demonstrated his own love for Sky—made her want to empty herself of even more tears.

“I can’t believe you’d do this to me.”

Movement shuffled some more.

“I thought …” She couldn’t get the words through her closing throat.

“That’s why I’m not taking off the tape, Soph. Then I’d get the puppy-dog eyes along with the guilt-trip.” Something hit the ground and clattered. “I don’t need any more guilt.” A harsh squeak sounded. His tone grew louder and sharper. “I am what I am, and that’s all there is to it. You won’t change me. My mother tried and failed. I don’t need your high-and-mighty religious crap to tell me anymore.”

Sophie barely had control of her voice. “He’s gonna kill me. Is that what you want?”

“See, that’s the crap I’m talking about.” Something hit hard wood. “You all think the worst. He just wants to scare you. Just shut up, do what you’re told, and you’ll be home safe with your mommy in no time flat.” The scorn in his voice ripped through her, leaving scars that would never heal. Scars were hard. That’s what she’d be. This jerk would not hurt her again.

~*~

Vince and Chen tromped through the woods. Chen thrust a pointer finger to Vince’s boots. “Quieter.”

Vince looked at his feet as if he could inform them of the reprimand and make them behave. As evidenced by Chen’s scowled glances, Vince didn’t think they’d gotten the message. He watched the man beside him, trying to imitate his moves. Chen was cat-like, smooth, agile. Too bad he didn’t work for US Intelligence. Now, if only Vince could mimic him.

Vince wanted to rush ahead, but just as he felt his stride, Chen grabbed him and thrust him into the rooted ground. He pointed to a clearing ahead. A cabin sat in the middle of it.

“Stay here.” Chen wove his way through the trees, under branches, through thickets. He peered toward the clearing from each new angle. He waved toward Vince then touched a finger to his lips. Duh. Vince knew he needed to be quiet. The question was how to make the sticks beneath his feet not call out his presence. He stepped, and threaded through foliage, doing his best to slink like a feline predator. Chen’s smile only reached half his face. Vince could tell it meant Chen noted his improvement. The two fell on their bellies behind a small mound of dirt.

Chen pulled binoculars out of his pack. “This gets us a view of the kitchen. Door to the cellar meets right there.” He handed the equipment to Vince so he could see as well. “Get to know each piece of furniture in case you find yourself moving through it in the dark.”

Vince scanned the canopy of trees above them. It would be another hour before the summer sun set, but the shaded spot could limit light if the electricity got cut. He placed the binoculars to his face again and took in the cabinets, the stove, the fridge, and where they stood from the doors. A rifle-filled rack hung on a wall beside the fridge, and a couple hand guns lay on the counter at the ready. These guys weren’t playing.

Chen pulled the spy-glasses from Vince’s face. “Over there is the outside cellar door with the padlock. When the one leaves to get the cash, I’ll make a diversion over there.” He pointed toward a less densely forested area. “Hopefully, the other guy will come out, and you can get in through the back.”

Vince released a serrated breath. “Hopefully?”

Chen shrugged. “If not, I’ll think of something else. But I have a feeling he’ll come out for this.”

Vince knew better than to ask. He stared at the cabin, so quiet and lifeless. “What do we do now?”

Chen lay taut, every muscle at the ready as he continued to peer through the binoculars. “We wait.”

~*~

Cassandra pulled into the vacant lot. The kidnapper told her to wait here for her last instructions. She’d followed all the others to the letter. Good thing Lew was in the car. He evidently knew the area well. A couple times she couldn’t find the road Kevin had told her to take, but she’d describe things to Lew and he’d guide her back to the place she needed to go.

The crickets chirped in the open field in front of her. She took this moment to do the breathing she had forgotten to do on the drive.

“We there yet?” Lew’s voice filtered through the vinyl encasement.

Cassandra didn’t dare move her lips for fear she was being watched from somewhere. “He said one more call.”

Lew didn’t answer. No time for pleasant replies or unnecessary words. Silence and solitude needed to be apparent from anyone who might view them from the outside.

Cassandra adjusted the ear piece then untangled the cord connecting it to her phone. She needed to keep busy somehow. The phone’s ring shook her.

“I’m here.” Her words barely made it through the clog in her throat.

“Good.” The Voice slithered. “Just one more place to go.” Its musical quality made Cassandra think of a madman dressed in a clown’s suit.

She cranked the engine back to life. “Where to?”

“Get back on the road you came from. Take the first entrance on the left. It’s unmarked. No street name. But watch out,” he said as if he really cared for her safety. “It’s hidden by trees. You wouldn’t want to miss it.”

Cassandra shivered. No, she wouldn’t.

“Bad things could happen if you miss it.”

Cassandra wouldn’t cry. She’d be strong for Sophie. Vince would get her. Sophie would be safe. Unfortunately Vince had taught her long ago that no matter how many nice words are used, reality doesn’t always follow.

“There is a graveled section on the side of the road about a quarter mile in. Pull onto it. Fifty feet into the woods, there will be a tree with a rope tied around it. Drop the bag there.”

Cassandra waited for more. It didn’t come, but he hadn’t hung up either. “That’s it?” If only it could be that easy. Drop the money, get her daughter back. “Then you’ll release Sophie?”

“If everyone behaves.”

But Cassandra already had not. “I want to talk to her.”

“No.” It felt like a hard metal door had slammed.

“If I don’t hear her voice, you don’t get your money.” Was this a bad move?

He slung out a row of curses. Squeaks and thuds and rustling sounded. “Sophie,” Cassandra heard from the depths of the cell phone. “Your mummy wants to talk to you.”

More rustling. “Mom.” Her voice squealed as if in pain. “They’re going to—”

Crack!

Cassandra jolted.

“I’ll be at the tree. The money better be waiting.”

“Don’t you hurt my girl.” Cassandra went rigid.

“Now, why would I do that?”

“If you do,” her throat closed, making her voice go deep, “I’ll hunt you down.”

Silence. But no click. Cassandra waited for him to end the call.

“Try and find me.”

Cassandra collapsed against the wheel as the dial tone sounded in her ear.

“Where now?” Lew’s voice pulled her from despair.

“Hidden entrance to the left,” she said with as little movement from her face as possible.

“Good.”

She wanted to ask Lew, how in the world a hidden entrance could be a good thing, but knew not to use any unnecessary talk now. She’d have to trust in
good
.

~*~

Lord, how many mosquitoes must I endure before this thing gets going?
Vince swatted his cheek, then glanced to the man next to him, ever-present binoculars attached to his face. He jerked and before Vince could ask, Chen slapped a palm to Vince’s mouth. The seconds till Chen moved again ate through the only flesh not taken by bugs.

A distant clap of a screen door. A man exited the cabin, got into an old red Corvette, and drove away.

Chen’s intense expression shifted to Vince. “You better get her out of there.”

“Wha—?”

“Instructions are to kill her at the next call.”

“How do you—?”

“Read lips.” Chen reached for his bag. “Deaf as a kid. No time to chat.” He gestured toward the pack by Vince. “You know what to do?”

“Saw the lock as soon as the guy comes out.”

Chen’s nod was quick as he swung the back pack onto his shoulder and slunk away. Vince slid in the other direction, toward a path that would get him to the back door while affording a good view of anyone coming from the front.

Adrenaline pumping relentlessly through every vessel of his limbs, he found his place, and waited some more. This must be what a racehorse feels in the gate. Could he take more pounding in his heart?

He watched the still cabin, wondering what was happening inside. Was Sophie safe? Had she been harmed? He couldn’t imagine what horrors she must have gone through.