“Toby, where is she?”
“Don’t know. We saw her. Shot at her. She jumped into the lake and started to cross it. I’m heading around to the cabins on the other side. The other guy is hiking the path in case they got out before they reached the other side.” It was the norm, that the men didn’t know each other’s names. One, because people came and people disappeared fast, so they probably wouldn’t see each other again and two, if they were ever busted by the cops, they couldn’t share what they didn’t have.
“They?”
“She. In case she got out. I’ll let you know what I find. We’ll get her if we haven’t already.”
“I need her body. So if she’s dead you find her. Dredge that damn lake if you have to. I want her here, in one form or another, within the hour.” Jaico tossed the phone onto his seat before punching the side of his old, rusted Ford. The vehicle that he used for this job. There was no way he was going to use his nice red convertible on the crappy roads he was expected to drive. Besides people knew the car. And since he really didn’t own it, his boss would be pissed if anything happened to it.
Where the hell did that bitch go? He had to get this solved and fast. Not only was his life on the line but so was the lifestyle that had taken several years to set up. He was quite happy with all the side benefits of his job. There was no way he was going to lose all that because some damn broad was too nosy. He was going to get out of town but he had to first know he’d be free and clear.
The small door opened, several men walked out and climbed into a waiting van. They’d been working probably around sixteen to eighteen hours and were now being taken to their home, in the little hamlet that was really a guarded compound now. They’d be fed and allowed to sleep for four or five hours, then brought back to work another long shift. Jaico wasn’t really supposed to know that information but he always kept his ears open. He had no plans to go down, he’d sell his mother out, to keep his own butt out of jail.
The fact that he was leaving his fate in other people’s hands, hit him like a punch to the face. Not unlike the one Ozz had recently given him. He waited until the van disappeared from sight, before hopping in his vehicle and driving down the road, slipping and sliding through the mud. This had to end soon. Perspiration dotted his face and ran in a lonely streak down his cheek. He swiped at it.
This was his last night. The men that Ozz so casually killed, when they didn’t fall in line with what he wanted, came to mind. One way or another, he was done. He’d rather choose, how he was done, though.
~~~~
Life is precious, Sam. Life is precious.
Her father’s words were like an electrical shock to her heart. Her foot hit something, she kicked out. It was enough to propel her upward. She pushed her hands downwards, frantically fluttering them like a bird’s wings on takeoff. Gasping for breath, she finally burst free of the surface of the water.
“DD. DD.”
“Sssshhh. Aunt Sam. Ssshhhh.”
She spun around and swam to where she could see the outline of DD, who was standing on a sandbar about ten feet to her right. She stood up and gave her a quick hug. They were both shivering. Now that they had some solid footing, the going was fairly easy. The water only came to their knees. Sam led her across, holding her hand and ensuring DD held her belt loop as well. They finally reached the far shore and climbed up onto Mrs. MacNeil’s lawn.
There was very little light but she was able to lead DD up the stairs to the deck. After sitting her in Mrs. MacNeil’s rocker, she ran back down and retrieved the spare key from underneath. Once inside, she shoved aside the mess that still hadn’t been cleaned up, making a path to the couch. Since no one had been there, she was sure they wouldn’t be anytime soon. The family were probably all waiting for Cathy to get back from her holiday to look after it. Her friend had a hell of a situation to come back to.
Wrapping DD in a blanket, she rubbed her vigorously. Mrs. MacNeil’s old dresses were still hanging in the closet, she stripped her niece, dressing her in dry clothes. She found a box of cookies in the cupboard that she pulled out for them to munch on. A couple of glasses of water and she felt like she’d just had a feast.
“I need you to stay here. And stay quiet. Okay?”
DD nodded her head which was already starting to drop onto her chest. Sam got her to lay down before she covered her niece with as many blankets as she could find. The innocence on her face almost brought Sam to tears. If anything happened to her, the thought shook Sam to her core. Her breathing hitched reminding her how precious DD was to her.
Shaking her head, Sam realized she had to call her brother. He could come and get his daughter. Happy with that idea, she zoomed out of the cabin and was half way to the lake before she realized she didn’t have her cell phone. Back inside, she quickly fished through DD’s pockets and found hers. It was soaking wet. Sam wasn’t even going to take the chance of turning it on, in case she burned it out. She had to get back to her cabin. That thought left as soon as it came. The car and her cell phone were there but so were two guys trying to shoot them. Keegan said he’d left his cell at his place, it was her only chance.
Closing the door, she put the padlock back in place. Feeling like the worst aunt ever, the worst person ever, she headed out. It was her only chance of saving them. She prayed DD would just sleep and stay oblivious to all that was going on.
The path was pitch black. She had to slide her foot forward, testing the area in front of her before slowly moving forward. “Mom, if there was ever a time that I need you to know I’m in trouble, it’s now. Meredith? Same goes for you.” Sighing heavily, mainly because she knew her plea was useless but she was willing to try anything. She was desperate. The going was slow. With her arms stretched out in front of her she slowly and carefully took each step. It seemed almost hopeless but when she reached the first curve she was beginning to feel a bit optimistic. She’d outwitted the bad guys so far. No sooner had she had that thought then an intense pain reverberated from her jaw up through her skull, before everything went black.