He squealed his tires as he cranked the steering wheel to the right then made another immediate right onto the next street. Terry tucked his car against the curb behind a large truck, hiding himself well. He watched between the houses on his block and saw a car peel down the street. Seconds later, it passed by on the main road, going at a fast clip.
“So that’s what you’re driving.” He wrote down the make, model, and color of the Chevy in the notepad that sat in the cupholder. “I’m sure you own something nicer than that, Jesse. I bet that’s an impound lot car.” He tapped the notepad with the pen as he thought.
Wonder where the big guy is. He isn’t with Jesse, so either they went to the house together and he stayed behind for some reason, or he drove separately and stashed the car somewhere else. No worries. I’ve got an ace up my sleeve, and little do either of them know that this is the second time I’ve left the house today.
Terry tapped the remote camera app he’d put on his phone and watched the live footage play out in the cabin owned by the man who lived next door. Because of its remote location, the neighbor, Lyle, always had cameras there in case of vandals, and with a little rearranging, Terry changed the location of one camera to show a live feed of the cabin’s interior. Lyle, now confined to a wheelchair due to a stroke, had extended the use of the cabin and boat to Terry and Katlyn whenever they needed a break from the rat race. The hideaway on the lake would serve Terry’s needs perfectly.
Back in the moment, he glanced out the windshield and noticed a slow-moving black pickup had just turned onto the street he was parked on. Terry cupped his hand over his brows and watched from the space between his fingers. Tommy Sanders was coming toward him. Terry lowered his hand and looked through the rearview mirror after Tommy passed. He saw the truck turn around and park along the curb opposite him and a few car lengths ahead. While Tommy was preoccupied with something on the passenger seat, Terry made his move. Opening the car door quietly, he scurried across the street and knelt at the backside of the truck. Seconds later, the driver’s door opened, then Tommy climbed out and reached across the seat. Terry struck the back of Tommy’s head with the butt of his Beretta. Several more cracks to the head put Tommy down long enough for Terry to drag him into the rear seat, empty his pockets, and zip-tie his hands behind his back and his ankles together. Back at the car, Terry grabbed a length of paracord and returned to the truck. With Tommy bound to the seat rails and unable to move, Terry drove his car home and parked it in the garage. It took less than five minutes before he was back at Tommy’s truck. Climbing in behind the wheel, he fastened the seat belt and drove away.
The cabin wasn’t far, only forty minutes south. Tommy was beginning to come around, and moans sounded first, then thrashing as he attempted to free himself.
“What the hell is going on?” he yelled.
“Don’t give me trouble, Tommy, or Laurie’s dead. Understood?”
“You son of a bitch. How do you know my wife?”
“She and I went on a leisurely drive together this morning and had a nice talk. I know everything about your life.”
“She’s seven months pregnant for God’s sake!”
Terry snickered. “Believe me, I’m well aware of what a pregnant wife looks like. Now shut up and enjoy the ride. Remember, one wrong move when we reach our destination and it’s lights out for Laurie.”
The truck went quiet, and Terry tapped the dash screen until he found a country station. He hummed along with the song as he drove.
They arrived at the cabin at eleven o’clock, and Terry shifted into Park and stepped out of the truck. He lifted the heavy garage door then drove inside. A breezeway led from the garage directly to the cabin’s mudroom. Terry killed the engine and looked over his right shoulder. “Here’s how it’s going down. Laurie is at an undisclosed location that only I know about. You and I are going inside this cabin, and like I said before, one wrong move, and she’s toast.”
“Why my pregnant wife? What has she ever done to you?”
Terry spewed his anger. “Don’t ever question my motivation! I had a pregnant wife, too, and now she’s dead, so shut the hell up.” He looked at Tommy’s feet. “You have enough space between your ankles to shuffle to the house. Once inside, you’ll have a seat at the base of the support beam in the living room, understood?”
“Yes.”
“Good. After you’re secure, I’m going to check the neighborhood to make sure nobody is around, and then I’m moving you down to the boathouse, where you’ll stay until I decide otherwise.”
“Where’s my wife? I have kids in school, and Laurie is always home when they get off the bus.”
“Well, that’s a real shame. I guess they’ll have to stay with the neighbor for a while. Now, I’m going to put duct tape over your mouth, and I’d advise you not to fight it.” Terry secured a foot-long strip of tape over Tommy’s mouth and opened the rear door of the truck. “Scoot out, stand up, turn left, and walk through the breezeway. It goes directly to the cabin.”
Terry lowered the overhead and locked it from the inside, then he followed Tommy through the breezeway. He held up his hand when they reached the cabin. “Don’t move. I have to unlock the door.” He turned the key in the knob and pushed the door inward. With a head tip, he motioned for Tommy to continue on.
Built in the forties, the cabin was made of fieldstone and log and sat on a small but pristine lake southwest of Chicago. The interior mimicked the façade—a massive stone fireplace with log walls and beams. A living room, eat-in kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bath completed the space. Outside, on the wooded two-acre parcel, stood a shed and a long pier with a boathouse and deck at the end. The next vacation cabin was a quarter mile away.
Terry nodded at the support beam. “Have a seat on the floor over there.”
Tommy did as told and leaned against the beam then slid down into a seated position.
“Are you left- or right-handed?”
Tommy jerked his chin to the right.
“Good, then I’ll release your left hand.” With his foot, Terry pushed a bucket close to the beam. “I’m sure you know what that’s for. I’m going to chain your entire body to the beam, except for your left hand. You’ll be able to stand if you can find a way to get your feet under you, and you can use your left hand for pissing duties. Just so you know, I’m going to blindfold you, too, since you can never be too careful.”
Twice, he wrapped a twenty-foot length of chain around Tommy’s chest, right arm, and midsection then padlocked it to the eyehooks at the back of the beam. More duct tape was placed over Tommy’s eyes and sealed at the back of his head.
“If you pull it off, I’ll shoot Laurie. Her blood will be on your hands, so take me seriously, Detective. I won’t hesitate to kill both of you.” Satisfied that Tommy wasn’t going anywhere, Terry closed all the blinds and left the cabin.