Every Waking Moment

by Doreen Roberts

  Forcing herself to move, she scrambled out of the car, then scurried across the road to the bookstore. Her fingers were stiff with cold, and it took her a while to get the lock open.

  Finally she was safely inside, with the door closed securely behind her. There was no answer from Polly’s house when she called a minute or two later, but she’d barely gotten her coat off and the cash register opened before Polly rushed into the shop, her hair plastered with melting snowflakes.

  “I didn’t think you should be alone,” she said, when Gail looked at her in surprise.

  “You must have read my mind,” Gail answered wryly. “I just called you.”

  Polly’s sharp eyes raked her face. “Any news?”

  “They think that Mike’s out at Deep Frost Lake. Blake has gone to check it out.”

  Polly pursed her lips. “And you’re terrified for him.”

  Gail nodded, her throat aching.

  “Well, don’t be. These guys know what they’re doing.”

  Gail smiled. “Thanks for being here with me.”

  “Well, I needed to do some work in the back office, anyway.” Polly hung up her coat and scarf. “How’d things go last night?”

  Gail was quite certain her warm flush had told Polly all she needed to know. Turning her back on her, she pretended to rearrange the contents of the gift cabinet. “Fine,” she said airily. “He’s really a nice man.”

  “Then you’d better grab him before he gets away.” With that, Polly charged off to the office, leaving Gail to regain her composure.

  By midmorning the strain of wondering what was happening to Blake had completely destroyed her concentration. She found herself staring out the window, creating appalling images in her mind that made her torment even more unbearable.

  To make matters worse, the bad weather kept away potential customers, and with nothing to occupy her time, the hours seemed to drag by. Just to reassure herself she called Darcie again.

  “Heather’s just fine,” Darcie told her. “Stop worrying. If you keep calling you’ll unsettle her.”

  Knowing she was right, Gail resigned herself to waiting until that evening before calling again. By then, all this might be over and she could bring her daughter home. If only she could hang on to that thought, maybe she would get through this terrible day.

  Polly had closeted herself in the office, and Gail was reluctant to disturb her. In any case, there wasn’t much she could do to help. It was just a matter of waiting for news, and praying that Blake had safely recaptured Mike.

  Pacing back and forth in front of the window, Gail understood how it must have been for Blake’s young wife. This was how it would be for her, too, if she were with him all the time—constantly worrying if he was going to make it home, dreading that the phone might ring with bad news.

  It would be worth it, she was convinced of that. She would suffer a thousand agonies like this, if it meant she could spend the rest of her life with him.

  By lunchtime the snow had stopped, although the skies still looked gray and swollen with clouds, and a cold wind had whipped up drifts against the door. Blake still hadn’t appeared, and Gail felt physically sick with anxiety.

  When the phone rang, she felt as if the entire world had just come to a standstill. She stared at the jangling instrument, struggling to find the courage to answer it. It couldn’t be bad news about Blake. It just couldn’t be.

  The ringing cut off and she realized Polly must have picked it up. She waited, heart pounding furiously, her eyes fixed on the door. After what seemed an eternity it opened, and Polly stuck her head out.

  “It’s for you.”

  She wanted to ask her who it was, but Polly had already withdrawn her head. She reached out a shaky hand and picked up the receiver. “This is Kate.”

  The voice that answered her chilled her blood. “Really? Sounds more like Gail to me.”

  Mike. Her fingers clamped down on the receiver and she pressed it to her ear. “Where are you? What do you want?” Where was Blake, for God’s sake?

  She was terrified at the thought of what Mike might have done to him. She wanted desperately to ask him, but knew that would be stupid. If he wasn’t aware of Blake’s presence, she certainly didn’t want to warn him.

  “Well, it’s funny you should ask.” Mike gave one of his evil chuckles, and her blood ran cold. “I was just about to tell you. I’m at Landings’ gas station on the edge of town, freezing my balls off in a telephone box, if you want to know.”

  “I wouldn’t hang around there too long,” Gail said, wishing she had a separate line to call the police. “The cops are looking for you.”

  “Yeah, I figured that.” Mike chuckled again, as if he were enjoying some huge practical joke. “Not too smart, these cops around here. I’ve been here for three days already, and they haven’t spotted me yet.”

  “They’ll catch up with you sooner or later.”

  “Maybe. Right now, though, I’m looking for a ride.”

  A quiver of fear shook her body. “So call a cab.” She had plenty of time to call the cops when she hung up, she assured herself. If he was out at Landings’ station, it would take him a while to get to the store. She could be long gone by then:

  “Very funny.” Mike’s voice hardened. “I think you should know, I’m not alone. Someone you know is keeping me company.”

  Gail closed her eyes. He had Blake. Dear God, let him still be alive. Surely fate couldn’t be so cruel as to let her find a man she could really love, only to snatch him away from her again?

  She forced her mind to stay clear. If she wanted to know what had happened, she would have to play his game. She did her best to sound indifferent. “Okay, so who are you with?”

  “Well, she’s around three feet high, has short curly hair and blue eyes, and answers to the name of Annie. Though that’s not her real name, of course.”

  Shock slammed into her, making the room swim. She must have cried out, for she could hear the echo of it around the bookshelves. “Damn you,” she muttered. “If you’ve hurt her I’ll find a way to kill you.”

  Behind her she heard the office door open, but she paid no attention. All of her concentration was focused on the insidious voice coming from the phone.

  “She’s okay, so just calm down, will you? She’s just fine.”

  “Then let me talk to her.”

  “There’s no time for that.” Mike’s voice had turned ugly. “You get out here fast if you want to see her again. And no cops. I see the slightest sign of a cop, or anyone, else for that matter, and I’ll make sure this pretty little face is cut up so bad you won’t recognize your precious daughter when I’m done with her.”

  “Where—?” The phone clicked, cutting off her reply. She felt sick now, and the drumming in her head seemed to vibrate down the length of her body. Vaguely she was aware of Polly coming toward her, a worried look on her face. She was saying something, but Gail wasn’t listening.

  Frantically she punched out Darcie’s number and waited, praying that Mike’s call was a bluff. She heard the ring at the other end—once...twice...three times...She knew Darcie wasn’t going to answer. God, what had he done to her? She couldn’t think about that now.

  Polly was looking at her, reaching for her arm.

  “Call the cops,” Gail said urgently. “Send them over to Darcie’s.”

  Polly’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, no, not Annie!”

  “That’s what I’m going to find out,” Gail said grimly, making a grab for her purse. She dragged her coat from the rack and headed for the door.

  “Where are you going?” Polly demanded.

  For a split second she was tempted to tell her she was heading for Landings’ gas station. But she would be gambling with her daughter’s life. She shook her head. “I’ll call.” She was out the door before Polly finished answering her.

  Racing across the road, she skidded to a shaky halt at her car. Cursing at her fumbling finge
rs, she finally got the key into the lock and dragged the door open.

  She made mental trade-offs with God if he would only spare her daughter as she aimed the car at the road and hit the accelerator. The compact bucked and slithered around, then the studded tires gripped and she roared down Main Street, churning up clods of snow with her wheels.

  She knew the gas station; it was the one Blake had stopped at on the way back from the mountains. On the heels of that thought came a flash of revelation. Why had Mike chosen to call her from that particular station? Was it possible he’d seen them stop there on the way back from the mountain? Had he been following them that afternoon? If so, neither of them had noticed. That wasn’t too reassuring.

  She pressed her foot down on the accelerator pedal as hard as she dared. Her heart ached for her daughter. She must be terrified. Although Heather knew Mike, she had never liked her uncle very much.

  Gail didn’t want to think about the effect it would have on Heather if she’d seen Mike use violence on Darcie to get what he wanted. She wouldn’t even consider the possibility that Heather might be hurt herself.

  Poor Darcie, Gail thought in despair. At least her kids would still be in school. The police would take care of them if something bad had happened to their mother, at least until their father got home from work:

  Oh, God. She closed her eyes briefly in despair. What a mess. What trouble she’d brought down on the heads of so many innocent people. How was she going to face anyone after this?

  She clenched her teeth, leaning forward to peer through the driving snow as a dark shape loomed up on her right. It was the old abandoned millhouse that stood on the edge of the Three Forks Creek. She was about half a mile from the gas station.

  She saw the pumps as soon as she rounded the bend. The station looked deserted, but as she drew closer she saw a battered gray Chevy parked to one side. She saw the hanging fender the minute she drove into the station. She’d seen it before, on Main Street...how many days ago? She couldn’t remember.

  She slammed on the brakes a little too hard and skidded past the first pump. The lights were on in the office but she couldn’t see anyone inside. She was afraid to open the door, exposing herself as a clear target, but she was more afraid to sit there wondering what had happened to her daughter.

  She bent low as she opened the car door, using it to shield her. Still bent double she raced for the office, her feet now secure on the dry pavement beneath the overhang.

  When she reached the door and looked in, she knew why she hadn’t seen anyone there. The gas attendant, a young man with straight blond hair and wearing stained overalls, lay on the floor.

  Feeling her stomach rise into her throat, Gail took a closer look. His eyes were closed, and an ugly gash on the side of his head seeped dark blood, but she could hear his shallow breathing. She was trembling with shock by the time she straightened and looked outside.

  An eerie silence seemed to settle all around her, cutting her off from the outside world. Nothing moved, not even a car passing on the road outside. She stood in the doorway and scanned the area as far as she could see.

  A faint squeaking sound caught her attention and her muscles contracted in a classic pose for flight. Her gaze flew to the sign that hung above the pumps, but she could see no movement from it.

  She looked the other way and felt a jolt of fear. The door to the rest room stood open and swung ominously back and forth in the wind.

  She couldn’t make her feet move. She knew she would have to look inside that dreadful room and was terrified of what she might see. Her teeth began to chatter, and she clamped them together. She took a hold of herself, urging her feet forward. One step. Then another.

  She was almost at the door when the sudden sharp toot of a horn jarred her. Swinging around, she looked across at the Chevy, then her stomach gave a sickening lurch. Staring at her from the front passenger seat of her own car were the vicious dark eyes of her brother-in-law.

  She didn’t know whether to run for the rest room or the car. While she was still dithering, Mike rolled the window down and stuck out his greasy black head. “Hi there, gorgeous. It’s been a long time.”

  Snapping out of her confusion, Gail marched over to the car. For a moment she’d hoped she would see Heather sitting in the back seat, but one glance told her that Mike was alone. “Where the hell is my daughter?” she demanded, grinding her teeth in her fury.

  Mike’s eyebrows lifted. “My, my. Your temper hasn’t improved since you’ve been away.”

  “Either you tell me where she is right now,” Gail said evenly, “or I’ll take great pleasure in tearing you apart with my fingernails.” She raised her hand, her fingers curled, ready to strike.

  Mike shook his head, lifting his hands to shield his face. “Hey, hey, gorgeous, take it easy. I didn’t bring her with me. I figured this wasn’t the kind of weather to bring a kid out in.”

  “Then where is she?”

  “Don’t worry. She’s perfectly safe.”

  She wanted so much to believe him. Yet knowing him, she knew she dared not take anything he said for granted. Still painfully aware of the rest-room door swinging open behind her, she tried not to imagine what might be lying inside. “I want to know where she is,” she said, her teeth clamped tight. “And I want to know now.”

  He uttered a dry laugh. “Calm down, will you? I said she’s okay. I’ll take you to her.”

  Slowly, Gail lowered her hand. Staring hard at his face, she tried desperately to read his mind. “I’m not going anywhere with you until you tell me where she is.”

  “I said I’ll take you to her. Now get in the damn car. It’s colder than ice out there.”

  She fought with indecision, her eyes never leaving his face. The last thing she wanted to do was get in the car with him, putting herself at his mercy. Yet it might be her only chance to find her daughter.

  Mike scowled back at her, obviously losing patience. “I’m telling you, babe, unless you get in this damn car and drive where I tell you, you’ll never see your daughter again.” He sat back and lifted his shoulders in a contemptuous shrug. “It’s your choice, gorgeous.”

  When it came down to it, she didn’t have a whole lot of choices. Gritting her teeth, she climbed in behind the wheel and started the engine. “Where to?”

  Mike settled back in his seat. “That’s better. You know, you haven’t even said how glad you are to see your lover again.”

  His breath smelled of stale beer, and he reeked of body odor. Judging by the rough stubble on his chin, he looked as if he hadn’t shaved or showered, for that matter, since he’d escaped from prison. “I wouldn’t take you for a lover if my life depended on it,” she said evenly.

  “Well, it might very well come to that.”

  His coarse laugh made her feel like throwing up. She knew he was playing on her nerves. He was good at it. She’d lost count of the number of times his tormenting words had threatened to drive her into a blind rage.

  For a moment a vision of Blake rose in her mind and her throat ached. Would she ever see him again? What would he do when he found out she’d gone?

  Now she could feel the fear clawing at her stomach. Up until now, she’d been afraid for her daughter. Now she was afraid for herself. “Are we going to drive, or are we going to sit here all night?” she said harshly.

  “Okay, drive. Take a right out of here.”

  She drove, closing her ears and her mind to the taunts he threw at her as they sped down the road. She concentrated on the driving, following his curt directions, doing her best to memorize the route they were taking. If she had to walk back with Heather, she wanted to know the shortest route to town.

  She ached to see her daughter again. To hold her small body tight in her arms and never let her go again.

  “So, what have you been doing since you hotfooted it out of town?” Mike said, with a sneer in his voice. “No, don’t tell me. You found a new boyfriend. That wasn’t nice, sweetheart. You know
you belong to me.”

  Gail felt a jolt of dismay. So he must have seen Blake with her. How long had he been following her, for pity’s sake?

  “Quit the silent treatment, Gail. I never did like to be ignored.”

  She flinched when she felt the barrel of a gun poke into her side. “I’m concentrating on the road,” she snapped, “so quit bugging me.”

  “Well, you can concentrate on me at the same time. I’m getting bored talking to myself.”

  “Tell me where my daughter is, and maybe I’ll feel more like talking.”

  The gun snaked up her side and rested against her breast. Her skin crawled, and it was all she could do not to slap his hand away.

  “I said I’d tell you when we got there. How many times do I have to repeat myself?”

  She forced herself to stay calm. “Okay, but if you don’t want us to end up in a ditch you’d better get that gun off me.” She waited an agonizing second or two before he removed the gun and sat back.

  “So tell me about your new boyfriend. I bet he’s a tiger in bed.”

  She flicked a glance at his face. His evil eyes stared back at her and she said carefully, “I haven’t got the faintest idea what you’re talking about.”

  He lifted the gun and jammed it painfully into the side of her neck. “I’m talking about the jerk who stayed with you last night, that’s what I’m talking about. I stayed awake long enough to see the bedroom lights go out.”

  The pressure of the cold steel against her neck nauseated her. She moistened her dry lips. “Just how long have you been following me around?” As she’d hoped, he was only too happy to tell her how clever he’d been.

  “I’ve been right on your cute little tail for three or four days.” He lowered the gun again. “I figured something cozy was going on when I saw lover boy pick you up the other morning.”

  “How did you know where to find me?”

  “That was easy. I got good connections.” He leaned forward, peering through the mist of snow. “Take this left fork here.”

  She knew where they were going now. The report Blake had received that morning had been right on the button. She was on the road to the lake.