The Collins Case

By Julie C. Gilbert

SUBURBAN HOME EXPLODES. FAMILY VANISHES.

Working for the FBI certainly isn’t a “normal” job, but Special Agent Julie Ann Davidson has never encountered a case as personal as this one. Although not officially assigned to the case, Ann and her partner, Patrick Duncan, take up the cause of finding Rachel, Jason, and Emily Collins. As if that task wasn’t enough, Ann and Patrick also have a baffling case of internet thievery to investigate.

Who is Christopher Collins and what about his past is endangering his family? Where are Rachel and the kids being held? Where is God in the midst of chaos? Will Ann and Patrick arrive in time or will they find only pain?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Julie C. Gilbert
• Release date: Dec 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311565365

Julie C. Gilbert

Writer, chemistry teacher, Christian

Book preview

Heartfelt Cases

Book 1: The Collins Case

Copyright 2013 Julie C. Gilbert

Published by Julie C. Gilbert at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1: Peaceful Night

Chapter 2: Bold Move

Chapter 3: Stressful Present

Chapter 4: Shocking News

Chapter 5: Hard Truth

Chapter 6: Neighborly Chatter

Chapter 7: Bridge Rendezvous

Chapter 8: Strange Place

Chapter 9: New Case

Chapter 10: Satellite Snooping

Chapter 11: Song Strength

Chapter 12: Cloak of Peace

Chapter 13: Rough Tip Off

Chapter 14: Escape Plans

Chapter 15: Rescue

Chapter 16: When Bullet’s Fly

Chapter 17: A New Race

Chapter 18: Real and Realized Love

Chapter 19: New Priorities and New Life

Chapter 20: Ten and Countless

Epilogue

About the Author

Other Books by Julie C. Gilbert

Connect with the Author

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all who have sworn to serve and protect others, especially those who live by the motto: Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity.

Special thanks to the FBI personnel who graciously fielded many questions. The help of Supervisory Special Agent Joseph Lewis and Public Affairs Specialist Mrs. Linda Wilkins went a long way in improving the authenticity of this and other Heartfelt Cases stories. They’ll have to forgive the creative license I took on certain events.

Special thanks to those who helped me clean up this story (Ken Dalenberg, Mike from across the pond, and the other heroes and heroines who pitched in from time to time).

Special thanks to Timothy Sparvero for an awesome cover.

Prologue

Parker Residence

Piscataway, NJ

Jon? Jon, are you in there? Elizabeth Parker called out, growing more worried with each passing second.

Where is that boy?

Elizabeth knocked but received no answer. Cautiously, she opened the door and peered into her son’s dark room. Jon? Everything except his computer desk was a mess. She quickly spotted the note lying on the keyboard. Frowning, she picked it up and read:

Mom, I won’t be a burden to you. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.

Your son,

Jon

Sobs jammed up in Elizabeth’s throat, strangling her momentarily before bursting forth in a tortured cry. The divorce had been rough on all of them, but she had never dreamed it would turn out like this. If Jonathan didn’t want to be found, nothing could be done. Heart heavy, she called the police.

Chapter 1

Peaceful Night

Collins Residence

Fairview, Pennsylvania

Rachel Collins had a perfect life. She loved her job as a medical doctor at a small, private practice in Pennsylvania. Her husband—Dr. Christopher Collins—was easy on the eyes and wonderful in every way that mattered. Their two young children brought much joy—and good-natured chaos—into their lives. God had certainly blessed them as a family. At least, she thought so anyway. Though he never put down her religion, Chris never promised to believe a word of it either.

Thank you for being good to us, Father, Rachel thought, tilting her head to the side and watching her husband crawl around on the floor with the children. She only wished that nights like this weren’t so rare. She kept fairly regular hours, but Chris worked at Millcreek Community Hospital, so his schedule had to be a little more flexible.

Sandy probably gets to see the kids more than we do, Rachel mused bleakly, thinking of the girl she hired to watch the kids while she worked. Tonight, Chris had persuaded a friend to switch shifts so he could spend time at home with the family.

What did you use to bribe him, Chris?

No, Emily. Not yours, said Jason, green eyes ablaze to make his point.

Rachel smiled, amused by the strained patience in her five-year-old son’s tone as he addressed his little sister.

I have? asked Emily, tears welling up in her warm brown eyes. The child’s bottom lip stuck out, and she shoved a finger into her mouth. Her brother grunted irritably but let her keep the building block clutched in her chubby right hand.

It amused Rachel that Emily, at the ripe old age of three, could manipulate her brother so well.

You’ll break hearts when you’re older, Emily Adele Collins.

Rachel smiled down at her daughter, admiring the waves weaving through the child’s blond hair. The pleasant golden color of both children’s hair came from Chris, but the waves were definitely maternally inherited.

Chris’s hair wouldn’t know a wave if a curler attacked it, Rachel mused.

Here, Jay, finish this tower, said Chris, drawing Jason’s attention away from Emily and the borrowed block.

Seizing upon the opportunity, Emily snatched up another block. Rachel’s smile twitched even wider at that, and she shifted her gaze to her husband. He kept his straight hair cropped short, revealing a broad, expressive forehead that usually announced his moods. His sea green eyes were set deep in his face, lending him a mysterious air that always fascinated Rachel. His nose might have been too large if his pleasant mouth and lips didn’t immediately call attention away from it.

The night had gone well so far with meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner followed by three-quarters of a Disney movie and some time with the building blocks. Next, would be story time followed closely by bedtime. Rachel would savor this night for a while. Though it was getting late, she stood another minute observing her husband and children.

When it looked like a round of horsey might break out, Rachel intervened. I think it’s time for two little people to be off to bed.

No bed! cried Emily. She dropped the blocks she’d been guarding so jealously and clapped her hands to either side of her face.

Jason went with a soft groan and a deep frown, but his disappointment was just as clear.

Rachel looked at their crestfallen faces. What’s with the long faces? You’d think I’d just sucked all the joy from the world. Come on, let’s have a smile. She broke Jason’s serious face by tickling his tummy.

Laughter replaced the mournful silence.

Chris swept Emily up off the floor. You too, Princess, time for the Bedtime Express.

Motioning Jason toward the stairs, Rachel turned to lead the way.

Oww! Chris cried.

Rachel whirled and smiled at the sight of Emily giggling and squeezing Chris’s nose.

Chris gently extricated his nose from the child’s grip. That’s no way for a princess to act. Without further comment, he buzzed and beeped his way to the bathroom for teeth brushing and potty time.

Hand-in-hand with Jason, Rachel followed her husband into the bathroom for the nightly adventures. Despite half the bathroom population being mini-people, lack of space made the preparations interesting. Still, it was a happy struggle.

Twenty minutes and two stories later, the kids were safely tucked in and kissed goodnight, so Chris and Rachel went downstairs to enjoy the rare chance to simply spend some time together. Rachel settled onto the couch and Chris joined her, pausing only long enough to turn the television to a classical music channel. Rachel leaned her head against her husband’s chest and rested contentedly. After a moment, she reached past him and grabbed her old high school yearbook from the end table. She chattered about the pictures while relishing the feel of his hands stroking her hair. The music mixed pleasantly with her voice until she fell asleep in Chris’s arms.

When she awoke hours later, it took Rachel’s sleep-slowed brain a few moments to realize she was nestled in her own bed.

Chris must have carried me.

Thinking she heard something, Rachel listened intently for several moments. Hearing nothing, she let sleep overtake her again and slipped into a series of peaceful dreams.

Her dreams would have been very different if she had known what the next few weeks would hold for her.

Chapter 2

Bold Move

Wegmans

Erie, Pennsylvania

After work on Thursday, Rachel Collins stopped at the grocery store for basics and something special for dinner. Having heard many horrible stories, she didn’t dare leave the children alone in the car. Warnings about best behavior fell upon deaf ears. Somewhere, she found the patience to tolerate Jason and Emily’s childish antics.

Why you frown, Mommy? Jason asked.

I’m just tired, Jay, replied Rachel. Her mind took a trip back to the office where a thousand little things had gone wrong. The secretary’s morning car accident had added considerable stress to Rachel’s hectic life. Her trust in God’s sovereignty didn’t make lousy days any easier to live through.

For years she had believed Christ to be mere church rhetoric. Finally, during a particularly rough college year, she had accepted God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. It pained her that Chris avoided church. Come Sunday, Rachel forced a bright smile, sang in the choir, helped in the nursery, and coordinated other children’s ministries. In fact, she kept herself so busy with work, kids, and church that her spiritual walk floundered. Stress and bills were her biggest problems, but she understood that they allowed her family light, food, warmth, and a fine home in the great state of Pennsylvania. She knew the ‘could-haves’ and the ‘what-ifs’ could drive her mad so she decided not to worry about the future.

When we get home, you need a nap, Jason said.

Her son’s solemn suggestion drew Rachel back to the present. She chuckled softly. Children were a blessing, even if they did jump all over her nerves sometimes.

Cookies! Emily shouted, pointing with a tiny finger.

Annoyed at herself for wandering down the wrong aisle, Rachel winced at the volume, grabbed Emily’s wildly waving hand, and said, Hush, sweets, I see them.

That’s what you get for not paying attention. Oh well, the damage is done. The pantry’s nearly empty anyway.

She let them each pick a favorite and finished the hike to the back corner where the main selection of milk and eggs were located.

Ingenious to put milk in the back, Rachel admitted.

Next, they swung by the fish department where Jason made a face.

Emily covered her nose and announced, Stinky!

Rachel quickly picked up shrimp for dinner, before speeding over to the bread aisle which offered a safer zone for their delicate noses. Perhaps she saw the young man watching her, but if she did, she thought nothing of it. Her children often drew strangers’ stares just by being charming or crazy, sometimes both. Eventually, Rachel made it to the checkout lines. Despite the two extra packages of cookies and a last minute addition of crackers, Rachel counted the expedition a success and headed for home.

***

Collins Residence

Fairview, Pennsylvania

Pulling into the garage, Rachel shut off the car, unpacked the kids, and ushered them into the playroom where they would be safely out from under foot. This would make grocery unpacking and dinner preparations much easier. So far, the afternoon routine was going well.

On her way back to the garage, Rachel thought she heard a noise. She froze mid-step and experienced the creepy feeling of being watched. Observation in public was one thing, but being watched at home was downright disconcerting. Goosebumps sprang to life up and down her arms. Seconds later the air conditioning turned on, masking other noises. With a shrug,