You Crossed The Line

By Dale Hollis

Being a farmhand was not something that Jill Holt aspired to be while growing up in Foxhollow, Wisconsin; well, that was before she and her husband Brandon found out that they were pregnant.

Brandon proved himself an exemplary assistant manager at the Foxhollow, Luxury Car Dealership, so much so that they offered him the manager position of their newest dealership in Fairbanks, Tennessee. After packing up what little they own, they set out to start a new life with endless possibilities.

They found their new town to be friendly, but Fairbanks was not without its problems; unsolved disappearances have gone on for decades. There has always been one rule in Fairbanks, and Jill unknowingly broke that rule when she and her daughter entered the woods to chase after the family dog; soon after, her daughter becomes one of the disappeared.

Later, when their dog appears from within the woods with a pink hat that was torn from their daughter’s onesie when she disappeared, Brandon set out to search for their daughter. When Jill is no longer able to reach Brandon through texts or calls, she enters the woods and soon finds herself fighting for her life to get back out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dale Hollis
• Release date: Dec 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005896232

Dale Hollis

YOU BROKE MY PROMISE was Dale's debut novel and was released in July of 2015 and is the readers' favorite, followed by FINDING BONES. His third book, YOU CROSSED THE LINE, is now available as of Dec 1, 2020, and is sure to be the one horror-thriller that you'll want to add to your collection. Dale lives a single life with no animals (because he's allergic to cats and dogs) in Wisconsin and has revealed more about himself at DaleHollis.com.

Book preview

YOU

CROSSED

THE LINE

Books by Dale Hollis

Fiction Titles

You Broke My Promise (2015)

Finding Bones (2016)

You Crossed The Line (2020)

YOU CROSSED THE LINE is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2020 by Dale Hollis

Author website: DaleHollis.com

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States of America.

Printed in the United States of America.

Thank you to my family and friends for all your support.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Thank You

Prologue

The sound of birds chirping mixed with drumming woodpeckers echoed throughout the darkening woods. Tall pines, poplar, and oak trees, most erect, and some felled, cover the small hills and valleys of the topography. A babbling brook held together by two stout banks deviated its way through the woods as if it were lost. The end of the day was approaching and nightfall would soon smother everything in sight. It was a peaceful and soothing end to what seemed like another perfect spring day.

However, all that peacefulness was soon broken as a loud scream tore through the cool air that made living things shudder. Birds departed hastily and small animals ran for cover. It seemed like the cool breeze had frozen time. The random sound of a small branch or a leaf hitting the ground was the only indication of movement.

A small cabin dating back to the late eighteen hundreds was fixed in the middle of the now still and hushed woods. Its dark exterior wood planks showed signs of distress that prevailed from every angle. The once resilient metal roof was now covered with rust, leaving it brown and feeble. A brick chimney emerged from the center of the roof and it billowed white smoke that smelled of oak. A light feathery mist from an up-and-coming storm held the smoke low across the terrain creating a fog that veiled a non-manicured lawn. A canopied front porch stretched the distance from one end of the cabin to the other. A partially torn and easily agitated screen door hung in front of an opened solid interior door, both of which sat between two modestly sized single-pane windows sheared with white paper-thin linens, which have since yellowed over the years.

The light of the day faded in the distance as the cool darkness of night intruded. The allure of light coming from the fireplace inside the cabin glimmered through every opening. The mesmerizing flicker created a glow around the cabin that made it feel welcoming—that is—until the sound of another scream came from within.

Inside the front door, a large living room ran parallel to the front porch from one end of the cabin to the other. A load-bearing wall separated the small bedroom, the kitchen, and the now indoor plumbing room from the front half. To the left, near the driveway side, a bright light obtruded from an opening in the blackened six-inch wide plank flooring. A three-quarter inch piece of plywood hinged to the floor made a makeshift cellar door that leaned against the outside wall. Next to the opening—in disarray—sat a small wood veneer table with two chairs and a scrunched up carpet runner.

Another sound clamored from below the floor. A short flight of wooden steps led down into a small room; it was hot down there. The heat radiated the smell of body odor and scraps of rotting food upward through the opening. Miscellaneous shaped bricks along with small areas of resting water made up the floor. Scrap wood, hay, and mud created the soundproof ceiling, and slats of aged wood covered the dirt walls. A single hundred-and-fifty watt bulb made a small circular rotation as it dangled from the middle of the ceiling.

An unbathed young girl—now seventeen years of age—lay screaming in labor on a table. She had not had a full bath in months, but a rag and a small bucket of water came once a week. Her filthy long brown hair laid matted to her bruised and battered face. An old ratty nightgown pulled up to her stomach was her only protection from the elements. Both bare feet rest in makeshift stirrups as a heavy steel shackle clamped tightly around a black and blue left ankle.

The man of the house stood back from the table with crossed arms and a straight face. His eyes darted back and forth from the young girls face to the woman hunched down between her legs.

The woman was not a licensed doctor or even a nurse of a sort, but the ability for delivering babies was handed down to her from her mother, and from her mother’s mother.

All right, Rebecca, the woman said. You’re gonna need to push.

Go to hell! Rebecca yelled as she clutched the edges of the table with both hands. She grunted as she swung her unshackled leg over to meet the other.

The man dropped his arms from his chest and glared at Rebecca for not cooperating. He watched as the woman moved Rebecca’s unshackled leg back over to its own stirrup and then as Rebecca swung it back over again. He stepped up alongside the table and backhanded Rebecca across the face. Her head swung violently to her side as blood sprayed the pillow. She wailed from the pain.

The woman blenched when she saw the hit.

You’d best be doing what you’re told, missy.

Go to hell, you redneck bastard, she said, through her left hand as it held her mouth.

Push, dagnabbit! the man shouted as he grabbed Rebecca by both knees and forced her legs apart.

The woman quickly grabbed some twine and tied Rebecca’s right foot into the stirrup. The rope burned Rebecca’s skin as the woman cinched it tightly before tying it off.

Rebecca screamed as she struggled to close her legs again. The blood from her busted lips filled her mouth causing her to gag and enter into a violent coughing fit. The woman noticed that Rebecca was choking on her own blood and could not breathe. The man rushed to get behind Rebecca and he grabbed her by the back of her neck and sat her up. He forcibly slapped her on the back trying to clear her throat. Rebecca grimaced from the pain of every hit. Finally, she was able to breathe again and she spit a mouthful of blood onto her shabby nightgown. She inhaled and exhaled heavily as she glowered at him when he walked away.

The man reclaimed his spot back over with the woman while she checked on the progress of the baby.

It’s coming!

Rebecca’s body tightened as she blew out a long labored breath.

If you’d just push, the pain would be all over, the woman said.

Ahhh! Rebecca growled. No, no, no. She could not hold the baby in any longer.

Rebecca bellowed an ear-piercing howl and pushed with everything she had. The man sidestepped closer to the woman as he wiped his mouth with a nervous hand. The woman received the baby with both hands onto a dark brown towel. The baby cried and Rebecca’s head dropped to the pillow as her hands fell to her sides off the table. Sweat ran from her forehead into her eyes but she had no strength to wipe it before it burned.

It’s a girl! The woman smiled as she used a corner of the towel to wipe the baby’s face.

She handed the newborn to the man. His hands trembled as one arm made a bed while his other hand gently rubbed the baby’s chest. The corners of his mouth crept upward as he stared into the tiny slits between the baby’s eyelids. He hoped that they would open so he could watch it struggle to focus through new eyes.

The woman waved a pair of scissors over a candle flame before cutting the umbilical cord. She then secured the end with a wooden clothespin. Afterward, he offered the newborn back to her so she could swaddle their new bundle of joy. The man and woman grinned as they stared at the life before them. This child was the miracle that they had been waiting for.

We did it, Pa. We finally have a baby. The woman’s eyes sparkled from the light hitting her tears.

"That’s my baby, you bitch! Rebecca yelled as she reached for her. Give me my baby!" she shouted.

Pa rushed to Rebecca’s side. Shut up. He backhanded her again breaking her nose.

Rebecca’s head slammed backward onto the pillow. Blood ran from her nose as her head rocked from side to side.

The baby screamed from the sudden outburst so the woman rocked it in her arms trying to hush it.

You ain’t gonna be around long enough to take care of this here child. Pa scowled at Rebecca.

Rebecca bounced in and out of consciousness as she softly called out, Justine…Justine…Justine.

Aw, look at her, Pa, she’s perfect. the woman stared at the baby’s reddish ivory colored face.

Pa stepped around the table and stood next to her.

The woman kissed the baby’s cheek. I am so happy right now, Pa.

I told ya I’d getcha you child, didn’t I?

You sure did, Pa, and she’s beautiful.

Rebecca moaned as she came to. She looked at the both of them ogling her baby. Please… Rebecca strained as she reached for Justine. Please…

Pa reached over to a small shelf that held clean rags, peroxide, needles and thread, and an old eight-inch fixed blade buck knife. He clutched the knife and held it in front of his body pointed in the direction of Rebecca. He gently pushed the woman toward the steps. You go on up now, I’ll take care of her.

Rebecca’s eyes widened as she gasped in terror, her head still woozy from the bash to her nose. She stared at the long knife as the rooms only light bounced off the stainless steel blade creating spotlight images around the room. Her eyes blurred in variations as her vision waved like an image on an old picture tube TV that would not lock in.

The woman ascended a couple of steps. Rebecca shot her a look in hopes of her maybe being her savior. The woman returned a quick glance and then continued up the steps.

You ain’t needed anymore, little lady. Pa walked alongside Rebecca and raised the knife, accidentally hitting the hanging light causing it to sway.

The light swung the length of Rebecca’s body and blinded her blurred eyes with every sway, which in turn, made it impossible for her to see where he was and what he was about to do.

"Wait, wait!" Rebecca cried out while trying to shake off her dizziness. Tears poured from her eyes like rain as she held up her trembling hands in hopes of blocking his plunge of the knife.

Pa stared at her as he held the knife just feet above the center of her chest. He contemplated bringing the knife down and ending her life at that moment, but instead, he repeatedly re-gripped the knife as he listened to her plea.

The woman stopped at the top of the steps but then returned to the bottom to hear what was being said. She held Justine tightly to her body as she pressed her lips against her forehead.

Rebecca’s heavy breaths caused her to gasp for every word. "Please, can I hold my baby, just once? Please."

The woman looked skeptically at Rebecca from the second step and then looked at Pa. He lowered the knife to his side and returned her look. They stared at one another for what seemed like forever to Rebecca. She slid herself up the best that she could on the table and wiped the tears from her eyes as she stared—expectantly—between the two.

Well, Ma, whaddya think? Pa asked.

She pondered the question.

Well, I reckon it can’t hurt anything, she said as she gently bounced the tiny package in her arms as she took the last two steps down.

They both looked at Rebecca and then to each other one last time. Ma walked over to Rebecca and gently handed Justine over to her. Pa returned the knife back to the shelf and then moved to the end of the table near Rebecca’s feet, which were still restrained in the homemade stirrups.

Thank you so much. Rebecca gently took Justine.

Ma stuffed another pillow behind Rebecca’s back to help sit her up. She then stepped back and stood with her elbows resting on her stomach and her hands covering her mouth as she watched. Pa stood unfaltering at the end of the table, watching every little move that Rebecca made.

Rebecca laid her new daughter onto the ratty nightgown that covered her chest and gave her light kisses all over her face.

I love you so much, Justine, she whispered. Everything is gonna be okay, I promise.

Rebecca looked at Ma and Pa and noticed their eyes fixed on her. After a few more kisses, Rebecca looked again from her baby to her abductors. She had already saw her fate and knew that she was not getting out of there alive.

"Will you please let us go? I promise I won’t tell anyone." She cried an emotional plea.

No! Pa shouted. She ain’t yers anymore, she’s ours. Now, I reckon you’d best hand that child back, he said, through squinted eyes.

Rebecca cried a hard silent cry against Justine’s forehead. I love you, pumpkin, she whispered into her ear. I’m so sorry for this. Mommy will see you really soon. She kissed Justine one last time.

As Ma stepped over and reached for Justine, Rebecca looked at her and then at Pa.

You people don’t deserve my baby. She held Justine tightly, one hand around her body and the other around the back of her head. She hesitated for one excruciatingly painful second before she quickly twisted in opposite directions.

Ma shrieked as she turned and threw herself onto the steps. Pa’s mouth dropped with no sound as his eyes opened wide.

Rebecca held Justine to her chest as she stared stone-faced at Pa. He was nothing but a blur as she looked through two lakes.

Pa could not believe what he had just saw. A paroxysm of rage hit him, causing him to grab the loaded shotgun stored in the corner behind him. He squared it onto Rebecca’s face and pulled dual triggers.

Chapter

1

"Will you please let me out of this car!" Jill said increasingly louder.

It was an exhausting trip from Wisconsin, which started at six in the morning and did not finish until almost twelve hours later. It started out just as any road trip does with random conversations and games as in: I spy, punch buggy, and who spots a license plate from the farthest state away. When all that got repetitive and boring, it was time to stare out the window or constantly punch the buttons on the radio, which was a game all of its own; enter a new city, tune in a station, leave the city, tune in a station, enter a new city, tune in a station; well, you get the point.

The weather was nice so the occasional hand out the window surfing the wind always made time pass a little faster. The stops for bathroom breaks and food were usually the highlights of any road trip. You get to step out of a cramped vehicle, stretch your legs, and then race to the bathroom because you realized that you had to go worse than you had thought. However, this trip required more stops than the average road trip.

Brandon grinned as he shook his head. He chuckled. Just hold your maternities on. I’ll stop at the next gas station.

Can’t we just go to the house? Jill asked.

We’re still a couple of miles away.

She moaned in discomfort as she twisted in her seat trying to search the car. The uncomfortable feeling of her pants riding up every crack when she twisted and turned in her seat made her frustrated and claustrophobic.

What are you looking for?

I just need a bottle or something.

For what?

"So I can pee!"

Oh, no you don’t! Not in my car you’re not. He accelerated faster.

A few minutes later he screeched the tires of the Mercedes to a halt next to the bathroom doors on the outside of a gas station. Here it is, get out.

What the hell! She glared at him. That’s not helping. What are you trying to do force it out of me?

She fumbled with the lock and the door handle trying to open it. Come on, come on. Unlock the damn door wouldja! she shouted.

He hit the button. Sorry.

That bathroom door had better be unlocked or I’m going right here in the parking lot.

She grunted as she thrust herself from the seat. She mumbled aloud as she began to push down her pants and extremely exaggerate her gait on the way to the bathroom. Brandon watched with a smirk. He would never know how it felt to have a seven, eight, or maybe even a nine-pound baby bouncing up and down on his bladder for hours on end.

The door was unlocked so she rushed inside. She chose to forgo the usual cleaning of the toilet seat and attempted to hover over it instead. She braced her hands on the stall walls and let out a loud audible sigh of relief that her husband could hear from outside. He chuckled as he flipped through the radio stations.

The restroom looked of average cleanliness, but she still did not feel comfortable enough to lower herself onto the seat. She finished up by gathering a ball of one-ply and wiped the seat of excess spray, after which she kicked a foot to hit the lever.

Brandon leaned against the driver’s door as he waited for Jill to return. A few minutes later, he heard the crack from the barrel slide bolt on the bathroom door. He up-righted himself and watched as his wife waddled back over to the car.

Everything come-out all right, dear? He chuckled.

Ha-ha. You’re so funny. I so wish men could get pregnant. She gave him a peck on the lips while on her way around to the passenger’s side. "Why can’t they just sew on an overflow bag when a woman gets pregnant? That would make things sooo much easier."

Do you want anything from inside since we’re here? he asked. There’s nothing at the house.

Not right now. We can go get something later. We have drinks in the cooler, and I have my snacks.

Yeah, thank the junk food industry for the snacks, he said as they climbed back into the car.

What do you mean by that? She gazed at him with her mouth hung open.

Nothing…nothing at all. He smiled.

Oh, you’re so full of it. She smirked and slapped his arm.

We might as well check out the town a little on our way to the house, now since you can see out of your eyeballs again.

She rolled her eyes at him.

I can show you my work, the shopping center, and other stuff. He pulled into traffic and hit the gas a bit hard, pushing the both of them back into their seats.

Right now that’s the last thing I wanna do is ride around more in the car. The twelve-hour drive wasn’t long enough for you?

I just thought—

Fine… She sulked as she took in the towns people’s daily activities on their trip around the town.

The main drag of the small town of Fairbanks, Tennessee was located a few blocks down the road from the gas station. As they drove through the town, Brandon pointed out the places that they would frequent the most: the grocery store, the bank, a few nice restaurants, and lastly but not the least, his work.

And here’s my second home.

Jill smiled as she could see the sparkle in his eyes as they approached the dealership. He pulled into the driveway and slowly made his way around the lot. Previously, he was the assistant manager at the Foxhollow Luxury Dealership back in Wisconsin, and to his surprise, they offered him the opportunity to manage the new office in Fairbanks, Tennessee.

As he drove through the lot, Jill’s eyes opened wide as she felt a sense of wonderment. Mercedes, Lexus, Audi, Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, Cadillac, and more, surrounded them. She thought she knew her husband and could not figure out how he was able to land the opportunity to manage such a dealership.

When she and Brandon first met, she saw something in him that she knew she had seen before, but she could not put her finger on it. Over time, she finally realized where she had seen the acts of a person like him; the way he could ramble on about the littlest things to make them seem like such big deals.

She could remember when she was younger and her dad and mom would take her with to shop for a new car. When she listened to her dad talk to the salesperson, she saw that her dad hardly got a word in edgewise. The salesperson did most of the talking and seemed to do a lot of babbling about everything. She watched as her dad’s eyes lit up, and his head nodded as if he understood everything the man said. Her mother just stood aside and pretended to be interested in what was going on, but she knew it was not her place to say anything while dad talked business.

She finally learned that she was in love with a car salesman. His tall well-toned frame, light complexion, haircut parted to one side, and a can-do attitude with the ability to persuade anyone into doing anything, fit the average car salesman perfectly.

This is a great opportunity for us, babe, Brandon said with a big smile.

I’m very happy for you. She squeezed his cheeks together while she softly shook his head. Still holding onto his cheeks, she added, You did well. Now, can we go see the house? She squeezed his cheeks even tighter and turned his face toward her. "And if you bring me to some little shack in the worst part of town, I will divorce you tomorrow." She released her grip with a playful push of his face.

Well, to be honest with you, it is a step up from a shack, but I still think that you’ll like it. He grinned.

Really… She squinted as she side-eyed him.

He said nothing, but he peeked at her from time to time as he drove from neighborhood to neighborhood. He chuckled to himself each time her face changed expression as she glanced about the different houses.

On the next street, he played a trick on her. He stopped in front of some random house that had seen better days just to see what she would do.

Is this it? She snarled.

Yep, this is it. He smiled. Isn’t it just wonderful?

You’ve got to be kidding me. She looked at him and then back at the house. She stared at the lime green single story house. Black shutters stood tall beside the rotted frames of the single-pane windows. Not a shingle on the roof was complete, and the bricks of the chimney had lost their grip on the mortar and now rest on the roof. The yard was one huge bush pile with not a grass blade in sight, a dilapidated chain-link fence struggle to surround the property; mostly unseen due to heavy overgrowth, a single car garage that leaned away from the house was occupied by a late model VW bug parked inside; which held up part of the roof.

He moved the shifter into park and pulled his door handle acting as if he were getting out of the car. She followed suit and pulled her door handle as the frown on her face turned blank.

I’m just kidding. He laughed heartily. We’re about two blocks away. He shifted back into drive and pulled away from the curb.

She let go of the door handle and punched him in his arm.

Ow.

The door continued to open and she quickly grabbed it and slammed it shut.

You are such an asshole. Why do you do that?

He chuckled as he rubbed his bicep. Because I thought it would be funny.

Ha-ha. You’re so hilarious. She punched his arm again. That was funny also, wasn’t it?

Well, it did kinda tingle. Is that all you got? He grinned.

She rolled her eyes. If I wasn’t pregnant, I’d show you what else I got.

Okay, I’m confused, are we still talking about punching me, or are we talkin’ about sex now? He smiled.

Shut up and take me home, or I’m gonna tell your child that her daddy died a horrible death.

A couple of blocks later, the car slowed and Jill perked in her seat.

Okay, let me know if you can pick out our house.

How am I supposed to do that, they all look the same?

Just try.

He drove slowly down the street until he approached a house that had a sign in the front yard that read, ‘Welcome home, Jill.’