Lacy disappeared into the powder room off from the living room and returned with a wet cloth. She washed the blood from Nina’s face. “Thank you.” In all the chaos she forgot Harris’ blood was splattered on her face.
Five minutes later Agent Marcy Daniels and two other FBI agents entered talking in hushed voices. Agent Daniels returned to her computer and began tapping away at the keys. The other two agents hovered close by as if they feared Nina might still be in danger. Ten more minutes passed before the sound of sirens broke the silence. Beth squeezed Nina’s hand as the sound of the sirens dwindled. Agent Daniels’ phone rang and she placed it to her ear. She bounded out of her chair and dashed to the TV. “Miss Reynolds, where is the remote?”
As if in a trance, Nina moved to the coffee table, picked up the remote, then pointed it at the TV and hit the power button with a hand that violently shook. Network programming had been interrupted. Lights glared making it difficult to see what was happening. Uniformed policemen and men in suits moved about in the background. Even over the pandemonium they heard the reporter say Randal Collins’ name and marijuana crop. Beth placed her hand over her heart. “Did you hear the reporter? That’s our land.”
Nina’s weak legs would not hold her any longer. She collapsed onto the sofa. Acres and acres of marijuana were seen from helicopter lights as it hovered overhead.
“Oh my gosh!” Lacy plopped onto the sofa beside Nina. “Randal Collins has been growing marijuana right under our noses.” She took Nina’s hand and clutched it in her lap.
The whole time Grant had been at her house he knew about the marijuana. By the look of the tall, healthy, green plants it had been there for months. The man she fell in love with didn’t exist. He was a total fraud. Only thing he had been interested in was finding out if she had been in cahoots with Randal. She fell hook, line and sinker for his lies.
What was worse she had dated Randal Collins, the man now responsible for all the turmoil in her life. He had wined and dined her while his men were tending to a marijuana crop on her family’s land. The reporter’s next words caused her to become nauseous.
A beautiful, perky brunette smiled into the camera and announced in a strong forceful voice. “Randal Collins is a suspect in the murder of Detective Timothy Shaw.”
A cold blooded murderer had kidnapped Juan. It was bad enough knowing he was a drug dealer, but the fact he was a murderer was even worse. The ugly truth unraveled on National TV. The on-the-scene reporter continued with even more tragic news. At least she had the common decency to look sad when she announced, “Randal Collins is a suspect in the disappearance of twelve year old Juan Rodriguez.”
Thankfully, Maria was in her room lying down. She had been so distraught she took something for the powerful headache plaguing her since learning of Juan’s abduction. The phone rang. Everyone stood staring at the phone too scared to move. What if it was bad news? What if Juan was dead?
Agent Marcy Daniels motioned for Nina to pick up the phone. Beth and Lacy both moved to her side. She took several deep breaths before she lifted the phone to her ear. When she heard Juan’s voice on the other end, she sat down hard in the chair. “Mama?”
“No, it’s Nina. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m with Grant.”
A tear slipped over her cheek. She wiped it away. “Hold on and I’ll get your mom.”
A huge smile split her face. “He’s okay.”
Both her sisters followed her to Maria’s room. She pushed open the door and sat on the edge of the bed. By her expression, Maria knew it was good news.
She took the phone, placed it to her ear and began to cry. “Oh, Juan, I’ve been so worried.”
****
An hour later and Juan still wasn’t home. Of course Grant would protect him, but Nina couldn’t relax until he was back home where he belonged. He divulged to his mother that Randal and his father had escaped apprehension by the FBI and were still on the run.
It was all too much. Four FBI agents sat on the sofa eyes glued to the TV as the news reporters unraveled the story of the police chase now taking place. The blare of sirens could be heard in the background. Every available agent and police officer was searching for Randal and Matthew Collins.
Nina could listen no longer. She stepped out on the porch for some fresh air. Stars sprinkled the night sky. She took a deep breath to calm her frayed nerves. Shadow was lying on the welcome rug. He stretched and walked to her side. She rubbed his shiny coat. “Are you missing Juan?” His tail began to wag and he wiggled against her leg. “He’ll be here shortly. Grant is bringing him home.” What would she say to Grant? The man saved Juan, but still he had lied to her.
Shadow’s ears perked up and he peered toward the drive. In the distance she could see the blue lights flickering before the car came into view. Loud barks broke the silence of the night as Shadow bounded off the porch and ran toward the car pulling into the yard. Her heart began to pound thinking it was someone bringing Juan home. She trotted out to meet the occupants. A large dark figure crawled out of the car causing Nina to gasp out loud in shock. Randal Collins reached out and grabbed her by the arm. She watched in horror as he pulled her to his chest. In the twilight she saw the glint of anger in his eyes. “I’ve missed you, Nina.”
Slamming her palms into his chest with all her strength, she screamed, “Let me go!” He had a death grip on her arms and she didn’t even budge him.
Everything played out in slow, sick motion. “Shhh, Nina. You don’t want anyone to come out of the house and make me kill them. You wouldn’t want that on your conscience would you?”
She considered using some of the defensive moves Grant and Juan showed her but he had a firm grip on her arms. Should she try to kick him? Realizing she was in danger, Shadow bit into his leg. Deep growls vibrated from his throat as he shook his head as if trying to jerk it from Randal’s body.
Matthew bounded out of the car, drew his pistol, and pointed it at Shadow. “Call off your dog or I’ll shoot him.”
“Heel, Shadow, heel!” Immediately he let go of Randal’s leg and sat back on his haunches watching Nina. Blood dripped from his mouth. Teeth still bared, every hair stood up on his neck.
Randal gritted his teeth. “I should kill that crazy dog. Keep him off me or I will.”
“Okay, okay. Let me go and he’ll not attack you again.”
Matthew pointed the pistol at her chest. “Get in the car if you want to live.”
She placed her hand in front of Shadow. “Stay.” He inched forward sensing she was still in danger. At any moment he could attack Randal again. Fearing Matthew would shoot and kill her precious dog, she tried to relax and in a soft voice she stated, “It’s okay, Shadow.”
Randal propelled her toward the car and pushed her into the backseat, climbing in behind her. Instead of going toward the drive, Matthew steered the car toward the narrow road that led to the bottoms. The car bounced along causing her to bump her head on the top of the car. She grimaced in pain and tried to grip the seat to keep from banging her head again.
Randal lifted his pants leg and peered at the place where Shadow had attacked him. Blood dripped down his leg and turned the white of his sock black. “Damn dog.” He reached into the front seat and grabbed a shirt wrapping it around his leg to squelch the bleeding.
The radio squawked loudly, “I’m at the 10 20 you gave me, Sheriff Collins. Where are you?”
With one hand, Matthew reached for the radio transmitter as he tried to maneuver the car around the potholes and bumps in the dirt road. The trail was not meant for a car, only tractors and the four-wheelers. “On our way. Almost there.”
A sharp curve in the road had Matthew fighting for control of the car which was traveling much too fast. He veered to the left when the tail of the car started sliding to the right. He dropped the radio transmitter as he gripped the steering wheel with both hands. Nina was thrown to the floorboard when the car hit a tree head on. Seconds passed as she lay
there trying to determine if she was injured. She placed her fingers to her forehead and felt warm, sticky blood. Suddenly she was jerked to a sitting position and snatched out of the car.
Randal shouted, “We’ll have to go the rest of the way on foot.” Matthew stumbled from the car. A huge gash on his forehead oozed blood where he had smacked the steering wheel on impact. He raced around the back of the car and opened the trunk.
Randal shouted, “Forget the drugs. Let’s get out of here while we can.”
In the distance she could hear Shadow barking. “Where are you taking me?”
Instead of answering her, Randal gave her a hard shove. “Keep moving.”
Chapter Nineteen
Grant turned onto the drive leading to Twelve Oaks Farm. Thin moonlight filtered through the trees. He loved the look of the shadows and light playing over the ground in front of them as he sped along. The tight muscles in his neck relaxed knowing they would be at their destination in seconds. Sitting in the passenger side of the Camaro, Juan had not said two words on the hour long drive from Raleigh. But then he had been through a traumatic experience. The kid was tough and he didn’t think it would bother him mentally. Maybe just a few nightmares would be all he would have to endure.
Thoughts of seeing Nina caused his heart to skitter into his throat. Would she still be angry at him? Maybe once she saw Juan had not been harmed she would forgive him. It should mean something to her that he had risked his life to rescue the boy. Desire clenched in his gut. He felt like it had been a year since he held her. As his mind shifted to the last night they spent together, he smiled. She was one hell of a woman. He should never have let her into his heart. He wished he knew what he wanted to do with his life. Did she have a place in it?
Stars whirled like diamonds in the night sky when the road opened up revealing the barn and pastures. Emotion swamped him seeing the place he had come to think of as home. The moment he pulled into the yard he felt he was where he belonged. He stepped out of the car and shut the door. Juan was already half way across the yard. He swung open the front door and disappeared inside.
Grant stopped and listened. He could hear Shadow barking somewhere down the hill. Something sure had him upset. His heart was racing. Instincts told him danger lurked in the darkness. He jogged across the yard and opened the front door. Maria, Beth, and Lacy were all circled around Juan listening to him tell about his harrowing experience.
“Where’s Nina?”
Beth crossed the room. “I thought she was outside with you.” Her face filled with alarm when she saw his expression. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“Maybe nothing. Just stay here until I make sure everything’s okay.”
Even though everyone was watching, Grant fished into his pocket and brought out a fresh magazine. He shoved it into his pistol and put one in the chamber. The metallic sound was loud in the quiet of the room. Grant pointed his finger in Beth’s face. “You stay here.” Knowing he was probably talking to the wall, he ordered, “Juan don’t let them leave. Call 911 and have the dispatcher to get in touch with my Uncle Tate. Tell him I think Collins has Nina.”
He stepped onto the porch and glanced into the darkness. He could just barely hear Shadow’s barks. With long strides he hurried to the black SUV parked closest to the house. He tried to open the door but it was locked. Agent Marcy Daniels shouted, “Grant!” and threw him the keys from the porch. He pressed the clicker and both doors unlocked. Without being invited, she slid into the passenger seat. He revved the engine and raced out of the yard toward the sounds of Shadow’s barks.
The trail was too narrow and the limbs too thick for a vehicle the size of the SUV. Several limbs smacked the windshield and sides of the SUV. The side mirror on the passenger side shattered when he veered too close to a tree. Suddenly Grant stomped down on the brakes before crashing into the back of the sheriff’s car. It was too tight to go around.
“We’ll have to go the rest of the way on foot.” He shoved the door open and jumped out. Agent Daniels tried to open the door on her side but couldn’t because of the trees, so she crawled across the console and fell to her knees on the driver’s side of the SUV. She struggled to stand, pulled her pistol from her shoulder holster, and raced after Grant who was already disappearing from sight.
She shouted at his back, “I’m right behind you.”
****
Nina could hear the roar of a motor. As they emerged from the forest into the bottoms, a helicopter came into view. She went limp as a ragdoll. She had to keep Randal from forcing her on that helicopter. In the moonlight she could just make out the small white helicopter with red stripes where someone had landed it in the bottoms. Blades propelled ready for takeoff. If she got on that chopper, she would never see her family again.
Randal tried to pull her to her feet. “I don’t have time for this shit, Nina. I swear I’ll let you go as soon as we land safely in Mexico.” She knew better. He would never let her go. “Get up or I might just shoot you.”
“That’s preferable than going with you to Mexico.”
Randal grabbed her ponytail and yanked it like a rope causing an intense pain to her skull. “Get up or I’ll pull it out from the roots.” She gritted her teeth to keep from screaming in agony as she was jerked to her feet by her hair.
Matthew Collins moved to her other side and gripped her arm. “Come on, son. We have to get in the air before the FBI discovers we’re here.” Randal grabbed her other arm and they began to drag her toward the chopper.
“You won’t get away with this. The FBI is going to catch you.”
“Not with you as a hostage. They won’t shoot us down knowing I have you with me. As soon as we get in the air, I’ll call your boyfriend and let him know I have you.”
Where were Grant and Josh? Looks like one of them would have returned to the house by now. Juan called and let them know he was okay. Maybe they had to go to the police station and make a statement or something. She fought waves of ice-cold panic when they were only a few feet from the chopper. Even over the roar of the chopper, she could hear Shadow barking. At the top of her lungs she screamed, “I’m here, Shadow. I’m over here.”
Randal slapped her so hard across the face she fell hard to the ground on her hands and knees. Briars and pebbles cut into her palms. He raised his gun in the air and aimed it toward the sound of the dog baying loudly. “No, don’t.” Nina grabbed his arm and began to wrestle for the gun.
Over all the chaos, Matthew shouted, “Leave her! We need to get moving!”
Randal pressed the gun to her head, his finger on the trigger. “I loved you. You have no idea how much. If I can’t have you, no one can.” She held her breath and waited for the impact of the bullet tearing into her temple. Time seemed to drag by so she began to pray.
Not able to pull the trigger, Randal shoved her to the ground and bolted for the chopper. It didn’t take long before he raced by his father and jumped into the seat next to the man sitting in the cockpit. Matthew Collins fell in the deep grass as the wind from the propellers threw him to the ground. He struggled to his feet and fell again before he was able to make it to the chopper.
Shadow’s barks were loud and intense as he tore up the ground to get to Nina. She pushed herself to a sitting position and watched him with pride. He was her dog and he’d do anything to protect her. A filthy, wiggling Shadow bounded into her lap licking her in the face. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his smelly fur. “I’m okay, Shadow. I’m okay.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone dart out of the forest. Taking deep gulps of air, Grant shouted, “Go get him, Shadow.”
The dog looked like a bullet tearing up the ground in his race to catch Matthew Collins. In seconds he dived onto the man’s back throwing him to the grass. Dog and man rolled over and over a tangle of legs, fur, and arms. Matthew placed his arm over his face to keep Shadow from attacking his head.
By the time Grant got to them, Matthew was s
creaming at the top of his lungs for help. It took a lot of effort to pull Shadow off of him. The dog was so excited he was out for blood.
Hand in Shadow’s collar, Grant shouted, “Sit, Shadow.”
Matthew struggled to stand. He took a step as if to try for an escape. “Try it and I’ll turn him loose.”
The man held up his one good arm in surrender. The other arm dripped blood turning the green grass black. Shadow had gotten in several good bites.
The roar of the chopper had Grant reaching for his pistol. Randal Collins was escaping. “Stay, Shadow!” When Grant released his hold on Shadow’s collar, the dog dropped to the ground on his stomach and began to crawl toward the sheriff. In a more forceful voice, he shouted, “No, Shadow, stay!”
By the time Grant turned his attention toward the helicopter carrying Randal Collins it had lifted into the air. Ten bullets went into the chopper but none of them seemed to have damaged it as it lifted toward the full moon. Agent Daniels sprinted to his side, raised her pistol toward the chopper, and unloaded. Then Grant saw the stream of gas spewing from the back of the chopper. One of them had hit the fuel tank. Randal Collins would not go far before he would be forced to land.
Voices and lights penetrated the quiet woods. Beth, Lacy, Maria, Juan, and the other FBI agents emerged from the dark forest carrying flashlights and making enough noise to wake the dead. So much for telling them to stay at the house. All four descended on Nina, touching and hugging. Shadow whined and wiggled wanting to join the reunion. “Go ahead, boy.” He bolted forward and forced his way into the center of the group.
Whispers of the Falls: Book one (Twelve Oaks Farm Series 1) Page 23