by K C West
I must have fallen asleep or passed out again because the next thing I felt was bumping over rough ground. We rolled to a stop, and I heard Jake tell his partner that he needed to take a leak. I needed to go, too. Badly.
Jake opened the back and looked in and then started to close it again.
“Hey,” I said, my voice hoarse, “I have to go, too.”
“Tough shit. Just pee in your pants.” He began to walk away, but left the hatch up.
I heard the younger man say something.
Jake returned, muttering under his breath. “Come on, bitch.” He dropped the load gate and pulled me out of the truck. He stood me up and loosened the binding around my feet and hands.
“Can’t have you peeing on any of this precious loot, now can we?”
I was dizzy and unsteady. He dragged me behind some bushes. “Do it quick and no funny stuff. I’d just as soon kill you as look at you.” While relieving myself, I searched the terrain. It was too open to try an escape. The highway wasn’t too far away, but I’d be dead before I’d get ten yards.
I staggered out from behind the bushes. Jake wrenched my arm, nearly yanking my shoulder from its socket and shoved me back in the truck. He tightened the bindings again, and my head throbbed from the exertion.
I don’t know what’s going to happen, PJ. They’re feeding me so they obviously don’t want me dead yet. I don’t know what they intend to do, but I have a feeling they’ll eventually kill me. They dare not let me go. I could identify them, or at least this Jake fellow. He’s the dangerous one. His companion has stayed pretty much out of sight. I haven’t seen his face, but I think he’s quite young. Maybe a teenager. That’s about all I can say about him. He doesn’t seem to have the cruel streak that Jake does. If I could just get through to him with Jake out of the way. It’s not going to happen, though. Jake’s just too smart to take a chance like that.
We bounced solidly into a pot hole jarring me from head to toe. Every part of my body hurt.
I just want you to know, PJ, that I love you so very much. You know what hurts more than anything? The fact that I’m most likely never going to see you again.
Chapter 13
Little Bird’s nudge nearly sent me tumbling from my desk chair. Detective Nelson had relieved Gina, and I had dozed off while waiting for him to come up with the next redundant question he would throw at me.
“She’s exhausted, can’t you see that? Let her get some rest.” Little Bird used her considerable size to heft me up against her hip.
“I’m sorry.” I yawned and turned back to him.
“No more questions, Detective.” Little Bird guided me toward the master bedroom.
Detective Nelson trailed behind us. “I’ll remind you that this is a police investigation.”
Little Bird ignored him. She pushed me gently through the bedroom door and closed it at my back with an emphatic thump. Through the closed door, I could hear her firm voice. “If you must remain here, you can sleep on the sofa, but you may not talk to her again until she has slept.”
“You don’t seem to understand that we need information in order to find this missing woman.”
“I do understand, and Dr. Blair means the world to me, but badgering Dr. Curtis until she collapses is not going to help you or them.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll try again later.”
I leaned against the door. After four days away from home, I had pictured my return in a multitude of ways. Nothing came remotely close to an empty house, injured pet, stolen valuables, and missing spouse. My dreams had become nightmares.
I ran the shower to get the water hot, stripped off my clothing, and searched for my large T-shirt and soft cotton drawstring shorts. I located the shorts, but couldn’t find the shirt. Had they stolen that, too? Not likely. Kim’s familiar, faded scrub suit top still hung on the bathroom door, so I pulled it on after showering and drying myself. The hem fell to mid-thigh, but the fabric smelled wonderful. I kept tugging the sleeve against my nose to inhale the comforting mango scent of Kim’s soap.
The poor cats had vanished when the police came and I hadn’t seen or heard them since. They often slept with us or Pup, but today their routine was shot - literally - to hell, and Pup was in a veterinary hospital. I wasn’t allowed to go see him, and I’d neglected Cleo and Jackie shamefully. Thank goodness for Little Bird. She and Jasper had taken care of all our four-legged family members.
Our bed which normally looked inviting was only huge and empty now. I crawled in on my side, but quickly shifted to Kim’s. Sure enough, her essence remained on the pillow. I buried my face in it and smelled mango, herbs, fresh woodlands, and a hint of… raspberry. What? Why raspberries? I slipped my hand under her pillow and encountered an article of clothing. I sat up and switched on the table lamp. My T-shirt had been under her pillow. Tears filled my eyes and a warm glow spread through my chest.
“Oh, Kimmy. You missed me while I was gone. You craved my scent, just as I hungered for yours.” I turned off the light and pressed my cheek against her pillow. “I wanted to apologize. I wanted to kiss and make up the minute I got home.”
My throat constricted. Tears fell freely. “I’m going to find you. Please, don’t give up. You just hang on.”
The room was silent and dark. Its emptiness filled me with profound longing. “You know how stubborn I can be, so believe me.” I hugged her pillow to my chest. “I will find you.”
Sometime during the night, I thought I heard Pup whine, but then I realized he wasn’t with me. I woke up to sense another person in the room. Before I could cry out, a warm hand covered my mouth.
“Calm yourself, child. Do not be afraid.”
Jesus H. Christ. The shaman was making an appearance. She removed her hand and I struggled to sit up.
“Why can’t you come in the daytime?” I switched the bedside light on. “And we fixed up a room for you like you wanted. Why are you here in the bedroom? You scared the shit out of me, Grandmother.”
She settled her considerable weight on the bed beside me and clasped my hand. “It seems that these journeys are more easily accomplished at night. Spirits are more powerful then, I guess. There wasn’t time to alert you or spread sage nearby. I’m sorry if I frightened you. It was not my intent.”
I shuddered at her proximity and chills raised goose bumps along my bare arms. “Now that you’re here and I’m almost awake, give me some news. Do you know where Kim is? Is she okay?”
“It doesn’t work like that.” She rubbed my wrists and tried to embrace me, but I resisted. Too much affection would bring me to tears. I needed answers, concise answers, and she seemed to understand that. “All of us have been searching for signs. We’ve prayed to the Goddess for directions for you both. I feel that there will be an answer soon, but you must be patient.”
Her words left a lot to be desired. “Patience is one thing I don’t have right now, Grandmother. Can you at least tell me if she’s still alive? My heart tells me she is, but I realize that I’m not unbiased in my judgment right now.”
“I can tell you truthfully that we all believe she is alive. We still feel her life force in the stones we cast and the herbal embers remaining in our fire pits after we perform our rituals.”
“Thank you.” My body trembled with relief. “I was afraid it was all in my mind.” I sensed her form was fading, but maybe that was only my vision blurring with tears. “Thank you, Grandmother.”
She wrapped her arms around me and pulled my head to her breast. “Do not fight your sorrow, child. You love her and you miss her. Amazons do cry at times like these.”
Her physical form vanished completely, and I was left clutching Kim’s soggy pillow.
*
The truck was moving again, bumping over rocks and intensifying the pain that racked my body. I knew the moment we turned back onto the highway; the bumps were less frequent, not as jarring. But even the slightest thump was agony to my ankles, hips, shoulders, and elbows. The pain of each blow ex
acerbated the throbbing pain of my headache.
Darling, how do I get myself out of this situation and get back to you? I miss you so much. I need your touch to soothe my aching body, and your kisses to tell me all is right with the world. An unintended groan escaped me when we hit a pothole. What are you thinking about? What are you doing? Don’t worry, my little one, I’m going to get out of this somehow.
Somehow is such a big word. Somehow, Scott went to the Antarctic, but he never came home. Somehow, Joan of Arc rallied the troops, and we both know what happened to her. I have to think of better examples and return to you.
I searched my mind for a way out of my predicament. My only hope was with the young man. If I could find an opportunity to talk to him alone and convince him that it wasn’t too late to turn his life around, maybe he would help me.
It was near midday, that much I knew by what little I could see through the back window. The sun was high and the lighting had that flat, disinteresting quality that the noon hour brings.
We had been driving for what seemed like an hour, when we turned onto another rough road. We bumped to a stop after approximately five minutes, and I heard voices coming from the cab. It sounded like my captors were arguing. Was that good news or bad? Would it upset the balance of power between them and mean an early release for me, or a quicker death?
They could dump my body out in this godforsaken place and no one would ever find it. My bones would be picked clean in an hour or less.
And what of PJ, if I were to disappear like that? What if she were to think that I’d left her on purpose? God, I could only imagine the pain she’d feel.
The thought brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. Survival was top priority. I had to find a way to get out of this truck and return to her in one piece. “Humph. Easier said than done.”
I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but the youth seemed to be in command. I felt a surge of hope. If he could control Jake, then maybe, just maybe, I’d have a chance. If I could talk him into dropping me off at the side of the road with no questions asked, I could always hitch a ride to the closest town.
Moments later, the two got out of the truck and the heated argument continued outside. “You may be the boss, but I’m not taking any more of your shit-for-brains ideas.” While I could hear everything that Jake said, the kid spoke so quietly that I couldn’t make out the words. They continued arguing for several minutes, but the boy never raised his voice. He seemed to be the more controlled and levelheaded of the two.
If only I can get through to the boy. But wait, Jake had referred to him as the boss. Was he paying Jake? Was Jake just hired to do the dirty work? The picture I had in mind was changing, and not for the better. My one slim hope was fading.
“You don’t pay me enough,” Jake said. “Anyways, your plans are crazy. You’ll get us both killed. I’m not taking any more orders from - ”
“Geez!” A gunshot reverberated against the metal of the truck, followed by a moan and then silence. I almost jumped out of my skin. I pushed myself as far into the corner as I could. My heart hammered in my chest, and I wanted to make myself as small and inconspicuous as possible. I needn’t have worried; no one came to check on me. One of my captors - was there only one left now? - slid into the driver’s seat and slammed the door. We drove off at a fast clip, tossing me around violently, leaving me physically as shaken as I felt emotionally.
Chapter 14
“Dear God, it’s good to see you.” I crushed myself against Dad’s chest, absorbing his comforting strength. I managed to choke out those words before tearfully greeting my stepmother. “I know I told you not to come, but it’s been three days now without a ransom note or any communication. Anything could have happened to Kim and I’m going crazy. So, I’m glad you didn’t listen and came anyway.”
My father’s eyes showed the pain he was feeling. “You know we’d want to be here to help anyway we can. Maybe I could offer a reward for information.”
“I don’t know, Dad. You could talk to the detectives. They’re in the kitchen right now, but they said they weren’t staying long.”
“How are you holding up?” Sue, my stepmother, asked, gripping my hand with a reassuring smile.
I exhaled and took my father’s hand as well. Their physical strength was so supportive. “It’s been a madhouse, but we’re all hanging in there. Let me introduce you to the crew.” The cats had been in the bedroom keeping Pup company as he convalesced. They eyed the new arrivals warily before slinking into the room, weaving themselves between my legs, accepting a few soft words of greeting and admiration with seeming indifference.
“You heard me mention Cleo and Jackie,” I said, trying not to trip over either of them as we moved. “They joined the family just before Christmas. Cleo is the mostly black, feisty one, with the white paws and white patch under her chin and Jackie is the calico.” I picked up Cleo, who promptly jumped down and led Jackie back to the bedroom. “Right now, they’re sticking close to Pup.”
“How’s he doing?” Dad asked.
“Jasper brought him home last night and he’s been sleeping a lot. He’ll be okay after he regains his strength. The vet said the bullet didn’t hit anything major, but he lost a lot of blood.”
I introduced my parents to Gina and Detective Nelson. Sue left Dad discussing strategy with them and accompanied me to the kitchen.
Little Bird was just pulling a tray of cookies out of the oven.
“Welcome,” she said. “Please sit down and I’ll put the kettle on for some tea.”
“That would be lovely, if it’s not too much trouble,” Sue said, taking a seat at the large oak table. She looked at the tray of cookies. “Those smell fantastic.”
“Oh, they are. Kim and PJ love them. As soon as they cool, we’ll have some with our tea.” She looked at me. “I’m sorry they don’t have cashews in them this time, PJ. I had to use walnuts.”
“Not a problem,” I assured her. “You two get better acquainted, and I’ll be right back. I want to check on Pup.”
He raised his head when he heard me come into the bedroom.
“Hey, big guy. What’s up?” His tail gave a listless thump, and his jaws opened wide in a yawn. I knelt beside his large oval dog bed which he now shared with the kitties. “I see you have your bodyguards with you.” I rubbed his head and finger-combed the thick hair at his neck, the best I could with the e-collar he was required to wear so that he couldn’t lick his wounds. I remembered to go under the collar to scratch that special spot in back of his ears. He moaned and licked my cheek when I leaned closer. Both sides of his hip had been closely shaved. The entry and exit wounds looked ugly, but they were clean and free of infection.
“I know, sweetie. The pain medication really knocks you out, doesn’t it?” I kept one hand on him and let the other slide down to stroke the cats curled around his stomach. They seemed to know to leave his wounds alone. Cleo and Jackie viewed me through half-closed eyes. They purred and repositioned their front paws after licking them two or three times. “Hey family. We’re all here, except one, and she’ll be back soon.” I had to keep telling myself that to make myself believe it.
As if recognizing the sorrow in my voice, Pup whined.
“We’re working on finding her, but it’s a great big country out there with way too many places to disappear into.”
My knees started hurting so I lowered my butt to the floor and stretched my legs out in front of me.
“The police have checked all possible sightings, but nothing has panned out yet. None of the stolen items have surfaced. They found a set of fingerprints that don’t match anybody yet and a set of strange tire tracks.”
I leaned my back against the wall and draped one arm over the padded side of Pup’s bed.
“Yesterday, one of the searchers found some trampled grass, cigarette butts, and gum wrappers at a couple of spots with views of the ranch. Gina and her partner stopped in to tell me that they think the house
had been under surveillance from just off the nature trail. They’re going to station a couple of police officers on the property for security. The butts were sent for DNA testing, so that might reveal something, eventually. A group of birdwatchers reported seeing two people sitting on the hillside looking toward the house, but they didn’t consider it strange at the time.”
Pup snorted.
“Yeah, I know how you feel. The stalking idea gives me the creeps, too. That might give us a lead, though, if we can question the tour guides and some frequent visitors. They may have taken photos or made videos. The detectives will probably tell Dad all this, but I just couldn’t. He’d only want to pack me up and take me back to Boston or over to Lesvos with them for safekeeping. I can’t worry about people watching the place, or if I’m in any danger. Kim’s gone, and I have to find out where she is. I can’t do that from far away.”
Pup looked at me, his usually bright eyes dull and sad.
“I know you miss her.” Tears welled up and I barely stifled a sob. “I do, too. It’s killing me not knowing where she is.”
I folded my arms across the top edge of his bed, lowered my head, and cried. After a while, Pup licked my fingers and snuffled softly. Cleo stood and stretched, approaching me tentatively. I wiped my eyes and leaned back against the wall, coaxing her to climb up my stomach. From there, she perched on my chest and began to knead, her yellow-green eyes closing further with each push. Then she sat on her folded paws as if she were hatching an egg. Her purring must have lulled me to sleep because Sue found us later, in that same position.
*
“That feels so good, Sue.” I was stretched out on the bed, face down; Cleo and Jackie curled up beside me, while my stepmother massaged the tight muscles around the back of my neck. “Mmm… a hot shower, some Advil, and herbal tea. Now magic fingers to smooth out the knots. You’re just what the doctor ordered.”
“I had to do something. Your stress level must be through the roof.” She continued to work the knots out of my neck and back with strong, even strokes.