by Karen Ball
Oh, yeah. The time had come to show Jayce just who was really in charge.
Time was running out.
Dan had been waiting, just as God told him to. He hadn’t pushed Jayce this morning at breakfast, or when he drove him to school. Later that afternoon, Jayce called, as he always did, to let Dan know he was home from school. As much as Dan wanted to take a little side trip, stopping off at the house for a chat, he hadn’t done it. He just went about his work.
Waiting.
But as the day wore on and quitting time drew near, Dan grew more and more restless. He was on the phone to his sisters, asking them to pray. By the time he got home, he could no longer fight off the sense that something was wrong.
He pushed open the front door, calling as he entered. “Jayce?”
He listened for some kind of response, some movement, but heard none. He went to Jayce’s bedroom door and knocked. No answer.
Pressing his ear to the door, he listened again.
Nothing.
The apprehension that had been dogging his steps all day ratcheted up a notch, and Dan opened the door, looking into the room. It took a moment for his mind to process what he saw—the bed all but broken in half, pieces of wood lying scattered around on the floor. The bedclothes, torn and tossed about the room. The bed table and lamp on their sides on the floor. Drawers in the dresser pulled out and dumped.
It looked like someone in a rage had torn the room apart.
Jayce.
A sick sensation worked its way through Dan’s gut. Almost without thinking, he went to the phone. Dialed the number. And waited.
It seemed like that was all he was doing lately. Waiting.
“Hello?”
Dan cleared his throat at the sound of Shelby’s voice. “Hey. It’s Dan. I need you to come over here.” He glanced down the hallway at the wrecked room.
“Jayce has run away.”
Dan opened and slammed cupboard doors in the kitchen, ostensibly to fix a pot of coffee. But in reality, he was trying to vent the anger boiling through him.
He trusted Jayce. Trusted him. And this was how he repaid that trust. What a fool he’d been. What a stupid, blind—
The doorbell rang, and Dan slammed another cupboard shut and went to yank the front door open.
Shelby came in, laying a hand on his arm. Before he could stop himself, Dan jerked away. When hurt pinched her features, he cursed himself for being the worst fool possible. But all he said was, “This way.”
Spinning on his heel, he led the way down the hallway to Jayce’s room.
Shelby followed, then stood in the center of the room, surveying the damage. She walked over to the dresser where clothes and books had been tossed. Slowly, she lifted each item, folding the clothes and stacking the books.
Dan went to grab up the lamp and bed table, dropping them back in place. “I thought Jayce and I were gaining ground. That he was starting to trust me again.”
“And now?”
He tried to ignore the curt tone in her voice. He made a sweeping gesture with his hand. “Look at this place, Shelby. He’s gone. What does that tell you?”
“Nothing.”
Women. He ground his teeth. “Then you’re not paying attention.”
“Maybe you’re the one not paying attention.”
Dan flinched. Was everyone turning on him? “I thought you’d understand.”
“Oh, I understand, all right.” She squared off, arms folded across her chest. “You talk a good game, Deputy Justice, about doing what’s right, about believing in people.” Her blue eyes glittered. “About second chances. But when it comes right down to it, the minute someone messes up, the axe falls.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You!” She practically threw the word at him. “I’m talking about you! You’re so sure you can’t trust anyone, that you can’t ever love anyone again, because if you do, they’ll leave you.”
He stepped back. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh no? What about us, Dan? You say you want to start again. Be friends. But the second I get close, the door shuts. Right in my face.”
Her raised hand cut his reply short. “No, don’t bother. What was growing between us is in the past. I think I finally get that. But you and I are not what matters most right now.” She went back to Jayce’s dresser, grabbed something, and held it up for him to see.
What on earth?
Currents of shock ran through him. The Aslan pendant Shannon gave Jayce. The boy would never leave it behind. Dan’s gaze met Shelby’s. The censure in her eyes was almost more than he could take.
She dangled the pendant on its cord. “Do you really think Jayce left, or was he taken?”
She lowered the pendant into his palm, then he fingered the detail the way he’d seen Jayce do so often. “Taken?”
Shelby stamped her foot on the floor. “Come on, Dan. You’re a police officer. Think! Does this room look like Jayce ran away?”
Dan had to admit she was right. “Murphy.” Of course. Why didn’t he realize it sooner? “But why now? What could have made Marlin take this kind of risk?”
Shelby hugged herself. “I don’t know, but if Marlin is desperate enough to break into your home and grab Jayce, it can’t be good.”
“No, it can’t.” Dan closed a fist around the pendant as certainty filled his soul. If Dan didn’t find Jayce soon, it would be too late.
At that thought, terror sliced through Dan. Shaken to the core, he turned and planted his hands on the wall. Closing his eyes, he pled with God for help.
A hand on his shoulder told him Shelby was there, beside him, probably praying as well. He reached up to cover her hand with his.
Dan knew he couldn’t deny the truth any longer. Yes, as Shelby said, he was afraid. Afraid to love, to risk losing again. Oh, sure, he’d let Jayce come to stay with him. But the boy wasn’t the only one who’d erected barriers. He’d been working hard to hold his love back from Jayce. And from Shelby. Because when you love, you’re vulnerable.
And that meant you could be hurt.
But for all his effort, it hadn’t worked. The way he felt right now was proof of that. He loved Jayce. Loved him like he was his own son.
And he loved Shelby.
These two meant the world to him. And he was about to lose them. God, forgive me. Forgive me … and help me.
“Dan.” Shelby’s voice washed over him, soaking him in tender concern. “Are you okay?”
He opened his eyes and turned to her, her hand still nestled in his. “I can’t do this, Shelby.”
The tiny frown puckering her brow before she turned and walked away told him she didn’t understand. But how could she? When he hadn’t been honest with her.
Well, it was time to change that. Squaring his shoulders, he took the plunge. “I can’t lose Jayce.” He drew a deep breath. “Or you.”
She faced him but didn’t move closer. Just stood there, staring at him, as though afraid to believe. Dan understood. He would have to take the first step. And the second. And the third.
He covered the floor between them, gripping Shelby’s shoulders with gentle pressure. “I’m sorry.” He lifted a hand to cup her face. “I’m so sorry. You were right. I wouldn’t let myself admit how much Jayce means to me. How much you mean to me.”
Tears glistened in her beautiful eyes, and slowly Dan drew her close, folding her in his arms, cradling her against his chest. She pressed her face into his shoulder with a tremulous sigh.
In for a penny, in for a pound, right? Dan spoke the words he’d been holding back for months. “I love Jayce. And I love you. Heaven help me, I love you.”
Shelby’s laughter was a blend of irony and happiness. She tipped her head to look up at him. “Not exactly the declaration of love a girl dreams of—” she grinned through her tears—“but I’ll take it. And I’ll take you. Now and always.”
He framed her face with his hands, then lowered his head t
o kiss her, showing her the only way he knew how that the barriers weren’t just down, they were obliterated.
Shelby’s arms slid around his neck, holding him close. He didn’t argue. When he finally raised his head, he was breathless. And not just because of the effect Shelby had on him.
For rising from deep within him was the warm sound of Sarah’s voice. And her words rang through him: “Live, Dan. Love.”
Moved, shaken, he took Shelby’s hands in his. “We’ve got to find Jayce.”
“But where do we look?”
Dan released her hands and went to stare out the window. “I’m betting Marlin took him to the meth lab. That’s what I’d do if I had someone I wanted to teach a lesson.”
“You think that’s what he’s going to do?”
Dan started to answer, but the doorbell sounded, cutting him off. Shelby patted his arm. “I’ll answer it. You keep looking for some kind of clue.”
Dan nodded. Just as well he hadn’t been able to answer her questions. He didn’t want to tell her that he hoped teaching Jayce a lesson was all Marlin had in mind.
God, please. Help me know where to look. Help me save Jayce … His throat closed. Because Father, whether he knows it or not, he saved me. Pulled me back from being alone, opened a heart I thought was closed for good.
As Dan prayed, memories flitted through his mind … images of Marlin and his gang, things Jayce said to Dan … and suddenly, like the mechanism of a lock clicking into place, the answer was remarkably clear.
Dan spun to the door, praying it wasn’t too late. “Shelby, I know where to look!”
“Well, then, let’s go.”
Dan halted, mouth open, staring at Annie and Kyla, who stood with Shelby in the doorway of the bedroom. “Where did you two come from?”
Annie’s smile was pure sass. “Same place you did, brother mine. Our dear mummy and daddy.”
Kyla nudged her sister. “This is no time for jokes, Annot.” She came in to hug Dan. “After you phoned us earlier, Annot and I talked and decided we needed to come do what we could to help.”
Dan’s heart jumped. “Annie, did you bring Kodi?” His sister’s smile was all the answer he needed. “Kyla, you and Shelby stay here, man the phones. Call the sheriff’s office and tell them we need some backup out here right away. I’ll take my cell phone with me and keep you posted on what’s happening.”
Kyla and Shelby offered no arguments. No questions. Just a willingness to do what was needed.
No wonder he loved these women so much.
He turned to grab the Aslan pendant and one of Jayce’s shirts, then turned to Annie. “You and Kodi, come with me.”
“Dan, wait.”
He hesitated, turning back to Shelby.
“Where do we send the backup?”
Dan headed for the front door. “To the old lumberyard.”
THIRTY-FOUR
“Noble souls, through dust and heat,
rise from disaster and defeat the stronger.”
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
“In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility,
and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!”
PSALM 45:4
“I’M GONNA KILL YOU.”
Jayce lifted his aching head to look at Marlin through the one eye that wasn’t swollen shut. He knew he was bleeding. Could taste it, see where it splattered on his clothes. The ropes binding his wrists behind the back of the chair burned, cutting into his flesh. The pain from the bruises and cuts on his face, and probably several broken ribs, was intense. But he didn’t let any of that show on his face.
No way.
Instead, he just smiled.
Marlin snarled and punched Jayce in the side with a meaty fist. Jayce couldn’t hold back a grunt, but that’s all he let out.
As much as Marlin enjoyed beating people up—and he did enjoy that a great deal—what he relished most of all was his victims’ suffering. “Beat ’em and break ’em.” That was his motto, one he carried out with pleasure.
But Jayce was determined. Marlin could beat him to a pulp, which he’d already pretty well done. He could even kill him, which Jayce figured he was going to do. But he wouldn’t give the crud the satisfaction of knowing how much it hurt. All he’d give him was silence and smiles.
And prayer.
As crazy as it was, every time Marlin belted him, Jayce found himself praying for the creep. Not pretty prayers, mind you. But they were prayers all the same.
Wham! A fist drove into his face.
God, show Marlin what a crud he is.
Punch! Another hit to the gut.
God, save Marlin, even if he’s a puke and doesn’t deserve it.
Crunch! An uppercut that slammed Jayce’s jaws together so hard he thought his teeth would shatter.
God, stop Marlin before he kills anyone else.
“Come on, jerkface.” Marlin snarled in his ear. “Give it up. Go ahead and cry. You know you want to.”
Jayce forced his head up. Pried his good eye open.
And smiled.
A string of swearing scorched the air, and Marlin spun and stalked away. Jayce waited until he turned a corner, then let his head fall to his chest as a long, deep groan escaped him.
Oh, man. If he got himself killed, Deputy Dan would never forgive him.
Jayce grinned then winced at the pain that rewarded that action. He only hoped Dan figured out what had happened.
Please, God, I know I don’t know You well, but please. Don’t let Dan think I left him like that.
He’d been sound asleep when Marlin and his goons jimmied his bedroom window, slipped in, and grabbed him. They’d gagged him and trussed him up like some kind of turkey surprise, then dragged him out the window and threw him in the back of their truck.
He’d figured they were bringing him here, to the meth lab. And he’d been right. The stupid siblings, Dicky and Jay, jerked him out of the truck bed, dragged him in here, and tied him to the chair. Then they went to sample the lab’s product while the fun got started.
All Jayce had to do was survive long enough. Because if Marlin was anything, he was predictable. Jayce had seen it happen too often with others to doubt it. First, came the beating. Then, if the beatee survived, came the gloating.
Just let me make it to the gloating, God. Please … for Shannon.
Marlin actually stopped hitting him sooner than he’d expected. Of course, he could just be taking a break. All that swinging and smashing was probably pretty tiring.
Heavy footsteps drew Jayce’s attention. Marlin was coming back.
“You ready for another round, jerkface?”
Jayce didn’t reply.
Mock regret painted Marlin’s features. “You know, I wanted to take it easy on you. I mean, if you’d cooperated, I would have made it quick. Not so painful.”
He shook his head, grabbing a hank of Jayce’s hair and jerking his head up. “But no, you gotta sit there playing the strong, silent type. So here’s what I wanna know.” He stuck his face into Jayce’s. “Who you trying to impress, jerkwad? In case you haven’t noticed, it’s just you ’n’ me here.”
“No.” Jayce wanted the word to come out solid. Confident. Unfortunately, his voice wouldn’t cooperate, and it came out ragged. Hoarse. “It’s not.”
Another tug at his hair almost made him grimace.
“What are you talkin’ about?” Fury filled Marlin’s face, and his voice dropped to a low, dangerous level. “You told that idiot deputy where we are, didn’t you?”
Jayce cleared his throat. “No.”
Marlin jolted Jayce’s head. “Then what are you talking about?”
Jayce eyed him. Well, here goes nothing. “God.” He smiled. “God’s here, Marlin.”
He let Jayce’s hair go, disgusted. “God! Give me a break. You really buy that religion crud?”
Jayce shook his head and immediately regretted it. “Not religion. God.”
“
Oh … I get it.” A sneer curled Marlin’s lips. “This is because of your little friend. Shannon, wasn’t that her name?”
Jayce wanted to swear. To pull out every foul thing he could think of to throw at Marlin to keep her name off his disgusting lips. But that wouldn’t help anything.
Stay cool. Just. Stay. Cool. “Yes. That was her name.”
Marlin nodded, walking over to a cooler and flipping the lid open. He pulled out a can of beer, popped the top, and took a long drink. He carried the can back to Jayce, holding it out to him.
“Care for a last drink, puke?”
Jayce forced his cracked, bleeding lips into another smile. “Nah. You can have it.”
Marlin stared at him for a minute, then a low chuckle escaped him. He took another drink. “I gotta give it to you, Jayce ol’ boy. You’ve got guts. Just like your sweet little Shannon and her brother. They had guts, too. Real guts.” He angled another sneer at Jayce. “Too bad it got ’em killed.”
Jayce’s heart pounded in his chest. This was what he wanted. Marlin talking. Bragging about what he’d done. But Marlin’s words did more damage than his fists ever could. They pierced Jayce’s heart, shredding it, leaving it bleeding and dying.
The way Shannon and Aaron had been left.
Jayce closed his eyes against the flood of grief that slammed into him.
“Yeah, I couldn’t believe it when I figured out what they’d done.” Marlin was really picking up steam now, getting into the story. “There we were, off-loading our supplies from the truck and taking them to the lab behind the old man’s place, quiet as you please.
“ ’Course, we threw some nice, juicy steaks to those mutts of his, first. Kept ’em plenty occupied. We’d just finished brining stuff in, when I heard this old man’s voice tellin’ me to stop right there and put my hands up.” He snorted. “I turned around, and you know what I saw?”
Jayce forced back the bile that rose in his throat. “No. What?”
Marlin threw back another swallow of beer, swishing it around in his mouth before he swallowed it. “That old man standing there, holding a rifle on us. And your little pals were behind him.” Marlin walked to grab a chair and drag it over so he could sit in front of Jayce. “Apparently Deputy Dan’s brats snuck into the back of our truck, then slipped out when we reached Brumby’s.” He arched a brow. “Gutsy but stupid. Almost as stupid as getting Brumby all worked up.”