“Okay . . . okay,” he said, more to himself than to her.
Abbie stared out the window with a tentative smile. The first phase of the plan had worked. Although she knew that they needed a different, more permanent hideout, she also knew that they’d never come back.
“This is a new beginning for us, a new life,” she said.
CHAPTER 34
The pine needles rustled in the light breeze that carried their sweet and refreshing piney odor.
“I love the smell of the pine trees,” Jonah said, resting on Abbie’s lap, on the porch of the cabin, overlooking the lake. The sun’s disappearing rays shimmered off the water in a pinkish hue—a magnificent spectacle that occurred every other sunset at this time of year.
“That smell never gets old. Do you know why they smell so good?” Abbie asked.
“I know, Mommy. We learned about it at school. It’s because trees take in carbon dioxide, and they release oxygen. That’s why the air feels fresher.”
Abbie raised her eyebrows, smiling, her eyes sparkling with pride. Jonah was an intelligent boy and his thirst for knowledge endless.
“That’s right, but it’s not what gives off the piney odor. It’s because of chemical compounds called terpenes.”
“What’s terpenes?”
“Terpenes compose of carbon and hydrogen atoms. They protect the tree from bark beetles and fungal growth inhibitors.”
“Wow, cool,” Jonah said, tilting his head back and sucking in air, relishing the odor.
They laughed, and Abbie embraced him. Although he was far from the toddler she remembered, her love for him was unwavering. It was as if nothing had changed. She sat in the same rustic rocking chair with her son, letting it sway up and down. The perfect moment that she craved, a blissful reprieve from persecution. If it all ended now, with her child in her arms, she had done her part. She had come the full circle, back to where it all began. She kissed Jonah’s tender forehead and looked out over the lake. It was dead still, unaffected by the light breeze. It was as if the water mirrored her soul, flowing in parallel to her inner peace. The lake had always been their refuge, and she wondered whether this would be their last ever sunset here. They needed to keep moving; one day was enough to recoup. Yesterday’s escape had gone according to plan, and it was time for the next phase. Tonight, after dinner, she would discuss it with Robert and ask him to move on to the next location. It wouldn’t be much of a choice. She closed her eyes and focused on a map of Oregon state, her mind switching between viable locations like a rush-hour subway train. She visualized the next stop as if she had already been there, her mind conjuring up distinct images of the living conditions. An icy chill flowed to her extremities. Was this an epiphany? A déjà vu moment? Or had she planned this before?
“Mommy, I’m getting cold. I’d like to go inside.”
She shivered and opened her eyes. The sun had set, the lake no longer visible through the darkness. It was a cloudy night, and the gentle breeze had morphed into a cold gust.
“Sure, honey, let’s go check with Daddy if dinner’s ready,” she said, feigning a cheerful tone.
Jonah looked up at her, his eyes glistening, “Thank you for the dog. I love you, Mom.”
It came from nowhere, as if he knew that she needed support. Somebody to tell her that he loved her no matter what. At that moment, she realized that there was no feigning anything with her child. He could see right into her soul.
“I love you more than anything in the world. Thanks for that. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek, ruffling his hair.
“Have you got a name for him yet?” she asked, trying to lighten the mood and prevent her tears.
“Tiger. I think it suits him.”
“Tiger? That’s a powerful name for the little guy.”
“He’s a fighter, just like you, Mom.”
She embraced him, the well of tears cascading down her cheeks. The child’s intuition was so innocent, he had no idea to what extent he was right, and it stirred her. The frustration, the guilt, the pain, everything bubbled to the surface as she sobbed into his shoulder.
“Please don’t cry Mom, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’m . . . not sad. I’m happy that we’re together. I’ll let nothing keep us apart again.” She inhaled his sweet smell and composed herself. The nightmare would not be over soon, and she needed her strength.
She held Jonah’s hand, and they strolled into the cabin.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Robert said, glancing up from the chopping board in the kitchen.
“Honey, why don’t you go watch some TV in the meantime. I’d like to talk to Daddy,” Abbie said, leading Jonah to the living room.
She watched him slump into the vintage fabric sofa, remote in hand. The many cartoon channels quickly captivated him.
Abbie strode into the kitchen, rehearsing the words under her breath. Robert had shown her unconditional commitment. But he had also wanted to return to the cabin ever since she left the hospital. He was sure that it would help heal her wounds and rekindle her sense of normalcy. However, she would have never come back here if the psycho was still on the loose. It seemed absurd to risk coming back to the place where it all started—where she had gone from sitting on the porch with her toddler to mysteriously vanishing without recollection. But now that the drifter was gone, it seemed a suitable place of temporary refuge. Either way, asking Robert to leave to an unknown location so soon after arriving was another drastic leap of faith.
He sliced tomatoes on the wooden chopping board, his hand wielding the knife with surgeon-like precision. It wasn’t with the glamor of an experienced chef, but it was aesthetically pleasing. His obsession with perfection spilled over from his career to the most mundane of tasks.
Abbie hung her arms around his neck, kissing him on the nape.
He smiled, half twisting his head to meet her gaze. “I’m glad we’re finally here,” he said.
“Me too.” She perked her lips but closed her eyes to hide the guilt and self-doubt. How in the world was she going to break it to him that they needed to leave, and tonight?
“So, what’s on your mind?” he asked.
“What happened on that night?” she said. The question popped out of nowhere, even surprising her. It was a sudden change in direction, as if her mind had instinctively avoided discussing the issue of leaving.
“Which night?”
“The night I disappeared,” she said, flowing with it. Leaving could wait until after dinner.
“Damn it!” Robert said, unsettled, his finger dripping blood. He grabbed a paper towel to stem the bleeding.
“Are you okay? I’ll get you a Band-Aid.”
“No need. I’m fine. It’s a minor cut.” He twisted toward her, leaning the small of his back against the granite countertop. “We spoke about that night a few times. You know what happened.”
“I want to hear it again. I want to visualize it here. Maybe it’ll spark a fresh memory.” She could sense his agitation. It was a sore point for both of them. But, suddenly, it didn’t seem like such a terrible idea.
Robert shrugged, averting her stare. He reached for the wine bottle and poured them each a glass of red wine. He turned around and continued to slice the tomatoes. “Can’t we just enjoy our evening together?”
“We can, but please, do this for me.”
“Sure, I’ll walk you through it.” He stormed for the porch without lowering the knife.
She hesitated, alarm bells ringing in her head. The knife was either a subconscious mistake or a blatant message.
CHAPTER 35
“Are you coming?” Robert stopped midway, realizing that she wasn’t behind him.
“Yeah,” Abbie said, her mouth drying up fast. She never let the knife out of her sight,
keeping a reasonable distance between them.
He pointed the Santoku knife at the rocking chair on the porch. “Earlier that evening, you sat here with Jonah in your arms.”
She glanced at the empty rocking chair. It was old and worn looking all those years ago, and nothing had changed. “I remember that. Everything that came after is a blur.”
“When I arrived from work, I took Jonah in my arms and brought him inside.” He shook his head, the pain etched on his face. “That was the last time you’d see the boy for years.”
Abbie stepped backward, enlarging the space between them as Robert circled the porch and re-entered the cabin. Her thoughts riveted toward the pink sports bag in the bedroom wardrobe. In the unlikely event that her twisted mind wasn’t imagining the threat, she would run for the Glock.
“We had a romantic dinner, you sat here, and I sat opposite you.” He pointed the knife to the designated spots in the dining room. “I still remember the conversation as if it was yesterday. Do you?”
Abbie shook her head.
“We discussed coming here more often now that we’re a family. You were pretty adamant about that,” Robert said.
“Did you agree?”
“Let’s go to the bedroom.” He simply turned and headed to the room.
Every step she took, her heart pulsated in tandem, her senses stimulated to such an extent that she could hear her breathing reverberating in her ears and the distant sound of cartoons coming from the living room. Her thoughts switched to the boy. Whatever was about to happen, she would do everything in her power to ensure that he did not bear witness. Be brave.
As they entered the room, Abbie closed the door behind them, locking it shut. She moved closer to the side of the wardrobe with the sports bag, a few feet from Robert.
“I’ll never forget that night for as long as I live,” he said, his eyes glistening. He looked down at the mattress, avoiding her frightened gaze. “We made a promise to each other that night, to always put our marriage first.” His arm was limp, the knife lifeless in his hand.
Abbie remained rooted to the spot, her mind preoccupied with assessing his every move, determined to leave the room alive. This could be your chance, go for the gun.
“After dinner, we made love, and it was special, different. Then you fell asleep in my arms,” he said, pointing the knife to the left side of the bed. “When I woke up, you were gone.” He sat down on the edge of the bed and lowered the knife. He sunk his face into his palms, his body shaking to hold back the tears.
She huddled next to him, embracing him. Her sense of guilt was unprecedented. She had her reasons to distrust everyone, but not Robert. He was the love of her life, her pillar. She scolded herself for even considering him a threat, cursing under her breath. She could only attribute it to her traumatic past.
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t protect you,” Robert said, his voice quivering.
“Shh . . . it’s okay. Nobody could have stopped this,” she consoled him. It made sense to her now that he didn’t want to talk about it. The guilt absorbed him for the years they spent apart. It was mutual, there wasn’t a moment she didn’t wish back the time. She kissed him repeatedly and with swift gradation of intensity, exuding her anguish.
He freed himself from her embrace. “Do you remember?”
“No. Only sitting on the porch with Jonah. That was my last memory of that night.”
The crevices on Robert’s forehead deepened, his eyes narrowing. “Why wouldn’t you remember?” He said—the question directed mostly toward himself.
“He drugged and tortured me.”
“That was after your kidnapping. Why would your mind black out your last pleasant memories?”
“Maybe he drugged me long beforehand, or the drugs altered my memory.”
“Maybe . . .” Robert shrugged, rubbing his palms on his knees.
“What else do you think happened?” she said, restless by his lack of conviction. There was something else bothering him. Maybe another disturbing detail that she had overlooked. She yearned to tell him it was over, that the psycho was dead, but she held herself back. This wasn’t the right time.
“Nothing else. Let’s eat dinner. The roast is still in the oven,” he said and stood up, marching out the room before she could expand on the issue further.
She slumped on the mattress, massaging her brow, taking a minute to steady her emotions. Whatever happened was no longer relevant, and it was better to let this conversation slide. She prepared her mind for the hard talk. No matter what, they were leaving tonight. Every passing second placed her at greater risk.
***
“Cheers, baby,” Robert said, raising his wine glass to hers, the glasses making the slightest contact.
“You’ve become quite the chef, that was delicious. Thank you, darling,” Abbie said, gazing into his eyes that dazzled behind thick full-rimmed glasses, revealing more depth than the ocean. She relished his shy smile and the way he looked at her. The drunken nights at the vacation cabin had always sparked passion, and tonight was no different. Jonah was fast asleep in his room, and the night was young.
“It’s a dream to be back here. I think we should stay for a few weeks.”
Robert’s words snapped her out of the momentary utopia. For the last few hours, she had forgotten about her predicament. There was no running from it now; it was time to slay the beast. “I wish we could, my love. More than anything else in the world.”
“I don’t see why not. Work can wait.”
“We’re leaving tonight, and as quickly as possible.” She lowered the wine onto the table, folding her arms. The direct approach always worked best. Either way, there was no time for the alternative.
“What? Why?”
“I disappeared from here once, and I won’t take that chance again.”
“Abbie, you agreed to come here. You’re making no sense. If you were in any danger, you’d be a target at home or anywhere else.”
She lurched from the table, “I’ll get Jonah ready. We’re leaving now.”
“Abbie, stop! He’s asleep, let him rest. If you don’t feel comfortable here, we can go home in the morning.”
“We’re leaving now, and we’re not going home. I’ve got our route worked out.” She dropped the full bomb; he was either in or out. She could see the ramifications of her words settle like dust after an explosion.
“Our route? My God, listen to yourself. Abbie, I’m concerned about you.”
“I’m in danger. I need to get away from it all to feel safe. A new beginning.” Her face burned red, arms outstretched at her sides.
“Baby, please, try to relax. You need help to deal with the trauma.” Robert stood up, waving his hands downward in a calming motion.
“The only help I need is for my husband to keep his promise to put our marriage and family first.”
“God knows that I’ve done my part. But I won’t let our child pay the price. I’ve done everything to give him a normal life.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m leaving, and Jonah’s coming with me.” She turned to leave.
He grabbed her forearm, twisting her toward him. “I can’t let you do that. I’m going to call professional help.”
“Let go of me!” She ripped her arm away and sprinted for the bedroom, her mind flipping as fast as her strides. Adrenaline gushed through her body with the force of a waterfall. Nothing would stop her from being with her child and restarting their lives, not even Robert. She glanced over her shoulder; he wasn’t chasing her. She smashed the bedroom door open and rushed for the wardrobe, ripping out the pink sports bag from the bottom shelf. Hands trembling, she unzipped the bag and rummaged through its contents.
No gun. What the hell’s happening?
Rapid footsteps reverberated through the hardwood. The chase was on. She flipped the bag, spilling dog food
, bottles of water, and a blonde wig onto the floor. She dropped to her knees, clutching the matted pile of blonde hair in her palms. It was chillingly familiar.
I know . . .
A sudden searing pain in the back of her skull cut through her thought process. Her limbs wobbled like jelly, offering no support for her slim frame. An out-of-body sensation, a moment of sheer detachment. She observed her body hit the hardwood with a loud thud.
CHAPTER 36
Darkness.
“No, please . . . no!” Abbie screamed with the intensity of immense physical torture as if her fingernails were being ripped out. The sound waves bounced off the concrete walls, creating a cave-like echo. She already knew the drill; screaming was pointless. He would come to her when he wanted. There was no calling him out. The darkness of the black abyss was smothering and constant. However, this time it, she had clarity of thought, and it would be different. Her mind would be her sole companion in this timeless hell. She wiggled her fingers and toes, but it was enough to trigger the clasps tightening around her wrists and ankles. The leather choker lining her throat suggested that it wasn’t even worth trying to lift her head. She was blindfolded and chained in precisely the same method. She filled her lungs with the stale air, letting the oxygen flow to her brain. Molina was right: the drifter was only a copycat or an accomplice. The psycho was clever and calculated, planning this to the finest detail, and he waited for the perfect moment to strike—a rift between her and Robert.
“Welcome back, my child.” A deep, almost masculine voice appeared out of the darkness.
“Fiona . . . is that you?” Abbie said, barely able to speak.
“Yes, child. Who’d you think it was?
“Where’s Robert and Jonah? What did you do to them?”
The rapid clickety-clack of Fiona’s high heels echoed through the room.
Smack.
Abbie’s head twisted to the right from the force of Fiona’s slap. The leather strap tightened its deathly grip around her throat. She choked, her eyes bulging, struggling for air.
Eye For Her: A gripping must-read thriller Page 21