Against Her Will: Samantha Cain Mystery Series, #4

By Deborah Lynne

Against Her Will, book 4 of the Samantha Cain Mystery Series, takes Sam and her investigating team to the Carribbean's. Mark's niece Abby disappeared on her senior trip. Local police department believe she's gone off on her own. Mark knows better and will find her on his own if he has to, but his friends want to help.

This is one trip you don't want to miss. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deborah Lynne
• Release date: May 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386492320

Book preview

Scripture

Proverbs 22:6 (NLT) - Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Chapter 1

Sam. I need your help. 

The unexpected fear in Mark’s voice vibrated through the telephone sending a shiver of alarm through Samantha Cain. In the year she had known the homicide detective for the Baton Rouge City Police Department, he had always been in total control. He was a man who could encourage a frightened victim to trust him or convince a violent criminal to back down.

What’s wrong? What can I do? she whispered.

A second or two of dead silence packed the airwaves.

Sam recognized his uncharacteristic fear, his confusion, emotions that were unfamiliar to him. She waited patiently.

I need help from all of you, from the whole team.

We’re your friends Mark. You can count on us. What do you need?

It’s my niece, Abigail! Abby, he said softening his tone. She’s gone missing. He choked over his words.

What do you mean ‘gone missing’? She ran away from home? Disappeared from school? What? A frigid blast of ice shot through her veins. Tightening her grip on the phone she closed her eyes. Another missing child, Lord? I don’t think I can handle that! Could she? The kidnaper of the boy they had searched for during their first investigation had approached her son, threatened him...threatened her; warning her to back off or her son could be next. Did she want to put her son’s life in danger again? No. Of course not! Sure, she wanted to help Mark, but at what cost? She thought she would do anything for him...but could she do this?

Drawing in a deep breath, she focused on the facts of the situation. Is Abby a young child or a teenager? Where did she go missing? Are you sure she’s not just gone to a friend’s house? She didn’t mean to sound as if age mattered, but if his niece were a teen, Sam felt certain finding her would be more difficult in this day and time as well as bringing more questions to her mind. Teenagers today believe they are so grown up, ready to jump out into the world and live. According to the news, when teens decide to disappear, they succeed by blending into a crowded city without a problem. So were there problems at home that caused her to leave? Did she run away? Or just go to friend’s to escape the family? Or had someone taken her?

What difference does age make? An exasperated rush of air sounded in her ear before he answered her question. She’s a teenager! He sounded distraught, all hope lost. Suddenly with renewed vigor and certainty he said firmly, But she’s no runaway. She’s been kidnapped! It has to be. She disappeared on her senior trip. Abby would never leave on her own. The certainty of his statement spoke volumes. He believed what he said.

For sure another kidnapping! She clutched her chest as panic stabbed at her heart. That first case as a private investigator, finding a kidnapped child, twisted every motherly nerve in her being. She prayed never to have such a heart-wrenching investigation again. At least knowing Abby had not been taken here in town was a relief. Marty would be safe if they tackled this job, so of course they would help Mark.

Since the case of the missing boy, they have had a few other clients...none so emotional: finding a deadbeat dad and getting him to pay back-child support; finding a missing heirloom; and the latest, following an unfaithful spouse. At least that was what the wife hired them for even though it turned out he was taking dancing lessons to surprise her on their fortieth wedding anniversary.

So far, their PI firm holds a one hundred percent success rating. Now Mark had a new case for them, a personal case. And a young girl’s life depended on them retaining their unblemished record. Unblemished or not, they would want to find Abby and bring her home safely. It was the right thing to do.

Where was she when she vanished? Where did the seniors go on their trip?

Abby and the others were in the Caribbean. The third night into their one-week’s stay she never came back to her room. Today is day four and her roommate, Janet, called my sister Cathy, out of fear for her life-long friend. Janet said Abby was gone, and that she had disappeared during the night. She’d slipped off with a guy she had met earlier, right after arriving at the resort. He enticed her out on his sailboat last night. Abby assured Janet they weren’t going out in the waters, just hanging out on the boat.

Silence filled the airwaves for several seconds. After the pause, as if he were trying to gather strength he continued telling the story. Abby never came back to the room that night, and Janet was very worried. She stayed up all night waiting for Abby’s return. Finally, first thing this morning she called my sister. My sister had Janet tell the chaperones and have them notify the authorities immediately. Trust me. Abby’s a good girl. She wouldn’t do something like stay out all night. Something has happened, and I’m...I’m...I’m scared, he finally admitted. I have to get down there fast and find her before something terrible happens, and we lose her forever.

Human trafficking? No. It can’t be. Tears threatened to form in Samantha’s eyes as that thought tried to invade her mind. It’s been all over the news, teens disappearing in other countries and being sold on the market. With her fingertips, Sam twisted the gold chain that hung about her neck.

What did the police say? Is that what happened to Abby? The same thoughts of human trafficking must be flooding Mark’s mind as well. That was the worst-case scenario, she realized, so why think that first? It could have been a simple night of passion and then shame delaying her from returning and telling her best friend. A night of indiscretion, unfortunately those things did happen, even to nice girls. In her mind she tried to convince herself that was what happened to his niece.

Probably not the case. Hearing Mark’s thoughts on his niece made Sam believe a night of passion wouldn’t be what happened with Abby. With every minute passing, the harder it would be to find a trail to follow. They needed to move quickly.

When he didn’t answer, she asked again. Have you had an update since the chaperones called the police? What did they say? Where have they looked for her? Did they have a name of the young man she’d been seen with? What are the police thinking happened to your niece?

The local police didn’t seem concerned, he spat. The anger in his voice shot a burning fire through the phone. I can’t wait around for them to take her disappearance seriously.

In a soft voice, hoping to calm Mark somewhat, she said, I understand and agree. He was right, though. There was no time to waste. With hands trembling, a row of chill bumps raced across her skin like horses nearing a finish line. Fast and furious. Of course we’ll help you! Whatever we can do. Tell me.

I just booked a flight that leaves out tonight. I’m hoping you and Greg can go with me...Margaret too if she’s able. I mean, if Marty can stay with your parents. I need all you guys. I’ve already booked us a villa in the same resort they were staying. I guess I believed y’all would come but decided to check before booking your plane fare. Thanks.

No problem.

As nice as that place is, you’d think the kids would be safe! Frustration screamed in his voice. It’s such a huge resort. The whole place is surrounded with armed guards day and night, all around the perimeter. The school has used this same resort for the past five years of senior trips. No one has ever vanished before.

Sam could hear him moving around while he spoke to her on the phone. Probably packing his bags.

Call back and add three more to that flight, Mark. I’m sure Momma will take care of Marty. School is almost out for the summer, so they’ll probably come stay here. I’ll give them a call as soon as we hang up. Besides, Margaret would want to be with us helping. She can do so much with a computer; find out things we can’t. People don’t realize how much information is at fingertip access to anyone looking. Social media opened up a lot of doors, like Facebook and Instagram accounts as well as other sites that keep popping up. Teenagers use all those social media sites, and Margaret’s a genius and knows how to use them for our purposes."

It was a good thing they all had current passports. It was something Greg insisted they do...of course it was because he was planning a wedding in Belize—his and Margaret’s. He planned for all of us to fly with them, including Diane and Richard, Sam’s parents. Since the forming of the PI firm, Greg had gotten close to everyone...not just Margaret. He was family now.

And Mark, you need not worry so much that you rush and forget something. I’ll catch Greg and Margaret up to speed on your niece. We need to tap into all the connections we have here in the U.S. before we fly out this evening. I know Greg has a few contacts. I’m sure you do too. So stop and think. Use them. In a softer voice she added, We’ll find Abby. Don’t you worry.

Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me. We’ll fly out of New Orleans to Miami and from there to the Dominican Republic. We’ll need to get some sleep on the plane because when we land, we need to hit the ground running. She’ll have been gone over twenty-four hours and we both know how important the first forty-eight hours can be.

A gush of air rushed across the airwaves. Sam saw Mark in her mind, pacing back and forth, but she didn’t stop him from ranting on. He needed to get some of it out, so he could get his head back on straight and focus on their next step. 

I can’t believe the local police don’t seem to think we should be worried. They said kids on holiday slip away from time to time but always come back. They don’t know Abby. We do. She wouldn’t have done that. Besides, she has her cell phone with her everywhere she goes, and she is not responding to texts or calls. According to the phone company when I ran a tracer on it, they said it was either turned off, or it had a dead battery. Either way, they couldn’t trace it. They did, however, give me her last location as well as a list of calls and texts up to the time the phone died or was cut off. Her last call showed to be to her roommate’s cell phone for less than a minute, but Janet claimed never to have received the call. And the location for that call gave us longitude and latitude. When I gave that info to the police, via Janet, they said the location was a spot on the beach. That didn’t tell them anything except the young girl was enjoying the sand and surf.

It sounds like you’ve already gotten started. Calm your voice and call your sister. Reassure her you’ll bring her daughter home. We’ll get her, Mark, but we have to be smart and use all of our associations with any government official, like your FBI contacts, all authorized personnel who can help us.

Mark drew in a sharp breath, and then he slowly released it. You’re right. Thanks. I’ll give Special Agents Robicheaux and Johnson a call. Maybe they’ll be able to help us. Or at least know someone we can connect with down there...hopefully.

Now you’re thinking. Get busy and I will too. We’ll have Abby home before you know it.

Chapter 2

Thanks again for coming so quickly, Mom, Dad. Sam hugged her parents one at a time. Keep Abby and us in your prayers. This is going to be a hard one, she whispered for their ears only. The last thing she wanted to do was have her son worry about her.

We will, dear. You can count on us. Diane quickly embraced her daughter and then Margaret. Every moment of every day, you all will be in our prayers.

Richard pulled Sam into his embrace the minute Diane released her hold. We’ve already started praying. His murmur brushed her ear and she felt comfort in his arms.

Her mom and dad were prayer warriors. She had forgotten how much their strength comforted her.

Everyone had gathered in the living room to say goodbye. Suitcases sat ready by the door. Mark, like the luggage, waited in the doorway, ready to go, his hands scrunched into fists.

Sam glanced his way. She knew how heavy his heart felt. Hers broke for him and Cathy. His sister didn’t want to stay behind, but Mark had convinced her she would be more help waiting by the phone in case Abby had a chance to call her.

As Greg and Margaret said their goodbyes to Sam’s parents, Sam approached her son. She squatted down to hug Marty.

He started to cry. Don’t go, Momma. Please? His voice pleaded with her.

Her heart was torn, but she knew she had to do this. He was still so young, yet smart. Smart enough to be frightened because of the tension in the room and the fact that his grandparents had come to stay with him instead of him going to their house, as he normally did. That and the four of them rushing to catch a plane was different to him. She knew he was scared.

Hey, my little man, don’t you cry. We won’t be gone that long! Hopefully we’ll have this wrapped up within twenty-four to forty-eight hours. She had no idea how long this would take, but in her heart she prayed they found Abby right away. Sam wasn’t trying to lie to her son, just giving him hope. In turn she was encouraging her own self.

But Momma, it sounds like where you’re going, it may be dangerous.

All eyes darted in Marty’s direction as Sam swooped him into her arms. Where did he hear it would be dangerous? They all had made a point not to share their fear. Greg, Margaret, and Diane spoke reassuring words Marty’s way, as Sam continued to hold him close.

It’ll be okay. We’ll have her home in a jiffy, Margaret whispered.

We won’t let anything happen to your mom, Greg said comforting. 

They’ll be back in no time, sweetheart. Granny proclaimed.

All these sentiments filled the air at one time, but Sam knew Marty heard everyone of them. His body seemed to relax a tad.

I’ll be safe, sweetheart. Sam assured her son and kissed his forehead, keeping him close. I promise. You be good for Granny and Papaw while I’m gone.

Marty squeezed her tight as she felt her shoulder growing damp.

Dry up the tears, baby. I’ll be back before you know it. I’ll even try to pick you up a little surprise.

Kid mode kicked in. Marty’s head popped up and his wet brown eyes grew wide with wonder. You’ll be able to buy me a gift while you’re on this mission? His wet cheeks glistened reflecting the overhead light.

You watch too much television. Granny mussed his hair and then pulled him away from his momma, giving Sam freedom to leave. Y’all need to get on your way.

Greg tapped the top of Marty’s head. I promise I’ll keep your mom safe, big boy. Don’t you worry.

Margaret leaned down and kissed Marty’s cheek. She whispered in his ear but where all could hear, Maybe I can bring you a gift too. So think of us like we’re going on a vacation.

Marty beamed from ear to ear. "Alright! So what will you bring me?" He flashed Margaret a quirky grin.

Sam’s stomach muscles eased some as she watched the interaction between Marty and Margaret. Promises of two gifts would keep his mind busy for a couple of days. Maybe they could be back by then. Nine years old, and he’s growing up so quickly. Sam’s lips tightened as a smile touched her lips. Margaret knew how to distract him. The last thing Sam wanted to do was leave her son worrying about her own safety. He had been through enough over the past several years...a father who committed suicide, and a man he looked up to killed while performing his duty as a detective. Too much for someone so young.

We’ll see. Margaret winked and then edged closer to the front door.

Dad, Sam said as she took hold of his arm, drawing him closer. Keeping her voice low, she leaned near him and said, I’m sorry to put this on you and mom, but Mark’s niece’s life could depend on us. Thanks for coming so quickly. I’m not sure how long we’ll be gone. Sam felt the need to reiterate the importance of their immediate departure.

Richard pulled Sam into his embrace. Do your job, honey. We’re here for as long as you need us. Just glad we can help. His arms squeezed her tightly one more time, and then they joined the group at the door. You all need to be on your way. Let me help you to the car.

Greg clapped him on the shoulder. Thanks Richard. Take care while we’re gone.

Keep my daughter safe. His dark eyes speared Greg as his face tightened.

Richard’s grave look stirred Sam’s heart. He was worried. She hated that. You take care of my baby, Dad, and we’ll be back as quick as possible.  Another hug around his neck and she swept out the front door following the others with him on her heels toting one of the cases.

Marty and Diane followed as far as the front porch. They stood waving goodbye as Granny kept one hand on the boy’s shoulder. Sam blew them a kiss as she neared the van Mark was driving. He left his pick-up truck with Cathy and used her van for their transportation to New Orleans to catch the plane.

With the luggage loaded, Richard shook both of the men’s hands. You four, stay safe and if you can, give us a call. If not, that’s okay. We understand how things will be once you get there. He rounded the vehicle and hugged his daughter one more time. "You know we’ll be praying, and God will be