Night Skyy

by Rich Bullock

  “Hello, Sheriff,” Skyy said, balancing her phone while setting her equipment bag on the shop’s counter.

  “Sorry to call so late, Ms. Delaney, but I wanted to update you what happened today.”

  A tight knot formed in Skyy’s stomach. She chose pacing rather than sitting as she listened.

  “Over the last few days, I’ve been in touch with several Bay Area agencies. They helped track down this elusive Gabriel to an address in a rural area east of Oakland. The sheriff of Contra Costa County, James Willoughby, is an old friend of mine, and it turned out they were already investigating reports of suspicious activity. A lot of late-night comings and goings.”

  Skyy walked to the front windows and stared into the dark. She wished the sheriff would get to the point, but feared what she might hear when he did.

  “With my information from Bailey and Olivia,” Cabot said, “Sheriff Willoughby obtained a search warrant, and a joint task force raided the compound a few hours ago. They found two adults, three juvenile girls, and one juvenile boy who all appeared healthy. But they also found a cache of weapons, and one of the drug-sniffing dogs alerted to stacks of thousands of dollars. That was more than enough to close the place down and put the kids into protective custody.”

  “Did they find the other house?” Skyy asked. “The one Bailey said was across the ravine?”

  “They did.” Cabot cleared his throat. “I’m afraid it was worse than she recounted.”

  His description of the two girls in the house left Skyy shaking. He didn’t have their names, but she hoped Bailey’s friend, Amine, was one of the rescued girls. Heat rose as she realized again how close Bailey and Olivia came to ending up in that hellhole, beaten, frightened, forever scared.

  “And that bastard Gabriel… Did they lock him up?”

  “Unfortunately, no,” Cabot sighed. “He wasn’t on the premises and hasn’t yet been located. His real name is Bradley Farmer, thirty-eight years old. He grew up in the area, so he knows it well. Sheriff Willoughby issued a state-wide BOLO. We’ll get him, but there are over 100 cities and 7 million people in the Bay Area alone. It could take awhile.”

  Skyy cursed the man’s name and didn’t realize she’d spoken out loud until Cabot coughed.

  “I do have some good news for you,” he said. “In light of the Bay Area situation, our social services agreed to place your two girls in foster care with Alex and AJ Stone. They’ll have to move to their property in the next couple of days. You can visit the girls whenever you like, and they can visit you. Mr. Truax being a cop carries some weight. Also, a preliminary search hasn’t found any missing persons reports matching the girls’ descriptions.”

  Your two girls.

  Skyy latched onto that one ray of hope in Cabot’s awful story. Now more than ever, that’s the way she thought of them. With his call, it was like her protective instincts exploded inside, infusing every cell in her body with the overwhelming desire to care for them, keep them safe. And as nice as the Stones were, Skyy didn’t want the girls moving to their property, next door or not. She wanted them with her.

  Chapter 31

  Canon relaxed with the familiar greeting and sexy alto in his earbuds.

  “Hi, all. Skyy D here, and you’re listening to Night Thoughts on Black Owl Radio. I hope you’re having a good evening. Thanks for dropping in for my ramblings and to hear some great music from independent artists all over the world.”

  After bringing the ice cream—which Ember warned was for him and Skyy to eat “together”—she and the girls had showered, then left to join Skyy for the show. He had the house to himself. Just him and virtual Skyy D.

  He was on one of the porch lounges, wrapped in two blankets against the night air, but Skyy’s voice, rich and low, banished all thought of the cold. She credited her new microphone. More likely, he heard her differently because he wasn’t distracted by her cute nose, gorgeous auburn hair, and those lips.

  Out here in the dark with the stars twinkling and the full moon lifting over the hills, it was only her voice, and she was talking only to him. He closed his eyes and smiled, imagining Mart howling at his sappiness. His brother could kiss off. Because Skyy D was living in his house.

  “Later on, I’ll be playing music by Wint, an amazing young singer you may have seen in her online videos. She’s released her first full album, all self-written and performed, and she’s only seventeen.” Skyy laughed. “Makes me feel like a slacker, you know?

  “At the close of Tuesday’s show, Ember suggested a few topics for tonight. Thanks all of you who voted. The winning topic is risking and trusting in relationships. Those who have heard my story know I have some experience in this area, and evidently I’m not alone. According to a 2016 study out of Australia, half of people in long-term commitments don’t fully trust their partner. They hold back, unwilling to risk everything. And 11 percent are convinced their partner would leave if he or she discovered one of those secrets. I think that’s sad.

  “But I’d love to hear what you think. So post a comment. Tell me how open you are in your relationship, or how open you plan to be in a future one. Do you fully trust your spouse or significant other?

  “Meanwhile, starting off our music tonight is Positive Dream from Seattle. This is the third cut on their sophomore album, and it’s titled ‘I Want To Be Heard.’ Appropriate, don’t you think?”

  Canon lowered his phone volume as the song played. The walk earlier had allowed him to reason through a few things. Skyy was scared, and it was no wonder. In a few short weeks, she’d gone from single woman to a houseful, and everyone wanting something major from her.

  In the virtual world, he’d known her a lot longer than she’d known him. Months of listening to her voice—usually in the dark—gave him insights into what she cared about, what made her laugh, and how she treated callers. Truthfully, he’d fallen in love with her as a person. Not with her voice, but her. Weird, and perhaps he’d give Mart a nod at being sappy, but there it was.

  On the other hand, she’d known him for only a short time, and most of that holed up in this cabin with him and his bum shoulder. She’d never seen him whole, never had time to learn his opinions on tens of dozens of subjects like he had her.

  His question earlier had dropped a bomb on her. He couldn’t expect her to jump into his arms and commit to everything—whatever everything included. Ember’s adoption, for sure. Skyy was determined to follow through with that. And hopefully everything included him, at least someday.

  But the girls… Man, that was a huge responsibility, both for her and, if it went that way, for him too.

  So being fair, he had to turn the question around and ask it of himself:

  Would he say no?

  Skyy had finished her intro and put on a Positive Dream song when a knock sounded on DC Coffee’s front glass. Ember, Bailey, and Olivia stood outside on the sidewalk. Skyy rose and unlocked the door.

  “I thought you guys would be getting ready for bed.”

  “We started to, but I wanted to be here with you,” Ember said.

  “And we wouldn’t let her come alone,” Bailey added.

  Skyy pulled Bailey into a hug, then added Olivia. They smelled of shampoo, and Skyy pressed her eyes shut to keep from tearing. She held the girls tight for several long beats until she felt Bailey squirm.

  “What was that for?” Bailey asked as Skyy let them go.

  “I just missed you guys,” Skyy said, her voice ragged. “And…I’m glad you came back.”

  “Oh,” Bailey said.

  Olivia only nodded, covering a yawn. She pulled her hoodie up and slid into a chair at one of the tables, laying her head on her arms.

  “Did you miss me too?” Ember asked, opening her arms wide, then added a whispered “Mom” when Skyy drew her close.

  “Brat,” Skyy whispered back, and Ember laughed.

  Skyy surveyed the street before closing the door.

  “Canon’s on the front porch listening to the sho
w,” Ember said, answering the unspoken question. “Need help?” She hopped onto the bar stool next to Skyy’s laptop. Bailey took one next to her.

  “Under control for right now,” Skyy said, catching the slight sag in Ember’s shoulders. “But I’m not happy with the playlist. Why don’t you reorder these songs while I hit the bathroom?”

  Ember perked up and turned the laptop toward her. Skyy looped around the bar and headed into the back room. The playlist was adequate as it was, but Ember would make it better. Skyy could walk right out the rear door and Ember would run the remainder of the show without a hitch. Her soon-to-be daughter was flat out amazing.

  Skyy shut the bathroom door and splashed water on her face at the small sink. Truthfully, she was glad for the break. Sheriff Cabot’s call had sent her emotions on an hour’s long rollercoaster ride of horror, anger, and full-on fury. She’d barely pulled herself together in time to go on air.

  She dried her face, used the toilet, and exited the tiny bathroom. On the way back to the bar, she stopped at Olivia’s table and lightly stroked the girl’s back as she slept peacefully. May it always be so.

  She plastered on a smile and squeezed Bailey’s shoulder as she took her seat by Ember. The mic was muted and a song by Wint was half done. “Did I miss anything?”

  “Two more orphan girls called in and I gave them your address,” Ember deadpanned.

  “Very funny.” Skyy bumped the girl’s shoulder, and Bailey laughed.

  Inside, Skyy was supremely glad Ember had made exactly that choice with an anonymous girl named K, who had shown up days later in this shop’s doorway, half drowned with Olivia in tow. As much as any of the law enforcement personnel who raided that hellhole in Northern California, Ember was a rescuer at heart. So was Bailey. And Canon.

  Maybe she was too. She wanted to be. If she would take the risk.

  The song ended. Ember clicked the unmute button and Skyy leaned into the mic. “That was ‘Bitter Question’ by Wint. We’ll have more from her in a few minutes, but first some of your comments. 21quido says ‘Risk can be a quick decision, but trust is built over time.’ Wise words, 21quido. You should write some lyrics for Wint.

  “Desiringasgard notes that risk is never a sure thing but can be a calculated action. Man, you guys are deep tonight.”

  Ember tapped Skyy’s shoulder and pointed to the mic. Skyy nodded and turned the mic toward the girl.

  “Hi, this is Ember. I have a quote I found I’d like to read.” She was holding a thin booklet, opened to its middle.

  One of Narrano’s books. Skyy hoped it wasn’t more destiny wisdom.

  “It’s from Love and Hurt, by V.M. Narrano,” Ember said. “You’ve probably heard of him; he’s sort of a poet. Listen to this.”

  Those who refuse to risk miss true love. Deep, life-altering love can only be given, and we can’t be the recipient without another first risking all. It’s our choice to reject it.

  For anything given away risks not being returned. Our deepest desire is to love and be loved in a way that risks everything.

  “Isn’t that amazing?” Ember sighed. “‘…to love and be loved in a way that risks everything.’ I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of love I want.”

  Bailey pointed at the posting window as comments began flooding in faster and faster. Narrano’s words had clearly struck a chord.

  They did with Skyy, too. “Ember,” she managed, her own throat a little tight after hearing the quote, “why don’t you read a few more thoughts from listeners while I queue up the next song?”

  There really wasn’t anything to do, but it made it sound like a bigger operation than they really were. Plus, she wanted to give Ember more air time. The listeners liked her, and she loved doing the show.

  Bailey leaned closer and scanned the scrolling comments, pointing out which Ember should read next. Skyy watched the girls, heads together, working as a team. Maybe she should talk to Big Jerry about adding a new show, one geared to a slightly younger audience and hosted by two teenagers.

  The discussion landed solidly on taking risks in love, and Skyy was glad to let Ember lead as she leaned back and contemplated Narrano’s words. She always thought she had to trust first in order to find love, but in reality, someone else had to risk everything to love her. And she had to do the same.

  Love wasn’t about trusting someone, it was about risking everything in loving them. No guarantees, only hope.

  As the show progressed, Skyy tried to move the topic to pros and cons and how to avoid bad choices, but the incoming comments weren’t going there. Deep down, neither was she. Her voice tightened as she came to a decision.

  “I’m going to share something personal. Earlier today someone asked me about taking a risk—and if I’d say no.”

  She cleared her throat and avoided the wide eyes coming from Ember and Bailey.

  “I’m going with my gut on this. I—”

  Chapter 32

  Canon sipped from the icy can. He should be drinking something hot, but the orange soda felt more appropriate when listening to Skyy. He wondered if she’d taken one with her and was drinking it now as the song ended and her voice filled his earbuds.

  “I’m going to share something personal. Earlier today someone asked me about taking a risk, and if I’d say no.”

  Canon sat up straight in the lounger, the cold breeze forgotten even as he sucked in a lungful. He pressed the left earbud tighter.

  Skyy cleared her throat. “I’m going with my gut on this. I—”

  A crash blasted through the tiny speakers, and he jerked so hard he nearly fell off the chair. Then a gunshot, shouting, and swearing erupted along with girls screaming. He recognized only one word:

  “Gabriel!”

  Ten seconds seemed like an eternity as he raced to his bedroom and retrieved his service weapon from the safe. Then he was out the back door and skidding to a stop.

  He had no car. The ATV was parked against the house. It still ran, but had a broken front suspension from Skyy’s crash.

  He reached back inside the house and grabbed the keys off the hook, praying the machine would hold together long enough to get him to Deer Cove. The engine started with a roar, but the machine’s throttle was the right hand grip. He couldn’t reach it with his left hand and control the steering at the same time.

  Gritting his teeth, he slipped his arm out of the sling and leaned forward as far as he could until his hand wrapped around the throttle. Burning pain racked his right side, but he bit through it and twisted the grip. The front tires wobbled crazily as he coaxed the ATV up the driveway. When he got to the main road, he forced himself to stop and pull out his phone. As much as he wanted to get to Skyy, he had two calls to make.

  Chapter 33

  Bailey and Ember spun off the stools one direction and Skyy the other as the man fired a shot through the laptop, splintering its screen. He fisted Olivia’s hair, and she flailed and kicked him.

  “Stop it or I’ll kill them!” He pointed the gun at Bailey, gesturing with the barrel. “Come with me.” Bailey stood frozen.

  “No,” Skyy said, then slowly held her palms out when the gun centered on her chest. The man’s finger remained curled around the trigger, and Skyy stopped breathing for a moment. Olivia quit struggling, but her sobs ripped into Skyy. She had to defuse the situation. “How did you find us?”

  His twisted laugh echoed in the room, destroying any good looks he might have had. Long, dirty-blond hair trailed below his collar in a stringy mess, matching the color of a bushy goatee. A complex red and black sleeve tattoo covered his right arm, the details hidden behind the ominous gun.

  “Easy with GPS in every phone,” he said. “All my girls have them.”

  Skyy shuddered at the my girls, but nodded, keeping him engaged. Bailey’s phone might have led him here, but it had also enabled her to listen to Night Thoughts and call Skyy that first time.

  “Come on.” He gestured to Bailey and began backing toward t
he open doorway, tugging Olivia by her hair. Bailey took one hesitant step, her gaze bouncing between Gabriel and Skyy.

  “The police know who you are,” Skyy said, keeping her voice steadier than she felt. “You’ll be in more trouble if you take the girls.”

  “They’re mine,” he spat.

  “Your name is Bradley Farmer, and everyone in the state is looking for you and your gold Porsche Cayenne.”

  Surprise flitted across his face, but then he laughed again. “Well, then it’s a good thing I traded up.”

  Skyy glanced over his shoulder. Parked at the curb was a dark-colored midsize SUV. It could have been any of a dozen makes and models with similar styling.

  “And it’s a good time to leave California.”

  She took a step to her left to draw the gun farther away from Bailey and Ember.

  Gabriel tracked her as he backed toward the door, tightening his grip in Olivia’s hair. Tears ran down the girl’s face.

  “I came to take these girls back, but now they’ll help restart my business—somewhere far away from here.”

  Skyy bumped a chair. Its legs chattered on the tile, and the noise drew Gabriel’s attention. In a flash, Ember lifted a chair and hurled it at Gabriel, rushing him at the same time. He ducked, yanking the screaming Olivia down with him as the chair crashed through a front window.

  “No!” Skyy yelled as Gabriel fired again. The shot went into the ceiling as he fell. Ember leaped and smashed him in the face. He clubbed the side of her head with the pistol and she collapsed.

  “Stop! Stop!” Bailey yelled. “I’ll go.” Tears ran down her cheeks as she shuffled toward Gabriel, hands raised. “Just don’t hurt them.” She looked at Skyy, eyes pleading. Was it for help, or for Skyy to stay down and be safe?

  The stench of gunpowder filled the room, and the space rang with the shot. Every fiber of Skyy’s body ached to jump the man like Ember had done, strangle him with her bare hands. But she was too far away to do anything.