Chapter Thirty-One

Heading toward the area the van was last seen, they were all well-aware that time was of the greatest essence, especially considering Addison’s state of mind. Cooper felt Jess’s intent gaze on him and they shared a grim gaze. Both were thinking the same thing: The longer it took, the slimmer the chances of finding her alive. At least they had this one lead. That was something.

Late afternoon sun streamed warm through the windshield. Outside it was turning colder. Their warm spell was over. Typical Missouri weather. Wherever she was, Jess just hoped it was some place warm.

Pondering the thought processes of the vengeance-filled man, those horrifying images flickered through his head like a slideshow while Cora’s confiding words played round and round like a record. Clinching his fists, he wished with all his might they were around Addison’s neck. Just then his phone broke the silence. “Yeah!” He barked. “Oh, Cora, I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

Listening to the one-sided conversation, Cooper kept glancing between Jess and the blacktop road ahead. Had she found something? Looking in the rear-view mirror, he met Belle’s troubled gaze. Knowing she was extremely aware of just how much damage raging fists could inflict and seeing those pictures of Raine had upset her, he gave her a reassuring smile.

“Damn it!” Jess exclaimed. “How’d I miss it? You did good Cora. Now we definitely know Addison has her and we also have proof he had help.” Disconnecting, Jess related what she’d found. “She’s got Addison on a tape from this morning. He’s coming and going from the woods across the road from the cabins, probably parked on the old logging road. It shows him entering the cabin then leaving a while later carrying something over his shoulder.” They knew who Addison had been carrying. A momentary silence filled the vehicle as each prayed they’d find her in time. “Cora spotted the helpers, too. One vandalized her SUV while the other actually broke into the cabin.” Danger had walked right through their front door, and they hadn’t even known it. Talk about scary!

For hours and hours and miles and miles they drove the back roads littering the countryside while the police radio crackled with communication, but nothing pertained to Raine. They stopped at every open business showing Addison’s picture, but no one recognized him. It went unspoken that he could be holding her in any vacant building off the beaten path.

It was going on five in the morning when Cooper suggested returning to the house to regroup. “Shifts are changing soon, and I want everyone up to speed.” After that we’ll head back out.” Jess didn’t want to stop but Cooper, being the professional, he trusted him.

While the others were out combing the countryside Cora had fallen back on the one thing that would keep her sane—cooking. After finding Addison and his accomplices on the tapes she’d needed more to do. With Jess’s place the command post, until Raine was found, there’d be round-the-clock officers and volunteers needing food and plenty of coffee to keep them going. So, she started cooking and feeding. When the neighbors saw all the police activity, they came to find out what was going on. Apprised of the situation, they pitched in with food and drink and coordinated cell numbers then set off in groups to join the search.

When the three walked through the door their faces grim and wearing exhaustion like a second skin, she got busy filling mugs with steaming hot coffee. Three pairs of tired but inquisitive eyes watched her lace each mug with generous amounts of brandy. “Don’t argue. Drink it!”

Without a word they obeyed. Jess felt the heat all the way to his belly. Draining it, he refilled his mug, minus the brandy. Needing a few minutes alone, he slipped away to their bedroom. The lingering scent of Raine’s flowery perfume wafted around him. Wearily, he eased into the old rocking chair, the ratty one she’d fallen in love with on their honeymoon and spent hours bringing it back to gleaming life. Stroking the newly varnished wood as though stroking her hand, he bleakly wondered if she’d ever rock in it again. Would she get to lull their babies to sleep in it? An ache so painfully deep made him groan. Scrubbing his hands over his whisker-roughened face, he shoved the dark thoughts away. Time was wasting. He had to get back out searching, but thought a quick shower would help rid the desolate exhaustion.

Fifteen minutes later he strode into the kitchen. Showered, shaved, and dressed in fresh jeans and the sweatshirt he’d picked up on their honeymoon. He was braced for whatever the day brought. Refilling his mug from the coffee urn, he nodded at Cooper and Belle. “Go shower. It’ll perk you up.”

“And I’ll have breakfast ready by the time you get back.” Cora said. And it was. “Get to eating.” She ordered, nodding at the table laden with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fried potatoes, and biscuits. “You need all the strength you can get. You’ve gone without sleep all night. But your body needs its fuel. Now eat!” She repeated the order.

Cooper, the first to finish, still needed more caffeine and refilled his mug. “I’ll check in with the office again. Maybe something new has turned up in in the last little while.” When Cooper shook his head, a sense of hopelessness filled Jess then he quickly shook it off. He wasn’t giving up.

As the first steaks of dawn appeared he called Gordon. He’d insisted on being kept in the loop no matter what the time, day or night, news or no news. As though the phone was glued to his ear, Gordon demanded immediately. “Tell me you’ve found her.”

“I wish. We’ve been all over the area they were last seen. It’s like they’ve vanished into thin air. No one’s seen Addison or the van.”

Gordon heard the underlying fear. “Don’t give up hope, Jess. Someone’s seen something. They just don’t realize it yet.” Then he told Jess of the numerous visits Addison had from what turned out to be a private investigator.

“That’s one of his spies.” Jess concluded.

“You win the jackpot. There’s a sign-in record of him being there right after you and Raine got married.” And no doubt he’d delivered Addison right to their doorstep.

Disconnecting, Jess filled them in on what he’d learned. Cooper studied him over the rim of his mug. The man was barely keeping it together. “We have the manpower, and if it takes searching every nook, cranny, and haystack until we find her, that’s what we’ll do. We may not have much, but the search is ongoing.”

“I’m trying to stay positive, but Addison’s completely lost it. It’s as though they’ve disappeared off the face of the earth.” Jess slipped on his coat. “I’ve got to take care of the horses. When I’m finished let’s head back out to the roads off I-67 again. I just can’t help feeling he’s still in that area.”

Driving up to the stables, he passed the cabin. Yellow crime scene tape cordoned it off. “Andrews, you are a dead man.” He vowed with murderous venom.

Approaching the coral, as though knowing something was wrong, the two horses made their way somberly to him. Stroking their velvety noses, he spoke softly. “Don’t you worry. I promise I’ll bring her back home.” A feeling that had nothing to do with desire but deep abiding love for Raine welled inside him as thoughts of the last time they’d been in the stable together swirled through his mind. She’d come wearing that long coat with not a stitch on underneath, a tender smile touched his mouth. She’d given him one hell of a surprise that day. Quickly his smile faded as he worried that he’d never see her alive again. Hot tears burned his tired eyes. Damn it, he vowed angrily, he would find her! And nothing or no one was going to stop him!