Lynette’s mind was fuzzy with whatever the driver had drugged her with. She replaced fear with thoughts of Barb, Starr, and her aunt to keep the panic manageable. If the driver was Ruth, as she suspected, they were headed back to whatever compound they were using now. She considered options she never thought she’d need to again. If she could find sharp enough edges on the inside of the van. One swipe on each wrist, deep enough to sever whatever veins mattered. She’d have to remain quiet as she bled to death, but at least it would be over. She squeezed her eyes shut and remembered Barb’s kiss. Her gentle touch. She wanted to see her again. She wanted to live. Tears streamed down her cheeks at the thought of never seeing Starr or her aunt again. The cult would probably be watching too closely for her to escape again.
“What do you want from me? Why are you doing this?” Her shouts echoed off the walls of the van.
“I told you to shut up. I am the instrument of his will. You need to fulfill your destiny. You need to finish your assignment. You will be the bearer of the anointed one’s sacred children, our future. Now shut up and be still, or I’ll drug you again.”
Lynette’s stomach churned, but she refused to throw up and show fear. Children. It must be Ruth bringing her back to be the mother of Brother Matthew’s children. So, there must not have been a suicide event. But why in the world would he want her back after all this time? He must know she’d try to run away the first chance she got. If she banged her head hard enough on the metal floor, maybe she could bleed to death before Ruth realized what had happened. Barb’s smile flashed in her mind, and the desire to live outweighed the desire to die. If nobody rescued her, she’d escape again somehow and find her way back. And maybe, this time, she could put a stop to the madness. She’d get help, find the police, and get Brother Matthew put away. She tried to shift her weight on the hard floor, but the restraints restricted her movements.
“I know who you are, Ruth. Why are you doing this? Pull over and we can talk. I know people who can help you get away. It’s better outside. It’s nothing like what they tell you it is.”
Ruth grunted and kept driving, confirming her identity by not denying it.
Lynette tried to estimate what time it was or how long they’d been traveling, but her headache raged and her vision blurred, and time seemed to whirl around her like leaves in the wind. She closed her eyes and planned her escape. She’d win their trust. Pretend to be a devoted follower who’d lost her way and was happy to be back in the fold. Ruth was probably the one who’d called Aunt Jen, so her mother must still be alive. But how did she know where Lynette lived? A new fear tore at her heart. What if they know about Barb? She began to thrash and yank at her restraints until her wrists and ankles were rubbed raw. She should have been more careful. She should have moved the day after her aunt had gotten that phone call. If only she’d paid attention all those times she felt like she was being watched, maybe she wouldn’t be here now. She pounded the floor of the van with her feet again in frustration.
Ruth slammed on the brakes and Lynette was thrown forward and jerked back when she reached the length of the rope around her waist. Pain shot through her ribs, forcing her to take shallow breaths. “I don’t want to hear another peep out of you, bitch. Do you understand? We’re going to stop for gas soon, and if you make a sound I’ll slit your throat and tell Matthew you tried to kill me. Got it?”
Lynette’s head ached, her throat burned, and her body felt like she’d fallen down a flight of stairs. She slumped to her side and closed her eyes.
Lynette woke to water being tossed in her face. She coughed and blinked at Ruth, who was inches away. “Drink this.” Lynette swallowed the liquid Ruth fed her from a plastic bottle and immediately felt the effects of the electrolytes.
“Thank you.” Her voice cracked.
“Yeah. He wants you alive, although I have no idea why he’d want a traitor like you back among the faithful. I’m sure he’ll make an example of you so the others don’t stray. Now, you keep your mouth shut! We’re almost out of Wisconsin.”
Lynette strove to clear her foggy mind. Her whole body hurt, but her heart guarded the faint hope that somehow, she’d make it through this.
Chapter 35
Her phone pinged with an incoming text and Barb grabbed it from the nightstand. She saw Lynette’s name displayed and hoped she’d changed her mind, but sat up quickly when she read it. She called her brother.
“Hey, Brad. I need your help.”
“What’s up?”
“Remember when I asked you for info on the cults? My friend who escaped from one has been kidnapped by one of the members, and I want to know if you have a contact with any of the Wisconsin state police before I call 9-1-1 and have to do the whole runaround.”
“I do. Do you know where they might be headed?”
“Idaho, I think. But I can’t be sure. Her name is Lynette McCarthy.” She could hear him getting up and moving around, and knowing she didn’t have to handle this on her own was a relief.
“Wow. I’ll give them a call and see if we can expedite something. When was she abducted?”
Barb read Lynette’s text to him and gave him her name and address. “If she’s beyond Wisconsin state lines, will the FBI need to be called?”
“Let’s hope that’s not the case. Why don’t you head over to Lynette’s place and I’ll get back to you.” Brad disconnected the call. Barb ran her hands through her hair, helplessness and anger flooding through her. She dialed the next number.
“Hi, Barb. Everything okay?” Claudia sounded like she’d been asleep.
“No. I got a text from Lynette. She’s been kidnapped, and she thinks it’s Ruth from the cult. I’ve already called my brother, who’s an officer. He’s making calls on his end.”
“Damn. I got the text, too. Do you have Jen’s phone number?”
“No. I have her address. If you give it to me I’ll call her and let her know what’s going on.”
“Okay. Let me know if I can do anything or if you find out anything. God, I hope they find her.”
“Did Lyn ever tell you where in Idaho that cult was?”
“No. Just that it was south Idaho. I think Jen knows, though.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll let you know what happens.” Barb put Jen’s phone number in her phone, threw a few clothes into her suitcase, grabbed her keys, and rushed to her car, glad to have paid attention to the route. She parked behind Lynette’s building, surprised to see her keys hanging from the lock in the door. Starr barked wildly, and her front paws were torn from where she’d scratched at the door to get to Lynette. Barb clipped on her leash, afraid she might take off in search of Lynette, and took her to her potty area.
Once she was inside and Starr was settled a little, she called Jen. “Sorry to wake you, Jen, but I got a text from Lynette earlier. She’s been taken by someone she thinks is Ruth from the cult. I believe they’re on the way back there.”
“Oh my God, no! Did you call 9-1-1? How did she sound? Was she hurt?”
“She only texted me, Jen, and she told me she loved you. I’ve already called my brother, who is an officer, and I’m going to call 9-1-1 now, but I wanted to let you know first.”
“I’ll be right over.” Jen disconnected the call.
Barb called emergency services and let the operator know what was going on. She hoped Jen would arrive before the police and all their questions.
She called her brother next. “Hey, Brad. I called 9-1-1 about five minutes ago.”
“Good. Give me Lynette’s number and give it to the officers when they get there. They can follow her by GPS as long as it stays on. I’ll let you know when I get any details.”
“Thanks, Brad.” Barb disconnected the call and took Starr to the kitchen to clean up her paws, which fortunately weren’t too bad. She held on to her and pressed her face to Starr’s fur. If only she’d followed Lynette home. If only she’d listened harder, been more aware of her surroundings. She couldn’t let herself believe
she’d lost her, not this way. She jumped at the knock at the door. She grabbed a knife from the kitchen and peeked out the curtain. Jen stood ready to knock again. Barb opened the door, and she flew past her. “You didn’t need to come all the way over here, Jen. I’d have called you once I knew something.”
Jen set a small overnight bag on the kitchen counter, put her hands on her hips, and shook her head. “I can see you care about my Lynette, but there was no way I was going to sit at home while she was being dragged back to that awful place.” She greeted Starr and pulled out a kitchen chair to sit. “What do we know so far?”
Barb showed her the text from Lynette and filled her in on what her brother had said. “So, we wait to hear either from him or the Wisconsin police. I expect they’ll contact us soon.”
Jen sighed and went to the stove. “Coffee or tea?”
“Tea, please.” Barb went to the door to watch for the police.
“Does your brother have any experience with this sort of thing?” Jen asked, visibly shaking.
Barb wrapped her arm around her, gently led her to the living room, and set her on the couch with Starr, who rested her head in her lap. “He’s been a Michigan state trooper for years and knows members of the Wisconsin state police. He’ll get the job done. You sit with Starr. I’ll bring the tea in here.” Barb went to the kitchen, leaned on the counter, and took a settling breath. She hated feeling so useless. She forced back tears. She’d only had three weeks with Lyn, and she wanted more. She took a cup of tea to Jen and sat across from her to wait for any news.
“I see why Lynette has fallen for you.” Jen sipped her tea. “You are kind of special.”
Barb forced a smile. “I’m afraid Lyn hasn’t fallen for me, but thank you. She’s the special one.” Their conversation was interrupted by Barb’s phone. She nodded as she listened to the police officer on the line. “Thank you, Officer.” She disconnected the call and turned to Jen. “They’re on their way to get any information we can give them. They can follow her GPS signal, but anything you could tell them about this cult might be helpful.”
“It was so long ago.” Jen looked to be thinking hard. “I never wanted to think about it again after it was over, but I’ll do my best. She’ll be okay.” Jen patted her leg. “She probably told you about me going to pick her up after she escaped.”
“Yes, she did. I’m grateful you were there for her.”
“I couldn’t believe the condition she was in when I found her. Skinny, malnourished, dirty, tattered clothes, no shoes, and sores covering her arms. But I’ll tell you, she had a spark in her eye that showed me the strength beneath that messy exterior.” Jen took a drink of tea. “Her mother never wanted children. She got involved with that no-good husband of hers, and the next thing I knew she was pregnant. I offered to take Lynette when she was born, but my sister swore she wanted her. There was nothing I could do but be there for Lynette when she needed me. I’m glad I was able to.” Jen sipped her tea.
“She told me you were special. You are.” She checked her phone and went to look out the window.
“I don’t think you can see Idaho from here.” Jen smiled tiredly.
“It’s hard not being able to do anything but wait.” Barb returned to the couch. “I want to be out on the road. I want to do…something.” Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. Barb opened it to two uniformed officers.
“We’re here about an abduction call for a Lynette McCarthy.”
“Come in, please.” Barb opened the door wide and Jen appeared behind her.
One of the officers asked the questions while the other made notes. “So, she was taken this evening. Is that correct?”
“Yes. I found her house keys still in the door, so I’m guessing they grabbed her then.” Barb showed them the text and they wrote down the information and the time it was sent.
“We’ll be tracking the GPS in her phone, but tell us all you can about this cult and its location,” he asked.
Jen spread her hands on her legs and shook her head. “She was taken there as a child by her parents. It’s called Matthew’s Faith or some such thing. They kept her for twelve years, and when she escaped she called me, and I was able to find her and bring her home.” She took a deep breath and expelled it before continuing. “She called me from a pay phone and told me she was in some small desert town in Idaho. I think it was something like Weartown, or Waytown? Anyway, it was at the end of an unpaved road off Highway 93. I remember I took I-90 to get there. It was south of Twin Falls. Does that help?” Jen looked like she was ready to break into tears.
“It does, ma’am. Are you her mother?”
“I’m her aunt. Her mother is in the cult.”
The officer taking notes wrote down all the information including her phone number as well as Lynette’s. “Do you have a picture of your niece, by any chance?”
Jen gave the officer a picture from her wallet. “She was involved in a cult survivor’s group, too. I think it met at the community center. They might know more.”
“Thank you both. We’ll do our best to bring her back safe.” He handed them his card. “Call us if you hear anything at all.” He touched the bill of his cap before leaving.
Barb watched them inspect the area around Lyn’s car before leaving. She was ready to jump out of her skin. She knew the more information they had, the better the chances of catching them, but she wanted them on the trail to finding Lyn now.
“Maybe you should try to get some sleep. They’ll call when they find her. She’s been gone for hours, so I imagine it’ll take at least that long to get her back here,” Barb said.
“I’ll stay here, but I’m going to put my feet up.” Jen propped herself up with a pillow and stretched her legs on the couch.
Barb took their empty cups to the kitchen and forced herself not to pace. She plugged in her cell phone and set it on the end table within reach before turning on the TV to the late evening news. “I’ll be right back. I think Starr needs to go out.”
Jen waved her off and covered herself with a throw.
“You know something’s up, don’t you.” She rested her hand on Starr’s back and held on to her leash when they were outside. She still worried she might take off looking for Lyn. “Your mama will be home soon.” She prayed her words would make it so.
Chapter 36
Lynette woke to the scent of gasoline drifting into the back of the van. Her throbbing head and the smell caused her stomach to roil. She forced herself not to vomit, knowing Ruth would probably leave her lying in it for however long this ordeal lasted. Ruth stood outside filling the gas tank, and Lynette shifted as best she could against the floor of the van and checked that her phone was still in her pocket. She’d drifted in and out of sleep, or perhaps consciousness, and had no sense of time. It was still dark, and her bladder was full.
Ruth climbed back into the van and tossed a bottle of water toward her. She watched it roll to her side, just out of her reach.
“Could I use the restroom before we leave?”
Ruth turned and scowled at her. “I’ll stop at the first rest area we come to. You’ll have to hold it until then. Or not.” She started the van without a second glance at her.
“Why are you doing this, Ruth? Did Matthew send you to bring me back?” She didn’t expect an answer, but if she could connect with her she might find out her intentions.
“It’s Brother Matthew, the anointed one,” Ruth screamed. “And stop asking questions!”
Lynette ignored her yelling. “How’s your little one? He or she must be at least a teenager now.” She hoped Ruth would soften if she could get her to talk about her child.
“That is none of your business, you deserter. You’ll find out about having children as soon as we get home.”
Lynette sighed. Engaging Ruth in conversation wasn’t going to be easy. She tried a different tack. “I thought he was poisoning everyone that day I left. I see you didn’t die, or you didn’t drink the co
mmunion wine, at least.”
“Only the deceivers and hypocrites died. I am a loyal follower. I drank.” She sneered as she looked in the rearview mirror at her. “Your precious husband, who you probably never fucked, didn’t drink. He’s dead! Brother Matthew took care of all the non-believers. Now you’re coming back to service him, like it or not. Your mom and dad will be proud after you have a few of his babies. This is your chance at redemption. Brother Matthew could never forget that you ran. Now he’ll be happy again. He’ll be happy with me for bringing you back.”
She wasn’t surprised that her mother and father were still alive. They were his most devoted followers. Lynette stayed quiet until she noticed the sky lightening through the passenger side window. She’d been drifting in and out of awareness and realized the inside of the van was a little lighter. This and her full bladder indicated they’d been on the road for hours. “Is the rest stop coming up soon?” she asked.
“Yeah, yeah.”
She shifted again but a sharp pain in her ribs kept her from moving much. Her stiffness was definitely going to be an issue if she tried to run. She doubted there’d be anywhere to hide in the rest area bathroom, but she had to try something. Her breath caught at flashbacks of crouching in the corner of a stall, hiding and waiting until she could be rescued. Her aunt wasn’t coming this time. She was on her own, and she needed a plan.
“Why aren’t you having more of his babies, Ruth?” She might be poking a hornet’s nest, but she had to try to get through. If she could convince her it was better being free, she might have a chance. Once they arrived at the compound she’d never be free again.
“My babies are none of your fucking business.”
“I saw a doctor on the outside. He told me about something called premature menopause.”
She was taking a chance that Ruth would tell Matthew she was useless to him for babies and kill her. That would be better than being kept there as his baby maker.
“He told me it was caused from being too underweight. The diet we eat isn’t enough to maintain the body fat we need to have babies. I can help you. I can take you to him and maybe you can have many children.”
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