Robo bounded about as if on a lark while Mattie and Sophie scooted into the grove of aspen. Still worried that the kidnapper could be nearby, she drew her cell phone from her pocket and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw she had two bars. Swiping to her quick dial list, she tapped the icon that would connect her to Stella.
“Yes, Mattie! Where are you?”
“I’ve got her! We’re coming down.”
“Hallelujah, and thank all those who look after small children!”
“You need to slap a pair of cuffs on Gus Tilley.”
There was a pause before Stella spoke. “Based on what evidence?”
She thought of the two backpacks left in the cellar, Sophie’s and Candace’s. Frustration took over. “For being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she snapped.
“You gotta do better than that, Deputy,” Stella said. “I’ll meet you on the road.”
Chapter 26
Cole stood at the kitchen cabinet pouring coffee into an insulated travel mug. Somehow he’d managed to sleep for twenty minutes, his dreams filled with nightmares about Sophie. She’d been running through a forest, Gus Tilley chasing her until he morphed into a monstrous wolf with enormous teeth. The wolf took her down and ripped a gash in her throat, her blood spilling while her face registered surprise and then shock. He’d finally awakened when the wolf picked up a scalpel and slit open her belly.
He couldn’t shake the nightmare. There was something not right about Gus Tilley, and he planned to go to the sheriff’s station and see where they stood on the man. It was time he demand some action.
His cell phone, plugged into its charger and lying on the counter, lit up and started ringing. He hurried to pick it up and saw it was Mattie calling. His heart lifted with hope. “Hi, Mattie.”
“Cole, we’ve found her. She’s not hurt, but she’s sick. We’re taking her straight to Dr. McGinnis’s office. Can you meet us there?”
He leaned back on the cabinet for support and tipped his face toward the ceiling. Tears streamed down his face, and he was unable to speak.
Thank you, thank you!
“Cole? Are you there?”
He cleared his throat. “I am. Yes. We’ll meet you at his office. Is she all right? She’s not hurt?” He knew what she’d said, but he needed to hear it again.
“We haven’t questioned her about details yet. We’ll do that with you present. But yes, she appears to be physically unharmed for the most part.”
“Does she know who took her?”
Mattie paused. “We’ll fill you in on what we know when we’re all together.”
“Of course. Sure. I’ll be there.” Cole started to disconnect the call but caught himself. “And Mattie. Thank you!”
“It’s Robo you can thank, Cole. We’ll talk later.”
As he tapped the disconnect button, an adrenaline rush like none he’d ever felt hit him. Everyone was upstairs, shut away in various bedrooms, except Mrs. Gibbs. She had finally taken a break and was resting on the couch. Shoving his phone into his pocket, he raced into the den. “Mrs. Gibbs!”
She startled and sat up, her newly permed hair mashed on one side. Cole grabbed her in a hug and lifted her from the couch. “They’ve found her. She’s okay.”
Holding onto his shoulders, Mrs. Gibbs pushed him away to tip her head back and look into his face. She broke into a grin and then hugged him hard. “Thank the good Lord.”
Cole took her hand, twirled her into a dance step, and pulled her in for another hug. He broke away and headed upstairs, taking them two at a time, shouting, “Angie, Jessie, Olivia! They’ve found her. Get up! They’ve found her!”
Tears choked him, forcing him to quit shouting as he awakened his household. He knew everyone would want to go with him to see Sophie. No one would be left behind.
*
Stella had called into the station when Robo got the hit, so Brody was with her when Mattie and Sophie met them at the top of the verge. He picked up Sophie and carried her down to the road. With his strong hands, it took only a few seconds for him to cut the chain off Sophie’s wrist. It was such a relief to free her of the cruel restraint, especially since Mattie didn’t want Cole to have to see her that way.
Sheriff McCoy had also come. Deciding that Sophie held top priority, and since she wouldn’t let go of Mattie, they left the crime scene in Stella’s hands and Gus Tilley under Brody’s watch. Mattie rode in the back seat of McCoy’s Jeep, Sophie snuggled under her arm, clutching the toy dog to her chest and sucking her thumb, a habit Mattie hadn’t seen for months. Robo lay on the other side of Sophie, occasionally nudging her with his nose, and she would stroke his head with her free hand, an absent gesture as she stared at the seat in front of her. When Mattie leaned to press her cheek against the top of the girl’s head, it was hot with fever.
McCoy made quick time of the drive into Timber Creek and arrived at the doctor’s office. A silver Volvo was parked in front with everyone from the Walker household standing beside it, including Mrs. Gibbs. As they pulled up, Cole’s eyes connected with Mattie’s while he mouthed “thank you” before looking beyond her to search out his daughter. Sophie stirred and rose to peer at her dad. He placed his palm on the window, and tears streamed down the little girl’s face as she pulled her thumb from her mouth and reached across Mattie to put her palm against his.
When she heard the backdoor locks disengage, Mattie unbuckled their seat belts and opened the door, helping lift Sophie across her lap and into Cole’s arms. The family pressed around her, touching and hugging, and it was at that moment that Sophie spotted her mother.
“Mommy!” She threw herself from her dad to her mom, and Olivia staggered under Sophie’s weight as Cole passed her over. He hastened to assist, putting an arm around Olivia, and together the two of them held their child.
The sight of Cole’s arm around his beautiful ex-wife drew a lump to Mattie’s throat. As she swallowed hard, Robo nuzzled her arm, and she took comfort by hugging him against her. Vaguely, she remembered she still hadn’t given him ball-play to reward him for his greatest find ever. She reached into a pocket in her belt and gave him a treat. It would have to do until later.
McCoy exited the vehicle and approached the family. Spreading his long arms wide, he gently pressed the clustered family toward the front door of the doctor’s office. “Let’s go inside now,” he murmured. “Dr. McGinnis is expecting us.”
Since Robo didn’t have the security of his own compartment inside the sheriff’s Jeep like he did in their K-9 unit, Mattie hurried to clip a short leash on his collar and took him with her, following the group inside the building.
The receptionist, a kindly looking Hispanic woman, came from behind the reception window and opened a door that led to the exam rooms. “Just Sophie and her parents back here, please,” she said.
The sheriff moved forward, gesturing with his hand toward Mattie. “And Deputy Cobb. She needs to attend.”
Olivia looked askance at Mattie. “Must she come?”
Cole spoke softly. “Mattie’s our friend, Liv. Sophie loves her. She’s completely comfortable with her.”
“I’m required to stay with Sophie until we have a chance to interview her, Ms. Walker,” Mattie said, her tone respectful but firm. She handed Robo’s leash to the sheriff.
Cole took Sophie from Olivia. “Let me take you now, half pint. You’re too big for your mom to carry.”
Still clutching the toy dog, Sophie encircled Cole’s neck with her free arm. From over her dad’s shoulder, she looked at Mattie, her dirty face pale and exhausted, and gave her a sweet smile that melted her heart. As she followed the group from the lobby, Mattie glanced back at Robo, who’d moved toward her until he reached the end of his leash, anxiety showing on his face.
She tried to reassure him. “I’ll be right back.”
*
By the time Dr. McGinnis completed his exam, Stella had arrived at his office in the K-9 unit. She and the sheriff had decided it b
est to interview Sophie in her own home, and now the child sat on the couch in the den, nestled between her parents, leaning against her mother with the toy dog in her lap. She’d been sponged clean by the nurse, given acetaminophen for the fever, and her wrist wound had been treated and bandaged.
Dr. McGinnis had used a gentle and expert manner to determine that Sophie had not suffered sexual assault or molestation by her captor. Although her torso and arms bore bruises from rough handling, and she’d developed an upper respiratory infection, he found no major concerns. Physically. Before leaving, Mattie saw him take Cole aside and tell him to get psychological support if needed. Cole assured him they were already connected to a counselor they would consult.
Stella and Mattie sat in chairs pulled close to the couch. Earlier, Mattie had moved the coffee table away, so that it wouldn’t be a barrier between them and Sophie. Mrs. Gibbs was in the kitchen making soup, and Jessie and Angela had left on a grocery run to buy some of Sophie’s favorite foods. Mattie couldn’t help but recall the good times she’d shared with Cole, his kids, and Mrs. Gibbs in this room. And now Olivia was here, and Mattie wasn’t sure she belonged anymore. She pushed away the sadness that threatened to overwhelm her, focusing instead on the joy of having Sophie back in their midst.
Since she had the best rapport with the family, and probably since Stella wasn’t that comfortable interviewing kids, the detective had asked Mattie to lead the interview.
It was time to begin, before the drowsy child fell asleep.
“Sophie, we want to catch this man,” Mattie said, “and I need to ask you some questions. Would that be okay?”
Sucking her thumb, Sophie nodded. Cole touched her hand with his finger. “Take your thumb out of your mouth so you can talk,” he murmured. She did as he asked, never taking her sincere brown eyes off Mattie.
“Can you tell us about how he took you, sweetheart?”
The memory made her eyes widen, and she looked more awake. “I got off the bus and was walking home. All of a sudden, he drove up behind me, jumped out, and grabbed me. He put a piece of tape on my mouth and I couldn’t even scream.”
“Did you see his face?”
“He was wearing a ski mask.”
“Did you see his car?”
“No, I . . . I was fighting to get away. Then he put something over my head. A pillowcase or something. He said—” Her breath caught. “He told me later that he used a gunny sack with Candace, and it killed her.”
Mattie nodded, reached out, and took her hand; it felt small and a bit sticky around the thumb. She gave it a squeeze. “You were afraid, I know. I would have been too. You’re brave to tell us about it.”
Sophie nodded, her eyes wide.
“Could you see anything inside the car that you were in?”
Sophie shook her head. “He put tape around my hands, but I still tried to open the door to get out. I pulled on the handle, but it wouldn’t open, so I pushed the button to open the window.” She turned her head to look up at Cole. “I wanted to jump out, Dad, but I was afraid to.”
“I know you did your best to get away, honey. Don’t worry,” Cole murmured as he stroked the curly hair back from her face. His jaw muscle bulged from clenching his teeth.
The open window made it possible for Banjo to pick up her scent, Mattie was thinking. “What happened after you opened the window?”
In a breathless voice, Sophie continued. “He drove for a little bit, but then he stopped. I was kicking at him and trying to hit him and stuff, and he told me to stop or he’d hurt me. He used more tape on my legs and put me on the floor in the back. He rolled the window back up and started driving again.”
“What else do you remember about the ride?”
“We were on the highway for a long time, then he turned left and it got bumpy, then he turned right and it got real bumpy and wound around. I could tell we were going uphill. I tried to pay attention so I could run away and get back home. Then he carried me into that cave place and took the tape and the pillowcase off. I was . . . I was crying pretty hard—” Tears spilled from her eyes and washed down her cheeks as a sob wrenched from her, cutting off her words.
Cole pulled a blue bandana from his back pocket and wiped her face while Olivia, looking devastated, hugged her more tightly. Sophie pressed her face against her mother.
Mattie waited for Sophie to calm. Although Robo had led Mattie through the forest, following the scent Sophie left when she’d tried to make her escape, there’d been a rugged, overgrown lane farther down the road from Gus Tilley’s place that led to the abandoned cabin. Sophie had mapped the route in her mind perfectly.
After Sophie quieted, Mattie continued, using a conversational tone, gently guiding the interview back on track. “You did a good job paying attention to the roads you took. That place you were inside is called a root cellar, Sophie. The pioneers built them beside their cabins to keep their food cool. We can talk more about that later if you want. It’s not as scary when you know what it is.” This was stretching the truth; she’d felt terrified of that dank, dark space herself. “Now I want you to focus on what you remember about the man. He left the ski mask on while he was with you. Could you see anything through the holes for his eyes and mouth that you can tell us about?”
Sophie straightened. “He had brown eyes. Not dark chocolate like Dad’s, more like mine.”
Disappointment set Mattie back for a moment as she realized her primary suspect didn’t match Sophie’s description. Stella’s instincts might have been right and hers wrong, because Gus Tilley’s eyes were blue. But she put on a smile for Sophie.
“Good job. Anything about the shape of his eyes or his eyelids that stood out? Was he white skinned or dark? And would you guess he was young or old?”
“Young, I think, but I’m not sure. White skin around his eyes.”
“What about his voice? Did you recognize it as anyone you know?”
Sophie shook her head. “It was deep, like a growly bear. I think he was disguising it.”
If he tried so hard to disguise himself, it might be someone Sophie knows. Or he could have planned to let her go and didn’t want her to identify him.
“He said he was gonna take me away tonight, and I wouldn’t be able to get away ever again.”
Mattie’s throat swelled as she realized how close they’d come to losing her. She squeezed the girl’s small hand. “Robo found you because you got away. You did the exact right thing.”
Sophie nodded, her eyes sincere. “I watched a TV show about a girl that was kidnapped. She tricked the guy by acting like she was his friend. I decided to do that.”
“You let her watch that stuff?” Olivia murmured, looking over Sophie’s head at Cole.
He ignored her and continued to watch Mattie. Their eyes met briefly when she glanced at him before focusing back on Sophie. “That’s a great strategy, Sophie, and it works sometimes. Is that what helped you get away this morning?”
“Well, maybe. But it was mostly because I was sick. I guess I sort of played that up a little, you know, like when I’m trying to stay home from school.” The glance she gave her dad this time seemed playful, and it made Mattie’s spirits lift to see the old Sophie shine through, but the girl’s face became pinched as she went on. “I was lying in that bed, crying, and I told him I was so, so sick. He said he was going to get me some medicine, and he left the chain off. I pushed so hard against that door . . . it took a long time, and I got it open enough to squeeze through. But then he was coming back and he caught me on the road. I screamed and screamed.” She looked like she was going to dissolve again, but she held it together.
“Good job, Sophie! You did such a brave thing. That’s exactly how Robo found you. He followed your trail through the forest.”
Sophie’s eyes were brimming. “He’s such a good dog.”
Mattie had to blink away her tears as well. “We’re lucky to have him. What about this time, Sophie? Did the bad guy already have the ski mask
on?”
Sophie looked startled and then her focus went inward. “Not at first, but he had it on when he caught me. I remember I saw him down the road. He does have a white face.”
“Did he have a beard?”
“Uh.” Sophie paused to think. “I can’t remember.”
“How tall is he? Try to compare him to your dad.”
“About as tall as Dad . . . strong, but not wide and muscle-y like Dad. Skinnier.”
“And his car?”
Sophie shook her head. “Kinda like the sheriff’s Jeep. Maybe silver. I’m sorry, Mattie. I didn’t look at it very long. I ran away.”
“No need to be sorry. Of course you needed to run, Sophie. You’re doing great.” Mattie smiled, trying to back off on the pressure. “Did he talk to you much? He told you about Candace. What else did he say?”
“While I was crying, he told me I reminded him of his sister. That me and Candace both look like his sister.”
Mattie exchanged glances with Stella. She’d recognized the resemblance earlier, but this meant that the kidnapper had exposure to both girls prior to their abductions, indicating it was probably someone from the Timber Creek community. Her mind raced through their remaining suspects. Burt Banks: he had brown eyes. But then, so did Hank Wolford. Both Merton Heath and Jace Gardner matched the description. What time had Brody dropped them back off in the forest? She’d have to check on that. And Brooks Waverly? His eyes were dark too.
“What else did the guy say, Sophie?”
“He talked a lot about his sister. She died in an accident a long time ago, and he said it was his fault. That’s when I decided to act like I was his friend. He cried when he told me he accidentally killed Candace too. Then he told me from now on, my name was going to be the same as his sister’s. Georgiana. But I didn’t like that name, because I’m Sophie. He gave me this dog.”
That surprised her; Sophie was so attached to the toy that she’d thought it was one of her own that she’d taken to school in her backpack. Looking grim, Cole nodded slightly when she glanced at him. Mattie had seen him try to take it from Sophie prior to the interview, but she wouldn’t let him have it.
Hunting Hour Page 25