Maria jumped on him.
He swung around to get her off.
She held on tighter, dragging her feet. Using both arms, he attempted to knock her off him. She held on as tightly as she could.
They both fell to the ground.
He struggled to get up, but she wouldn’t let go.
He won’t get Layla. He’ll have to kill me first. She grabbed his hair and pulled.
He cursed at her and swung his fist, but she managed to duck away.
The two rolled around on the ground.
Her grasp was slipping. No, she couldn’t let that happen.
He slid out of her hold and stood. Maria grabbed his leg, but he kicked her in the head and escaped again. Ignoring the pain, she jumped to her feet. When she closed the gap between them, she kicked him in the sensitive area where his thighs met his torso, just as her instructor had taught.
He doubled over with a moan, but didn’t go down.
She grabbed his head and pushed him to the ground.
He swung at her and his fist connected with her face.
She hit the ground hard. Her vision blurred and stars exploded as she looked up.
He ran down the road. Towards Layla.
“No.” She jumped up, but swayed. She ran after him, grabbing his arm when she got close enough. He pulled back his fist, but she head butted him in the stomach. The two toppled to the ground once again.
“You are a crazy woman,” he screamed at her. “You have ruined everything.”
She disentangled from him and ran after Layla. She’d only gone a few feet when the man yelled.
“Stop or I will shoot you.”
She glanced back.
His gun was aimed at her.
A vehicle screeched to a stop near the car she’d escaped from.
Someone to help.
Forcing her legs to move, she ran past her attacker.
The gunshot rang out.
She moved towards the cars, praying.
“Help me. Call the police,” she screamed at the driver of the other car
The door opened and a man stepped out.
50
Zink perched on her desk glaring at Marcus Hanks.
Conrad thought he cut an imposing figure and criminals probably gave up without a fight when they looked at the man.
Zink, on the other hand, didn’t appear intimidated in the least. She put her hands on her hips. “This is all wonderful information. Of course, it would have been more helpful before he abducted Layla and her mother. I’m wondering how it helps us find them right now.”
How had their peaceful little town become the hotbed for kidnappings and possible terrorist activity? If he’d read it in a novel, he’d have dismissed it as bizarre writing on the author’s part. Apparently, truth really was stranger than fiction.
Nick Johns stepped from the dispatcher’s tiny cubicle where he was pulling duty now that he was back from his family emergency. “Travis. Get in here. Now.”
Conrad, shocked by Nick’s tone, sat and stared. “Why?”
“Some girl’s on the phone and won’t speak to anyone but you.”
He picked up the phone on his desk and punched the blinking button. “Hello.”
“Mr. Conrad.” A tiny voice spoke.
Layla. Still alive. Thank you, God.
“It’s me. Is this Layla?”
“Yes, Mommy told me to call you.”
“Is your mommy with you?”
“No.” Her little voice trembled. “She told me to run and not wait for her. I didn’t want to. I wanted her to come with me.”
“You did the right thing, honey. Good for you for listening to your mommy. Where are you, Layla? I’ll come and get you.”
“I don’t know.”
“We’re hiding in the back of my gas station.” A man’s voice came on the line. “I locked the door, but it’s an old gas station. Not much security, I’m afraid. It won’t stop anyone for long.”
“Do you have a weapon?”
“It’s in my hand as we speak.”
“Good. Don’t trust anyone unless the little girl says it’s her mother. And whatever you do, don’t listen if she says it’s her father. Don’t let a man take her. Whatever you do.”
“Got it.”
“Good man. What’s your address?” He wrote it down and turned around and was face-to-face with Zink. Ben and Marcus pressed in against him on each side.
He explained as he pushed past them. ”Gotta go.”
He jogged out of the station and towards the cruiser.
Marcus ran past him blocking his way. “That’s not your jurisdiction.”
“I don’t care whose jurisdiction it is. I’m getting that little girl and nobody’s going to stop me. I made a promise to her mother, and I’m keeping it.”
“I’m trying to tell you to take me with you. It’s my jurisdiction.”
51
Maria stared as he stepped out of the car.
Her heart stopped.
“Hello, Maria. You didn’t expect to see me again, did you?”
Her mouth moved, but she couldn’t form words. No matter how hard she struggled against it, he would win. She flinched as he grabbed her arm and twisted it.
“You keep causing problems for me. I’m getting very tired of it, Maria.”
“Raymond.” She gasped his name in spite of the pain travelling up her arm. She attempted to get away, but it only made the pain worse. Finally she found her voice. “They said I was wrong. That you were dead.”
“I will deal with you later. Where is my daughter?” His voice shook with rage as he turned to the man scrambling to stand up. “Daoud, what happened?”
“Rahmed, my brother. It truly is you. I couldn’t believe it when they told me you were alive.”
“Where’s my daughter?”
“That crazy woman opened the trunk while we were moving and she got away.”
“Where’s my daughter?” Raymond’s voice was laced with fury.
The man he called Daoud pointed. “She couldn’t have gotten that far. She’s a little girl.”
Raymond shoved Maria at the man. “Take care of her. I’ll go find Layla myself.”
Maria ran towards Raymond. Every second she could delay him was one more second for Layla to get away from this monster. She kicked him in the back.
He fell forward and stumbled, but didn’t fall. Turning quickly, Raymond grabbed her foot.
She fell to the ground. Gravel bit into her back, but she refused to give up.
Raymond’s foot pressed against her chest. She struggled against the pain, barely able to breathe, but refused to let go.
“Shoot her. I don’t have time for this. Shoot her, now.” Raymond’s voice was cold.
“I…I can’t, Rahmed. I can’t.” Daoud stuttered and shook his head. “I can’t. I made a vow not to kill again.”
“Weakling. You are worthless. Just as Josef was. That was why he had to die.”
“Josef? What do you mean?” The young man’s eyes widened. “We were told the FBI shot him.”
“Does it matter who shot him? He was a traitor. He deserved to die.” He reached out. “Give me the gun.”
“It does matter, Rahmed.” The man stepped back. “How did Josef die?”
Raymond leaned with an outstretched hand as his foot eased away from her chest.
She could breathe again.
“Tell me what happened, Rahmed. Who killed Josef?”
Fury rose in Raymond’s voice.
Maria shuddered. She knew that fury only too well.
“We are wasting time. I have to get to Layla. That’s all that matters. Give me the gun.”
Daoud stepped farther away from Raymond. “It does matter. Tell me.”
Raymond’s voice was loud and commanding. “He betrayed the movement. That’s what matters.” Raymond’s foot moved off her as he moved towards Daoud.
Maria stood up, her movements slow and sure. Her gaze never left Ra
ymond.
His back was to her. In his anger over the other man’s disrespect, he’d forgotten about her.
The cars. Surely, they hadn’t had time to take the keys out. Pick a car and go.
She had to make her move. She ran.
“She’s getting away,” the man screamed as she slipped into the car.
She slammed the door shut and hit the lock button. Her hand moved to the ignition. Keys.
Thank you, God.
Raymond advanced with a gun in his hand.
The ignition sprang to life.
He raised the gun.
Her foot pressed against the gas pedal and the car surged forward.
Raymond jumped out of the way.
Seconds later, bullets slammed into the car.
52
One of the bullets must have hit the gas tank. The gasoline smell was strong
Maria kept driving, even knowing that.
On TV when bullets hit the gas tank, the car exploded into a gigantic fireball. Did such things happen in real life? It didn’t matter.
Maria had no choice but to go on. Finding Layla was the only thing that mattered. If she stopped…she wouldn’t think about that. Her foot pressed harder on the gas.
Raymond wouldn’t catch up and get to Layla before she did.
She wouldn’t allow that to happen. If she could get a few more miles before the car ran out of gas, she’d get out and hide. Her mind was numb, but she had to stay focused. Layla is somewhere right this second and needs you. But where was her little girl?
Her gaze shifted to the rearview mirror. A car was behind her in the distance—Raymond.
She rounded a sharp curve. The car’s engine sputtered, and then died. All the gas had leaked out.
She only had seconds before Raymond’s car would catch up. He would be sure to kill her this time. She opened the car door and ran across the open field.
As she heard the other car approaching, she fell to the ground. Her only hope was that he wouldn’t waste time looking for her.
He wanted to get to Layla just as much as she did.
Without moving, she watched and prayed
Raymond’s car stopped and both men got out. Raymond still had the gun in his hand.
His head turned and he seemed to be searching the field.
Please, God, don’t let him see me. Please. Please. Her heart was in her throat. It seemed as if he stared directly at her. She fought the urge to jump up and run.
Finally, he turned back to the car. A moment later, the car drove away.
Maria jumped up and ran across the field to the road. Layla could be in any of the houses they’d passed, but she’d told her to go to a store or business.
She jogged down the road to a grove of pine trees. Going off road, she used the trees as cover. The scent of pine replaced the gagging smell of gasoline.
A building peeked through the trees. A tiny gas station. One of the old-fashioned kinds with one pump, a mechanic’s bay, and nothing else. No fancy convenience store.
Every instinct screamed. Layla was in that building.
Raymond was already there. His car was parked in front. He was pounding on the door screaming.
Not wanting to alert Raymond, she slowed. Why would it be closed in the middle of the day?
Unless Layla had made it there and was hiding inside.
If she showed herself, he would shoot her, and then she wouldn’t be able to help Layla. But watching him take her daughter again wasn’t an option, either.
53
The squeal of sirens. The police would be here any moment.
Maria whispered, “Thank you, God.” She would stay put as long as she could see Raymond. If he went inside the building, so would she.
Raymond turned towards the road. He’d obviously heard the sirens, as well. He yelled something to his companion.
Daoud went to Raymond and pulled on his arm as if urging him to leave.
Raymond shoved him away. A tug of war followed, but Raymond held his ground.
Daoud threw up his hands, and then jumped in the car and sped off the lot.
Raymond kicked at the glass door.
Hurry. Hurry. Where were they?
Maria moved closer to the station, but stayed hidden in the trees. There was no way she would stand here and watch Raymond take Layla. He might be stronger, but she would die to keep her daughter away from him.
Raymond’s foot went through the glass. He reached into the hole. He would have Layla in a matter of seconds.
Police cars sped past.
Thank you, God. Help was finally here.
Layla would be safe.
Maria took off running.
Conrad jumped out of the car, running towards the station.
Zink leapt out from the other side, and a huge man stepped out from the back.
Maria blinked. Marcus Hanks. Here in Sunberry.
Nobody could hear her over the squealing of the sirens. She jogged towards them, grateful not to be alone.
Conrad pulled out his gun.
“Don’t shoot.” With the last of her strength, she dashed the rest of the way. “There’s gasoline. You can’t shoot. Don’t.”
Conrad turned towards her, but Suzanne lifted her gun.
Marcus moved forward as Suzanne covered him.
Maria kept running, screaming her daughter’s name. Nobody would stop her from getting in there to get to Layla. She couldn’t let Raymond have her.
Conrad’s arms went around her. “You can’t go in there.”
She struggled against him. “Let me go. I have to. Layla might be in that building.”
He held her firmly. “No.”
She pushed on his chest, but couldn’t break the bear hug. She crumpled in his arms, letting her tears flow. “Layla. Layla.”
A gun shot from inside.
Raymond was shooting at them—at the police.
Maria’s mind and heart froze. Her daughter might be in there.
More shots.
Maria stared.
Zink, Marcus, Ben Martin. All of them had their guns aimed and firing. At Raymond in the station where Layla might be.
Couldn’t breathe. She’d been so close, but Raymond had defeated her, sliced her heart from her chest. The pain sapped the strength from her knees. Her legs collapsed.
Conrad held her tight. “She wasn’t in that building. I promise. Trust me.” Conrad held her as she crumpled. “Look at me, Maria. Layla’s fine.”
“Oh, my precious little girl. Layla.” The only thing keeping her standing was Conrad’s arms around her. ”He’s got her. Raymond’s got her.”
“Maria, listen to me.” Her gaze found his. “She’s not in there.”
“How do you know that?” His words penetrated her panic. Conrad wouldn’t lie to her. She looked at him, hope rising.
“She called me. Just like you told her to.” He held up his phone. “I asked her protector to take her somewhere safe while we dealt with the situation here.”
Marcus moved closer to the station.
Ben and Suzanne stepped in sync behind him. All three had guns aimed.
Tears streamed down her face. “What if she didn’t make it?”
He hugged her close. “She did. I need to go over there. Can I trust you to stay here and not put yourself or Layla in any more danger?”
An internal war waged inside her spirit.
Maria closed her eyes. God, give me wisdom
All of her wanted to run to her daughter’s rescue. And all of her wanted to trust Conrad, but at one time she’d trusted Raymond. She’d vowed never to trust again, but Suzanne was right. Living without trust was like living in a dark world without beauty. You might survive, but that wasn’t the same as living.
Beauty for ashes. God’s promise.
She opened her eyes and met Conrad’s gaze. “I trust you.”
Conrad touched her cheek. “I will do everything in my power to keep her safe.”
A chill ho
vered over her in spite of the warm day when Conrad moved towards the station. His gun was pulled and he moved up by Suzanne. Sudden silence.
Marcus’s gun stayed leveled at the station’s door. “It’s over, Hamed. Throw out your gun.”
Maria moved closer but stayed behind the cruisers.
“Where is my daughter? You have no right to keep her from me.”
“You can see her after we get you in custody.”
Over her dead body. Layla believed her dad was dead and she was going to keep on believing that. Maria took a step to move forward, but her gaze landed on Conrad. She stopped herself. No reason to charge in there. Conrad would take care of the situation.
“I don’t believe you.” Raymond called out from the station.
“Well, you can believe this, Hamed.” Marcus’s voice rang out, loudly and clearly. The righteous anger in his voice told Maria he hadn’t known Raymond was alive any more than she had. “You won’t see her until you put down that gun and come out with your hands up.”
It was quiet for a moment, and then Raymond gave his answer. He shot at Marcus, but Marcus hit the ground and the bullet missed.
In the next second, a hail of gunfire split the air.
It seemed as if it went on forever, but then the guns fell silent.
Marcus called out.
No response.
54
Maria walked into the old gas station.
Her gaze moved to Raymond’s body. Her stomach twisted at the pools of blood.
Conrad moved to her and put a hand on her arm. “It’s over. Really over. He won’t hurt you or Layla ever again.”
She nodded. “Or anyone else.”
Suzanne walked up to her. “Do you want to feel for a pulse this time?”
Maria looked down. “That won’t be necessary.”
Conrad put an arm around her and led her out of the station. “Look over there.”
Her daughter barreled across the yard from the small house beside the station. A strange man jogged behind her.
Layla’s arms were up in the air. “Mommy. Mommy.”
Maria fell to her knees and scooped Layla into her embrace. Her daughter’s arms went round her neck as Layla nuzzled closer. Tears flowed from Maria. “Oh, thank you, God for keeping my Layla safe.”
“And thank you for keeping my mommy safe, too, God. I love her so much.” Layla’s arms squeezed around her neck. Maria thought she may never let her go again—ever.
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