Kate sat on the couch with Elliot, comforted by the sound of her dad’s light snoring as he napped in his rocker. She took a sip of warm tea and heard the door handle turn. The front door flew open and Hawk stumbled in, followed by a swirling blast of cold air and dried leaves.
“Stupid wind.” Hawk leaned on the door with his back and closed it.
“Please tell me you don’t have bad news.” Kate put her hand over her heart.
“No, I came to get my down jacket and a stocking cap. It’s freezing out there.”
Hawk picked up the dried leaves and tossed them in the fire, then patted his grandfather on the head and sat on the piano bench that had hardly been used since Micah died.
“Did you go see Colleen Berne?” Kate set her cup and saucer on the side table.
“I did. Big waste of time,” Hawk said. “Deputies Duncan and Hobbs were there with her and I didn’t get past the front door. I did ask her why she went to see the sheriff and whether she knew something that would help us find Jesse.”
“And what did she say?”
“Just that she was sorry about Jesse and knew about the Amber Alert. But that she’d been instructed not to talk about the case. Duh. I should’ve known. How many times have we heard that?”
“Does she understand that her brother is suspected of taking Jesse?” Elliot said.
“I’m sure she does.” Hawk leaned forward, his hands clasped between his knees. “But Deputy Duncan never left us alone. She couldn’t say anything even if she’d wanted to.”
“Colleen was just doing what she was told to do,” Kate said. “We know how that works.”
Hawk’s eyes turned to slits. “Yeah, but I’d sure like to know what she said to the sheriff. Mama, I really think you should call Virgil. There’s more going on than he’s telling us.”
“Anything we need to know,” Kate said, “will be forthcoming through Roberta. I trust Virgil. I’m surprised you don’t.”
Hawk sighed. “It’s not that. I just don’t like being left out of the loop. I’m about to climb the walls. I feel responsible for what happened to Jesse.”
“Don’t,” Kate said. “He should’ve been perfectly safe at Evans’s. We all know that.”
Hawk rubbed the dark stubble that had almost become a mustache. “You should’ve seen Colleen’s face. She knows something.”
Kate squeezed Elliot’s hand. “Do you think I should talk to Virgil?”
“Sometimes it’s good to be proactive. Probably should run it by Roberta first.”
“Run what by me?” Deputy Roberta Freed stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room, her dark skin blending into the evening shadows.
Kate told Roberta about Hawk’s brief conversation with Colleen Berne and his concerns.
“I was just coming to tell you that Sheriff Granger called,” Roberta said. “He wanted me to let you know that after he and Chief Mitchell met with Colleen Berne at the command post, they’re convinced that Liam has Jesse or knows where he is.”
“Let me guess,” Hawk said sarcastically, “the sheriff didn’t say what it was that Colleen told him?”
“No, he didn’t.”
Hawk rolled his eyes. “Of course not. He acts like it’s none of our business. Only it is our business. We have a right to know.”
“Hawk, I can imagine how frustrating this is,” Roberta said, her voice calm and reassuring. “The sheriff is taking every measure we have available to find your brother.”
“I just wish you’d keep us informed,” Hawk said.
Roberta smiled. “I just did.”
Hawk held Roberta’s gaze, his jaw set. “But what I want to know is what Colleen told the sheriff. We know she heard the rumor at the middle school that Jesse was an eyewitness to her mother’s murder. She must’ve told Liam. The fact that Liam is suspected of taking Jesse makes me think one of two things: Either he didn’t buy Jesse’s retraction and decided to make him talk. Or he’s the one who killed his mother, and wants to shut Jesse up.”
“It’s dangerous to make assumptions.” Roberta folded her arms across her chest. “Believe me, I understand that you want answers. But I don’t have them.”
“Or aren’t authorized to tell us.”
“Hawk, that’s enough,” Kate said, trying to process the implications of Liam Berne having killed his own mother.
Roberta went over and sat on the piano bench next to Hawk. “Hey, we’re all on the same team here,” she said softly. “The sheriff will tell me what you need to know. I trust him. You should too.”
“Listen to Roberta,” Kate said. “Virgil has always been straight with us. Let him do his job.”
Hawk’s eyes were suddenly dark pools, his chin quivering. “Jesse’s been missing for ten hours. With that monster. We have to find …”
Elliot stood and held out his hand to Kate. “How about we get the rest of the family in here and pray again. The sheriff may not know where Jesse is, but God certainly does. We need to be strong and trust Him to help us.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, and while Hawk went to round up the others, Kate’s mind flashed back two years, to the command post where her family nervously waited for news about Abby, never dreaming that God planned not only to bring her home safely but also to bring Riley back after five long years.
The Lord had proven Himself faithful. Kate chose to believe He would do it again. But if He didn’t, if His will was to take Jesse from her the way He had taken Micah, could she handle it?
Jesse trembled, waiting for the gun to fire, hoping his death would be instant. Instead, he felt the tip of a boot prod him in the ribs.
“Get up!”
Jesse knew Liam’s voice. That wasn’t him.
“You deaf, boy? Up on your feet!”
Jesse’s eyes flew open. He scrambled to his feet, face to face with what appeared to be a tall, thin, bearded man holding two guns, one of which was likely the one Jesse had dropped.
“Who’re you?” the man demanded to know. “And what’re you doing in these woods?”
“My n-name is Jesse. Cummings.”
“Stop your stuttering and finish answering my question,” the man said. “Why’re you here?”
“I–I came back to help Mr. Berne.” Jesse’s head hurt so bad he wanted to cry. “His legs are pinned under a tree limb, and I—”
“Where’re the others?”
“There’s no one else. I’m by myself,” Jesse said, immediately regretting having admitted that to a man holding two guns on him.
“How come? I thought you were going to fetch the sheriff and those medical folk.”
How did he know that? “I–I was. But I changed my mind. I thought if it took too long, Mr. Berne might not make it. It’s really cold. So I came back to get a fire going.”
“No need to worry about ol’ Liam. He’s just fine.”
Liam? “You know Mr. Berne?” Jesse said.
“Let’s just say we’ve been getting acquainted. He’s a tad cranky. But we had us a little chat about attitude. He’s thinking on it. My name’s Slick. You two are staying the night at my shelter. It’s just over yonder.”
Jesse glanced at the two guns pointed at him. “Mister, you don’t need those. I’m not a threat.”
“Now that’s the right attitude, boy.” He handed Jesse a flashlight. “Turn around, why don’t you, and start walking. Keep your hands so I can see them, and that light so we can see where we’re going.”
Jesse did what he was told, wishing he could take one of the painkillers that had helped Hawk when he sprained his ankle. “Did Mr. Berne tell you why he’s here?”
“Yep.”
“So you know he drowned his mother?”
Slick laughed. “To hear him tell it, he did her a favor.”
“The sheriff doesn’t see it that way,” Jesse said. “I’m sure he’s looking for us. I heard the Search and Rescue helicopter fly over a couple times.”
“Cops are crawling all over Foggy Ridge too, going door to door, asking about the both of you. They came to my place and showed me photos. Asked if I’d ever seen you or Liam. I told them no, but I didn’t like the way they were eyeing me. So, soon as they left, I stuffed some essentials into my backpack and took off running in the woods. Thought I’d just camp out here till the ruckus dies down.”
“Why, are you in trouble with the law?” Jesse said.
“Let’s just say I’m pretty sure the cops that came to my door looking for you recognized me. I’m not going to jail, I promise you that. And you, young fella, are my insurance policy.” Slick gave him a shove. “Keep walking. It’s not far now.”
“Your insurance policy?” Jesse asked.
“Yep. If the cops find us, I’ll have leverage. I can offer you and Liam in exchange for them letting me walk. And seeing as how the whole town wants you home, and Liam’s already killed once—and will surely kill you if he isn’t locked up—they’re going to want you both back a whole lot more than they want to lock me up.”
“But they may not even come here,” Jesse said. “They can’t search everywhere.”
“Then I won’t be needing you.”
“So you’ll let us go, right?”
“You ask too many questions. Walk.” Slick shoved him again. “If the sheriff does show, you better hope he’s agreeable to doing things my way. Because I’m telling you straight out: I won’t hesitate to blow your head off—and Liam’s—if the law tries to pull a fast one with some smooth negotiator and fancy SWAT team. If they try and take me down, you’re going with me.”
“Don’t worry,” Jesse said. “The sheriff is a friend of my family. He’ll listen to me. I’ll make sure they don’t try anything.”
“I like your attitude, young fella. You might oughta convince your buddy Liam that it isn’t going to do him any good to fight me again. Keep moving. The shelter’s just up yonder.”
Jesse pushed himself, step after step, even though the back of his head throbbed, his legs were shaky, and he felt as if he could throw up. His face stung where he’d been scratched by low tree branches. He couldn’t imagine being any more hungry, thirsty, or cold. The only upside to his precarious predicament was that Slick’s shelter would be warmer than the outdoors. He crossed a small clearing, stars twinkling overhead, and approached the embers of a campfire just inside the tree line.
“That’s far enough,” Slick said.
Jesse stopped and looked around. “Where’s the shelter?”
“There, to the right of the fire.”
Jesse turned and moved the beam of light to the right. “All I see is a huge pile of tree limbs.”
“Yep, that’s the shelter. Mighty fine handiwork, if I do say so myself.”
Jesse felt as if his heart had sunk down to his toes. “How are we supposed to stay warm in that?”
“Look closer, knucklehead. The shelter’s open on this side so the fire can take the chill off. Stop complaining and get over there.”
Jesse walked past the slowly dying fire and held the flashlight so he could see whatever it was Slick had constructed.
“Go on, boy. Take a gander inside.”
Jesse sat on his heels and shone the beam of light into the shelter, startled to see a man sitting upright, his ankles and wrists bound with rope, his face bruised and bleeding. One of his eyes was black. The right leg of his jeans was torn and bloody. Jesse recognized the brown boots.
“Say hey to your ol’ buddy, Liam.” Slick laughed. “Don’t look so shocked. I told you me and him had a little talk about attitude. Since he isn’t hollering anymore, I guess he got my point.”
Liam looked at Jesse and shook his head slightly, as if he was trying to send a warning.
Slick grabbed Jesse by the collar. “I’ve got enough rope left to tie your wrists. Kneel here with your hands behind your head and don’t try anything stupid. If I have to talk to you about attitude, you’ll end up looking like your buddy there. There’s sure no need for it. Just mind your p’s and q’s. Now don’t move and keep your mouths shut, both of you.”
Jesse did what he was told and couldn’t stop staring at Liam. That must have been some beating. If Liam had kept the gun instead of giving it to Jesse, could he have protected himself? Jesse had a lot of questions but didn’t want to risk looking like Liam. He sized up the shelter, which resembled a small cave crafted of tree limbs and branches. It would take more than a smoldering campfire to stay warm in that.
Slick came up behind Jesse. “Put your arms behind you. Nice and slow.” Jesse lowered his arms, and Slick grabbed both his arms and pulled them behind him, tied his wrists, then gave him a shove. “Get in there. Sit or lay, doesn’t matter to me, long as you behave. Just because I ran out of rope doesn’t mean I haven’t got my eye on you, boy. You try to run and I’ll shoot your kneecaps. No need for you to suffer like that, so don’t be stupid.”
Jesse, his heart nearly pounding out of his chest, his wrists secured behind him, walked on his knees into the enclosure, then sat cross-legged next to Liam.
“All right then,” Slick said. “I need to feed that fire before it goes out. You two have a nice time, catching up. If either of you tries to get away, I’ll have to hurt you real bad.”