"Oh God." Kate lifted her head and stared at the black sky. The stars blurred into twinkling masses before her eyes. "Did I ask for too much? Is that why it’s all being taken from me now? All I wanted, all I’ve ever wanted, was someone to love me. Was it too much? Was I too greedy?"
No answers were whispered to her as she sat there. The breeze drifted past her without a sound. Kate felt rage build in her and turned to her garden. The plants there mocked her with their strength and growth. Before she could stop herself, Kate reached out and began to rip plants up. She made it through half of one row before she slumped back down on the grass, spent physically and emotionally.
Suddenly a cloth covered her mouth and nose. A tight arm wrapped around her arms, keeping her from pulling at the cloth. Kate tried to fight, but her emotional outburst had drained all strength from her.
Maybe this is for the best, Kate thought as the darkness beckoned. Maybe they’ll kill me and Jared will be free to find the wife he wants. It’s only right that I should die too. Don’t hate me, Jen, when I see you. I only wanted what was best for your children. I’m sorry to have failed you…
*****
Jared sat, head bent trying to reign in the emotions that pulsed through his blood with every beat of his heart. They pounded in his head, his ears. They had overtaken him completely. He had never felt so out of control of himself and his emotions.
And Kate. He’d hurt her. The need to strike out, to inflict pain had been overwhelming, but in the end he had only inflicted more pain on himself. Hurting Kate had hurt him.
Dragging a tired hand over his face, Jared fumbled for the words to apologize. "I’m sorry, Katie. So sorry. You are the most unselfish person I know."
Jared lifted his head, expecting to see Kate standing where she’d been only seconds before. The doorway was empty except for a box of some sort that lay on the floor. Jared shoved back from the desk and left the room, desperate to find Kate and make things right.
He took the stairs two at a time, sure he’d find her in their room. It was empty and dark. The bathroom was also empty. He checked the guest room and the kids’ rooms before heading downstairs. He checked the family room and then the kitchen. She wasn’t there either. Jared stood in the middle of the kitchen, hands on his hips trying to get his thoughts in order so he could think logically instead of frantically. Where would she go?
Several quick strides took him to the door of the garage. He flicked on the light and saw his car and the van in their normal places. Where was she? Desperation and worry started to pull at him as he walked back into the kitchen. Jared looked around the room hoping for a note or something. His gaze swept past the sliding door and then back again. It was open a few inches. She was in the yard.
Jared bolted for the door, hitting the light switch as he went. The flood lights illuminated every corner of the yard but there was no sign of Kate. Jared’s gaze fell on Kate’s garden and the uprooted plants. His heart shattered as he thought of what had prompted her to tear up her precious garden.
The emotions that battered Jared as he walked across the yard to the garden were so much more painful than finding out about the cause of the plane accident. If Kate was gone, his heart was gone too. How could he have ever wondered if he loved Kate? Just the thought of not having her in his life was enough to make him want to cease living. She was a part of him. That was why when he’d hurt her, he’d hurt himself. Her pain was his, and he’d hurt her terribly tonight. She’d forgiven him so much during the time of their marriage. Would she forgive him yet again?
Jared knew he’d do whatever it took to earn her forgiveness and trust. Just so long as she didn’t leave him. He didn’t think he could survive that.
Something out of the corner of his eye caught Jared’s attention. A fluttering of white. Hoping it was Kate, Jared turned quickly and stared at a piece of white paper stuck to the large tree next to Kate’s garden.
He stared at it, his knees going weak. Was this her farewell letter? Jared didn’t want to look but found himself walking to the tree and reaching out to grab the paper. As he read the words, his heart clenched and his stomach quivered. This was so much worse than a farewell letter. At least he might have had a chance to win her back if she’d left him but this...
"I have something of yours. If you want it back, you’ll do what I say. Wait for more instructions."
Chapter Ten
Rage and pain pushed all rational thought from Jared’s mind. He crumpled the paper in his hands and sank to the ground, his legs no longer strong enough to hold him and the weight of guilt that crushed him.
"No," Jared cried, lifting his clenched fists to the sky. "God, no. Please don’t take her from me. Don’t let them hurt my Katie."
Sobs wracked his body. His pain very physical as he tried to take breaths into a chest that had tightened and restricted his lungs. What had he done? With his hurtful words he had driven Katie into the darkness and into the snare of a man who had killed before. Jared pounded the ground, welcoming the pain that shot up his arm. He would not let him kill her. He’d rescue her and then, if she wanted, he’d let her go. He had no right to hold her when he couldn’t even protect her.
Sanity and reason began to creep back into his mind. All his years of training and experience came to the forefront. Jared was able to take a couple of deep breaths to calm himself. Focus. He had to keep his focus on what needed to be done. Katie’s life depended on it.
Resolutely, Jared stood and went back to the house. Its stillness overwhelmed him as he stepped through the door. Everything had changed in the space of a few short minutes. Would things ever be the same? Would Katie ever be back in this kitchen cooking one of the meals she’d struggled to learn to make? Would Jared ever see her soft smile again, and the look of quiet tranquillity in her beautiful gray eyes?
Grief started to rise again, but Jared tamped it down. Later. He would deal with the emotions later. Right now he had some phone calls to make. His first instinct was to head out to search for Katie, but it was impractical. In the dark he’d probably end up destroying what evidence there might be, plus he couldn’t leave the children alone. He didn’t fear so much for their safety now. The killer had his bait. He wouldn’t risk it to get one of the children. But what was he going to tell them when they woke up in the morning?
Cross that bridge when you get to it, an inner voice commanded him. Focus!
He punched out Drake’s home number. Drake answered right away.
"He’s got Katie." Jared rubbed his forehead as he uttered those three stark words.
There was a short pause on the other end of the phone, but then Drake took control. "I’ll be out there with a team in an hour."
Jared thanked him and hung up the phone. His next call was to Garth where he left the same message on his machine. After making those calls, he toyed with calling Mrs. Harris to come watch the children but finally decided on Darlene. Since her brother worked for Drake’s company she was probably the best choice. Darlene was a calm, collected person and would be best able to reassure the children.
Jared slowly dialed her number, hating to have to give her the news because he knew that she and Kate had become quite close.
"Darlene, it’s Jared."
"Jared!" Darlene greeted him enthusiastically. "I was just wondering how dinner went. Kate was most excited to try out this new recipe. She said you’d mentioned loving Southern fried chicken and all the fixings. How was it?"
Jared slumped down in his chair, another wave of pain overtaking him. "I’m afraid I was late for dinner and didn’t have a chance to eat it."
"I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m sure it will taste just as good reheated--"
"Darlene," Jared interrupted her. He couldn’t handle any more light hearted chatter. "I’m calling because I need help. Katie was...kidnapped tonight. I need help with the children."
Jared heard Darlene’s gasp. "Oh, I’m so sorry, Jared. Of course I’ll be there as soon as I can."
>
With the most important phone calls made, Jared turned his attention to the note. His fingerprints were already all over it, but rather than risk messing it up even more, he pulled on a pair of latex gloves and smoothed it flat on his desk. As best he could tell, it was ordinary paper and the block-letters were written with a thick black marker. The generic nature of the note led him to believe that the killer had it written in readiness of whoever he might find unguarded and vulnerable to him.
The ringing of the phone at Jared’s elbow jarred him. He stared at it wondering if this was the killer getting in contact. He wished he had equipment in place to record and trace the call, but he didn’t. He had no choice but to answer it.
"How did he get her?" It was Garth’s voice that replied to his greeting.
"She was in the backyard by her garden. I was in the library and didn’t know what had happened until I went looking for her. He’s had her about an hour."
"Did he leave any instructions?"
"Just a note saying he had her and would be in contact. I thought this might have been him now."
"I’d say he’ll either contact you in the next hour or he’ll wait until tomorrow night. The cover of darkness is probably his best weapon."
Jared wasn’t sure he agreed but didn’t argue. He longed for Phillip. They had worked well together. Phillip always helped Jared look at all the angles. He needed that right now.
He saw the lights of a car flash down the driveway. Jared went to the front door and watched as Drake’s Escalade swung to a stop. He opened the door and strode out onto the front porch to greet Drake.
The two men embraced. "I’m so sorry about this, Jared."
"Thanks." Jared led the way into the house and down the hall to the library.
"I contacted the team while I drove here so depending on where they have to come from, they’ll be arriving over the next half hour or so." Drake sat down across from Jared. "How did this happen? Didn’t Kate know not to go outside alone after dark?"
"She knew," Jared said tightly. "We had a fight. She probably wasn’t thinking about safety when she went out into the yard. It was my fault, and by the time I realized she had gone outside it was too late."
"Aw, man." Drake spoke with sympathy and understanding. "You gotta put the guilt aside for now, Jared. Deal with it later. You gotta be focused and deal with this now."
"I know. I’m trying." Jared shoved the paper across the desk. "This is the note he left."
Drake bent forward and looked at it without touching it. He made no comments on the wrinkled condition of the note. "Looks pretty clean, but we’ll get Scope to check it out."
"Do you have call tracing equipment with you?" Jared asked, fearful that the killer would call before they could get everything into place.
Drake shook his head regretfully. "Sorry. I don’t usually come out on calls like this. Johnson will have it. He should be here soon."
Within half an hour the team had assembled. Six men, all with different specialties, filled the library discussing their next move. Johnson was busy hooking up the call tracing equipment while Scope poured over the note.
"I hear a kid crying." One of the guys near the door told Jared.
"Dani." Jared stood knowing that he was the one responsible for the children now. Darlene hadn’t arrived yet. "I have to go to her. She’s teething."
Dani stood up in her crib, tears coursing down her cheeks. Her sobs subsided when she caught sight of Jared. He lifted her from the crib and cradled her to his chest. What would Katie have done?
Jared surveyed the room, remembering that Kate had given her medicine the day before. Did Dani need more? How long ago had Kate given it to her? The hole in Jared’s heart expanded as he realized he wasn’t the only one who needed Kate. The kids needed her too. Dani needed her.
He laid Dani down on the change table and checked her diaper. He’d only changed her once or twice since he’d been home so was relieved that she didn’t need a changing. Jared laid a hand on her forehead. It was warm, not hot, but Dani was chewing like mad on her fist.
"Teeth hurtin’ ya, kiddo?" Jared stared down at his tiny niece. What would they do without Katie?
He looked at the assortment of bottles sitting in a row on a shelf above the change table. He spotted a small tube that said it was some sort of natural teething gel. Jared opened it and put a dab on a cotton swab. He tried to get Dani to show him which part of her gums were sore but it was a battle. Finally he spotted a little white nub along the front on top. Carefully he dabbed the gel there and waited. Dani seemed to relax and settled down.
Jared put her back in the crib, but she started wailing. Not wanting to wake the other kids, he picked her up again. There was a low rocker in the corner of the room, so he took Dani and sat down. As he cradled the little girl on his chest his thoughts slipped to Katie. How could they not when it was moments like this that reminded him of how large a role she played in their lives. She just had to come back to them. She had to. He needed her. He loved her.
"Jared?"
He looked up to see Darlene in the doorway. Emotion ringed her eyes, and they were slightly reddened. He stood and went to her.
"I can’t believe someone took Kate." Sorrow and disbelief hung on every word. Jared wondered what she would say if he told her it was all his fault.
"It’s going to be okay, Darlene. We’ve got the best here helping us find her. Your being here is a big help too. I think Katie would be glad to know that you are here with the kids." Jared handed Dani to her. "I need to get back to the guys. I don’t want to miss the phone call when it comes. Feel free to use the guest room to sleep. Try and get some rest. The kids will be up early."
Darlene nodded, but Jared knew she’d probably get as little sleep as he would this night. After he pressed a kiss to soft baby curls, he left Dani in her capable hands and went back down to the library.
As the hours clicked by, Jared’s normal control and focus began to slip. Why hadn’t the killer called? If Garth was right and the killer was going to use the cover of darkness, it could be hours before they heard anything. Meanwhile, maps had been pinned to walls. They marked the area the killer had time to drive to ever widening it as the hours passed.
This waiting, being on someone else’s time schedule, grated on Jared. He wanted to be out there, doing something, but he couldn’t risk Katie’s life.
The phone finally rang at 2:33. Almost four and a half hours after Katie had disappeared. The tension in the library grew as Jared waited for the signal to answer the phone.
Jared answered, then listened as the voice instructed him to go to an abandoned gas station on a nearby rural highway. "The phone will ring. Answer it. You have twenty minutes to get there."
The caller hung up before Jared could even ask if Katie was okay. Jared’s shoulders slumped as he hung up the phone. There hadn’t been enough time to trace the call. He knew that without even looking at Johnson.
"Let’s go." Drake laid a hand on Jared’s shoulder. "We gotta keep to his time schedule for the time being. Let’s not mess this up."
Jared went in search of Darlene and told her they were leaving. One of the guys stayed behind to monitor the house and protect the kids and Darlene. The others loaded into two vehicles and headed for the gas station.
Only the vehicle with Jared in it approached the station. The other one sat a distance away, invisible in the dark of night, monitoring Jared with a tracking device and a wire.
Jared pulled his car up next to the phone and shut off his lights. There was nothing else around the gas station and traffic on the country road was scarce. He got out of the car and went to stand next to the phone. He could hear the others talking in his ear piece, but at times the thrumming of his blood drowned out the conversation, any time he thought of what the killer might be doing to Kate.
The phone rang precisely twenty minutes after the call at the house. Jared willed himself to remain calm as he reached for the receiver.
> "Glad to see you know how to obey directions. Let’s hope that cooperation continues. And it better if you want to see your wife again."
"Is she okay?" Jared managed to get the question out.
"She’s fine," the voice replied, so distant and tinny that Jared knew they were disguising it. "For now."
"What do I need to do?" Jared knew the killer could probably hear the desperation in his voice.
"Take the highway north for exactly thirty miles. You’ll see the next directions posted to a tree on the right side of the road by the highway mile marker. You have an hour to get there."
The killer hung up the phone before Jared could answer. He replaced the receiver and headed back to the car. "Did you hear that?" he asked into the mic.
"Yep." Drake’s reply came loudly in his ear. "A chopper’s on the way."
"A chopper?" Jared asked.
"We need to get a jump on this guy. He’s expecting you to drive and has given you an hour. We can get there in less time with the chopper and if the next directions don’t rely on a phone call from him we can follow them that much sooner."
"I really must be losing it," Jared said with a shake of his head. "I didn’t even think of using a chopper. But what if we need to drive further beyond that point. If we have to go on foot we could lose anything we might have gained."
"Johnson’s going to follow in the Blazer and will wait at the marker. If for some reason we do need to go further than would be prudent on foot, either the chopper or the car will be there to take us," Drake said. "ETA is five minutes."
The other vehicle joined Jared’s in the parking lot. They moved the vehicles around to the back of the building so they weren’t visible from the road. The five men and Jared got their gear from the back of the vehicles and then Johnson took off in the Blazer armed with directions to the marker. Jared quickly fell into his former habits as he strapped on his weapons and darkened his face. The others did the same, all in silence.
Marrying Kate Page 14