The Broken Road (The Broken Series)

by Ruff, K. S.

  I could feel Kadyn stiffen as he scrutinized Justin.

  I buried my face in the back of his coat. Tears streamed down my face as I began to pray. Please, God, don’t let him kill us. Not here. Not on this God forsaken road.

  “Move!” Justin screamed furiously. His voice echoed through the woods.

  I flinched, then slowly peered around Kadyn.

  Justin was beyond livid. He looked crazed. He was shaking with fury, and his gun was still pointed at Kadyn.

  Suddenly, a man fell out of the tree and landed on Justin. The gun was knocked to the ground. The man pinned Justin against him and kicked the gun out of the way.

  I looked on in shock as Dan stepped out from behind another tree. He slammed his fist into Justin’s face. Dark red blood sprayed across the snow.

  Justin collapsed and the stranger let him fall to the ground.

  Dan nudged Justin with his boot before pinning him to the ground with his foot. His fists clenched, but he resisted the urge to hit Justin again. He reached down and handcuffed Justin’s hands behind his back. Dan looked at Kadyn once he straightened to his full height. A triumphant smile suddenly lit his face. “Navy beats Army every time.”

  I fell to my knees. I shook violently as I stared at Justin’s lifeless body. Then I burst into tears.

  Kadyn knelt down and scooped me into his arms. “I got you,” he said as he began walking back toward the house.

  Dan and the stranger pulled Justin up by his arms and began dragging him toward the house.

  I buried my head in Kadyn’s chest.

  “Hey, Kri, he’s okay. Everything is going to be okay,” Cenia said reassuringly. She slid her gloves over my feet.

  My head popped up in surprise. I stared at Cenia, then glanced over Kadyn’s shoulder. Roger and Matt were holding Justin’s legs as they helped Dan and the other man carry him.

  We had just reached the clearing for the house when three trucks drove up behind us on the snow packed road. The sheriff, two deputies, and two forest rangers parked and climbed out of their trucks. The deputies took Justin to their truck.

  Phil, Marie, and Mason met us at the door. Dan’s friends from Montana were there too.

  Dan swore at the sight of my face when we stepped inside the well-lit house. He pulled me in for a hug when Kadyn finally allowed my feet to touch the floor. Dan kept his arm wrapped around me while he introduced me to Marcus, the man who had jumped out of the tree.

  Dan grudgingly released me so Cenia and Marie could give me a hug. He joined Marcus and Kadyn, who were talking with the sheriff. Cenia and Marie walked me to the master bedroom, so I could change out of my wet clothes.

  Marie tugged a large sweatshirt, sweat pants, and socks from the dresser drawers while Cenia helped me out of the dress. “These are way too big, but at least they’ll be warm,” Marie commented soothingly.

  Cenia gasped when she saw the bruise on my side. “How bad is the pain?” she asked as her eyes met mine.

  “Pretty bad,” I admitted. Marie helped me into the sweat pants. I rolled down the waistband while she rolled up the pant legs.

  Cenia slid the sweatshirt over my head. “You may have cracked a rib.”

  “The sheriff is going to want to take pictures of your injuries,” Marie warned as she tugged thick wool socks over my feet. “I hope they make it quick, so we can get you to the hospital. It looks like you have frostbite on your toes and the balls of your feet.”

  “Try not to put pressure on your toes, Kri. I’ll track down a bowl so you can soak your feet in some warm water,” Cenia instructed before disappearing from the room.

  Marie helped me back into the living room.

  Kadyn joined me on the rug in front of the wood stove. He tucked a fleece blanket around my shoulders before wrapping me in his arms.

  “Thanks,” I whispered shakily. I sank into Kadyn’s chest and relished the heat radiating from his body.

  Marie joined Cenia in the kitchen. She began digging through the cupboards.

  Cenia brought me a large plastic storage container filled with warm water. She gently tugged the wool socks off and slipped my feet into the water.

  Tears bit at my eyes. “That hurts,” I exclaimed in surprise. I had assumed the warm water would feel good.

  Tears pooled in Cenia’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Kri, but it’s important we thaw your feet.”

  “She’s right,” Kadyn whispered as he kissed my cheek.

  Marie brought me a cup of tea, a glass of water, and some ibuprofen just as the sheriff began questioning me.

  Everyone listened quietly while I described what Justin had done to me. One of the deputies photographed my injuries. That same deputy offered to drive Kadyn’s snowmobile down the mountain so Kadyn could ride in the sheriff’s truck with me.

  As Kadyn carried me outside, I glanced over his shoulder to take one last look at the house. It made me sad to know that something so ugly had happened in such a beautiful place. When I turned back around, my eyes strayed to the deputies’ extended cab pickup. I could see Justin’s head resting against the back passenger window of the vehicle. He was awake and watching me. Our eyes locked as Kadyn carried me to the sheriff’s truck. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from his bloodied face.

  Kadyn curled my head toward his chest. “It’s over. He can’t hurt you anymore.” He kept me tucked against his chest as he climbed inside the truck.

  The truck rocked back and forth as we made our way down the long, dark road. Within minutes, I was lulled to sleep with Justin’s bloodied face firmly imprinted in my mind.

  Chapter 13 – Chasing Cars

  Despite my pleading and a rather impressive display of tears, Kadyn insisted the sheriff drive us directly to the emergency room. Cenia and Kadyn joined me in the exam room, while the sheriff and the rest of our friends waited in the lobby.

  The nurse wrapped warm blankets around my feet before drawing blood and hooking me up to an IV. She cleaned and then placed a butterfly bandage over the gash on my cheek. The physician ordered an x-ray of my arm, shoulder, and ribs and confirmed that one of the ribs was cracked. She wrote a prescription for antibiotics and pain killers to treat the injuries.

  The physician decided to perform a pelvic exam when she learned about the attempted rape. Kadyn left the room, but Cenia stayed and held my hand throughout the exam. The doctor gathered evidence for a rape kit but assured me she saw no signs of rape. She wrote additional prescriptions for sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medicine and encouraged me to see a psychiatrist when I returned home. The nurse slathered ointment on my feet and bandaged them shortly before they discharged me.

  We were exhausted by the time we left the hospital, so we decided to spend the rest of the night in a hotel. Kadyn and I shared a room. Every time I tried to sleep, I ended up reliving some segment of the past four days. I woke several times. I was terrified Justin would find a way to escape from the authorities and kill us both.

  Kadyn and I filled my prescriptions before meeting everyone else at the airport the next morning. I clung to Dan for a long time and thanked each of his friends in turn. Then Kadyn and I boarded Senator Rockefeller’s plane with the rest of our friends. I took the meds as soon as the plane leveled off. I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep while tucked securely in Kadyn’s arms.

  * * * * * *

  I was still exhausted and a bit disoriented by the sleeping pill when we landed at Dulles Airport. I stood numbly by as Kadyn paid for parking at the kiosk. I froze when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

  “Krissy?”

  I shook my head, assuming the voice I’d heard was a side effect of the medications I had taken.

  “Krissy? Honey, it’s mom.”

  Slowly, I turned.

  My parents were standing behind me. They were holding perfectly still, like I might shatter if they tried to touch me. Tears streamed down my mother’s face. My father looked as if he were afraid to speak.

  I stared at them in disbelief. “Mom
? Dad?”

  They closed the distance between us and folded me in their arms. We stood crying and clinging to each other for a very long time, oblivious to the people and the activities around us. My mom was the first to speak. “Thank God, you’re okay,” she breathed as she stepped back to look at me.

  My dad fixed his gaze over my shoulder. “Kadyn, how could we possibly repay you for saving our daughter’s life?”

  “The fact that she’s safe is payment enough, sir,” Kadyn replied. He reached for my father’s hand. My dad pulled him in for a hug instead.

  My eyes flitted between my parents. “How did you get here? How did you even know?” I was still trying to piece it all together.

  “Senator Rockefeller called. He offered to fly us to DC so we could be here when you got home.” My mom’s voice broke. “We caught the first flight out.”

  I stared at my mother in complete shock. Kadyn had already told me that Senator Rockefeller lent him the plane we flew back to DC. I couldn’t believe that he had flown my parents to DC too. I looked more closely at my mom. She looked tired and far older than her years. I hugged her again, suddenly overwhelmed with tears.

  * * * * * *

  I convinced my parents to stay at my apartment, despite its small size. They were reluctant to take my bedroom, but I insisted on sleeping on the couch. Senator Rockefeller called shortly after we arrived home. I thanked him for everything he had done and accepted his offer for some additional time off. I knew I was going to need some time to process everything that had happened to me.

  In the days that followed, I learned more about the roles everyone had played in rescuing me, including people I had never met before. I began compiling a list, so I could thank each one personally.

  I was fortunate enough to find a psychiatrist who specialized in domestic violence and PTSD. She insisted on seeing me immediately. She changed up some of my medications and warned me that my memories and fears wouldn’t disappear overnight. I would be dealing with this for the rest of my life.

  I was sorely tempted to remain locked up inside my apartment, but Kadyn insisted we show my parents around DC. Neither of them had visited DC before. They wanted to meet and thank Senator Rockefeller, but he was in West Virginia for some constituent meetings. I showed them around the office so they could see where I worked. Then Patrick and I gave them a tour of the Capitol. Kadyn joined us for the Capitol tour and showed us around the Pentagon the next day.

  Ellen arranged for a tour of the White House, so we visited the White House, the National Mall, and the monuments the day after we toured the Pentagon. Although we never saw the President or his family, the White House proved to be the highlight of my parents’ trip.

  My parents stayed until the day after Thanksgiving. Kadyn flew to Illinois to spend the holiday with his family, so my mom baked a small turkey just for the three of us. I cried long and hard the day they left. I briefly considered returning to Montana with them, but I was determined to see my fellowship through to the end.

  Cenia stayed with me until Kadyn returned from Illinois on Sunday. Ellen encouraged me to take a few more days off, but Kadyn and everyone else had to return to work. I wasn’t comfortable being alone. I longed to bury myself in work and thought it might help take my mind off the kidnapping. So I returned to Senator Rockefeller’s office the Monday after Thanksgiving.

  * * * * * *

  As soon as I walked out of the Thurgood Marshall Building, I sought out the saxophone player. He was in his usual spot in front of the Columbus Fountain. He stopped playing his horn as soon as he spotted me.

  My hands shook and my eyes filled with tears when I approached him, although I wasn’t sure why. “I’m sorry. I don’t know your name, but I wanted to thank you for helping my boyfriend find me.”

  A slow smile spread across his face. “My name is James. I’ve missed seeing you around. You’re okay?”

  “For the most part,” I responded honestly. “My name is Kri.”

  “Welcome back, Kri. This one’s for you.” James raised the saxophone to his lips and began to play.

  I stood there and listened to the entire song. It wasn’t a tune I recognized, but I found it comforting all the same.

  James nodded and winked at me as he rolled into the next song.

  I smiled. I dropped a twenty dollar bill into his case before I turned and walked away. It wasn’t much, but I thought it might buy him a meal or two.

  Jamie ushered me into Senator Rockefeller’s office the moment I entered the reception area. Senator Rockefeller rose from his desk when I walked into the room. He closed the distance between us, then pulled me in for a hug.

  I was completely speechless.

  Senator Rockefeller gently grasped my shoulders as he stepped back to look at me. “Kristine, I’m so sorry.”

  I tried not to cry. “Senator, you have nothing to be sorry for. This wasn’t your fault. In fact, I should be thanking you. I can’t possibly thank you enough for helping Kadyn and for flying my parents into DC.” Tears stole silently down my cheeks.

  He handed me a box of tissue. “I shouldn’t have called you and Patrick into work so late,” he responded. His voice was filled with regret.

  I shook my head. “It wouldn’t have made any difference. He would have found another way…” My voice broke. I couldn’t finish the sentence.

  The senator patted my back. “Still, I think a change in office policy is in order. I won’t be calling you or anyone else into the office that late at night again, not unless we’re all here for a late vote.”

  I nodded politely before setting the box of tissue back on the end table.

  “I owe a debt of gratitude to Captain Rand for bringing you back safely. That is one very determined and admirable young man,” Senator Rockefeller noted as he walked me toward the door.

  “Yes, he is,” I agreed. I turned and gently grasped his hand. “Thank you, senator, for everything. I… I don’t think I would have survived if you hadn’t gotten Kadyn that plane as quickly as you did.”

  The senator’s eyes softened. “It was the least I could do.”

  I just shook my head and smiled. As I hiked up the stairs that led to my cubicle, I reflected on Senator Rockefeller’s kindness and just how fortunate I was to be working for him. I wondered whether any of the other senators I’d interviewed with would have made the same effort to help.

  Patrick jumped out of his chair and scooped me up into his arms the second he spotted me. He gently lowered me back onto my feet before speaking. “God, Kri. It's so good to see you again. I was so worried you were going to move back to Montana with your parents. I’m so sorry about what happened. Can you ever forgive me?”

  I scowled at him as I set my briefcase and purse on my desk. “Forgive you for what? I don’t understand why everyone keeps apologizing to me. There’s only one person to blame here, and that person is not likely to apologize any time soon.”

  “I shouldn’t have let you walk back to your car alone so late at night,” Patrick insisted.

  I softened my tone. “Patrick, there were at least twelve guards between this office and my jeep. Not a single one of you could have prevented this from happening. I would have still gotten into that cab, oblivious to the danger that lie ahead. Please don’t blame yourself for this. I told you when I brought my parents in for the tour that you did nothing wrong.” I tried to reassure him with another hug.

  Patrick looked marginally relieved as he sat back into his chair.

  I switched my computer on and settled into my chair. My thoughts lingered on Habib. I felt guilty that Justin had threatened Diwa’s life to get to me and that he had drawn Habib and his brother into his deranged plan. I understood why Habib and Abdul chose to cooperate with him, but I wasn’t sure I could see Habib again.

  Just then, my phone chimed with an incoming text. I looked down at my phone and smiled. I quickly read the text.

  May you be blessed with knowing and receiving deep in your heart
that the Father, the Lord God Almighty loves you and is with you even when the mountains in your life are being shaken. May the Lord bless your heart and may your hope and faith increase as you receive His love and touch others for Him because of His love for you.

  “Oh, Charlie,” I whispered. “How do you always seem to know exactly what I need?”

  * * * * * *

  I called Habib that night, shortly after I returned home from work. He was surprised to hear from me. He immediately began apologizing for what had happened. As with everyone else who had made it a point to apologize, I assured him that he had nothing to apologize for.

  I asked him to meet me for lunch at the Afghan restaurant the next day. He agreed, even after I told him that Kadyn was going to be there. Kadyn had insisted on joining me when he got wind of my plans. He was worried that Abdul might show up.

  * * * * * *

  I picked Kadyn up at the Pentagon on my way to the Afghan restaurant. Habib rose from his chair and gave me one of his awkward hugs when we entered the restaurant. His eyes flitted nervously to Kadyn who had already dropped into a seat at another table. Kadyn had insisted on sitting at a separate table so Habib would feel more comfortable talking to me. I had argued the point on the drive over to the restaurant but to no avail.

  I squeezed Habib’s hand. “I’m sorry, Habib. I know he makes you nervous. He just doesn’t want to see me get hurt again.”

  Habib offered me a tight smile. “I understand.”

  The waitress delivered a number of appetizers to our table. I turned my attention to Habib as we began dishing up the food. “How’s Diwa?”

  “She’s a little scared to be by herself, but she's going to be okay,” Habib replied reassuringly. “She has gone to Afghanistan to visit family. She might stay. She thinks it may be safer there.” He shook his head sadly.

  My eyes widened in shock. I knew Diwa’s abduction was traumatic, but I couldn’t believe the experience had driven her to that conclusion. “Habib, I’m so sorry for what Justin put you and your family through.”

  Habib’s brown eyes softened. “It is as you said. There is only one person to blame, and it is not you.”