by Ann Marie
“We’re gonna drive down the road a bit. Since you’re so good at driving without headlights, leave them off. Were gonna go just a little faster than walking. I want to enjoy the ride a bit. And maybe you could help me plan my next move. You see, I put a lot of time and thought into your death. Took a week’s vacation from work just to see it through and celebrate my daughter’s homecoming. Took you just a couple of minutes to fuck it all up. How you managed to pull Antonia into the line of fire is still baffling for me. I mean look at you, you’re, well, so simple looking. I bet Antonia could break you in two easily. Must have caught her off balance. Used her own weight against her. Smart move there, she was a little wobbly that night. Funny how a baby makes a graceful woman clumsy,” tugging at her hair and then whispering into her ear, “ain’t it?”
Josephine felt like she had been punched in the gut once again. She could feel herself losing control. Now was not a good time for a panic attack. She had to remain calm.
“I was away a long time, but I must have really missed something big. I mean, how in the hell did you do it? How was it my daughter ended up carrying your child? Makes me want to puke my guts up just thinking of it, how about you?” He tugged again at her hair to see if she was paying attention. Tears were running down Josephine’s face. Her chest was starting to constrict. The fog had almost made it in when the tug at her head caused it to ripple away like a puddle. She had to stay alert. She couldn’t let the fog return.
“It wasn’t like that.” She started.
“What? Did I ask you to speak? Just because I question you doesn’t mean I want to hear your voice. Understand?” He was twisting her hair, right at the nape of her neck. She could feel several strands being torn from their place. He looked at her from the right side now. She made him want to vomit. This was not a woman. She did not look the way a woman should look in his mind. Her hair didn’t even feel real. Felt like doll hair. She did not seem to have any makeup on and she definitely could use some. And now her nose was running and she smelled like a dog. He noticed her purse, lying on the seat next to her. Reaching over, with the hand that held the blade he dumped its remaining contents out. Josephine used the moment to fill her lungs with air and calm herself.
He picked up a tube of lipstick. While still holding her hair securely, he pulled off its top with his teeth. Managing to manipulate the tube itself with just his one hand, he extended the lipstick enough for use. He added the color to Josephine’s lips. Replacing the top, he put the tube into his shirt pocket and rummaged some more. He grabbed her wallet and flipped through her photos with his free hand, hoping to find one of Antonia for a keepsake. Not finding one, he removed her cash and tossed the wallet to the floor. “How is it you don’t carry a photo of Antonia?”
“She never...”
The knife was back at her throat in an instant. “Were you talking? Did I hear you speak? Do you wanna die right now? This minute? Do you want to miss out on all the fun that lies ahead?”
Josephine let her eyes focus on Billy’s hood ornament, mentally removing herself from the interior of the SUV. She did not want to die. Not here, not on the side of this road, in the middle of nowhere. She let herself think of Anthony and how she was going to make this up to her. Here she was, a grown woman and mentally perceiving more fear than she could ever had believed, after being with this monster for just a few minutes. How must it have been for Anthony. Just a little girl. A very tiny little girl. This monster must have curdled her insides every waking minute. And the baby, Anthony had carried her baby. How many people would have gone through that for someone they loved?
Who would have gone through that for someone like her? Anthony did. Did it for her. To give her something she couldn’t give herself. A little someone who would forever link their friendship, no matter how far apart they were. So that she could go back to her Africa, yet remain with Josephine. That’s why she did it. So she could leave. Leave Josephine and this life that she detested. Josephine knew that, all along she knew. But like the bad press from hateful critics, if you shut your eyes to them, they were never really there. And this monster had ended that. Killed Josephine’s baby before it was brought into this world and any chance of Anthony ever having another child. Anthony, Josephine pictured her lying back in the shack, alone and cold, with God knows what crawling all over her to get at the blood that was surely seeping from her wounds. This monster was going to go back there, to Anthony, when he was finished with her. Josephine couldn’t let that happen. No matter what happened, she had to give Anthony time for Billy to arrive. Billy would save her and take her back to the hospital where she belonged. And then he would stay with her until she was well again. Josephine just had to keep the monster busy, for Anthony. She needed to stay alert and not fog out. She needed to control herself and the moment.
Again he tugged harshly at her hair, bringing her back to reality. “Are you listening to me? I said start driving, NOW!!” He shouted it in her ear causing a ringing affect. And she pulled the SUV away from the side of the road. Headlights off, she drove at a snail’s pace, away from Anthony.
Chapter 31
Patrick Lang had been running the sky tours for the past seven years. He enjoyed the job, enjoyed the people, and mostly enjoyed setting his own hours. When Billy called, he was free and happy to extend his services. He was standing by the chopper, waiting for them as they had arrived. They were in the air within minutes and following the directions Billy had taken from Banton’s computer screen.
Patrick knew right where he was going. So thirty minutes later they were hovering over the wooded area along US-44. “I don’t even see the road, do either of you see the road?” Harold was as nervous as a mother-in-law.
“We have to get down lower if this lights gonna help any.” Billy was searching vigilantly, but was only accessing tree tops. “I don’t see any clear area. Harold, look over there, I have this side covered. I need your eyes over there; we’re looking for a fire, not a road. Pat can ya get us any lower?”
Patrick swung the bird around to the left. Harold thought he was going to fall straight out to his death. Billy grabbed the old man’s shoulder, in a display of protection. Harold had his eyes squeezed shut so tight, it took a moment for his vision to clear once he had opened them. Not a moment too soon. “There, I see something. Over there, quick. Do you see it?” The fire was still burning.
Patrick swung out further to the left to find the main road. “Can’t put her down here. Risk setting the house on fire. I’ll drop you on the main road and circle back again.” Minutes later Patrick was passenger-less as his chopper left the ground.
Billy and Harold followed the dirt road, from US-44 to the house. Billy was first to arrive, as Harold cramped up and had to catch his breath. Billy circled the dwelling to ensure their safety. Harold arrived just as Billy was making his entrance. Holding an axe he had found on a nearby stack of wood, Billy slowly stepped through the door frame. Harold had his gun in hand as he followed.
She was lying on the newspapers, spread out on the wooden floor boards. Lighting was bad but Billy could see puddles forming around her body from the blood seeping from her wounds. A plaid table cloth had been placed over Antonia, and pushed in towards her body on either side. Billy went a step closer, glancing back at Harold. Raising his gun, as if to say go for it, Harold continued to search the remainder of the shack for any sign of Salvatore, or Josephine.
“No one else is here Bill. Salvatore must have figured out Josephine was following him, maybe he caught her. I don’t like it.” Harold walked back to the doorway and stepped out into the yard searching for any sign of life. Coming back inside he added, “Did you notice your SUV anywhere? If he took off with her in that, we’re not going to find them tonight.”
“He’ll be back. He’s not gonna leave Antonia for any length of time. Not after all he went through to get her back. He’s nearby and we will find him. But right now we have to get Antonia back to New Haven.” Billy pulled out his phone
and dialed Patrick. “How far are you?
“Bout five minute walk.”
“I’ll put the flash light in the window; you should be able to follow the sound. Coming out of the house you want to head right. Looks like the dirt road takes you half way, but it’s not too rich after that. You shouldn’t have any trouble”.
“Did you find the girls?”
“One, we found one, and she needs to get back to New Haven in a hurry.”
“Well whatcha standing around gabbing for, bring her on out. I’ll call ahead and let them know we’re bringing her home.”
Billy tossed the phone to Harold. “Call up that Banton fellow. See if he can still see the SUV. Hopefully he still has it on the monitor and can tell us how far they got. Looks like we’ll be on foot, so pray it’s not far.” He bent down and ever so gently picked up Antonia. She never made a sound. Billy never checked for a pulse or heartbeat, not wanting to know anything bad. He pulled her into his chest and whispered, “I am so very sorry baby. This will be the last of it, I promise you. It will all be over tonight. It ends here. Just hang in there a little longer.” And he headed for the chopper, without looking back.
Harold didn’t know quite what to do. He looked at the phone, wondering where the numbers would be stored. How was he supposed to make a call without a number? He started after Billy who had just reached the shadows of the darkness, when two squad cars came blazing up from behind him.
He walked up, self assured, to the first car. The officers in the second car jumped out, weapons drawn and told him to freeze. He tried to explain and reached his hand slowly into his breast pocket to withdraw his I.D. The older officer from the first car put his hand in the air, signaling the officers to stand down. “Inspector Davis? Lieutenant Barsky mentioned you’d be here, but I never really expected it to be you. James MacCaffery, sir. Long time admirer of your skills as an investigator. Might I assume by your solitary posture, the place has been abandoned?”
“No, uh yes, that is to say, the suspect has gotten past us. Ms. Dal Santo has been taken back to an awaiting chopper, to be air lifted back to New Haven for some much needed medical attention. However Ms. Ferrero and the suspect have disappeared into the darkness of the mountains, or so it seems. You wouldn’t by any chance have the number for the fine Lieutenant Barsky handy now, would you, MacCaffery, sir?”
“No, not on me, but I can come up with it pronto if it’s a necessity.” He waived his hand in the air for his officers to search the grounds. Harold watched the action, as he bounced Billy’s phone in his hand.
“I have to get in touch with her, yes, it would be a necessity. Please if you don’t mind.” The officer extended an invitation for Harold to sit inside the squad car for a moment while he retrieved the information needed. Harold didn’t need to be asked twice. He realized early on this evening that this was a younger man’s game. And that he should be home, playing checkers through the mail.
The officer patched Harold straight through to New Haven and soon he was explaining his needs to Officer Banton, who took a special interest in helping to end this nightmare. He watched the chopper rise up from the darkness and fly away with Antonia. Silently he said a prayer for her safe return. Then in a whisper to himself, over heard only by the officer sitting next to him, Harold added. “I’m gonna make this right, tonight I’ll put it all to rest, once and for all. I am so sorry Antonia, so very sorry.” He let his tired hand wipe away his tears, and then drug his fingers through his hair as he cleared his throat, not wanting to give himself away.
“This your partner here?” The officer said, as he got out of the car. Billy was walking straight for them.
“Got Banton searching the screen. Just waiting for him to call back. How is she?”
“I don’t know, she seems to be OK. She’s a tough cookie. Patrick’s gonna take her right back to Saint Bartholomew and they’re waiting for her arrival.”
Billy introduced himself to MacCaffery, as the others returned with little more than they had started out with. Now they were all standing around waiting for the call. “What is it you think happened? I know that you think Ms. Dal Santo was abducted and Ms. Ferrero took off after her, but when they got here, to this point. What do you think happened?”
Harold looked over to Billy, waiting for him to respond to MacCaffery’s question. Billy was leaning up against the hood of the car. Searching the ground by his feet for an answer, he just shook his head slowly. He was more relaxed now that Antonia was safe. Josephine? She was something else entirely. He didn’t feel the same type of concern for her. He knew it was wrong, but the woman left a sour taste in his system. All he wanted to do now was find the guy who caused all this trouble. And if the Inspector was right, and it was Salvatore, well Billy wanted to see him dead.
Harold was tired and worn down. He couldn’t go chasing after anyone else. He just didn’t have the gas. But he wasn’t going to let Salvatore live to see another day. No matter what else happened, he was going to end this right, for Antonia. He hoped this other woman, Josephine, was able to hold her own until they tracked down the SUV.
The crackle of the radio broke the silence. MacCaffery answered the call. “New Havens on the line sir, I’ll patch them through.” And then, “We found them. You there, hello?”
“Yea, we’re here, just give us their location, son.” MacCaffery was feeling like the Scout Master.
“The SUV’s headed north, just past where we spotted her earlier. But it looks like they took a side road, or maybe just drove off into the woods. Right before mile marker 83. Took off to the left. Traveled bout four more miles before they stopped. I’d say they’re no more than ten miles up the road. SUV’s not moving at the moment. Want me to call back if it starts up again?”
“That will be fine son, just fine. Thanks for your help.” Mac Caffery clicked off the radio. “Let’s do it.” He shouted and everyone piled into the two cars.
“Right up the road a piece, there’s a fire break. It comes up just before the mile marker, so I’ll be laying odds that’s what he was referring to. We’ll head down that way, with any luck we’ll come up right on them. But if they got out and walked, it’s going to be a long night.”
“It already has been a long night.” Billy added without much emotion.
The cars turned left as if pulled by an invisible magnet, right at the opening. A few minutes later they pulled up next to Billy’s abandoned SUV. Billy jumped out and ran over to his vehicle as if he hadn’t seen it in months. He opened the passenger side door and went straight for the glove box. “Try not to touch too much in there, we might...”
“It’s not here...my gun, it’s not here.” A flash light swept the interior of the SUV. Its beam crossed the grip of the weapon, catching Billy’s eye.
Standing outside the cars now, the group mapped out a plan. MacCaffery designated directions. “Foster, you and Joe head due east one mile. Then go left and travel west a mile. Inspector, you and Bill go north, just keep walking. We’ll head west a mile, then off to the right. We should all meet up, in the middle, in say about twenty minutes or so. If any of us happens not to be there, then the others will know where to look. Watch each other’s back, we have to consider him armed and dangerous.”
Chapter 32
“Turn left, here, HERE!” Josephine jumped at the sound of his voice. She had drifted into the past while driving. Thinking of all the ways she owed Anthony. Wondering when she became the person she wound up being. Josephine couldn’t picture what her life would have been like if they had never met. The years they were apart were the worst in Josephine’s life. The movies she had made during those years were all tragedies. Publicity was horrendous. Her parents had both passed away. Her mother first, of cancer. Her father soon after from a broken heart. Their attorneys took over her interests in the family fortune and squandered all the assets in less time than it took to sign the deal. She broke ties with her manager and tried to go off on her own. ‘Ten years of Turmoil’ the tabl
oids had called it. She had managed to graduate with honors from one of the top Ivy League schools in the country, but she did it alone, finding it difficult to connect with her fellow students. Everyone wanted something from her. She had to pay to play basically, because of who she was. Anthony was her lighthouse. The only one who could help Josephine find safety in the fogs that forever enveloped her.
Josephine turned to the left, as she was told. There was no road, but it was clear enough to drive through. As she drove, Salvatore watched her. Studied her. Using the blade of his knife, he traced a line up and down her chest. At first he did it to see how she would react. But it seemed to entertain him, so he continued. He felt no physical attraction for Josephine. The very thought of taking her made him grimace. But there was something sensual about the way the blade cascaded over her. He was drawn to it. He let it crawl up to the flesh of her neck. Pulling back on her hair, as to extend the game playing field.
“Stop the car,” he whispered. Josephine slowly stepped on the brakes and then put the car in park. Her hand flapped around in the air, as she reached out for the keys, to shut of the engine. They sat there a minute more while Salvatore amused himself. He brought the blade back down to the front of her jeans. He noticed the way she pulled in her stomach as he did this. “The keys, hand them to me.” Josephine reluctantly handed them over. Placing the blade in his teeth, Salvatore switched hands holding the hair and removed himself from the SUV. Josephine winced at the twisting of her hair. Salvatore had to raise his arm over the door, to get around it without letting go. He wasted no time in opening her door and reaching in, grabbing her by the throat. Letting go of her hair, Salvatore closed the back door with his foot. He removed the blade from his teeth as he pulled her from behind the wheel. Directing her, his hand still around her throat, he walked her around and used her body to close the SUV door, never once losing eye contact. Josephine understood his lesson. She was a mere rag doll in his hands. To her surprise, this knowledge didn’t add to her fear.