“What’ll we do?” Leah quietly asked Jon. She was still holding her mother and trying to comfort Rosita. But it did not look good.
“We can’t drive any farther—not without being spotted. For all I know the guys on the beach have already seen us.” Jon had already turned the car toward the bluff, driving between pieces of driftwood in an attempt to conceal the vehicle.
“Maybe we should turn back,” Leah said.
“I’d considered going toward the jetty earlier.” Jon sounded discouraged and weary. “But I was worried about getting us out on foot over that rough terrain. This seemed the best option. Maybe it was a mistake.”
“I’m sure the cops are down by the jetty, too,” Leah told him.
“I need to get this car out of sight.” The tires were having difficulty in the soft sand as he attempted to maneuver it closer to the bluff. “If that’s even possible.”
“And then what?” Leah asked.
“Maybe we could send your mom and the girls out on foot,” he suggested. “They could walk down the beach, approaching the cops with their hands in the air. And once they got close enough, one of them—probably Hallie—could explain what’s really going on.”
“No way!” Hallie protested. “I don’t trust the cops. There’s no way I’ll give myself up to them.”
“No way,” Rosita echoed. “Cops are bad. They’ll hurt us.”
“Not all cops are bad,” Jon tried.
“No!” Hallie declared hotly. “I won’t do it. You promised to get us to safety.”
Leah suddenly realized something. Leaning over the seat, she spoke quietly to Jon. “These girls and my mom are eyewitnesses to the crimes that Krantz has pulled off. If even one of those cops is in cahoots with Krantz, these girls’ lives are in as much danger as ours.”
“You’re right.” Jon turned off the engine. “I hadn’t really considered that. The last thing Krantz wants is for us to get out of this alive.”
“Any of us,” she said quietly as they all got out of the car.
Jon removed the rifle and the revolver, handing the smaller gun to Leah. “Just in case,” he said. “The safety is on. But be careful with it just the same.”
Leah wasn’t sure she wanted to carry the firearm, but understood his thinking as she zipped it into the pocket that didn’t contain the phone.
“Maybe we can find shelter in one of the cabins.” Jon frowned up at the bluff. “Not my parents’ place, since they might’ve figured that out by now.”
Leah wondered how Ralph was doing, but knew that there was nothing she could do. He was probably better off than the rest of them. “Come on, Mom.” She took her mom’s hand, encouraging her to walk. “We’re going to have a little stroll on the beach now.”
“Where am I?” Her mom didn’t budge as she looked all around in confusion.
“On the beach, Mom. Can you hear the ocean?”
Her mom frowned as if listening, then nodded. “Where are we going?”
“Someplace nice.” Leah tried to sound cheerful as she chattered at her mom, getting her to slowly move her feet through the loose dry sand. Praying that those cop cars on the beach weren’t using any special night vision or sound equipment right now.
Suddenly she noticed that Jon had lagged considerably behind them. He was having a hard time with his bad leg, even trying to use the rifle as a cane, which seemed a little dangerous. Leah quietly called Rosita back to her. “Can you please walk with Ellen so that Hallie and I can help Jon?”
“Okay.” Rosita took the older woman’s hand. “Come on, Ellen, let’s go.”
“Don’t get too far ahead,” Leah warned. “If you see or hear anything suspicious, run back to us fast.” Leah considered their two firearms, wondering if they’d actually need to use them again. She hoped not. It was one thing going after Krantz, a known criminal, but the last thing she wanted was to risk shooting a cop who wasn’t aligned with Krantz. That was downright disturbing.
Leah rejoined Jon. “I’ll carry the rifle,” she said as she wrapped her other arm around his waist. Hallie was already on the other side, and together they helped him limp up the beach.
“It’s not too far from here,” Jon huffed. “I just thought of a good cabin for us.”
“And once everyone’s settled, I can climb that rock again,” Leah suggested. “The one where you sometimes get phone connectivity. Only this time, I won’t try to call. I’ll just send my text to everyone and anyone—state police, FBI, even the local precinct. I’ll even send it to some friends and my great-aunt. I’ll get it ready in the house, then sneak out and—”
“The area will be crawling with cops,” he reminded her.
“I’ll be careful. And I’ll have it all ready to send so I won’t have to talk.”
“It’s a good idea. But the cabin we’re going to borrow is pretty swanky, Leah. It might even have a landline.”
“A landline!” Leah felt her hopes rising.
“There’s a rickety stairway along here somewhere,” he explained. “It’s been roped off because it needs to be replaced, but it leads up to the Malcolms’ cabin. I don’t know why I didn’t think of the Malcolm place before.” He exhaled loudly. “Except I wasn’t much into breaking and entering before.”
“Funny what one does to keep from getting killed these days,” Leah said drily.
“The Malcolms are my parents’ friends,” he huffed. “They’ll understand.”
“Even if there’s no landline, we can hole up there while I send a text.” Leah tried to sound optimistic.
“Will they have food there?” Hallie asked hopefully.
“Probably,” Jon told her. “And under the circumstances, I’m sure they’ll be happy to share.”
“Can you even make it up stairs with your leg?” Leah quietly asked him. From what she could tell, Jon could barely walk now.
“I’ll have to.”
“We’ll help you,” Hallie assured him.
“We must be close now.” Jon paused to catch his breath, looking up the dark bluff, then over to the beach where the cop cars were still parked—and not that far away. Leah followed his gaze, noticing how they were now using searchlights to sweep back and forth across the sand. Was it possible the cops knew they were nearby? What if Krantz’s car had some kind of tracking device?
“That’s it,” Jon said quietly, pointing to what looked like a faded sign hanging on a piece of rope that cordoned off a dilapidated set of beach access stairs.
“Danger. Do Not Enter.” Rosita read the words.
“Sounds like the past twenty-four hours,” Leah said as she stepped over the rope. “I’ll test the stairs first. Just to be sure we really want to attempt this.”
“Be careful,” Jon warned.
“Do you still have your flashlight?” Leah asked as she handed him back the rifle.
“Yeah.” He fished it out. “Keep the beam low. In case the cops look this way.”
“I want to use it to check the stairs,” she explained. “Might want to see what we’re walking on.”
“Good idea.”
With the others huddled down below, Leah stepped onto the first step. Hearing it creak beneath her weight, she used the flashlight to examine the condition. Of course, the stairs were bad. Not to mention slick and rickety, but after going about halfway up, she decided they might hold. She prayed they would.
When she got back down, she suggested that Rosita, being the lightest one, go up first. “Walk very carefully and use the railing,” Leah warned the girl. “Remember the steps are slick.” She placed a hand on Rosita’s shoulder. “Walk very gently and then wait for us on top.”
Rosita nodded. “Okay.”
“And I’ll send Ellen after you. When she gets to the top, can you help her not to be too scared? Maybe hold her hand?”
“I’ll do that.” Rosita reached for the handrail, then slowly started up the stairs.
Leah turned to her mom now. “You’ll follow Rosita,” she said calmly. “Just take your time. And let’s play a little game.”
“A game?”
“Yes. You must walk as quietly as a mouse.”
Her mom looked slightly confused, but nodded. “A mouse?”
“Almost your turn now.” Leah led her mom to the stairs and when she felt sure that Rosita was at the top, she guided her mom’s hand to the railing. “Use the handrail. And careful mouse footsteps. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“You’ll be home soon,” Leah reassured Ellen as she gingerly set foot onto the first step. Leah prayed for her safety as she watched her disappearing into the darkness of the bluff up above. Listening to hear if there was any problem, she kept one hand on the railing, feeling the vibrations of each step. And finally, satisfied that her mom was at the top, Leah turned to Hallie. “You go next. Walk gently.”
“What about Jon?” Hallie asked. “Do you need me to help you with—”
“No,” Jon firmly said. “I’ll be fine. You just keep Rosita and Ellen quiet when you get up there, Hallie. And wait for Leah to join you before going into the house.”
After Hallie was partway up, Leah turned to Jon. “I’ll help you—”
“No. You’ve been doing this just right, Leah. I doubt the stairs are strong enough for both of us. Your turn.”
“But you need—”
“Go, Leah,” he commanded. “I’ll use the railing like a cane. I can do this. Just go—now!”
Leah started to argue, but could tell by his expression it was pointless. “Be careful,” she warned.
“If anything happens to me, just keep going with the plan you made,” he said.
“No. I’ll come back to—”
“I mean it, Leah. Promise me you’ll get the others into the Malcolm house. Try to be quiet when you break in. As soon as you get the others safely inside—look for a landline.”
“Okay.” Certain Hallie was on top now, Leah started her second trek up the slick rickety stairs. With the rifle in one hand, she used the other hand to hold on to the railing and tried to be as light-footed as possible. Even so, it seemed that the whole structure was swaying beneath her weight—even more than she recalled from her first attempt. She felt amazed that the others had made it safely to the top and wondered what she would do if the whole thing gave way. And even if it held for her, what about Jon? He was the heaviest one of the bunch, not to mention unstable on his feet. God help us, she prayed.
Her mind continued racing with each careful step. Even if they did make it up—and if they did break into the Malcolm cabin without being seen or heard—unless there was a landline there, what good would it do them? And if it was such a nice cabin, wouldn’t it have a security system like Jon’s parents’ cabin? She hadn’t voiced these doubts to Jon. It seemed pointless. But if a security alarm went off, it wouldn’t take long for the cops to figure out that they were holed up inside. And what then? Exchanging gunfire? She didn’t think so.
As her feet hit the solid ground at the top of the bluff Leah felt surprised and relieved that the stairway was still intact. Everything in her wanted to stay here to help Jon, even if only to encourage him from a distance. But she remembered her promise. She needed to get her mom and the girls into the house.
“Come on,” she told the three of them as she led the way down a trail of pave stones. “It looks like this will get us there.” Soon they were clustered in a small courtyard, a bit bigger than the one at Jon’s parents’ cabin. Leah cautiously looked around, hoping there were no nosy cops sniffing around. Feeling they were not being watched, she tried to decide how to get in the tall darkened house looming before them.
As she went closer, she could see that the back door was half glass window. Praying there was no alarm system in place, she removed the velour warm-up jacket and emptied the pockets, wrapping the soft fabric around the sturdy stock of the rifle. Then, holding it up like she’d seen in movies, she gouged the padded gun stock through the window part of the door. Her hopes that the fabric might muffle the noise were dashed as the sound of a dull thud and the tinkle of breaking glass cut into the otherwise quiet evening.
Praying that no one was close enough to hear, she reached through the broken window to unlock the door. Holding her breath, she listened for the shrill cries of an alarm. What would they do if it sounded? Run? Hide? Where?
To her relief, all she could hear was the sound of the surf behind her as she opened the door. Still, she knew some systems were silent. Right now, the cops could be getting a phone call from the security company—preparing to apprehend them.
“Go inside,” she quietly commanded the girls and her mom. Waiting as they passed through the door, she couldn’t stop thinking about Jon. As difficult as walking had been for him, it would be next to impossible for him to climb those stairs. She needed to help him.
And yet, remembering her promise, she knew she had to at least get the others to a safe spot—and attempt to locate a landline. That was her best hope. “Don’t turn on any lights,” she warned them. “The cops are probably nearby and lights would get their attention.” She made her way through what appeared to be, based on the limited light from outside, the kitchen. She tried a nearby door and discovered a pitch-black room that seemed to contain laundry facilities. Suspecting by the darkness that there were no windows, she turned the flashlight on, pointing it downward. No windows.
“Come in here,” she told the others. “It’s not a big space, but I’ll leave you the flashlight and since there aren’t windows, you can leave it on. Just be quiet, okay?”
Once they were huddled in the room, Leah gave Rosita charge of the flashlight, and not wanting to lug the rifle around, she slipped it behind the washing machine. “Turn it off if you hear anyone else in the house, okay? They might see the beam beneath the door.”
Hallie nodded with a serious expression.
“I’m going to look for a phone,” she said. “I’ll be back soon. With food and water, too.”
Still worried about Jon and thinking he should be here by now, although she knew his leg would slow him down considerably, she began the search for a phone. The kitchen seemed the best place to start and, sure enough, she found one with a cord that was attached to the wall. But when she held it to her ear—nothing. She tried pushing buttons, but still nothing. It was dead. Probably disconnected.
Feeling seriously worried about Jon, she went to the back door, ready to run to his aid. As she ventured outside, she listened intently to the reassuring sound of the ocean waves. She was just heading down the path to the bluff when a dull cracking noise sent a shiver of fear through her. It was followed by the sounds of creaking, breaking, crumbling and crashing. She knew that the bulky wooden structure had tumbled onto the rocks below. The stairway had failed. And Jon was on it!