On the other hand, she could be mistaken about her father’s destination. If so, it would simply be one more in the line of bad decisions that had characterized her life. She leaned her head against the steering wheel. Even if Alexis and Christa were safe, even if she found them, she knew that she had seen them for the last time. The voice of Thomas’s attorney, spouting words like dangerous, negligent, and incompetent, echoed in her mind. Thomas would never trust her with the children, and no judge would order them to visit.
She let out a deep breath and decided to look around.
She pulled the car around to the side of the house. Taking her flashlight with her, she tried the front door, but found it locked. The back door, though, was ajar. She stepped inside, pausing to listen.
“Hello? Is anyone here? The door is open…” She heard no reply, so she flipped on her flashlight and swept it around the room. She called again. Receiving no response, she walked through the house. There were canned goods in the cabinet and fish in the freezer. In one bedroom, she found a duffle bag with the initials ASB embroidered on the side. “Askins Silas Bateman,” she said, smiling grimly. He had been here, and he was coming back.
A car’s headlights glowed through the living room windows, and Jennie jumped as a key rattled in the lock. The bolt clicked, and the door squeaked as it opened.
She heard a woman’s voice.
“Hello? Is anyone here? Mr. Bateman?” The living room lights popped on, as Jennie slipped into the room.
“Can I help you?”
The woman frowned. “Who are you? Where is Mr. Bateman?”
“I’m Jennie Bateman, his daughter. I’m…meeting Daddy here.”
The woman’s frown faded. “Of course. He said his granddaughters were coming for a visit. You must be their mother.”
“I am. Yes. Who are you?”
“I’m Cynthia Brown. My husband and I own the cabins along this side of the lake. I didn’t think anyone was here, and I was just checking the cabin, making sure everything is all right. I would have knocked, but—why were you in the dark?”
Jennie looked at the flashlight in her hand. “I…I couldn’t find the lights. That’s why I have this.” She gestured with the flashlight. “I just arrived myself and then spotted the switch, but then I heard you pull up and I didn’t recognize the car…I guess I panicked.” She held her breath, waiting to see if the woman bought her story.
“Oh.” Cynthia Brown looked puzzled, but shrugged. “Okay.”
Jennie wanted to change the subject. “Do you live nearby? I saw only a couple of lights after I made the turn for the lake.”
“If you take the dirt road on for about a mile, it dead-ends in our driveway. Your dad was hoping to have some privacy this weekend, he told me, and he was worried that there might be a crowd, but you’ll be fine.” She waved her hand, seeming to dismiss the idea. “Yours is the only unit rented, so you’ll have the lake pretty much to yourselves. It’s still a little cool for swimming, I think, but I know Mr. Bateman is a big fisherman, and the fish are biting like they’ve been through a famine…Well, anyway, I need to go. Your dad paid for two weeks. Will you be with him the entire time?”
“Not sure about that,” Jennie said. “We’ll see.”
“I know how it is. Parents and kids. Sometimes you get along, other times not so well…Okay, if you need anything, my number is in the drawer with the phonebook.” She gestured toward the small table beside the sofa.
Jennie watched as Cynthia climbed into her car and drove away. So, she was all alone. She shook her head. Two weeks? What was her father thinking?
As the car disappeared around a curve, Jennie walked through the house, flipping off lights, and the house went dark. She stood at the front window watching for her father. The moon was sliding off to the west and the front of the cabin was lit almost as if it were noon, while the side yard where her car was parked was cloaked in shadow. After a few minutes, she spied a set of headlights circling the lake. Finally, a blue minivan approached the house and turned into the drive.
Her father pulled up to the front door of the dark cabin and climbed out. As she heard his key in the lock, Jennie retreated to the kitchen, closing the door behind her, leaving a gap just wide enough for her to see into the living room. As she waited for her father and the others, she realized that she had left her pistol in her car, but it was too late for her to retrieve it.
While her dad held the door, Kenny and Billy dragged Alexis and Christa, struggling and screaming, into the living room.
“Emma will cut your throat,” Christa screamed.
As she reached the door, Alexis grabbed the doorknob and held on.
“You’re almost more trouble than you’re worth.” Kenny squeezed her hand.
“Ow, that hurts.”
“Then let go.” He jerked her arm and her hand slid off the knob and caught on the safety bolt, pulling it out to the end of its track. Alexis yelped, and Kenny shoved her onto the sofa next to Christa.
He planted his feet directly in front of Alexis and looked down at her. “Let’s party. You ready, sweetheart?”
“In your dreams.” She pulled her leg back to kick him, but he caught her foot as it shot forward and he held on. “Keep this up, and I’ll drag you by your foot next time I want you to come with me.”
Jennie’s father glanced outside, then closed the front door. The bolt hit against the doorjamb, but he had turned away. The boys were flipping a coin.
“Anyone hungry?”
Jennie was still in the kitchen, peeking through to the other room. She looked around quickly to see where she might hide when her father came to get something to eat. There was a pantry, but…She heard Billy’s voice.
“Call it in the air,” he shouted. “Winner gets his girl first.”
“Heads,” Kenny called.
The coin flew into the air and Alexis reached out, caught it, and tossed it across the room.
“I’ve had enough of you.” Kenny grabbed both arms, yanked her off the sofa, and heaved her toward the back of the house.
She stumbled, falling against the wall.
Jennie’s mouth dropped open. Daddy wouldn’t let them…
A knife lay on the counter. It was covered with fish scales and she supposed it had been put aside and forgotten as her father had cleaned his last catch. She picked it up.
“This won’t take long,” Kenny told Billy as he jerked Alexis up off the floor. “Or you can come with us and take a turn.” He grabbed Alexis’s belt and towed her toward the back hall. He laughed as she struggled and tried to kick him.
“Come on, Christa, let’s do it.”
Christa began to cry, as Billy latched on to her arm and dragged her from the sofa.
Jennie wished she had remembered her pistol. She was not sure she could take two guys—three if her father didn’t react well—with only the fish knife.
“Emma’s right behind us…I…I think I saw her car.”
“Who is Emma? Super Woman?” Billy laughed “You think Super Woman will come to save you?”
The muscles in Jennie’s arms tensed. “I don’t need the goddess’s help,” she whispered.
“What in hell do you think you’re doing?” The kitchen door flew open, thumping against the wall, leaving an imprint of the doorknob and Jennie stepped into the living room, holding the knife in her right hand, glaring first at Billy, then at Kenny, and, finally, at her father. She began to clench her left fist to calm herself, but she changed her mind.
For a moment everyone stared and no one moved. Suddenly, Alexis wrenched free from Kenny and tore across the room toward Jennie.
“You did this,” she shrieked. “I hate you.” She began to pummel Jennie with her fists. “I was right about you. You’re nothing but a selfish bitch.”
Jennie dropped the knife and fell to the floor, holding her hands over her face.
“Alexis, no. I came to help. I didn’t—”
“Liar.” Alexis kicked her in
the side and was drawing her foot back to strike again when Kenny wrapped his arm around her and jerked her away, laughing.
“You certainly are something when you’re riled up. Save a little of that energy for me.”
Alexis struggled, but was unable to free herself.
“Where’d she come from, Askins?” Billy tightened his arm around Christa’s waist. “You said no one knew where we were going.”
Jennie struggled to her feet. “Those children are mine. Leave them alone.”
“No one did know. Not even Ingram.” He strode across the room, stopping in front of Jennie. “How did you find us?” he demanded.
“Daddy, what are you thinking? Kidnapping my children. Were you planning to keep them locked up here? For how long?”
“I didn’t kidnap them. They’re mine. I can’t kidnap my own children.”
“Come on, sweetheart.” Kenny lifted Alexis off the floor and turned to carry her to the back. “They can argue if they want.”
“You, too, Christa. I’ve been waiting for you all day.” Billy tugged on her arm, trying to move her toward the hall, but Christa slipped free. She dashed toward the door, but Billy caught her and pinned her against the wall.
“Stop. Stop where you are.” Jennie pointed at the boys. “The three of you, you’re all going to prison. They are my daughters, Daddy. They are Thomas’s daughters. You abducted them and you’re going to prison. I’ve called the police. They have the address, they’ll be here—”
Kenny had just tugged Alexis into the hall, but he stopped, whipped around, fixing his eyes on Jennie. “You’re lying.”
Jennie’s eye narrowed. She smiled slightly. “You’ll rot in prison.”
“I told you, Askins. I’m not going to prison.” Kenny looked about wildly. “I’m out of here.” He tightened his grip on Alexis. “She’s coming with me.” He started toward the front door, dragging Alexis behind him, but Jennie blocked his path.
***
Emma had allowed the van to pull ahead as it had turned off the highway. The moon was bright, so she’d switched off her headlights and trailed behind, calling the state police as she crept along the dirt road. When she turned into the driveway and killed the engine, the house lights were on, the curtains were open, and she could see six people inside.
One boy had an arm wrapped around Alexis and was pulling her across the room, toward the back of the house. Another one was grasping Christa’s arm, pulling her in the same direction. Both girls seemed to be struggling, and Emma heard Christa shriek. She slipped free and tried to escape. The boy caught her and slammed her against the wall and held her there.
“I had a bad feeling about her,” she whispered when she recognized Jennie. As Emma watched, the old man strode to the middle of the room. He was shouting, and she could hear his voice, but could not make out what he was saying.
The police officer had told her that a patrol car was only three minutes out. “Stay in your car, ma’am. Do not approach the house. We’ll handle this,” he had said.
Stay in your car. Right.
Taking her pistol from the seat beside her, she slipped out of her car and crept toward the house, crouching to keep from being seen. Reaching the door, she found it cracked open. She paused and listened.
“I said for everybody to calm down,” the old man shouted. “No one’s going to prison. Jennie sit down. Alexis, Christa, sit down. I’ll tell you what we’ll do…”
“No way, old man. I didn’t sign on for this. You offered me money and the girl. I’ve got the girl. I want my money.” Kenny held out his hand. “Now.”
“You offered him what, Daddy?” Jennie took a step toward her father.
“I did nothing of the sort. I…I said they could get to know each other better and…”
“And we will, I promise.” Kenny smirked. “Money.”
Askins pulled out his wallet. “I’ll give you the money, but Alexis stays here.”
The boy shook his head. “The deal was the money and the girl.”
“I didn’t…”
“You coming, Billy? Bring her and let’s get out now. There’s a little hotel right across the state line.”
Christa swung at Billy, but he laughed at her as he ducked.
“I’m with you, Kenny.”
Emma pushed the door open and stepped into the room, the pistol in her right hand, partially hidden behind her.
“I want my daughters.”
“Emma,” both girls screamed.
“Your daughters?” Billy looked confused. “That’s Emma?”
“Alexis is your daughter? Who is she?” Kenny looked at Jennie.
Alexis began to struggle and to hit at Kenny, but he held her tightly and slapped her. “Be nice now.”
Christa thrust her elbow into Billy’s side. As he howled and bent over, clutching his ribs, Jennie rushed toward Billy, hitting him in the face with both fists. He fell back against the wall, screaming in pain.
“Run, Christa.” Jennie turned back to block Kenny as Christa rushed toward Emma.
“Good girl. On the porch.” Emma turned back to Kenny. “I want my other daughter. Now.”
Askins looked confused. “Who are you? These are my girls. You can’t—”
“Give me my money. We’re leaving.” Kenny held out his hand to Askins. “Give me the wallet.”
Emma raised her pistol. “The state police are two minutes out. My car is blocking the drive. No one is leaving.”
Askins’ face turned red. He turned and strode toward her. “Now see here. Put that gun away. I won’t have you entering my house, taking my children. Get out or I’ll…” He raised his hand.
Bang!
“You’ll never slap my daughter again.”
Askins squealed as the bullet passed through his palm. He collapsed on the sofa, wincing in pain, cradling his hand protectively.
“Daddy,” Jennie screamed.
“Help me, Emma.” Alexis struggled, but Kenny slid his left arm across her chest and pinned both of hers against her body, pressing her back firmly against his chest.
Emma aimed the pistol at Kenny. “Next one is in your head. Let Alexis go.”
“Okay. Okay.” Kenny’s voice was soft and calm. “I’ll let her go.” As he spoke he slipped his hand in a pocket and withdrew a knife. He pushed the release, the blade sprang out, and he slid it against Alexis’s throat, drawing blood when the tip nicked the skin.
“Now…I am leaving. She is coming with me…Old man, the money, before I get angry and cut her. Lady, whoever you are,” he looked at Emma, “the keys to your car.”
Askins pointed to the wallet lying on the floor where he had dropped it. He grimaced in pain, cradling his hand in the crook of his arm. “Take it. Don’t hurt her.”
As Kenny bent to retrieve the wallet, Alexis pulled away a little. Jennie took her chance. She lowered her body and ploughed into him, slamming her shoulder into his side, reaching for his legs.
Oomph.
Alexis ran to Emma, as Kenny released his hold and grabbed his stomach, stumbling backwards against the wall. Jennie had missed Kenny’s leg and she lost her balance, falling to the floor at his feet.
Catching his breath, he looked down at her. “Bitch.”
He raised his knife and slashed at her arm, slicing down from her shoulder to her wrist. Jennie shrieked, and Kenny drew his hand back above his head as if to slice her again.
Bang!
The bullet lodged in Kenny’s shoulder. As he howled, dropped the knife, and fell back, a blue light flickered through the front window.
***
An hour and a half later, Jennie sat beside an ambulance, awaiting a trip to the hospital, her right arm immobilized in a thick bandage. She had been lucky, the EMT told her. No arteries had been damaged, and she was being taken in as a precaution. Her father and Kenny would be transported to the hospital and then transferred to the county jail. Billy’s parents had been called to pick him up at the police station. Jennie woul
d be taken there, too, for additional questions.
She looked across the yard.
Emma, Alexis, and Christa stood beside Emma’s car. They were sharing a cell phone and Jennie guessed that they were talking with Thomas. She looked down at the ground. Never had she anticipated anything like this. She was appalled at the danger her children had been in. She felt tears running down her face. She vowed never to put them at risk again.
Its red lights began to blink as the ambulance transporting her father and Kenny turned out of the driveway, followed by a deputy sheriff.
A feeling of sadness washed over her. Again, nothing that had happened was her fault, not completely, at any rate, but…
She looked up, hoping for a last glimpse of Alexis and Christa before Emma whisked them away, something to remember, knowing she would never see them again. She jumped when she found Alexis and Christa beside her.
“Jennie? Are you all right?” Alexis touched her arm.
Jennie wiped her eyes and forced a smile. “I’ll be fine. How about you two?”
“We’re okay. Emma is going to take us to her hotel. We’re meeting Dad’s flight at two in the morning.”
“Good.”
No one spoke for a moment.
Alexis placed her arms around Jennie and hugged. “Thank you. I’m sorry I blamed you. I was so scared. You saved my life.”
Jennie didn’t reply immediately, the surprise at Alexis’s hug leaving her unable to talk. She swallowed hard. “You’d have been fine, sweetheart. I’m sure Emma would have stopped him.”
She nodded. “Emma was afraid to shoot. She said he was too close to me. Maybe when he turned…Anyway, thanks.”
“You’re welcome, Alexis.”
Christa hugged Jennie now, and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you, Jennie.”
“You’re welcome, Christa.”
They stood in silence, Alexis shuffling her feet, Christa looking back at the cabin.
“Do one thing for me. Remember that I love you both. I know I didn’t always come across that way…but I do. I never wanted to interfere, I…I just wanted to know you…” Her voice trailed off.
Those Children Are Ours Page 23