Kaleidoscope Eyes

by Karen Ball

  Suddenly Kodi spun, trying to scramble up the incline.

  Annie caught up with her, grabbing at her, managing to snag the edge of her shabrack. Kodi fell with a yelp when her injured leg gave way, then scrambled back to her feet and tried again.

  “What’s wrong with her?”

  Annie could barely hear Jed over Kodi’s frantic barks. “I don’t know! It’s as if she hears—” Annie’s fingers tightened on the shabrack, and she turned to meet Jed’s eyes. “As if she hears something.”

  Jed was already looking up to the edge of the ravine. Annie finally got an arm around Kodi’s straining neck. “Kodi, no! Stand!”

  Every muscle quivering, the shepherd finally obeyed. She fell silent, except for a pitiful whine. Annie closed her eyes, listening.

  There!

  Her eyes flew open. Someone was crying. No, wailing. The piercing, terrified wailing of a child.

  A little girl.

  “It’s coming from up there!” Even as she pinpointed the sound, Annie jerked her radio free and called in to command. “We’ve found a child.” She clamped down on the emotions wanting to surge through her, focusing on giving command the correct GPS coordinates.

  “10-4. I’m going to try to get to her from here.”

  Andy was beside Annie then, taking hold of Kodi’s collar. “Go. I’ll hold her.”

  Annie didn’t have to be told twice. She ran to Jed’s side, and they started up the steep incline.

  “Watch it!” Jed’s cry came a moment too late.

  The rocks beneath Annie’s boot shifted and tumbled, and she went down. Hard. But she pushed back up and kept going.

  Jed moved in right beside her. “Take it easy, Annie. You can’t help Amberly if you get hurt.”

  She wanted to argue, but she knew he was right. His low, calming voice flowed over her.

  “Take a deep breath, and let’s climb. Together. We’ll get there. But we’ll do it smart.”

  She met his steady gaze and nodded. Together they climbed.

  “Amberly!” Annie’s cry was as loud as she could make it past the tears clawing at her throat. “We’re coming, honey!”

  The footing was treacherous, and each step sent rocks sliding and tumbling in their wake. But they didn’t stop.

  “Look!”

  Annie followed Jed’s pointing finger and froze.

  A little face peered at them, just over the edge of the incline.

  Annie’s heart seized. “Stay there, honey. We’re coming. I promise.” Father; please, don’t let her fall. Move her back from the edge! “Don’t move, honey, we’re coming.”

  Amberly scooted closer to the edge, looking down at them with wide eyes. “I … want … my mommy!”

  The child’s hiccupping sobs punctuated her demand, and Annie’s heart nearly broke. “I know, sweetie. And she wants to see you. Just stay there, okay? Just stay right there. You’re safe now. I promise.”

  Please, God, Annie prayed as she dug in for a better foothold and pushed forward, let me be right.

  Trees grabbed at him, branches slapping him in the face as he ran.

  It wasn’t fair! Everything was working against him!

  He hit the edge of the woods—and stopped cold. The passenger’s door stood open. Even from here he could see the tracks in the snow. He followed them, looking past the car …

  And then he heard her. Annie. Calling to the child. “You’re safe now. I promise.”

  No! No!

  He stepped out of the trees, ran to the car, and slammed his hands on the hood. The child was there. On her hands and knees in the snow, looking over the edge. He took in the distance. He could do it. He could get to her—

  “Amberly!”

  His disbelieving eyes watched as Annie surged up and over the edge, scooping the child into her arms.

  Anger. Fury Despair.

  Not fair! Not fair!

  He crouched low, behind the car, and clawed at the driver’s door. Jerking it open, he scrambled onto the seat and jammed the key in the ignition. He slammed it into reverse, then spun the steering wheel to clear the trees as he turned around and floored it.

  His tires threw dirt and snow as they spun then grabbed and propelled the car forward, the open passenger’s door slamming shut from the violent motion of the car.

  He took one look in the rearview mirror as he sped away One horrible sight met his angry eyes: Jed Curry coming up over the ridge and putting his arms around Annie and the child.

  Jed buried his face in Annie’s hair, holding her and the little girl tight. He wasn’t going to let either one go.

  “Jed.”

  He shifted his face to answer. “Yeah?”

  “I … can’t breathe.”

  “Oh.” He let her go. “Sorry.”

  Annie stepped back, glancing past Jed. “Did you see it? The car?”

  “Just caught a glimpse of it.” He gritted his teeth. “I didn’t catch the plate, but I think it was an old Chevy Nova.”

  Jed could see the anger in Annie’s eyes and the touch of disappointment. He understood. They all wanted to catch the creep.

  Annie knelt, setting the shaking child on the ground, running her hands over her arms and legs. “Are you hurt anywhere, honey?”

  The girl popped a thumb in her mouth and nodded, her tear-soaked eyes fixed on Annie. “My knees are cold and sore,” she said around her thumb. Those big blue eyes blinked, as though the child could barely keep them open.

  Annie scooped up Amberly then directed shining eyes at Jed over the blond head. “How ’bout we take you someplace where we can fix those old knees up?”

  “Can I see my mommy and daddy now?”

  Annie’s smile was glorious. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”

  Jed drew a breath of relief. At last, the search was over. The lost was found.

  And she was safe.

  He turned to look down at Andy and realized his friend had the camera on his shoulder, filming it all. A pang pierced his heart.

  The search was over.

  Time for him to leave.

  FORTY-FOUR

  “While we are free to choose our actions,

  we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions”

  STEPHEN R. COVEY

  “A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions;

  the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

  PROVERBS 22:3

  Nothing felt as good as this.

  Annie watched Bree and her husband hold their daughter, tears bathing their faces even as their laughter brushed the air.

  An arm slid across her shoulders, and she turned. Killian smiled at her.

  “See why this means so much to me, Killie?”

  He gave her a little shake. “I just said so, didn’t I? Brat. You want me to grovel?”

  “Why not?” Dan came to stand between Annie and Killian. “After all, most men have to grovel at some time or another. Why should you be any different?”

  Annie frowned at the hard edge to her brother’s words. Was he angry with Killian for some reason?

  Dan turned to her then, and his features softened. “You done good, sis.”

  “Kodi done good. She led us to the right spot. And the SAR unit done good. It was a team effort.”

  “You play a part too, Annie. Don’t ever forget that.”

  Dan nodded. “Killian’s right. You and Kodi, you’re a team. And a very good one.” He tugged at her hair. “I’m proud of you, little sister.”

  Pleasure warmed her cheeks, and Annie smiled around the tears that had suddenly sprung to her eyes. “Thanks, Dan. That means a lot.”

  More than he could know.

  She glanced back toward Bree and her family “Are you going to talk with Amberly, Dan?”

  “Yes. Would you mind coming along? Amberly knows you better, and she’s comfortable with you. Besides, I think it would help Bree for you to be there.”

  “I’d like
that.” She hopped off the picnic table, ready to follow him.

  Killian straightened. “As for me, I believe I’ll head back home. Glad the little girl is back safe and sound.”

  Dan glanced at Killian, an odd spark in his eyes. “Sure you don’t want to meet Amberly? Might help you understand Annie’s work even more to talk with the victim.”

  Killian studied Dan for a beat, a small smile tipping his lips. “A tempting offer, but no. I’ve left my work long enough. Poor Ryan is probably overwhelmed. I tried calling him a few minutes ago and he didn’t even answer. So I’ll more than likely get an earful when I get back.”

  “Hmm.”

  Annie glanced at Dan and frowned. He looked like he was going to say something more, but another voice stopped him.

  “Annie?”

  She turned, heart dropping to the bottom of her stomach. Andy. And if he was there, Jed probably was too. She wasn’t ready to see him. But when she turned, Andy was alone.

  “Can I talk to you for a second?”

  Annie looked from him to Dan, who inclined his head. “I’ll wait over here.”

  She turned to Andy “What’s up?”

  “Look, I know things are kind of unsettled with you and Jed.”

  If he was looking for her to deny it, he was in for a disappointment. When she didn’t respond, he shrugged. “Okay, things are really messed up with you and Jed. I know that. But I wanted—” he held out his hand—“to give you this.”

  She took the business card and read it, then looked at him. “Your card?”

  “It’s got my home number there too. On the back. You know … just in case you need anything. Someone to talk to. Someone who understands Jed really well.” He looked at the ground, then angled a look at her. “And who respects you. A lot.”

  She pursed her lips, looked from the card to him, then stepped forward to wrap him in a hug. “Thanks,” she whispered in his ear. “I hope Jed knows what a good friend you are.”

  He hugged her back, then let go. She started to turn, but he stopped her.

  “He really loves you, you know.”

  Annie kept her gaze fixed on the ground. “I know”

  “And you love him.”

  She could only shrug.

  Without another word, she went to catch up with Dan, glancing around as she did so. “Did Killian leave?”

  “As fast as his little legs could take him.”

  She frowned again. “What’s with you and Killian? Are you mad at him about something?”

  Dan started to say something, then stopped, shaking his head. “Nah. What could I be mad at him about? Let’s go talk to Amberly.”

  As they walked, Annie pulled the business card from her pocket and read it again. Dan glanced down at it as well.

  “Andy seems like a good guy.”

  Annie nodded. “Yes, he does.”

  “And Jed?”

  “Is off-limits.”

  At her terse reply, Dan put an arm around her shoulders. They walked the rest of the way in silence. They’d no sooner reached the family than Brianna threw her arms around Annie. “I can never thank you enough for bringing my little girl home.” She stepped back. “Is Kodi okay?”

  Annie smiled her relief. “She’ll be fine. No broken bones, thank heaven. She’s asleep in the tent right now. The unit vet bandaged her leg and gave her a shot of antibiotic and a light sedative so she’d sleep.”

  Dan stepped forward. “I’d like to talk with Amberly for a minute, if that’s okay.”

  “Of course.”

  Dan set the little girl up on a picnic table. As he eased onto the bench so they were almost eye-to-eye, the child looked at Annie.

  “Is your doggy okay?”

  Like mother, like daughter. Annie touched Amberly’s hair. “She’s just fine, honey. She’s taking a nap.”

  “Can I see her?”

  “Sure, you can. Right after you talk with the deputy. Did I tell you he’s my brother?”

  Taking his cue, Dan leaned forward. “Hi, Amberly. I’m Dan.”

  Those big blue eyes peered up at him. “Hi, Dan.”

  “Honey, can you tell us what happened when you got lost?” He jotted down notes as Amberly spoke, and listening to that little-girl voice, Annie could picture the child chasing after the butterfly, suddenly realizing she was lost …

  “Were you scared?”

  At Dan’s question, Bree turned away, biting her lip. Amberly tugged at her mother’s sleeve. “It’s okay, Mommy I wasn’t afraid. My angel was there to take care of me.”

  Bree and her husband exchanged a surprised look.

  Dan’s brows creased. “Your angel?”

  Amberly’s little head nodded. “Uh-huh. He was always with me.” Her smile beamed up at her parents. “He was the ark angel, Mommy. He told me you sent him to take care of me. So I wasn’t afraid.”

  “Ark angel?”

  Brianna stroked her daughter’s hair. “Michael. I told her a story about Michael, the archangel.”

  Bree sounded so apprehensive. Annie studied her friend’s features and knew. The terrible thoughts that had been taunting Annie were beginning to torment Brianna as well. Annie wished she could comfort her friend, put her fears to rest.

  But she couldn’t.

  Bree looked from Annie to Dan. “Is something wrong?”

  Dan watched her, his gaze steady. Annie could tell how careful he was being with what he said. “About Amberly’s angel—”

  “Oh.” Brianna clutched her hands together, two bright spots of red blooming on her pale cheeks. “She’s loves angels so much. And she’s always been such an imaginative child.”

  Mark stepped forward. “I’m sure Amberly conjured this angel up because she was afraid.”

  Annie wasn’t convinced. “But she said she wasn’t afraid.”

  Dan turned his focus back to the little girl. “Amberly, we need you to tell us if your angel was real, or if he was a pretend angel.”

  The little girl frowned. “Am I in trouble?”

  Bree put her arms around her daughter and hugged her. “Not at all, sweetheart. We just want to know because … because—”

  “Because if he’s real, we want to thank him for coming to take such good care of you.”

  Bree’s gratitude shone in her eyes as she turned to Annie.

  “Oh, he’d like that!” Amberly patted her mother’s arm where it was wrapped around her. “Honest, Mommy, Michael came to take care of me. He was real. I talked with him and held his hand, and he took me to a cabin to visit.” She looked at Dan. “He was a very nice angel.”

  The disquiet that had been lurking deep inside Annie burst into full-blown dread. So it was true. The little girl hadn’t been lost.

  She’d been taken.

  By someone posing as an angel.

  Annie saw the same horror color Bree’s features.

  “He told me he was the ark angel—” Amberly twisted to face her mother—“and he said it the same way I do, Mommy Ark angel.” She grinned, clearly delighted that she’d known something her mother hadn’t.

  Mark put a protective arm around his wife’s shoulders as Dan turned back to Amberly “So what did you and your angel do together?”

  Annie tensed.

  “For a while he brought me food and played games with me.”

  Dan’s pencil paused. “What kinds of games?”

  “Oh—” she kicked her feet back and forth over the edge of the table—“hide-’n’-seek an’ follow the leader, mostly. He showed me where to hide, then went away for a while. And when he came back, he’d find me. Then we walked and walked to a new hiding place.”

  The child’s simple, straightforward words sent chills across Annie’s skin.

  “What did your angel look like?” Dan slipped off the bench seat. “Was he tall, like I am?”

  Amberly shook her head. “He wasn’t that tall.”

  “What color was his hair?”

  The child’s smooth forehead wrink
led. “Shimmery.” She shrugged. “It was just his angel hair.”

  Dan eyed Annie, and she understood. Her experience with search and rescue had taught her how difficult it was to get any kind of details from adults, let alone children.

  Her brother nodded to Brianna and Mark. “Can I talk with you two a minute?”

  Fear tinged Bree’s features. “Can Annie come with us, Dan?”

  “Sure. We’ll just get someone to watch Amberly for a minute.”

  Annie turned to the child. “Hey, kiddo, I have some of my art pencils with me. If I brought them to you with some paper, could you draw a nice picture for your mommy?”

  The little girl clapped. “Oh, that would be fun!”

  Annie trotted back to her tent. Kodi lifted her drowsy head, then lowered it and went back to snoring as her mistress entered. Annie gathered up the art supplies and hurried back to the table, pausing near where Jed and Andy were sitting by the campfire. She called to them, and the two men came right over.

  Annie laid the colored pencils and paper out on the table, explaining what Amberly was going to do. “When she’s done, would you guys mind taking Amberly to see Kodi? She’s asleep in my tent, and I promised Amberly she could visit.”

  “Happy to do it.” Jed parked himself on one side of Amberly, and Andy settled in on the other. Annie smiled to herself.

  No one was getting near that little girl.

  She followed Dan and the others as they moved out of Amberly’s earshot.

  Dan studied Amberly’s parents a moment before he spoke. “I think it’s pretty clear that Amberly’s angel was someone real. Do you two know of anyone who would want to take your daughter, or why?”

  Mark, his arm forming a protective barrier around his wife, shook his head. “It’s not like we have much money or anything. I can’t imagine someone doing something like this.”

  “What bothers me—” the tremor in Bree’s voice showed how hard she was struggling to keep it together—“is that he knew about Michael. And that Amberly called him the ark angel. How could he have known that, unless—” Her hand went to her throat and she turned to her husband. “Oh, Mark! He must have been there. At our campsite. Watching us, listening when I told her stories.”