Penance

By Darrel Day

Sometimes, our worst nightmares are realized in the place we call "safe." Our own home. For James and Trisha, it seems the horror of Gloria and Ronnie is never going to end.
Penance is the sequel to Abduction, the novel that began the murder and total fear that came to Pittown. Continuing just one year after Patricia Campell, daughter of Sheriff Jonathon Campbell,was rescued from Dr.Steele, the murders begin again.
Ronnie, Dr.Steele's daughter and her side-kick, Nurse Gloria, return to Pittown to finish what was so abruptly ended. Leo, who took over as sheriff after John retired, now faces his greatest enemies. With James as his deputy, together they must find a way to stop the duo before everyone that was part of Ronnie's fathers death is killed.
Murder is a polite way to describe what these two women bring to Pittown. Floowing in her father's footsteps, Ronnie, with Gloria's help, continues the black-marketing of babies. They also find time to one by one, begin killing the people Trisha and James call family. Who will live and who will fall prey to the slaughter? This is non-stop suspense that will leave you reading into the wee hours of the night.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Darrel Day
• Release date: Jun 30, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466016965

Darrel Day

Darrel Day is a 12 time published author of suspense thrillers, short story collections and biographies. His books are available in both print and on all e-readers.  Residing in a smalltown in Iowa, Darrel enjoys the outdoors where he gathers inspiration for his writing.

Book preview

Penance

By Darrel Day

Copyright 2011 Darrel Day

Smashwords Edition

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of this author.

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Dedicated to:

My Family, for their never-ending love and confidence in me.

To readers everywhere that just wants a hot cup of coffee and a good book to read.

Acknowledgements:

Sheila, who for 22 years stood by my side through everything. Her love saw me through so many storms and rainbows. She was always been my courage and strength in more ways than she ever knew. She is still encouraging me from heaven.

My daughters, Mantha and Shannon who have watched their father go through many rough roads and changes. They have loved me through it all.

Michelle, who promoted my writing before it was written. Her never-ending faith in me and love makes me want to do what I do best. Write.

My father and mother who instilled in me my trust in God and his love.

Dan, who trusted me enough to allow me to be his eyes. Through you Dan, I learned to see the world in living color.

God, whom without his saving grace, none of this would be possible.

Thank you all for being my encouragement throughout it all.

Darrel Jr.

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Prologue

The morning was as perfect as John had hoped it would be. The sky was clear of any clouds for the first time in two weeks. The rains that had been called heavenly and needed had become ungodly and costly. Seven people were dead and at least eleven more were listed as missing. This would be a year to be remembered in the minds of everyone from Pittown.

John wondered for a time if God himself had reneged on his promise to not flood the earth again. May was finally here and the warmth was back in the sunshine. The skies had slowly cleared and the water had begun to ooze more than flow back into the ground. He thought this might have looked a little bit like what Noah had seen from the Ark. He turned and went back into the cabin to refill his cup of coffee.

Are you going to take the boat out this morning John?

I thought I might try my luck for a while. The worst I can do is catch nothing but the sunshine, Mary.

I packed you some sandwiches and a few brownies to take along. I might drive into town and see what Patricia is doing. The phone lines are finally up for most of our area but I can’t reach her or James.

Their lines may still be down where they are Mary. Let me know on my cell phone if you talk to them. I won’t be on the lake very long today.

I will call you as soon as I see either one of them. You be careful on that lake today Johnathon Campbell. I have plans for later this evening.

Mary flashed him a seductive smile and kissed him. John took his coffee and lunch and walked down to the boat dock. He smiled as he thought about the past year. He and Mary had made the cabin their home now. They lived a nice quiet life and enjoyed the company of each other. He watched as Mary drove away towards Pittown and then with the aid of a trolling motor, made his way to the center of the lake.

The waves were soft today and the water was beginning to clear itself some. As John cast his line into the water, he looked out over the water. Debris was floating all over the lake now. Uprooted trees and wood from old ice-fishing shacks littered the waters. He watched as what appeared to be a large log drifted towards him. The log seemed to snag itself on something under the water. John reeled in his lined and turned the boat towards the log. He started the motor and moved slowly towards it. Reaching over the side of the boat, John tugged on the log as hard as he could. Dislodging it from whatever held it in its place, he tried to lift the log into the boat. He would take it back to shore when he was finished. The log seemed heavier than its size said it might be. He wrapped an arm around it and gave it a final pull. The log came loose as John fell backwards onto the floor of the boat. He sat himself upright and stared into the water where the log had been.

Oh my God in heaven, what the hell have we got here? He spoke as if someone were near enough to hear him. I guess this will be one more missing body to be identified. When the hell is this going to end?

John leaned over the side again and tried to pull the cadaver closer. He found a small rope and began to tie it around the waist of the body. As he rolled it over face up, John let loose of the rope and stared. No terrible rains or hellish winds had done this to the body. The gaping slice in the neck made it appear as if the body had two smiles. The eyes stared up at John as if pleading for help. He pulled an arm to him to get a better grip. As he did, he dropped the arm and the rope into the water. He stared at the wrist, absent of the hand that should have been there. He knew without ever looking that he would find the other hand the exact same way.

Dear Lord, let this be a left over from that mad-man’s assault. I don’t think I could survive another year like last year.

John tied the body to the side of the boat and returned to shore. He got out of the boat and covered the body with a small tarp. Leaving it on the shore, he went into the cabin and dialed a familiar number. The voice on the other end made him smile, despite the horrifying discovery he had made today.

Nice quiet day fishing, eh? Hello Leo, my good friend. I am about to ruin your day.

Chapter 1

Leo hung up the phone with a heavy sigh. He glanced over at James to see if he were still doing the previous night’s reports. He had proved to be a tremendous help for Leo. Although Leo’s recovery was considered one hundred percent, he himself knew differently. There were still moments of darkness that he could not recall anything when he would wake up. Kelly had seen him black out for a short period on only two occasions. James had been with him on two other blackouts. He had kept them between himself and Leo. He had managed to keep the other incidents to himself. He needed to or he wouldn’t be sheriff of Pittown for very long.

Who was that on the phone, Chief?

That was John calling from the cabin. It seems we have a body to go tend to.

Whoa, no shit!? This is the first time I will be with you on a real body, Chief! I ummmm, am going along with you, aren’t I?

Yes you can come along with me James. You need to get a little up close and personal with a cadaver. It may take a little of the eagerness out of your young butt.

Leo smiled at James and then reached in his desk drawer for his handgun. He only carried the gun if he were going outside of Pittown. The town itself had returned to the quiet place Leo loved. He thought about what John had told him on the phone. Was this another poor soul that Steele had left in his wake? He closed his eyes for a minute and prayed that it was just that.

Leo asked Gwen to get in touch with the coroner over in Titanville. He needed him to be aware that Leo was going to be bringing in a body to be examined.

Tell him I will explain to him what we need done to this body when I get to his office later today. If he would rather meet me up at John’s cabin, then give him the directions. Who is over there now Gwen?

The new coroner’s name is Joshua Randall Chief. He came over from Cambridge shortly after Dr. Stein retired. He seems to be a very bright young man. I will give him a call right away and ask him what he wants to do. I can let you know over the radio when I hear from him.

Thank you Gwen that will be perfect. We are going to be heading out that way as soon as we are gassed up. James will be going with me so the office is all yours for today. I will wait for your call before we do anything with the body.

As Leo made sure he had all the papers he might need at the cabin, James filled the Chief’s truck with gas. Leo thought about the new coroner and then remembered back to when Doc Stein was still the coroner. He had decided after the bodies of young girls he had examined finally stopped that it was time to retire. He had performed autopsies on seven young girls in one year. The unearthing of five girls at the Asylum after the confrontation with Dr. Steele had been the culmination of his career. Babies having babies and dying for it was the way he saw it. It was simply too much for him to continue as the coroner any longer. He took John’s lead and bought himself a nice little piece of land outside of Bethesda. He happily retired there.

The drive to the cabin was pleasant. It was the middle of April and the rains had finally settled across the state. Cambridge seemed to have got hit the worst. The flooding in their area left three thousand people stranded without electricity. The only good the rain really seemed to have done was to make the trees and fields turn bluegrass green.

Were there any details concerning the body, Chief?

It doesn’t appear to be just a drowned body James. John told me that the throat was slit and the hands were removed.

James’ face went white as he listened to Leo. Instantly, memories flooded back into his head. Scenes and thoughts that he hadn’t visited in his mind in a very long time. Scenes of being beaten almost to death by his now, father in law. The remembrance of being drug out of the same jail he now called work and nearly killed. The memories were as vivid in his mind as if they had happened only yesterday. Could a year have truly passed since those events?

Could it be a body that was never uncovered during the reign of Doctor Steele, Chief?

I certainly would hope so James. That psycho partner of his was never captured. Some people thought that she had been killed by the doctor shortly before John stormed the Asylum. After the incident at the hospital that was holding his daughter, I don’t think John ever believed she was dead. Frankly James, I think I would tend to agree with him.

I remember those days too intensely sometimes Chief. There are nights that I wished I didn’t. Trisha and I have started to build a beautiful life together. She seems to have recouped from the trauma very well. We don’t really talk about it very and her nightmares have all but gone away. I think she fears more for the twins than she does herself. She doesn’t really believe that Gloria ever died either.

I guess we are going to have to see what we find out here today James. I am sure that it is just as you said. Just a sad reminder of the doctor brought out of hiding by Mother Nature herself. How are the twins doing, by the way?

Growing like weeds and sleeping through the night, I might add. That in itself is a blessing for Trisha and me.

Trisha had given birth to twins after she and James returned to Pittown. The boy looked a lot like James and a little bit like John. He was named Johnathon James after his father and grandfather. The little girl was the Trisha through and through. She had the same green eyes and tiny nose as her mother did. She was named Alison Gayle in honor of Trisha’s mother and the nurse that died for Trisha.

We are planning a little get away up at the cabin this fall. John and Mary are going on a cruise in October to some Pacific Island. Trisha and I offered to watch the cabin while they were away.

Well if there is a place to be in the fall, that cabin of theirs is definitely the place to be. With John having bought the land next to his property now, he owns pretty much the entire land surrounding the lake. I think he and Mary like the seclusion it gives them. The past year took its toll on John and it shows. I think he aged twenty years during the search for Patricia.

James nodded his head in agreement, as they made the last turn off the main road going towards the cabin. He watched out the window for wildlife in the tall pines that sheltered the dirt road. The trees made a canopy over it that made it seem like dusk in the middle of the day. His eyes caught a glimpse of something in the moving through the trees. He tried to look at it long enough to identify what it was. It moved too fast for him to stay focused on it very long. He could have sworn that it was a person running just inside the tree line.

Can you stop the truck and back up for a minute Chief? I could have sworn I saw someone or something running along the trees.

Leo stopped the truck and began to back up along the road. He was trying to watch where he was going and at the same time, see what James thought he saw.

There are a lot of deer and coyotes out here James. I am sure that is what you must have seen.

This was no deer or coyote Chief. I am sure it was a person that was running through the trees. Just back up a little more and I will... There! Just going over the top of that ridge! Did you see it!?

I am afraid I didn’t see a thing James. What did it look like?

I didn’t get a good enough look at it Chief. If I had to make a guess, I would have sworn it was a girl running through the trees. Damn it, I wish I would have noticed her earlier. All I know for sure is that when she looked at me, I felt my whole insides go cold.

Maybe you are letting the discovery of this body and old images taint your eyesight a little James. We can ask John if there is anyone else living up here when we get to the cabin.

I know what I saw Chief and I am not letting my imagination get the better of me!

Alright James, there is no reason to get defensive about it. We will simply ask John about it when we get there. Speaking of getting there, here we are.

James got out of the truck and stared back at the tree line where he had seen the girl. He knew in his heart what he had seen. He hoped that John would have an explanation for her being there. He caught up with Leo just as John was coming out of the cabin.

There is a couple of scary guys to meet when a man comes out of his home. John was smiling as he said that and reached out his hand to greet James and Leo. How the hell are you two doing? Are you taking good care of that daughter and those grandchildren of mine, James?

James smiled at John and shook his hand. As best as I am able to sir. Between the three of them, they keep my nights filled to the brim.

I bet that do just that, son. What about you Leo? Are you still keeping the folks in town on the straight and narrow?

I seem to be doing alright with them John. I hope they still feel that way in July when it comes time for re-election. How are you and Mary getting along up here, my good friend?

We are enjoying the peace and serenity of the trees and the lake. About the only thing that disturbs us up here are the deer. I may just help myself to one this fall and make a little venison jerky. I haven’t had a taste of good jerky in a very long time. I guess you didn’t come up here to discuss venison though, now did you.

I am waiting for a call from Gwen, John. I am not sure if the new coroner is going to want to come up here or have us bring him the body. We do need to have a look at it though.

It is still tied to my boat Leo. I just wasn’t up to doing anything more with the poor soul than bringing him to shore. The missing hands took me to places I didn’t ever want to be again, damn it! I thought that I had cleaned this shit up for you before I retired.

You did a fantastic job making the transaction go so smoothly for me John. As for the body being where it is... it isn’t your job to do any more than you did. I appreciate you just bringing the body to shore John. We can take it from here.

Leo and James followed John down to the dock. The tarp that had covered the body had blown off of it. James felt his stomach churn as he looked at the bloated body lying in front of him. The skin looked as if it had been bleached. The strands of flesh that protruded from the severed wrist looked like something had been feeding on them. The eyes that stared back at him were glassed over and bulging out of their sockets. He looked away as Leo looked the body over closely.

The radio in the truck suddenly blared out an inaudible voice. James was relieved when Leo asked him to go to the truck and see what Gwen wanted. He raced away from the scene and responded to the voice.

Can you repeat what you just said Gwen? We were away from the truck and couldn’t hear you clearly.

Would you let the Chief know that Joshua is going to be at John’s cabin in less than twenty minutes? He would like for you guys to wait for him before touching too much. He wants as clean of a site as he can get.

I will tell the Chief what you just said Gwen. As for us touching anything, that doesn’t seem to be a worry on this end. We will refrain from doing anything to the body until he arrives.

Ten four on that James. Thank you and I will contact you if anything warrants that I do so.

Thanks again Gwen, we will talk to you later.

James relayed the message to Leo and then stood back from the body. He saw a look of relief on Leo’s face when he told him the coroner was on his way.

I wasn’t in much of a mood to move this body anyways. We can just go up to your cabin and wait for him to arrive. Is that alright with you John?

It sounds like the perfect idea to me Leo. I have some fresh coffee in my thermos if either of you would care for some. I can make fresh if you guys don’t mind waiting for it. It is your choice what you want to drink. I do want to cover the body up again just as a precaution. I don’t want Mary coming back and seeing it. She would probably never come back up here again.

The men all agreed it was best to cover the body before they went back to the cabin. Leo watched as John looked around them as if he were searching for something. The trees rustled slightly as a breeze began to gently blow. All that could be heard outside now was the sound of the water rushing over the end of the dock. There were loons out in the middle of the lake calling to their young. Each man seemed lost in his own private place now. Each of them were grateful that they didn’t need to do anything more with the body. At least not until the new coroner arrived. They went into the cabin and sat down to wait for the arrival of Joshua. John offered them a cup of hot coffee from the thermos he had taken with him earlier. Leo accepted a cup of the dark unsweetened coffee. He grimaced when he took a sip of it.

You wouldn’t happen to have some sugar around here, would you John?

I am sorry Leo, I forgot. Mary and I don’t take anything in our coffee. I’ll get some sugar for you.

John returned from the kitchen with the sugar. He saw James standing near the picture window looking back towards the east end of the property. John pointed at him while handing the sugar to Leo.

What’s up with him today, Leo? Was the body a little too much for him or what?

I think it was a little too much for all of us this morning John. I know there are still eleven people unaccounted for after the rains. I need to correct myself and bring that number down to seven today. The Messinger family was located staying with Priscilla’s sister in West Virginia. Apparently they had decided to go up there when the waters started rising around their farm. Her sister saw her name on the missing list during the news last night. Priscilla called Gwen to let her know that her family was not missing.

That is a good thing to know Leo. I am glad that they are safe with her family. You think that James was bothered by the body then?

"Actually John, he has something else on his mind. The body certainly brought back some bad memories to him but I don’t think that is what he is looking for.

What are you talking about Leo? I wasn’t aware he was looking for anything out that window. What does he think he is going to see out there?

On the drive up here today, he thought he saw something in the trees not far from here. He swears it was a girl running through the trees. He was convinced enough to have me back the truck up so he could get a second look.

What would a girl be doing way out here Leo? He must have seen a deer or something that he thought was a girl. Mary and I are the only ones up here about ninety percent of the time. Now and then, we get the occasional lost hunter or camper asking for directions. That pretty much covers our company here.

I tried to tell him it was a deer or a coyote but he said it was not an animal. I don’t know what else to tell you except that he is certain in his mind of what he saw.

Maybe there are some hikers that are camped up in the trees somewhere. That wouldn’t be so far-fetched either.

James spun around from his place at the window. He looked directly at John with an almost frightened look. He glanced back for one more look out the window. He then walked over to where John and Leo were sitting.

This was no damn deer or dog of any kind, John. I don’t think she was a camper either. This girl looked directly at me and I could see fear in her eyes. She looked back over her shoulder like she was being chased by something or someone!

James, what would she be doing all the way out here alone? Was she a young girl or older or what? Can you describe her to us?

She was running so damn fast that I didn’t get a good look at her. By the time the Chief had backed up to where she was, I saw just the backside of her going over the ridge. I could see she had either very long hair or a knapsack on her back. She looked young to me when she looked my way.

Why do you suppose she didn’t wave for you or call out if she were in trouble James?

Maybe she wasn’t sure if we were friend or foe John. It was almost as if she were trying to figure that out when she looked behind her and started to run again.

You didn’t see anyone else behind her?

No, I guess they were either too far behind or they stopped so I wouldn’t see them. Hell, I don’t know exactly what her being out here is all about, but I do know I saw her John. You really need to believe me on this.

I do believe you saw something or someone on that ridge, James. I just think that the things you experienced this past year with Patricia are maybe influencing your thoughts.

James just shook his head and turned back towards the window. He knew what he had seen and he was even more certain that she was not a camper. There was something familiar about this girl that he couldn’t quite place his finger on yet. Perhaps Leo would let him take a look around where he had seen her on the drive back to Pittown. James saw a station wagon pulling into the front yard. He recognized the vehicle as the coroner’s car. He wasn’t sure if he was ready for this or not.

Joshua just pulled in Chief. I guess we better go out and show him the body.

Yes I suppose it is show time for the good doctor. The new coroner is a younger man John. He is maybe twenty-five years old. He seems to know his way around a cadaver pretty well but I doubt he has seen anything like this before.

I met with him shortly before Doc Stein retired. He seemed like a pleasant enough young man. He told me he was trained in the midst of that rash of killings down in Marietta. He was responsible for going under the water and finding the bodies that had been hid there. I guess he is an avid scuba diver when he isn’t doing his coroner thing.

Well let’s hope he is really good at what he does. We need him to tell us how long ago this body was dumped here, John.

They went outside and led Joshua to the body. Slipping on his gloves, he removed the tarp and knelt down next to the body. He lifted the right arm up and looked at where the hand should have been.

Nasty cut he’s got here, eh? Joshua looked at the three men as if they were his audience. That was a touch of coroner humor for you gentlemen. I thought since you all know old Doc Stein, that you might be used to it. I apologize to you all for my less than professional approach here. If I learned anything in school, I learned to secure a good sense of humor. Without it I am afraid that I would go completely insane at some of the stuff I have seen.

We understand Doctor Randall; we have just had one hell of a year. I was hoping that you would follow us up here. I didn’t much like the idea of moving the body all over the place.

I agree with you Chief, which is why I did come up here today. Please call me Joshua, gentlemen. I need to know how long the body has been here on the shore too, John.

I came back to the dock at about eight this morning. That would mean it has been here for about three hours. I did not move the body after I got it out of the water.

That’s great John. Joshua was looking at the skin that had once held the hand to the wrist. There are signs of the skin being snacked on by probably crawfish or maybe even the fish in this lake. The meat and muscle up inside the wrist seems to be untouched. You say the body was hooked onto a log out there on the lake, John?

Yes, I thought it was just some floating debris until I pulled the log into the boat. That is when the body came to the surface.

I am going to need your help to get the body into the bag I brought with me. We need to try and touch as little of it as we can while moving it.

Can you tell by looking at the body right now, how long ago it was placed in the water?

With a little bit of certainty I think that I can. Mind you, it won’t be one hundred percent until I have had the chance to examine the body at my office.

I understand that Doc. I just want to know that it didn’t just happen today.

Ah, I said I can tell you approximately how long it has been in the water. I cannot tell you how long the person has been dead at all yet. A floater, as we call cadavers that have been left in the water have little like tracks that they leave for us to follow. As far as most Medical Examiners are concerned, floaters are the worst. The odor that normally exudes from a floaters body is terrible. When you first rolled the body over, did you notice anything like that, John?

There was really no odor at all Joshua. At least if there had been, I didn’t notice it when I pulled the body up against the boat.

Another thing we look for is soft skin. If the body has been underwater for a few days, the skin will basically peel off of the muscle beneath it. This body doesn’t have the odor or the texture that one might see if it had been submerged for a period of time.

All of that in layman's terms means what to us Doc?

It means that this body has only been in the water for at very best, one day Chief. How long before that he died, I will let you know as soon as I know. Perhaps we should get the body in the bag so I can get it back to my office. I will want the log that it was snagged onto also, John.

The four of them worked the body slowly into the bag and the three men watched as Joshua zipped the body bag closed and put a seal on the zipper. They watched in silence as the station wagon drove away from the cabin. They each went down to the shoreline and rinsed their hands in the lake water.

I guess I am a little confused about what the coroner said Chief. Did he say the body had been dead only a short time?

No James, he said the body had only been in the water for about a day. We are going to have to wait a day or two to get the results of when he died. I would venture to say that it was not today.

John, there were never any bodies found up this way, were there?

No Leo, this is the only place that bastard hadn’t been. That certainly doesn’t mean that he couldn’t have been out here either. Why don’t we wait and see what the Doc comes up with before we go any further. If we can, maybe we won’t say anything to anyone until we see who our cadaver is.

James and Leo agreed with John on keeping quiet to give the coroner some time to work. The three men stood silent now, each one lost in their own world of memories. None of them wanted to say what was on their minds. They each wondered to themselves if it were possible that the body count could start to rise anew.

John was the first to speak up again. Maybe we should take a look around the lake just to be sure that there are no other surprises waiting to greet me out there. You wouldn’t mind doing that, would you Leo?

I think that would be a good idea, John. James and I figured we would be up here the better part of the day. We can all go together or split up and look. It doesn’t matter to me how we do it.

If it is alright with you Chief, I would really like to go back to the ridge and have another look for myself. I can still search the area for signs of any other bodies while I check out the tree line.

If you think it will put your mind at ease James, please go ahead and check it out. John and I can take the boat out and cover the lake area. If you find anything or even think you may have found something, you radio me right away. Don’t get stupid on me here James. I need your ass well and alive.

Thank you Chief, I promise I won’t wander too far. I just think I need to do this for my own sanities sake. I will let Gwen know that we are going to be out of the vehicles for a time. She can call you on your cell phone if she needs to get a hold of you for anything.

That works for me James. Let us make a plan to meet back here at the dock in two hours. Don’t be gone any longer than that James. I do not want to have to come looking for you.

The plan was agreeable to all of them and so James made the call to Gwen. John went inside the cabin and got the last of the coffee. He refilled the thermos bottle and he and Leo headed out onto the lake.

James backed the truck out and drove towards the ridge where he had seen the girl. He drove slow so that he didn't miss anything along the way. The white tailed deer were as numbered as John had said they were. The trees seemed to reach to the sky above him.

The sun trying to shine through the heavy tree line danced with the shadows in the forest. As James got closer to where he had seen the girl, he began to wonder.

God John, you were very right about the deer out here. They are everywhere. He was talking aloud to himself as he focused his ears and eyes on the trees in front of him. Alright James, maybe this going alone thing was a little bit more than I bargained for.

He drove the truck to the last place he had seen the girl. He could still see the pleading she had in her eyes as she looked at him. What she was doing up here he didn’t know. What James did know was that she was for certain here somewhere. He stopped the truck in front of the ridge he had watched her disappear behind. Taking his radio and rifle with him, he walked towards the tree line.

The brush was thick where he walked and he wondered how the girl had run in it. The pine trees were only inches apart in some places. The taller ones had grown so wide that two or three trees appeared as one. There was a small stand of Poplar trees just before the ridge. The new bark was fresh and white with only a few of them sporting their full array of leaves. The sky above him became unseen as he neared the top of the ridge. The trees blocked enough of the sun to give one the feeling of dusk. The stench of seared hair filled his nostrils and James stopped where he was for a moment. He was no longer certain that he wanted to see what was on the other side. James heard voices coming from the other side now. He lay down on the ground and crawled to the very top of the ridge.

All I know is that she was here when I left her a minute or two ago. Eli was supposed to be watching her anyways.

James listened intently to the conversation coming from the other side of the ridge. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do yet. He wanted to hear more of the conversation first.

She couldn’t have gone very far Sal. This God damn place is like a fortress with all the trees surrounding us.

She better not have gone far or this bullet with her name on it is going to get re-engraved. Get the hell out there and find them both now! If you don’t find them then you might want to lose yourself! That girl is like gold to us you idiot! Without her, we don‘t get paid!

Alright, alright Sal, I know what she is worth! You don’t have to threaten me to get me to help you! I will be back soon with both Eli and the girl!

James decided to radio Leo and see what he was supposed to do. He would need to back off a little so that his radio wasn’t heard by the men. Sliding himself down the ridge, he made his way back to the truck.

Chief, are you there? Do you have your radio on?

His radio crackled and James instinctively held it to his body to conceal the sound.

"I am here James. Why do you sound so far

away?"

I am trying to whisper Chief. There are three men just over the ridge that I saw the girl on. They are talking about trying to find her. It seems she got away from them and they want her back. The leader said that he had a bullet with her name on it. What the hell am I supposed to do Chief?

Damn kid, you sure manage to get yourself into some tight places. Listen to me James, listen to me good. You are to do nothing but watch. John and I are on our way back in from the lake. We will meet you on the road and figure out what to do then. Do not, I repeat, do not try and apprehend them on your own. Do you understand me?

I read you loud and clear Chief. I am just going to get a little closer so I can hear what they are saying.

No you are not James! Did you hear what I just finished saying to you?! You wait for John and I to get there, is that clear!?

I am turning this off Chief. I don’t want the perp’s to hear the radio. Over and out Chief.

John grabbed the radio from Leo and keyed the microphone. God damn you James, you listen to what Leo just told you! You don’t need to be a hero here! There was no response from James. Damn it James, turn that flipping radio on! Don’t you dare make my little girl a widow or I will bring you back to life and kill you myself!

He can’t hear you John. He turned off the radio and is going right back up on that ridge. Can you aim towards the east side of the lake? I think if we get out there we should be right on top of James.

No problem Leo, just make sure you are ready to get out as soon as the boat touches the shore. What the hell does he think he is doing? Who the hell does he think he is anyways!?

Leo turned to look straight at John. With a half of a smile, he pointed at John. You, John, was all the Leo said.

John turned away from Leo and made towards the east shoreline. As they neared the shore, they could hear yelling and screaming coming from over the ridge. One of the voices they heard yelling was James’. Both men looked at each other with panic in their eyes. As the boat ran ashore, John and Leo jumped out of the boat and raced up the embankment towards the voices. They heard James call out and then heard him say loudly, No! A single shot from a high-powered rifle resounded throughout the trees. Birds flew from their perches in the trees and a deer ran directly in front of them at a full pace. As the two men reached the top of the ridge, they heard one more shot ring out. The forest surrounding them suddenly went silent. It was as quiet as a library and then they heard the voices start echoing in their ears. They listened carefully for one of the voices to belong to James. Neither of them heard his voice mingling with the yelling.

Chapter 2

Mary could not believe all the litter and garbage that covered the highway now. The storms had left Sanitation Company’s without the means to get to their regular routes for weeks. People had stacked their trash up outside their yards. High winds and feral cats and dogs had scattered bag after bag along the roads. She hoped that it wouldn’t take the county too long to get it all cleaned up. She drove to James and Patricia's house and upon exiting the car, she rang the doorbell.

The house looked nice on the outside now. James and Patricia had decided against keeping the house that John had bought them. Patricia felt that the wonderful memories that were in the house she grew up in far out-weighed any bad memories. They had sold the house John bought them back to the realtor and moved back into her original home. After Gayle’s death, John had let the house pretty much take care of itself. He had done nothing to outside of the house since her death. James and Patricia had put new siding on the outside and new windows all the way around. The front door was a heavy metal door that sealed like a freezer door. Only a small half-circled window and a peephole adorned the door. The tan siding was accented by the buttercup yellow trim around the windowsills and the eaves. The door opening startled Mary from her admiration of the house.

Hello Mary, what are doing in town? I thought Daddy and you had sworn off of the town. Patricia smiled a big smile and motioned Mary to come inside.

I was hoping you might drop by today.

Your father was going fishing this morning so I thought I would visit you for a while. How are the twins doing?

They are finally sleeping through the night. I was just finishing up feeding them when I heard the knock.

Are you up to going out and doing a little shopping? I want to get a few things for the cabin. The house looks fabulous and I love the colors you picked. You two have really spruced this house up.

Thank you for that Mary. James and I love it and we have a guy coming next week to put a fireplace in for us. That will be so cozy and romantic in the winter-time.

Wow, I am very impressed Patricia.

Yes, it is going to look so nice in here.

Oh, I am not meaning the house, although I am impressed with it. I meant that with twins needing so much of your time, you still have time to think romance.

Patricia laughed aloud at what Mary had said. She felt her face blush a little bit as she smiled.

Welllllll, you know we have to maintain some sort of ummmm playtime for ourselves. All work and no play makes for a grumpy household.

They both shared a laugh at that and then went to the babies’ nursery. The twins were growing fast and Mary could not believe how much Alison looked like Patricia.

I think getting out of the house is a perfect idea, Mary. If you will help me with the babies, we can dress them and paint the town red. Patricia smiled at Mary as