“God helps those who help themselves.” Maven patted Ella’s arm. “Actually, that’s not in the Bible, but it’s a good sentiment. God wants us to trust Him, so we go to Him in times of need. So, I’m thinking God wanted us here, and now, He will show us the way out because of our trust in Him.”
“What now?”
“What now, indeed? Let’s pray and find out.” When she was finished with the prayer, Maven smiled. “I have an idea. But first, I need to know who the monsters are, Ella.”
Ella took a deep breath and looked at Maven. Her hands moved reluctantly. Monster. Kill. Gun.
“Who did they kill?”
Don’t know. Don’t know. ”OK, well now’s not the time to worry about it. The police can find that out after we get out of here. Ella, who is the monster?”
She signed. My brother.
Her brother? Maven had expected Ella to say her father. Apparently, Micah was still involved with drugs. Poor Sandra, it would crush her when she found out. Of course, if Micah was involved, her father could be as well. “What about your father?”
Ella shook her head adamantly. Not father. Brother. Her brother.
Was Ella confused?
Maven shook her head.
Father or brother…or both. The truth would come out.
If they lived to tell the police.
28
Maven stood on the basement landing in the dark with a golf club in her hand, waiting and listening. Now that they had a plan, she wanted to get it over with while the adrenaline was still flowing. The longer they waited, the less adrenaline they would have. Now, Lord, now.
Footsteps approached the door.
She touched Ella’s arm, and the girl tensed.
The lock clicked open.
This was it.
The door opened. He muttered a curse and felt for the light switch.
Maven swung the golf club at his head. At the same time, Ella pushed him down the steps. They ran through the doorway.
Maven slammed the door shut and locked it. “We’ll drive straight to the police station. I don’t want to spend one extra minute here.”
Ella nodded.
Holding Ella’s hand, Maven moved towards the sliding glass door.
“What was all the noise?” Donald Junior walked into the room.
It had never occurred to Maven that Ella meant Donald Junior when she’d said brother.
“Ella, where are you going? What are you doing?”
Ella dropped Maven’s hand and then signed. Go. Run.
It was their only chance.
Maven hesitated, not willing to leave Ella behind.
“Don’t even think about it. There’s nowhere to run to.” His eyes burned as he aimed his gun at Maven.
Ella signed run once more, and then stepped in front of Maven just as Donald Junior fired.
“No!” he screamed.
Ella crumpled to the floor. Her shirt turned red.
Donald Junior dropped the gun and rushed to his sister. “Ella, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shoot you. It was an accident.”
Maven ran out the door and into the darkness. Ella needed an ambulance. Not all the houses were summer homes. Surely, she could find someone to help.
The first house she came to looked abandoned. She looked back.
A dark shadow ran across the field.
Please, God, Ella needs help. Help me run faster to get help for her…please, God…
Lights ahead.
Maven sucked in a lungful of air and screamed.
He slammed into her, and she crumpled to the ground. His hands went around her throat and squeezed.
She fought, grasping at his arms, clawing at his hands. She choked, unable to breathe.
“You gonna shut up?”
She nodded.
The pressure on her throat eased up. He pulled her up and dragged her towards the house. “You’re gonna pay for the golf club. When I kill you, I’m going to make sure you suffer.” He shoved her inside.
Donald Junior still knelt beside Ella, holding a cloth to her shoulder. He looked up at Maven. “I didn’t mean to shoot her. I never meant to hurt her. I just needed her to promise not to tell what she saw. Why did you have to show up? You messed everything up.”
“Don’t blame me for this. You take responsibility for your own actions.”
“You have no idea what it’s like to be Donald Junior. The golden child. The one who has to be perfect all the time.”
“Well, golden child, are you going to let your sister bleed to death?” Maven was too scared to tread softly.
Donald Junior’s face changed, his expression lost, hopeless. He looked down at Ella and then at the other man. “We need to get her to a hospital.”
“Not going to happen. It’s not my problem that you shot her. I was willing to play it your way, but that’s all changed now. They both need to die.”
“She’s my sister.”
“Again, that’s not my problem. It’s time for this mess to be over.” The man aimed the gun at Maven.
Donald Junior stood up. “I’m not going to let you kill her or anyone else. This is over.”
“I’m the one with the gun, remember?”
“Luckily, you’re not the only one with a gun.” Paul walked around the corner, gun aimed at the gunman. “Put it down and we’ll all get out of this alive. “
“I’ll shoot.” Panic flashed in the man’s eyes.
“If you do, you die. Is that really what you want?” Paul’s voice was firm, his expression hard.
Maven stared at Paul, amazed at his transformation from easy-going neighbor to a no-nonsense policeman.
The man laid the gun on the floor and put his hands in the air.
“Get the gun, Maven, and call 911 for an ambulance and the police.”
Maven shuddered as she laid the weapon on the table. Her phone was right there. She punched in the numbers, wondering how Paul had managed to be here, to save her, and Ella. It can only be You, God…
Paul moved to the gunman and handcuffed him.
Donald Junior turned with his hands behind his back.
Paul pulled out snap-ties and cuffed him, too.
Sirens wailed in the distance.
She held Ella’s hand until the paramedic shooed her away. “She’ll be fine. It didn’t hit anything vital. You can see her at the hospital.” He closed the door and the ambulance drove off with siren blaring and lights flashing.
The place was a madhouse. Policeman were all over, their cruisers still flashing red and blue.
The media had found their way, as well. Camera crews and lights were set up as the reporters prowled around trying to talk with anyone.
Paul put a protective arm around her to shield her from the cameras. She hadn’t had a chance to talk to him yet. She leaned close and whispered in his ear. “How did you find me?”
“Your phone call. When you disconnected I started getting worried. I used my key to get into your house. I saw the notes you wrote. I sort of thought you might have come up here alone, so I called Sandra and asked her about the location of the—”
“Oh, no. Poor Sandra. I need to call her.”
“Not necessary, I already did. She’ll meet Ella at the hospital.”
“Did you tell her about Donald Junior?”
“The police can handle that situation. You shouldn’t have put yourself in danger by coming here alone, Maven. I would have come with you.”
“You told me I was overreacting.”
“I still would have come with you.”
“Why?”
He hugged her closer to him. “Because that’s what friends do.”
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