The rain picked up to the point Owen had to slow his speed or end up in a ditch somewhere. He could barely see two feet in front of the car. Still, he pressed on. He wasn’t returning home without Jessica, no matter what he had to drive through to reach her.
Holding his cellphone in a death grip, Owen followed the prompts from the GPS and took a left at the next intersection. Five minutes later, he pulled into a circle drive of a two-story brick home.
The house appeared dark and no vehicles were present that Owen could see.
He snarled a few curse words and laid on the horn. Nothing moved inside the house.
More than a little furious, he slammed the palm of his hand against the steering wheel, his mind spinning with unimaginable scenarios. Where could they be?
Owen swiped his finger across the screen of his cellphone and selected Jessica’s number. Of course, it went straight to voicemail.
Pressing the end key, he pulled up her number once more and sent her a text. Jess, please call me. I love you.
He lowered the phone to the console, unsure of where to go next.
Maybe she’s at a motel, he thought, snatching up the phone once more. He touched the icon for their personal banking and waited for it to load. After entering the expected information, he scrolled through the charges until he found what he sought. Country Inn Motor Lodge.
With determination and more than a little fear of what he’d find, Owen sped out of Ruckle’s drive and shot down the street in the midst of the torrential downpour. Jessica was coming home with him if he had to drag her kicking and screaming. If she wanted him to beg, he would beg. He would do whatever it took to get her back, even if that meant he had to take out Ruckle to make that happen.
Chapter Forty-Two
Jessica’s cellphone vibrated, telling her that she had a text message. Without taking her gaze from what little of the road she could see, she felt around on the seat until she gripped her phone in her hand.
Swiping her finger across the screen, she opened the text to find a message from Owen. Jess, please call me. I love you.
Relief swept through her. Owen still loved her, no matter what she’d done or how crazy she had acted.
She pressed reply and lifted her thumb to the phone’s digital keyboard.
Bright lights suddenly shot up behind her, momentarily blinding her.
Jessica dropped her phone, gripping the wheel with both hands as the lights grew rapidly closer.
An ear-piercing sound vibrated through the car as the fast-approaching vehicle slammed into the back of her.
The airbag exploded in her face, sending excruciating pain shooting through her skull.
She had a split second to silently cry out before the car went airborne and her world turned black.
* * * *
Jessica moaned in pain as her body was jostled around on a hard surface. She attempted to open her eyes, but something held them closed. It took her a moment to realize they were swollen shut.
She strained to recall what had happened. Memory of leaving the Daytons and driving in the rain was all Jess could grab onto.
But then bits and pieces of random images sparked behind her closed eyelids. Melanie’s reaction to the painting, the crack of lightning as she got into her car. The text from Owen. The rapidly approaching headlights in her rearview mirror. Someone had run into her car at a high rate of speed. Oh, my God.
Jessica tried opening her mouth to cry out for help, but her lips wouldn’t move. Nor would her hands and feet she realized in terror. She’d been bound and gagged.
Panic quickly set in, sending her mind into a place it wasn’t prepared to go. She struggled against her bonds to no avail while trying to breathe through the blood trickling from her nose.
Her lungs hurt along with her head.
I have to calm down. Think, Jessica, you have to think.
It took considerable effort to pull herself together enough to keep from blacking out. Her lungs felt as if they would explode from lack of precious oxygen, and her mind continued to rebel against what she knew to be true. Someone had tried to kill her.
It suddenly dawned on her that she was in the trunk of a moving car. It bounced along an uneven surface, telling her one thing for certain…they were definitely not on the highway.
Jessica could do nothing but lie there bound and gagged while waiting for the vehicle to stop. Yet she knew exactly what would happen then…she would be killed just as Sandy Weaver had.
Tears welled up behind Jessica’s closed eyes to leak from the swollen corners. She would never again have the chance to tell Owen how sorry she was for shutting him out, to let him know how much she loved him and always had.
The car finally rolled to an abrupt stop, sending pain shooting through Jessica’s shoulders. She had no idea how long she’d been bound, but her arms had been screaming in agony since she’d became conscious.
Thunder boomed overhead, temporarily drowning out the sound of Jessica’s thundering heart.
The engine shut off on the vehicle and the slam of a door followed shortly after.
A moan of fear vibrated behind Jessica’s gag with the knowledge that she would soon face her abductor. The fact that she couldn’t see kicked her anxiety up another notch.
The trunk abruptly opened, and the sting of the pelting rain hit Jessica in the face.
She was suddenly yanked up by her tormented arms. Jessica cried out from behind her gag as her stomach made contact with the unforgiving ball of a man’s shoulder.
Nausea rolled with every step her captor took. She prayed to God she didn’t vomit behind that gag and choke to death on it.
The man trudged through the rain for what seemed an eternity to an upside-down Jess before he entered some kind of shelter and dropped her trussed up weight on the floor at his feet.
Excruciating pain burst through Jessica’s body, eliciting another cry from behind her gag.
The sound of footsteps could be heard moving away from her just seconds ahead of a door opening in the distance. It slammed closed, telling Jessica she’d been left alone on that floor. For how long, she had no idea.
Owen…
Chapter Forty-Three
Owen sat in the pouring rain in the parking lot of the Country Inn Motor Lodge staring at the door to room 102. He wasn’t sure how long he’d sat there, waiting for Jessica to return before he decided to leave.
Cranking up his car, he reached for the gearshift when a dark colored sedan pulled into the parking space next to him.
Steven Ruckle jumped out, shielding his eyes from the rain and hurried up to the overhang of the motel.
Rage boiled inside Owen’s blood. He opened his door and flew from the car before Ruckle realized what had happened.
Owen gripped the other man by the arm, jerked him around and slammed his fist against his face.
Steven staggered back a few feet before catching his footing. He lifted his hand to the corner of his mouth. “You son of a bitch,” he growled, launching at Owen.
But Owen was a force to be reckoned with. He had too much to lose to allow Ruckle to take him down. He ducked, coming up with an uppercut that caught Steven on the chin.
“Where is she?” Owen snarled, spinning around behind the reporter.
Steven quickly faced him, his hands coming up to ward off the next potential punch. “I have no idea. That’s why I’m here, looking for her.”
Owen took a threatening step closer. “Bullshit. You know which motel room belongs to her, but you haven’t seen her?”
“I saw her earlier this evening, but as per usual, she’s not answering her calls or texts. So, I figured I’d see if she was here.”
The longer Owen stood there looking into Ruckle’s eyes, the angrier he became. “I won’t give her up for you or anyone else. Do you understand? I’ll kill you before I let you have her.”
Something flickered in Ruckle’s eyes. He lowered his hands and blew out a resigned breath. “Yeah, well you don�
��t have to worry about killing me anytime soon. She made it perfectly clear that she didn’t want me. Not for a lack of trying on my part, mind you.”
Owen studied Ruckle’s face closely but saw no hint of deception. He relaxed his stance. Somewhat. “Then what are you doing here?”
“I came to see how her visit with the Daytons went since she didn’t answer her phone.”
“Why did she go see the Daytons?”
Steven ran a hand through his wet hair. “She’d painted another picture the night before of a cabin on a lake. An eerie looking painting with the images of Terry Dayton’s and some young girl’s faces just beneath the surface of the water. It really shook her up. She wanted to speak with Jasper Dayton to see if he recognized the cabin in the painting.”
Owen thought about that for a moment. Surely to God Jessica didn’t take her paranoia to the Daytons? “Where do the Daytons live?”
Steven stepped around him and headed toward his car. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
With little choice but to do as the asshole said or sit in the rain and hope Jessica returned soon, Owen got back inside his car and followed Ruckle from the parking lot.
So Jess had turned Ruckle down, Owen mused, staying close behind the dark colored sedan. Did that mean she’d be willing to give Owen another chance, or was she simply not interested in Ruckle? Owen wasn’t sure about anything anymore. He did, however, know that he would do everything in his power to make Jessica happy again. Even if that meant moving her back to Chicago. He had yet to sell their home. He would even unpack Jacob’s things, if that’s what Jessica wanted. Owen only wanted her love.
Flashing lights could be seen up ahead through the torrential downpour. Owen touched on his breaks, staying close behind Ruckle as he eased along the side of the road, giving a wide berth to the fire trucks and police cars.
Owen squinted against the red and blue lights, wondering what had happened, but the downpouring of rain made it impossible to see.
* * * *
Owen slowed to a stop behind Ruckle’s sedan as he parked in front of a pale-yellow house in a nice suburban neighborhood. The flash of lightning revealed a white work truck sitting in the drive, but Jessica’s SUV was nowhere in sight.
Waiting for Ruckle to exit his vehicle, Owen quickly joined him. They ran across the yard toward the front porch, their shoes sloshing through the water puddling on the lawn.
Owen stepped onto the porch next to Ruckle and wiped the rain from his face while the other man rang the doorbell.
Long moments ticked by before the door opened to reveal a confused looking blonde. She blinked up at Ruckle, her eyes glassy and slightly unfocused. “Steven?”
It wasn’t lost on Owen that woman knew Ruckle personally.
Steven responded in a smooth voice. “Hi, Melanie.”
“What are you doing here?” Her words could barely be heard over the thunder rolling through the skies.
Ruckle stepped aside, tilting his head in Owen’s direction. “This is Owen Nobles, Jessica’s husband.”
Melanie’s gaze flicked to Owen. “What do you want?”
Owen cleared his throat, noticing the slight slur in the woman’s voice. “I’m looking for my wife. I was told she came by here earlier.”
“She showed up here waving a painting around and talking a bunch of nonsense.”
Ruckle reached up and touched Melanie on the arm. “I know you’re upset, but trust me when I say that hurting you was the last thing Jessica wanted to do.”
Melanie shifted her attention back to Ruckle, and her eyes narrowed. “You knew she was coming here with that garbage?”
“I did. But she would never intentionally upset you, Melanie. She’d hoped to speak with Jasper to see if he would recognize the painting she’d done last night.”
Melanie paled and staggered back a step. “That’s just sick. Why would she want to show Jasper a painting of our son lying in a shallow grave?”
Steven glanced at Owen and then back to Melanie. “No…the other one. The one with the little gray cabin on the lake.”
“A gray cabin on the lake,” Melanie repeated in a wooden voice. She turned to look over her shoulder and stumbled slightly. “Jasper!”
Owen took a step forward. “Did Jessica say where she was going when she left here?”
Melanie called out to her husband once more, her gait unsteady. “Jasper!”
“Please,” Owen interjected, drawing Melanie’s attention back to him. “Anything you can remember will help. Did she say—”
“Jasper’s not here.” Melanie’s dazed eyes grew more confused if that were possible.
More than a little frustrated, Owen ground out between clenched teeth. “Mrs. Dayton, did my wife give any indication where she might be heading when she left here?”
Melanie shook her head, her hand coming up to massage her left temple. She settled her unfocused gaze on Ruckle as if Owen hadn’t spoken. “Why would she want to know about our cabin?”
Ruckle stilled. “Your cabin?”
“It’s more Jasper’s than mine. He spent a lot of time there before Terry disappeared…”
“Where is Jasper, now?” Ruckle demanded, suddenly gripping her upper arms.
Melanie squeezed her eyes tightly shut. “I don’t know. I thought he was here.”
“The cabin. Tell me how to get to the cabin.”
Her eyelids lifted and Owen could see the tears forming there. She took a shuddering breath and then rattled off an address. “What’s going on, Steven?”
Ruckle released her, spun on his heel, and sailed off the porch without answering.
“What are you not telling me?” Owen barked, catching up to Ruckle in a few short strides.
“I believe Jasper Dayton has Jessica!”
The bottom dropped out of Owen’s stomach. “We’ll take my car!”
Owen was behind the wheel and squealing tires before Steven’s door finished closing.
“Talk to me,” Owen demanded, switching on the defrost to clear the windshield.
Steven engaged his seatbelt. “Take a left at the four-way up ahead.”
“Why the hell would Jasper have Jessica?” Owen snarled, turning at the four-way without slowing.
Ruckle gripped the dash with both hands. “The picture Jessica painted last night of the cabin on the lake? She took that painting to the Daytons this evening.”
Owen listened as Ruckle explained everything that had happened recently, including the details of Jessica’s recent painting.
Ruckle met his gaze. “That cabin belongs to Jasper Dayton.”
“Son of a bitch,” Owen growled, his mind conjuring up everything Jess had told him over the past few weeks. “She tried to tell me, but I wouldn’t hear her. I had her locked in a mental ward, for God’s sake.” He floored the gas pedal.
Ruckle continued to grip that dash. “Don’t let your guilt get us killed, man. Pay attention to the damn road.”
But Owen was no longer listening. His mind could think of nothing but Jessica and how he’d unintentionally pushed her away. If something happened to her because of his idiocy, Owen would never forgive himself. He drove faster. “Call the police.”
“And tell them what? We have no proof of anything. All we have are two paintings from a woman who’s a suspect in a murder case. Not to mention she just spent three days in the mental hospital. Trust me, they won’t come rushing out here with guns drawn.”
Owen felt sick. “Call them anyway!”
Ruckle dug his cellphone from the pocket of his pants and dialed 911.
Owen listened as he gave them the address to the cabin.
“I don’t know,” Ruckle growled into the phone after giving the dispatcher what information he knew. “Just hurry.” He ended the call.
“How much farther is this damn cabin?” Owen felt as if they’d been driving for hours.
“Approximately five more minutes. Turn right just beyond those railroad tracks up ahead.”
A flash of lightning revealed a wash out in the road. Owen slammed on breaks a second too late. He lost control of the car, fighting to hold onto the wheel as they spun violently off the side of the road.
With his breath punching in and out of his chest, Owen pressed the gas, only to realize the tires were spinning in the mud.
A string of curses soon filled the car. “Son of a bitch, we’re stuck!”
Jerking open the door, Owen jumped out. “Hurry,” he snarled, already breaking into a run.
Chapter Forty-Four
Jessica rolled to her side in an attempt to relieve some of the pain in her shoulders. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been bound and gagged, but her arms had gone to sleep long ago, sending sharp prickly pains shooting through her hands.
She gritted her teeth, straining to open her eyes enough to check out her surroundings.
The door abruptly opened, and the sound of footballs echoed inside the room. “You’re awake.”
Jessica’s heart stuttered in stunned disbelief. She angled her head in the direction of Jasper Dayton’s voice. She wanted to cry out, to beg him to release her, but the gag in her mouth held her back.
The thumping of his boots grew closer, terrifying Jess and drawing a whimper from her throat. She blinked through her swollen lids, barely able to discern his features in the dim light surrounding him.
He dropped to his haunches next to her and removed the gag from her mouth. “I’m sure you’re wondering why you’re here.”
Jessica swallowed around her confusion and terror. “My arms,” she gasped in torment. “Please…”
His sigh blew the hair back from her face. She could smell his cologne as he leaned over her and severed the bonds at her wrists.
Jessica cried out with the burn of the sudden feeling that shot up her arms. She rolled to her back, her teeth locked together in agony.
The Boy in the Window: A Psychological Thriller Page 15