The Final Flashpoint

by Iona Morrison

  “Jessie, are you going to sit there and say nothing? You of all people should care what happens to him.” Tom stopped his angry pacing and finally plopped down in a chair. He stretched his long frame out, staring at her with a frown on his face.

  “First of all, can I say I find it strange you were willing to send me out as bait to get the serial killer, but you’re resisting Matt’s similar reasoning. It has me wondering why.” Jessie waited for his reaction.”

  “That was different.” Tom jumped to his feet, his face reddening.

  “How?” she quietly asked him.

  “You aren’t making any sense, and you know it,” Matt snapped. “I’m a cop, she’s a citizen. It was far more dangerous for her.” Tom moved toward Matt, his fist clenched.

  Jessie stepped between them. “I may be wrong, but I think you’re both acting foolish. I get it—you’re tense, but you’re both smarter than this. You have a chance to solve the murder of those kids and give their families closure. You’re doing your job. Besides, I think it will be okay.” She pivoted to look at Tom, pointing her finger at his chest. “You’re a team.” She’d have plenty of time to worry later.

  “That’s good enough for me. I trust your instinct. If you’re okay with it, then so am I, sweetheart.” Matt turned her to face him. “Sorry.” He kissed her forehead.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry, too.” Tom relaxed his stance.

  “I know how he gets,” Jessie told him, pointing at Matt, “but it’s definitely more intense with two of you in the room at one time.”

  “I thought the neighbors might call the police,” Frank joked with them. “If you’ve calmed down, I’d like to go over the plans again. I want to make sure I know what you want from us.”

  Matt went over the plans with Frank and Jessie. Radar was a critical part of getting him out of this alive. “That about covers it. Any questions?”

  “I’m good.” Frank stood. “I need to turn in early, so I’ll be fresh for tomorrow. Come on, Radar, you need to go out one more time.” The dog stretched and followed Frank out the front door.

  Tom grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. “Do you mind? I have to keep busy or I’ll be in your face again.”

  Matt shook his head. “Not me.” He led Jessie into the kitchen. “Are you okay with all of this?”

  “I am.” She noticed his skeptical look. “Of course I’m nervous. I know there’s always a risk, as you’ve told me often enough.” The knot was getting bigger in her stomach.

  “We owe it to those kids to do all we can to bring their killers to justice.” Matt reached for her hand. “And we don’t know what their next target is after this. Something big, the D.C. crowd thinks.” He frowned. “A lot of lives could be at stake.”

  “I agree, but I wish we could do it without putting your life in jeopardy.”

  “I can’t sit by and do nothing. Roth’s men are coming after me anyway. I may as well give them all the trouble they can handle.” He handed her two glasses filled with ice. “There’s some tea in the fridge.”

  Jessie filled the glasses. “I keep thinking I’m missing something. Maybe they’re in the woods where Marshall was found, or maybe they moved on. Then what?”

  “They’ll come to us. I’m sure of it. Roth will not leave the area without trying to get me.”

  Her apprehension level went up a notch. “Tom, do you want some iced tea?” Jessie asked.

  “Yeah, sounds good.”

  Jessie gave Matt a gentle nudge. “Go watch your scores and take your mind off this stuff.”

  “I’ll go if you’ll join me for a while.” He carried the glass of tea with him and handed it to Tom.

  She nodded. “I’ll be right there.” Jessie put the tea in the fridge. Why couldn’t she shake this apprehension? She twisted a lock of her hair. Something was up. She walked into the living room.

  Matt grabbed her when she walked by and pulled her onto his lap. “I want you close,” he whispered in her ear.

  “Fine with me.” She snuggled against his chest.

  When Jessie finally went to bed, she left Matt sitting in his recliner talking to Tom. Reluctant to leave him, she stopped in the hall to listen to the sound of his voice. Taking her time, she walked toward the room. He would be okay. He had to be. There was no doubt in her mind that he would survive, and the police would capture the suspects. Was she naïve? The big question was at what cost for Matt? She looked upward. “Please, keep him safe.”

  A cool, clammy feeling washed over her. The ghosts were here in the house. They had never ventured inside before, at least not that she knew of. Her uneasiness grew as Amir appeared outside the door to her room. The time had to be getting close. She forced herself to remain where she was and not retreat back to the living room. A cool mist swirled around her. All three of them were watching her. She shivered and rubbed her arms

  “Are you here to help? He’ll need you.” She moved closer. Amir shifted in front of the door, his ghostly arms in front of his chest. “I hope you realize we are the good guys,” she muttered under her breath. “Carlos is alive. Matt saved his life. It was touch and go for a while, but he’s going to make it.” She rambled on, making no sense even to herself.

  “Who are you talking to, Jess?” Matt called out to her.

  “Only myself. Goodnight, Matt.” She walked into the room, followed by her three spirit friends.

  “Goodnight, sweetheart,” Matt called after her.

  Jessie closed the door and sat on the edge of the bed. She couldn’t see them, but she knew they were still there. “Are you friendly?” Jessie fought the desire to climb into bed and pull the covers over her head. “You have to watch him for me. I saw you in my dreams. You were with him in the woods. You must be here to help him. At least I hope you are,” she whispered. Instead of cowering, she pulled out her laptop. Jessie concentrated on the next segment of their story. The end would come with the capture of the suspects.

  It seemed as if only moments had passed when she lifted her head and realized that the house was nighttime silent. How long had she been typing? A quick glance at the clock told her it was after ten. She stretched her arms, wiggling her fingers. Still dressed, she pulled back the covers, leaned her back against the headboard, and closed her eyes. It seemed as if no time had passed when she opened them again and sat up. Something wasn’t right—it was—all wrong! She forced herself to stay still.

  ****

  If he were honest, his mind was giving him more than he could handle. Jessie had gone to bed a while ago, and here he was, wide awake. Arms stacked behind his head, Matt leaned against the smooth leather of the recliner. She had reassured him several times during the evening that he would get through this fine. Still, he was concerned about what he’d face before he got to the fine part. Having seen those kids, Matt knew it wouldn’t be a picnic if Roth had any say in the matter. Their plan had to work like a well-oiled machine, which didn’t often happen in his line of work. How many times had he almost lost Jess? Consider all the possibilities and try to anticipate the surprises. What surprises could Roth have at his disposal?

  He couldn’t let it be Jessie. His heart was only beginning to open to love again. One of his greatest fears was his job would come back to haunt him or his loved ones.

  He needed sleep. Tomorrow could be a long day. Matt closed his eyes, his body relaxed, and finally, his mind was quiet. He dozed.

  “Don’t move.” A chilling voice whispered in his ear as he struggled out of sleep. The cold steel pressed against his head. A rag covered his mouth and nose. He fought to pull it away. Radar wasn’t barking. His consciousness was slipping away. Why hadn’t the others heard? Had they killed them all?

  Chapter 42

  Jessie jumped out of bed glancing at the clock on her way to the door. Twelve-thirty; she hadn’t slept long. The house was too quiet, panic rising like bile in her throat. Rushing across the hall, she knocked on Matt’s door, pushing it open when he didn’t answer. He wasn’t in his
bed. She ran to the living room, her heart racing. His chair was empty. “Matt,” she yelled. The room was dark and silent.

  “What the hell?” Tom came out of the room rubbing his eyes. Light flooded the hallway. “Jessie, what’s wrong?”

  “Matt’s gone.” She raced down the hall to Frank’s room.

  “What do you mean gone?” Tom shouted. He followed, hot on her heels.

  “You know what I mean. Gone, Matt’s gone, they’ve kidnapped him.” Jessie banged on Frank’s door. She heard Frank stir. “Frank, wake up.”

  “Gone? How in the hell did they get in here without us hearing them? Radar should have heard something.” Tom reached for her hand before she could hit the door again. “Get a hold of yourself. We can’t lose our heads.”

  “What’s the matter?” Frank sounded groggy when he opened the door.

  “They’ve got Matt.” Jessie gulped back the scream rising in her throat.

  “No way. Radar would have heard it.” Frank looked at the sleeping dog.

  “He’s not rousing, even with me banging on the door. Could he have been drugged?”

  “You’re right, he’s too quiet.” Frank squatted next to Radar. “He’s alive, but he’s not stirring.”

  “Damn, we need him, too.” Tom phoned Sanders.

  “How?” Jessie asked Frank.

  “He must have found some drugged food outside when I took him out earlier.” Frank rubbed Radar’s fur and talked to him. Jessie was the first one to see his tail thump against the floor when he heard Frank’s voice. “Are you okay, fella?” He placed some water in front of him, and the drowsy dog lapped a small amount.

  “That’s the only way they could get past Radar.” Jessie paced. “How will we ever find Matt without the dog’s help?” She brushed away the tears that were starting to gather. “I knew when I awakened that something was wrong.”

  “We’ll find him.” Tom stood behind her and placed his arm around her shoulder. “Sanders phoned the local veterinarian on call. I received a text that the vet is on the way to check on Radar. Get dressed and ready to go. As soon as the dog is able, we’re heading out.”

  Happy that Tom was taking charge, Jessie changed into clothes and ran a brush through hair. Grabbing the gun off the dresser along with her badge, she shoved them into her jacket. The vet was in with Radar as she passed by the open door. He had to be okay. They’d never find Matt without him. Hands fisted at her side she walked into the kitchen and went through the motions of making a pot of coffee, “Darn,” She fumbled with the lid on the canister. Suddenly coffee grounds flew in all directions and the tears streamed down her cheeks. Pouring coffee into the filter, she didn’t bother to measure. Had she added enough water? The coffee seemed way too dark to her as it dripped down into the pot. Matt was in danger, and they were wasting time. He was probably being tortured right at this moment, the way the kids had been. Her dream was coming true. He needed help, and she couldn’t get to him. She curled her hand into a fist and spun around as Tom’s voice startled her.

  “Radar is going to be fine.” Tom came into the kitchen. “The doc thinks they placed a sleeping pill in a chunk of hamburger or something that the dog ate. Radar is moving around. He’s a little groggy, but he’s moving.” Tom saw her wipe her eyes. “Jessie, what the hell?”

  “Matt’s life is in danger. Every minute counts, and here we stand. They’re getting away. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful Radar is okay. He’s not only a valuable dog, he’s Frank’s friend. I wish we could give him time to recover, but Radar’s the only one that can lead us to where they’ve taken Matt. I feel so helpless.” She pushed away from the counter and began to pace.

  “We’ll find Matt.” He poured cream into his coffee and spit it out in the sink after the first sip “They’re working the dog outside to see how he’s doing. They have one of Matt’s shirts. We’ll know soon if he can track. Frank had Radar out last night before ten, so the vet seems to think the drug should be wearing off soon.”

  “Let’s hope. I’ve seen what those men are capable of.” Jessie gulped back the sob inching its way up her throat. She walked back to the bedroom and leaned her forehead against the wall. “Matt, I’m sending you my thoughts. We’re coming, sweetheart. You’ll know what to do. Amir, Ryan, and Shara are with you. Roth may have surprised us, but we have a few surprises of our own. Come back to me, please come back.”

  “Jessie, it’s a go. Let’s roll!” Tom shouted at her. “We still have a couple of hours before daylight.”

  “I’m ready.” She followed him out the door.

  When Tom turned on Main Street, he stopped, and Frank took Radar out of the car to see if could track which direction the car carrying Matt had left town. He picked up the scent, and they followed the route. Several times, Radar’s tracking ability assured them that they were heading in the right direction. The final turn took them to a heavily wooded area a few miles from where they had found Owen Marshall. Tom called in their location and Sanders and a few others were a few miles from the targeted area and on their way. Radar was fully awake and ready to go.

  Jessie moved away from Tom and Frank. Matt was somewhere out there in the darkness. She was sure of it. The thought sent shivers running up and down her spine. He was calling her name.

  ****

  Matt’s eyes opened. What happened? Struggling to recall any small detail, he reached his hand toward his pounding head. The vehicle stopped suddenly, and he braced himself to keep from slamming into the side of the van. “Damn,” he groaned, his heart racing. Two voices were talking, but he couldn’t understand a word. The door opened, and hands reached to pull him out. Yanking his arms behind his back, one of the men pushed Matt against the side of the van while the other tied his wrists. Fighting to keep his eyes open, Matt took a quick survey of his surroundings. There were two men, and they were armed. No landmark was recognizable; the bag seemed to descend over his head in slow motion until the light of the moon went out. Darkness settled over him. Surprise—all their planning now meant nothing. His shaky legs fought to hold him upright. Despair crept into his mind, but he fought it, holding on to a glimmer of hope in Jessie’s words. He would be all right.

  Was she still alive? Fear clutched him as he remembered the silent house…

  A shove in his back caused him to stumble and fall. The men argued as one of them hauled him to his feet. How far had he walked? Suspended animation, slow motion, his brain was foggy, and his feet felt as if they were encased in concrete. They came to an abrupt stop just as his legs buckled. A door opened, and the men grabbed him under the arms and carried him inside, dropping him on the cold ground. Tension filled his body. A heated exchange passed between his abductors, and then a few well-placed kicks to his back and stomach left him writhing on the floor. Matt curled on his side and waited for the next blow. A few more curses and blows to his head and side followed. Footsteps grew distant and silence fell. Yet he knew he wasn’t alone.

  “We meet at last, Parker.” The man’s raspy voice broke the silence.

  “Who are you?” The bag muffled his words.

  “My secret for now. All you need to know is it will be a pleasure to watch you die.”

  “Roth,” Matt mumbled. “This must be my lucky night,” he added sarcastically.

  “So my fame precedes me.”

  “I wouldn’t call it fame—more like a failure.” Matt felt cold steel against his leg. The first jolt hit him, and the pain ripped through him for an eternity, finally releasing him and leaving him limp. He couldn’t stop the groan that burst from his mouth.

  “I thought you might enjoy a small demonstration of what those kids went through and what you have to look forward to. We’ll be in no hurry.” He chuckled. “I’ll leave you to your thoughts.” Roth’s sinister laugh could still be heard after the door slammed.

  Matt was alone. Acid surged into his throat, and he almost vomited. His hands were sweating. His wrists ached from the wires that bound him. It didn’
t stop him from working to free his hands. There was zero chance of survival if he didn’t get them free. He pictured how Lewis had removed the binding from the victims’ hands. The wire gave a little. He moved them back and forth, the sweat lubricating his wrists. He gulped, holding his stomach at bay. How had they got to him? He didn’t want to travel the road where his thoughts were trying to take him. She couldn’t be dead. One girl he had loved had already died. He couldn’t lose another. He loved her too much. Jessie! His fingers found the twists in the wire, and he worked to unwind them. What was the strange sound? Ringing in his ears? Man, everything hurt, but he kept working at it. Hurry, Matt. Hope was the sound of her voice in the distance. Jessie was coming, and he wanted to live.

  Chapter 43

  It was her dream all over again, only she was living in it. The fog swirled among the trees and hovered along the ground like an evil mist; the full moon cast its eerie light through the woods, giving enough illumination to see the treetops swaying in the wind. She didn’t recognize the area. Apprehension gripped her. Trees and fog seemed to go hand in hand to make the darkness scarier. She stood on the edge of the woods waiting, wanting to go in but equally not wanting to. Matt was in there, no doubt about it. Jessie pulled her jacket tightly around her as chills raced down her spine.

  “What do you think? You’re so quiet.” Frank walked up beside her.

  “I know he’s in there.” She pointed into the woods. “I want to help, but I have no idea what to do.”

  “We all want to help, and we’ll do our best to get him out safely.” Frank patted her arm. “I can’t believe they were able to abduct him without us hearing. Matt isn’t a small man. They drugged him; that’s obvious, but they still had to move him. We should have heard something.” Frank shook his head.

  “We didn’t though, and that why may never be answered.” Jessie leaned against the front of the car. I saw the ghosts last night. They were at the house.”

  “Matt’s house? Have they ever been there before?” Frank asked.