by Dana R. Lynn
Jennie had heard of women falling for men who were in prison before. She’d never put much credence to such stories before. Now she knew better. “I didn’t—”
Brenda gave her arm a fierce yank. Jennie cried out in pain. “I don’t want to hear your lies. If Morgan hadn’t screwed up, you’d be gone and I could start my life with Steve. Now I have to wait until you’re taken care of.”
Jennie tried to keep up. Morgan. Randi’s brother. The one who’d been stalking her on Steve’s orders.
“Morgan’s dead.”
Brenda laughed. It reminded Jennie of a coyote howling, hungry and without mercy. She shivered. When Brenda laughed again, Jennie knew her fear amused the other woman. “You didn’t think we could let him live, not after he almost destroyed everything we’d worked so hard for?”
“Steve killed him? His own friend?”
Now Brenda snorted. “Morgan Griggs was nothing to Steve. How could he be? Nothing but a low-life loser. I actually enjoyed pulling the trigger.”
“You!” Jennie tripped in her shock.
“Keep going,” Brenda snarled in her ear. “I’d love to shoot you right here, but Steve wants that pleasure for himself.”
Jennie’s hands and feet were becoming numb from the cold. Her heart felt like a frozen lump of rock sitting in the middle of her chest. She’d been so wrong about Brenda.
How blind had she been to never see the net Steve had put in place, closing in around her? Morgan. Brenda. Zane. All people she’d known but hadn’t really paid any attention to. Had there been any others?
If she ever got out of this mess, how would she go back to her life? The idea of raising a child in that world filled her with horror.
If Luke found her message and managed to rescue LJ and Theresa, at least she would know that her baby would grow up in a world that valued life and honored God.
Brenda led her down the path to a waiting car, engine running. She slipped handcuffs on Jennie’s wrists and forced her onto the back floorboard. Jennie scrunched into the small space, her back twisted funny.
Leaning her head against the back door, she closed her eyes. There was no way out for her. Not right now. She’d have to keep watch to seize her opportunity.
She could pray. With silent tears running down her cheeks, she begged God to protect her family. To spare LJ and Theresa, and to protect Luke as he came after them. Lastly, she pleaded that God would send someone to save them all.
Exhaustion overtook her. When she awoke, the car was stopped. Where were they?
She tried to see through the opposite window, but all she could see was sky.
The door she was leaning on opened. She was grabbed from behind and dragged roughly from the car. When she was on her feet, she was spun around to come face-to-face with the man who had haunted her dreams for years.
“Well, if it isn’t my darling stepdaughter,” Steve snarled, his breath hitting her face. She blinked and pulled back. He chuckled. She shivered. “I’ve been waiting a long time to meet up with you again.”
* * *
“LJ!” Luke shouted his son’s name as he tore into the barn. His son loved the animals. Maybe Theresa had taken him in to see the new puppies. He found the animals in the back with their mother, but there was no sign of his son. Or his little sister.
If he lost either of them...
He wouldn’t go there.
“Luke, did you find them?”
Raymond and Simon bolted into the barn.
“Nee, not yet. Help me search.”
Without a word, both brothers took off in different directions, one searching the fields, the other heading into the woods. Luke was grateful for the assistance. His daed met him in the yard. “Your mamm went to the neighbors’ haus to ask for help. What can I do?”
Luke clapped a hand on his daed’s shoulder and blinked the moisture from his eyes. “Help me search. And pray, Daed.”
“Always.”
The men fanned out and continued to call for LJ and Theresa. There was no response. A lead ball settled in Luke’s gut. If Theresa heard him, she’d respond if she could. He checked the shop, although he doubted his son would disobey and go in there. And he knew that his sister would never take him in there. She knew that their daed had dangerous tools and equipment there. It was no place for a child. LJ had been warned not to venture inside without an adult, and up to now, had never once tried to test the rule.
It was colder now than it had been when Luke had first run outside. The sky would be growing dark soon. Maybe Jennie had found them. He hoped and prayed it was so as he dashed to the side of the haus. Rounding the corner of porch, he halted, confused. Jennie’s kapp was near the base of the stairs. He picked it up and shoved it in his pocket.
Jennie, however, wasn’t there. Had she already headed inside? If she had found LJ, she would have come to let him know. Or she would have sent Theresa to him. He knew that she wouldn’t leave him searching in suspense. So where had she gone?
A chill fell over him as he looked at the slippery rocks near the top of the incline. Jennie loved this area. Maybe she’d gotten too close and fallen down. Dread bloomed in him as an image of his beautiful Jennie lying injured at the bottom of the rocks popped into his brain. No!
Running to the edge, he looked down, nearly falling to his knees when he looked clear to the bottom and saw neither Jennie nor LJ lying there. He frowned. But where had she gone? He started to turn away.
A flutter on the driveway caught his attention. A paper was stuck under a rock. The way it was positioned, he knew someone had left it there on purpose. When he moved closer, he saw Jennie’s name on it. As he bent, he saw the red smears. Blood.
His throat closed. Grabbing the note, he read it over, then read it again, horror freezing his veins. He knew exactly what had happened. Steve had kidnapped his son and his sister, and his brave Jennie had gone as a sacrifice to save them.
But she’d left the note for him, so clearly she expected him to come to her rescue. Jennie wasn’t one to run toward danger if she had any choice.
Clenching the paper in his hands, he bellowed for his brothers and his daed. His daed arrived first, dragging in huge gasping breaths. He must have run all the way. The thunder of approaching footsteps alerted him to his brothers rounding the corner.
“Jennie’s stepfather has them both, and now he has Jennie, too.”
Raymond took the letter from him and read it out loud for everyone’s benefit. Hearing the words again sent daggers of fear and agony shooting through Luke’s heart. His spirit cried out to Gott, begging Him to have mercy on them and protect his family.
“We have to contact the police,” Simon stated. “It’s the only way we can do this.”
Luke knew his brother was right. He chafed against the time that would be wasted waiting for the police to arrive. But there was nothing he could do against those who didn’t blink at the thought of killing others.
He ran to the phone in the workshop and dialed 911. The operator assured him that a police vehicle was en route and would arrive within the next ten minutes.
Ten minutes. It seemed an eternity to wait while his family was in mortal danger.
He snatched up the leash for Buster.
“What are you doing?” Raymond latched onto his arm. Luke shook him off.
“Ach, you know what I’m doing. I’m going after my wife and child. The police won’t let me come, but I can’t stay back. Buster will be able to find LJ. Give them the note.”
Without waiting for a response, he ran to the haus and grabbed the shirt LJ had worn the day before. Racing from the haus, he burst into the garage and attached the leash to the dog.
“Come on, girl. Let’s go get LJ.”
The dog woofed as if she understood what he was saying, though it was probably wishful thinking. Luke let her sniff the shirt. Wi
th a growl, the pup started sniffing the ground. When she moved, she pulled Luke toward the forgotten bike path across the road.
Luke followed the pup down the path. His other hand was clenched tightly around Jennie’s kapp. It was his one link to her now. Please, Gott, lead me to her.
It was going to be dark soon. He arrived at the end of the trail. There was no sign of Jennie, LJ or Theresa. Buster whined. He patted her head.
Discouraged, he went home. The police had arrived. It was a strange sight to see their vehicles in his drive, lights flashing. The neighbors across the road were huddled on their porch, whispering together.
He barely registered them, his mind mired in his grief and anxiety.
Thankfully, the troopers didn’t lecture him about going after Jennie.
“We’ve put out a BOLO,” the trooper in charge informed him. When Luke stared at him, he explained, “That means Be On the Lookout. We’ve released pictures of Jennie and LJ from Jennie’s Facebook page, as well as a picture of Steve Curtis. The hope is someone will see them and call in.”
Luke swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump in his throat. “What do we do while we’re waiting?” He didn’t dare ask what happened if no one called in. The idea that he might lose three people so dear to him at once was overwhelming.
“Easy, son.” The trooper placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know you’re anxious. We’re going to do everything possible to find your loved ones. Right now, we’re going to organize a search of the area. Gather all your neighbors. There’s a chance that the kidnappers are still in the area.”
“What if we see something?”
“Don’t, I repeat, do not under any circumstance approach. Steve Curtis is dangerous. It will help no one if one of you get yourselves killed.”
The trooper gave him a pointed glance. Apparently, he had decided that if anyone would act rashly, it would be Luke. Luke refrained from voicing the retort that hovered on his tongue. Sparring with the police wouldn’t help them find his family.
For the next hour, the neighbors searched the area. Unusual tracks had been spotted past the bike trail. Someone had driven a car back there. Luke knew in his heart it had been Jennie’s kidnapper.
A call came in on the police radio. Someone had spotted a man who fit Steve Curtis’s description. Luke held his breath as the police gathered around.
“There’s a possible sighting of the suspect at the abandoned Schwartz barn, three miles outside of town.”
“That’s hard to reach,” one of the troopers called out. “The bridge is out.”
“There’s a back way,” Luke burst out, interrupting the conversation. “The Amish use the road all the time. We can show you the way.”
The chief scowled, his brow furrowed in thought. Luke hoped he wouldn’t tell him to stand back now, not after letting him and the neighbors join in the search. When the trooper’s gaze landed on him, Luke suspected that the man already knew Luke wouldn’t stay home. He was going to search for his family, whether the police wanted him to or not.
“Fine,” the man bit out. “Let’s hurry, though.”
Luke ran to the cruiser and got in before the trooper could change his mind. Soon they were on their way. Luke wanted to tell the trooper to speed up, but bit his tongue. If the situation hadn’t been so serious, he might have enjoyed the irony that he was the one who wanted the Englisch man to go faster.
As it was, he was struggling to hold on to his hope with all the strength of his soul. He prayed for all he was worth that Jennie, LJ and Theresa were alive and would be safe.
Hold on, Jennie. I’m coming to get you.
SIXTEEN
Luke clenched his fists as the cruiser bounced along the back road. It was littered with potholes, and Luke guessed that the car managed to hit every single one.
He was glad he was wearing his hat. It gave him a little extra padding whenever his head hit the roof as they bounced along. Not much, but some. The detour around the bridge added ten minutes to their trip. When his teeth began hurting, Luke realized that he was grinding his molars together in his frustration.
He should pray. He knew it, but his mind was a mass of confusion. His usual clarity and focus had disappeared with Jennie, LJ and Theresa.
Gott, help them.
Mentally, he prayed the words over and over, a litany to God straight from his aching heart. He had to trust that God would hear and answer his prayers.
“We’re nearing the road,” Luke pointed out. “That one on the right will take you around the back of the Schwartz property. There’s a smaller bridge. Only one vehicle can cross it at a time.”
“Got it.” The trooper glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. “I’m not going to turn on lights or sirens. If I go in hot, it will announce our presence and we’ll lose any advantage we might have.”
“Jah, I understand.”
When they arrived at the bridge, Luke had to bite his tongue to keep from exclaiming while a truck with a long trailer crossed over. The trailer was wobbly, and Luke feared it would jackknife, blocking their only route to Jennie and LJ for hours, or at least until they managed to clear it.
Finally, the truck and trailer cleared the bridge. Luke let out his breath. The cruiser wound around the back of the property.
“We’re going to park it here,” the trooper announced. “From here we go on foot.”
Luke followed him toward the barn. Raymond and Simon joined them, startling Luke. He hadn’t realized that his family had been following them, though it shouldn’t have surprised him. He’d been so focused on Jennie and LJ, he hadn’t stopped to consider what everyone else would be doing.
It seemed like everyone was moving in slow motion. He wanted to burst through the door of the barn. He couldn’t, he knew. One rash move could get Jennie, LJ or Theresa killed. It was difficult, but he had to trust that Gott would work through the troopers who were now spanning out around the building.
He’d never seen anyone move so silently. Nor had he seen such a coordinated effort. One motion from the chief, and the troopers efficiently moved to do his bidding. Luke didn’t approve of guns, but he was impressed with the precision of the operation.
The chief waved, and a small group entered the barn from the back. Luke moved in closer to the window, close enough to see what was happening. His heart nearly stopped when he saw his sister sitting against the wall, a large bruise on her forehead. Otherwise she appeared to be safe. In her arms she held his son. LJ was clinging tightly to his aunt. She probably couldn’t have set him down if she wanted to.
Jennie stood in the center of the floor. Steve Curtis circled around her, his venomous smile telling Luke that he had no intention of letting her walk out of that barn alive.
What Luke hadn’t expected was to see the teller from the bank, leaning against the wall.
The window was broken. They could hear the voices from inside the barn. Luke stood as still as he could to avoid drawing their attention. When the chief started to edge away from the window, Luke took the cue and followed. He’d do whatever he was told if it meant keeping his family alive.
* * *
Jennie’s skin crawled as Steve continued to march a path around her. What was he waiting for? Would he let her son go free, like he promised?
“Your note said you’d free the others if I came.”
Steve laughed. It was a sound totally devoid of either humor or humanity. “I lied. Why would I set them free when having them here hurts you? Don’t you know I’ve dreamed of this moment for years? When I figured out where you were, it wasn’t hard to find spies to keep an eye on you. That’s how I learned that your husband hadn’t really died. Once I knew that, it wasn’t hard to figure out where his family lived.”
Jennie had been so blind. She’d thought that Pete had been watching her. It never occurred to her that it might have been Brenda or
the tenant in the downstairs apartment. Now Zane was on his way to prison and Morgan was dead. If help didn’t arrive, Brenda and Steve might make it out of here.
“Come on, Steve. I brought her to you. Can you just finish this so we can leave?” Brenda cast a glare around her. “This place gives me the creeps. All these spiderwebs. And the smell! I shudder to think what that could be.”
Steve ignored her and continued to try to bait Jennie.
Jennie shivered when Brenda looked at her. Those eyes were stone-cold. The eyes of a killer. How had she not seen it?
Brenda stalked in closer. She stopped a few feet away from them, arms crossed over her chest. “I want to go, Steve. I don’t like it here.” She flicked a glare at Jennie.
Steve sneered. “Then go, already. I’m not ready to leave yet. I’ve waited years for this moment, and I intend to enjoy it.”
Shock was followed by anger on Brenda’s face. “What do you mean, I can leave? We’re a team on this. We’re getting married.”
Jennie stared when Steve let out what could only be called a snicker. “Not likely.”
Brenda went pale. Fury washed all the beauty from her face. “Not likely? Want to explain that, Steve dear?”
Was the man an idiot? Couldn’t he hear the deadly intent in her voice?
When he switched his attention to Brenda, Jennie moved back, away from them. She couldn’t leave, not with her son and Theresa in harm’s way. But she knew the look of a woman about ready to explode. She also saw the flash of steel in Brenda’s waistband. There was not a doubt in her mind that the woman was capable of using it.
“I have no intention of marrying you,” Steve was saying, “now or ever. Go ahead and leave. I don’t care. You’ve served your purpose and brought Jennie to me. I have no more need of you.”
“Steve! I love you!”
Steve snarled at her. “Well, I don’t love you. Do you understand? You were a tool to get me what I wanted, but I don’t need you anymore. I definitely have no plans to saddle myself with your whining. It’s driving me crazy.”