Web of Deceit

by Peggy Slocum

  “Fine, what do we use?”

  “Ooh, a bunny.” Beth follows the little creature with her eyes.

  “Don’t even think about it.”

  “I thought you said it was safe?”

  “Here.” Joanna lifts a broken tree branch. “We’ll use this.” She tries to toss the stick underneath the fence.

  “Almost,” Beth says. “It’s stuck on the edge.” Beth picks a rock up from the ground. “Here, throw this at it.”

  “You worry too much.” Joanna reaches for the stick.

  “Don’t!”

  Zzztt

  The electricity flowing through the fence takes hold of Joanna. Her body begins to shake with uncontrollable convulsions.

  “Let go of the fence!” Beth runs to Joanna’s aid. “It’s OK, I’m right here.” She reaches out. Her fingers nearly touch Joanna’s when, thud, Beth is thrown to the ground. A dark figure holds her down. “Get off of me! I need to save her!”

  “I can’t let you up! It’ll go through you too!”

  “Symphony?”

  “Plug your ears,” another voice says.

  Bang!

  A loud explosion reverberates through the still night air.

  “What was that?”

  “Elliot just threw a half stick into the fence to short it out,” Symphony answers. “It’s taking out the lights in the main house too.” She points to the house in the distance as the lights flicker on and off. The lights flicker one last time and die. Darkness overshadows the entire estate.

  “The power’s off now. Let me go so I can help her.”

  “OK,” Symphony gets to her feet. She offers Beth a hand.

  “Someone’s coming.” Elliot points to the headlights closing on them from the farmhouse.

  “We need to get outta here without them following our footprints in the snow.” Symphony says.

  “Joanna needs medical attention,” Beth says. “Her hands, they’re all burnt.”

  Elliot drops his duffel bag and kneels next to Joanna. “Man! Thank God I had that half stick in my bag. Any longer and I think it would’ve killed her,” he says. “Call 911, and I’ll distract our friends.” He fishes around in his bag.

  “Where did you get that?” Beth points at the duffel bag

  “It’s a bag of goodies Frank hooked me up with when I started working with you.” Elliot tosses a small object at Beth, and then one at Symphony. “Here.”

  “Thanks.” Symphony flicks a switch and reveals a light.

  “Be careful not to draw attention to yourselves.” Elliot picks the bag up, flings it over his shoulder and runs towards the oncoming lights.

  “Be careful, Elliot,” Beth says as he disappears in the dark. “Do you have your phone on you?” she asks Symphony.

  “Yeah, it’s right here.” She puts her hand in her pocket. “Er … no, it isn’t.” She continues searching other pockets. “It must have fallen out.”

  “It’s OK. We will use mine.” Beth presses three buttons with speed.

  “Nine-one-one. What’s your emergency?” The 911 operator answers.

  “My friend has been electrocuted by a fence. She is unconscious and has severe burns, but she is breathing.”

  “What’s your location?”

  “We are in the woods. Can you use the GPS signal from the cell phone?” Beth asks.

  “Yes, I will have your location locked in and help on the way momentarily,” the operator answers. “What’s your name?”

  “Beth Doyle.”

  “OK, Beth, is your situation safe? Has the electricity been turned off?”

  “Yes, it’s safe, but it’s not on a main road.”

  “I’ll let them know. They may call you when they arrive. Now the victim may be in shock. You need to put blankets on her to keep her warm.”

  “OK.”

  “If you have any more questions or her condition worsens, call us immediately.”

  “I will. Thanks.” Beth closes the phone.

  “OK, Symphony, we need to keep her warm.” Beth unbuttons her long trench coat and blankets it over Joanna.

  Symphony begins taking off her coat. “Do you think she’ll be OK?”

  “Yes. You better keep your coat on,” Beth says. “You will get hypothermia without it, especially if you’re not moving around. I’m going after Elliot. You will have to stay here.”

  “We’re not far from the closest fire department.” Symphony takes off another jacket. “They’ll be here soon. It should only take ten to fifteen minutes.”

  “I don’t know; it took us longer than that to get here.”

  “That’s because those of us who don’t rely on a GPS get better directions.” Symphony covers Joanna with her coat.

  “Good point.” Beth tosses her phone to Symphony. “You better take this; they will need directions, and if any concerns arise, don’t hesitate to call 911 again.”

  “Thanks, and be careful.”

  “Of course.” Beth rushes into the night to find Elliot.

  Chapter 21: Three Can Not Be Broken

  Bang!

  The sound vibrates the glass panes in the old farmhouse window.

  “Huh?” Sarah says, startled from her restless sleep. Was that an explosion? She gazes around the room. This isn’t the hospital. Where am I? There’s a window. That’ll be a start. She stands to her feet. Oh … my head hurts, and I’m so dizzy. It’s making me nauseous. Sitting back down on the bed, she holds her head between her hands and begins praying. “Oh Father, what’s going on?”

  A bright light overwhelms her as a sharp pain pierces through her right eye, revealing a vision. Sarah watches from a distance as Mrs. Freedman manipulates a young woman reclined helpless on a bed. She’s so helpless. She must be drugged. Sarah can hear the old woman manipulating the victim with hypnosis, causing her to believe what she was told. Is … this … me? Immediately, God heals her headache and nausea, enabling her to stand and walk around.

  “Lord, what do I do?” She draws close to the window and peers out into the cold darkness. Maybe I will recognize something that will help me figure out where I am. Someone’s in a hurry. Squinting her eyes, she strives to get a better view of the Yamaha Rhino’s headlights bouncing across the snow-covered field that surrounds the farmhouse inside the parameter of pine trees. Why, it’s chasing someone. Oh, Father, please help them get away, and I pray, Lord Jesus, that if they don’t know you, that you would soften their heart and open their eyes to your truth. Thank you, Jesus, thank you, Jesus. I love you, Lord. Sarah hears muffled voices coming from somewhere, perhaps downstairs, in the farm house.

  “You two get upstairs and check on the girls!” a stern female voice says.

  “The girls are fine. I checked on them an hour ago and they’re asleep,” a deep male voice says. “Besides, I checked the door on the way out, and there is no way they’re getting out. We need to go help Lou.”

  “I agree with Harold. We should go help Lou,” a second weaker-sounding male says.

  “You will check on the girls first, and then you help Lou. And if you ever question my authority again, it will be your last.”

  “Yes ma’am,” the male voices respond in unison.

  “Oh God, they’re coming.” Sarah says, barely audible. Soothing tingles of peace start from her head and spread throughout her body, followed by verses being brought to her mind.“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31 NIV)

  “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus,” she says. “You are the Almighty Comforter, and I know you are with me.” Sounds of footsteps near the room. You lead and I will follow.

  “You check on the girl in that room while I check on this one.” The deep-voiced male gets closer to Sarah’s room.

  “The power is out. Go,” a peaceful voice says to Sarah.

&n
bsp; Sarah hurries to the bed and places the pillows under the covers to imitate a sleeping body. Her eyes focus on the silhouette of the hall door. After slipping across the room she stands back against the wall, next to the door’s hinges.

  Harold opens the door and enters the room.

  As Sarah hoped, the door shields her from being detected.

  Harold creeps toward the bed to check on Sarah, giving her time to sneak into the hall.

  Which way, Lord? She is comforted with “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.” OK, if you want me to team up with the other girl, I will. Sarah’s heart throbs as she presses her back up against the wall, waiting for her move.

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Harold runs out of Sarah’s room, but pauses to lock the door behind him. “Jerry! Did you hear that? There’s trouble outside; we need to help Lou!” he yells back while running down the hall.

  “Wait up, Harold, I’m right behind ya,” He closes the door across the hall and runs to catch up.

  “Did you lock the door behind you?” Harold questions.

  “Of course; what do you think I am, an idiot?”

  Sarah rushes to the door and twists the knob. “Thank you, God.” Closing the door behind her, she nears the occupied bed in the dim room. “Hey.” Sarah nudges the girl’s arm. “Are you OK?” She shakes the girl some more. “Wake up. Oh Lord, she’s not responding. Please wake her up. What’s your name,” she asks, shaking her harder this time.

  Opening her eyes, the responds with slurred speech. “Kelly.”

  “Kelly? My friend Elliot is looking for you. Do you remember him?”

  “Elliot? Oh … he’s bad. He abducted me, and Mrs. Freedman saved me from him.”

  Oh Father, she’s been hypnotized as well; please heal her.

  “Do you believe in God?” Sarah asks.

  Kelly stares up at Sarah and does not answer.

  “Kelly, things are not what they seem right now. But God can make things clear. My name is Sarah. Is it OK if I pray for you?”

  “Yes,” Kelly says, still confused and in a daze.

  Sarah places her hands on Kelly’s head and waits for the Spirit to lead her. As the Spirit’s peace comforts her, she begins to pray, “Oh heavenly Father, please clear Kelly’s mind and give her peace. Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask that you would bless her with the knowledge and wisdom of your perfect will. In Jesus’ name Kelly be healed. In the name of Jesus, Kelly wake up.”

  Tears flow down her cheeks. She reaches out to Sarah, embracing her in her arms. “He healed me; my mind is not fuzzy anymore. Are you an angel?”

  “No, my name is Sarah. Someone has abducted us, and we must get out of here.”

  “It’s Mrs. Freedman. If you don’t do things her way, she kills you,” Kelly says.

  “Then I guess we better leave. They seem to be having problems, so now’s our chance.” Sarah helps Kelly to her feet.

  “You might want to change first.” Kelly points at Sarah’s hospital gown. “Look in that dresser next to the window for clothes while I search for shoes in the closet.”

  “Thank you, Jesus,” Sarah says as she slips on a sweat outfit she found.

  “Perfect, there are boots and coats for both of us,” Kelly says. “Here, put these on and let’s go.”

  “I’m right behind you.” Sarah slips on a pair of over-sized rubber boots and follows Kelly through the door.

  Chapter 22: Didn’t See That Coming

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Oh Elliot, please be safe. Beth hides behind a large tree as she watches a figure jump from the Yamaha Rhino and begin running on foot. Oh, thank God. Elliot must’ve sabotaged the tires, causing them to burst all at once. Frank would be proud. She smiles while joining the race.

  Nearing the house, she spies two men running out of the house and down the steps with flashlights. Beth runs to a large snow-covered bush on the side of the house to stay out of sight. Great. Laurel and Hardy to the rescue. She watches on as the two head in the opposite directions. Maybe they will lead me to Elliot. “Huh,” a gasp escapes Beth’s mouth as something brushes up against her shoulder. Oh no, am I caught? A hand clasps her mouth shut.

  “Don’t say anything and follow me,” Elliot says. Beth relaxes as he leads her to a window. “I can’t fit, but you can. And once you’re down there, you can unlock the door and let me in. OK?”

  No… who knows what’s down there? But I have to do it for Sarah. Beth nods, agreeing to the idea.

  Taking a roll of duct tape out of his duffel bag, Elliot completely covers one of the glass pains. Tossing the roll of tape back in the duffel bag, he locates a small pair of bolt cutters. He pushes them against the thin glass pane until he feels it give and start to crack. With a free hand he removes the tape with the broken glass stuck to it. Elliot cuts the inside latch and opens the window. “Here,” Elliot hands the cutters to Beth. “You may need these.”

  Beth places the tool in her back pocket and climbs through the rectangular window, feet first. Dangling inside, the front of her body is pressed up against the cold basement wall. Her hands have a death grip on the windowsill as she lowers herself as close to the floor as possible. “I can’t touch the floor.”

  “I’ll lower you down the rest of the way.” Elliot grips both hands just above her wrists far enough up so she is able to do the same and then lowers her as far as he can. “Can you reach?”

  “No, I’ll have to jump and hope for the best. Let go of my wrists.”

  “Are you ready?”

  Beth takes a deep breath. “Yes.” She forces herself to let go and drop to the floor.

  “Are you OK?”

  “Yes, just get to the door,” replies Beth. It’s cold and smelly and exceptionally creepy. Ugh, I don’t even want to know what I just tripped over.

  “Hon, are you OK?”

  “Yes, as soon as I quit running into things, I’ll be there.”

  “Use the flashlight I gave you.”

  Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Beth pulls the small light out of her pocket and turns it on. That’s better. Good thing I wore my cargo’s. I needed the extra pockets today. There it is. Man! That’s a huge bolt. Beth reaches up to pull the metal bolt loose. “Are you out there?”

  “Yes, hurry up. I think I hear footsteps.”

  She pulls the long, thick, brass-plated steel bolt out of the catch and lets Elliot in.

  “Turn your light off and hide.” He closes and latches the door.

  Footsteps approach the basement door. “Jerry, where you goin’?” a deep voice asks.

  “Quiet, Harold. You’ll let them know I’m coming. I’m checking out the basement,” Jerry says.

  “I think they might have gone back to the other side of the property. Lou’s checking out the other four-wheeler. Come on, she might need us,” Harold says.

  “But I think I heard something in the basement,” Jerry says.

  “It was probably a rat. Come on,” Harold says, losing his patience.

  Elliot and Beth remain motionless until the voices are far enough away that they are too muffled to understand.

  “I think it’s clear,” Elliot says.

  “Man! That was close. Do you think there really are rats down here?”

  “I don’t know, but I think they’re the least of our worries.”

  “Good point.”

  Elliot turns his flashlight on and scans the dirt basement. “It looks like a normal dirt cellar to me.”

  “I know, but isn’t it kind of small for the size of this place?”

  “Yeah.” Elliot agrees as he continues shining the light around the stone walls.

  “Wait, go back by the stairs. I think I saw a door.”

  “Good eye. Let’s check it out.” Elliot leads the way to the door. “Be alert at all times. You never know what might be on the other side of a closed door.” Elliot twists the knob and opens the door small cracks at a time. Elliot opens the door wide enough t
o poke his head inside.

  “What are you thinking?” Beth smacks him in the back of his head. “Don’t you watch movies? Sticking your head through first is never a good idea.”

  “Oh no.” Elliot pretends to be sucked into the room.

  “That’s not funny, Elliot.”

  “I know; I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist.” Elliot smirks as he investigates the small room shining the light on the paneled walls.

  “That’s odd. Why would you put an office in a basement?”

  “A well-kept one at that,” Elliot says. “Feel around. Maybe there’s a secret door.”

  “A secret door?” Beth questions, while second-guessing Elliot’s sanity.

  “When’s the last time you’ve seen an electric rod-iron fence?”

  “OK… searching for a secret door.” Beth searches a small, oak-finished desk located in the back of the room. “Hey, maybe there is a secret button under the desk.” Beth says, messing with Elliot as she pulls the chair out to search under it. “No way!”

  “What?”

  “There’s a red button underneath the desk. Shall I push it?”

  “No! It could be a silent alarm.” He feels all over and around the brown paneling that covers the wall on the left side of the room.

  “Elliot, you are ridiculous.” Beth draws closer to Elliot. “We are wasting time. Let’s go find Sarah.”

  Pop.

  “I knew it.” Elliot pushes a creaky door open. “They designed it to blend in with the paneling. So, unless you’re looking for it, you won’t find it.”

  “Yes, yes. You’re very smart. Just go already.” Beth gives him a playful push through the door.

  “Wait, we have to close the office door. If someone comes down, we don’t want them to suspect anything.”

  “Got it.” Beth shines herself a path to the door and closes it.

  * * *

  Symphony returns the layers of coats to her cold, numb body while watching the paramedics load Joanna into the ambulance. Symphony tightens her fists and releases them trying to warm them up as she surveys the estate. I wonder which way Beth and Elliot went. Hope they’re OK.