Authors: Lynette Eason
“Wait a minute, I talked to your partner. He never said anything about y’all investigating Abby, just that you were completely unglued about your wife’s death.”
Reese grimaced. “Which was the truth, just not all of it. I asked him not to let on about what I was looking for. I convinced him that I knew Abby didn’t deserve to be practicing medicine, I just needed to find the proof so I could shut her down. I asked him to tell that story if anyone started asking where I was.” He groaned and closed his eyes. “Sure couldn’t let people know I was violating a restraining order.”
“Why would you?”
Reese swallowed hard and didn’t answer. Cal wondered if the man had passed out again. Then Reese roused a bit to say, “Because after putting two and two together, I got the impression that Abby was in trouble. She thought it was me, I knew it wasn’t.”
“Abby wouldn’t be involved in that kind of thing,” Cal ground out. “She’s found the insurance fraud, too. Someone set her up.”
Reese hitched a breath and nodded. “I know. Look, I’ll explain everything later. We need to get to Abby. That guy, Randall, is the one who shot me. He’s also the one who’s been stealing the money and making it look like it’s Abby.”
Cal tried the car again and was rewarded with a coughing growl. But at least it started. He’d have to get Zane to bring him back and get the snowmobile, but that was the least of his worries right now.
“How bad are you hit?” he asked Reese.
“Nothing major, obviously,” Reese muttered. “I’m still here.”
Cal studied the guy in the rearview mirror wondering if his story was on the up and up. He was inclined to believe it wasn’t, that it was all a setup to get to Abby. But if it was… “And the guy who shot you is on the way to the house right now?”
“Yeah.”
“Then hang on, that’s where we’re going, too.”
Cal spun the wheel and waited for the chains on the tires to grip into the snow. Then he made his way as fast as possible, searching for the driveway. Reese hadn’t known the layout of the land and he’d been driving across the field.
He was lucky he hadn’t landed in a ditch somewhere. Even with the snow covering the ground, Cal knew where to drive and what area to avoid. At least the majority of them. The only problem was the ice and snow.
It was slow-going, but as long as the engine didn’t die again, he’d be at the house within ten minutes.
Hang on, Abby, I’m coming.
Abby glanced out the window and sucked in a deep breath. Randall had made an icepack out of the snow and one of his gloves and held it on his nose. Every so often, he threw a menacing glance toward the house.
The barn continued to burn, but there wasn’t anything Abby could do about it now. Leaving Zane worried her, but she’d had no choice. She had to take care of Fiona.
With no power, the house rapidly chilled. With a new baby on the way, she needed warmth. Abby cranked up the gas logs and prayed that would warm at least the den area.
Checking her cell phone, she prayed she could get one call out to Cal before it died. Dialing the number, she waited.
He answered with a snapped question. “Abby, are you all right?”
“No. Zane’s unconscious out by the barn and Randall Cromwell, my partner, is here and trying to—”
The line cut off and she brought the phone down in front of her to look at it.
Dead. Like she would be if she didn’t figure out something fast.
And Abby worried about Zane. She had to find a way to get back out there to check on him.
Fiona let out a keening cry from the bedroom and Abby raced to help. Tiffany bolted out of the spare room where she’d been playing with a flashlight Abby had managed to grab from the kitchen counter, and into the hall, eyes wide. “What’s wrong with Aunt Fiona?”
“She’s not feeling too well right now. But she’ll be just fine in a bit. I’m going to take care of her, okay?”
Worried gray eyes stared at her. “Okay.”
“There’s nothing to worry about, I promise.” Abby wondered if she wasn’t trying to reassure herself as well as the little girl.
Abby paused. She didn’t want to frighten Tiffany, but she spun back and said, “Sweetie, there’s a bad man around the house. I want you to go hide if you see a man you don’t know, okay?”
Tiffany frowned. “A bad man?”
“Yes. And if you see him, you hide. Promise?”
Tiffany nodded slowly, her little mind processing this. “Okay. I promise.”
Her lower lip trembled, and Abby pulled her into a reassuring hug. She had to keep her safe. Had to help Fiona. Fear shuddered through her, but she pushed it away.
With one last pat on Tiffany’s back, Abby said, “I need to check on Aunt Fiona now, all right?”
Tiffany went back to her video and Abby hurried to Fiona.
It wouldn’t be long before Randall tried to get into the house. She knew this in her gut.
But she had a baby to deliver. If Randall got in, she’d just have to deal with that when the time came.
Please, God, I know I haven’t prayed much since Keira died, but I really need You right now. And so does Zane. Please watch over him until I can get back out there. And please, please, get Cal here in time to stop Randall.
She found Fiona in the throes of another contraction.
After it passed, Abby quickly checked the woman and told her. “Time to push.”
SIXTEEN
C
al glanced in the rearview mirror once more. Reese had passed out again. But Cal was getting closer to the house. On the phone with Eli, he asked, “Anyone at Fiona’s house yet?”
“No, Cal, I’m sorry. Joel hasn’t reported in yet. To tell you the truth, I’m worried about him. This isn’t like him.”
Cal felt his stomach clench. “So am I. Abby just called and said Randall was at the house, then her phone died. I’m going to need backup.”
“I figured. I’m on the way.”
The snow swirled and he could barely see out of the windshield. “It’s getting worse out here. Use a snowmobile.”
“Got it covered.”
Cal hung up and tried Fiona again. Nothing.
Then the SUV slammed to the right, the steering wheel spun from his grip and the vehicle tilted. He’d hit a ditch or blown a tire.
Heart pounding with the adrenaline rush, he tried backing up, then going forward. Nothing worked.
Frustration made him want to let out a yell. Instead, he slammed a fist on the wheel and kicked the door open. Climbing out into the cold, he shivered and pulled his hat farther over his ears. He walked around to the other side and looked at the tires.
One was shredded.
Opening the passenger door, he shook the unconscious man. “Hey, Reese. Wake up.”
Reese groaned, but didn’t open his eyes.
Cal said, “I gotta leave you here, but I’ll be back.”
“Abby…”
“Yeah.” He said a prayer for the man, slammed the door and started the difficult trek through the knee-deep snow toward the house he knew he’d be able to see just over the next rise.
Abby ran the warm washcloth over the baby boy in her arms as Fiona took a moment to gather her strength. She looked at the new mother. “I think that’s the fastest first birth I’ve ever seen.” Well, not really. Fiona had been in labor for days, they’d just both been in denial about the fact. Each one for different reasons, but denial all the same.
And now he was here.
The newborn let out a squall that made Abby sigh in relief. He sounded healthy—and mad. That was a good sign. Fiona looked fine. Radiant. And happy it was all over. Abby felt exhausted, mentally and physically. And so happy that everything went well with the birth, she wanted to weep.
But she didn’t have time for that. Down the hall, she heard the sound of glass breaking.
Randall looking for a way in. Tensing, she handed the baby to Fiona who looked at Abby. “What was that?”
She couldn’t lie, couldn’t gloss over it. “It’s the man who’s been after me.”
Fiona’s eyes widened as fear entered them. “How do you know?”
“He was at the barn. He was the one who set it on fire.”
“Zane! Is he all right?”
Abby winced. “I don’t know. He was hurt when I left him. I need to find a way to check on him, but I…” Abby stopped and thought, trying to develop a plan.
Fiona shook her head. “You can’t go out there, not with that man here. Just wait. You got in touch with Cal. He knows something’s wrong and will be doing his best to get back here.”
That statement brought a measure of hope; however, she still didn’t know how bad Zane was hurt. The man had done his best to help keep her safe.
She could do no less for him. And if she stayed in the house, she might very well put Fiona, Tiffany and the baby in danger.
She thought quickly. “I’m going to get Tiffany and you keep her in here with you.”
Abby stepped out of the bedroom, pushed down her mounting fear and crossed the hall where Tiffany still played with the flashlight. “Come with me, hon. I need you to come see the new baby.”
Tiffany hopped up, the flashlight in hand. “New baby? Where? I wanna see.”
Abby glanced down the hall and into the kitchen. So far, she could see nothing, but she wasn’t sure which window Randall had broken and how fast he could gain access, but she knew it wouldn’t be long.
She reentered Fiona’s master bedroom and watched Tiffany climb up on the bed to see the baby. She caught Fiona’s fearful gaze with her own and said, “I’ll be right back.”
Stepping back into the hall, she locked the bedroom door from the inside, and walked down the hall toward the sounds coming from the den. “Abby!” Randall hollered at her. “Where are you?”
Abby shuddered at the sheer menace in the man’s tone. So, he was inside now. She stepped quietly, her shoes making no noise on the carpet runner. She needed a weapon. Somehow she had to keep Randall from going down the hall to check the bedrooms. As soon as he found the locked door, he’d break it down.
Indecision raged inside of her. What should she do?
Oh, Cal, where are you? I need you to hurry up!
If Abby returned to the room where Fiona was, she’d have to knock and make noise.
Better to just try and find a way to knock Randall out before he got to Fiona’s room.
But what could she use?
He had the kitchen blocked, but if he walked down the steps to the little apartment, she could slip into the kitchen.
Or she could make a run for the front door. Lead him away from the house and back toward the barn.
But no. Zane was there and injured. Randall could use him to get Abby to do whatever he wanted. So she’d have to aim for the main house.
Heart pounding, lungs desperately wanting to gasp air, she continued to the end of the hall. She could hear Randall opening and closing doors.
Light from the big windows in the den and the kitchen made it easy to see. Finally, Randall turned his back and she slipped into the den to crouch behind the large recliner. As soon as he got far enough away from the kitchen and the front door, she’d make a run for it.
Randall’s vicious curses rang through her ears and she pressed her lips together to breathe through her nose.
Footsteps came her way.
She closed her eyes and prayed.
Please go the other way, please—
Only to have that prayer interrupted by the feel of a gun against the back of her head.
Cal’s anxiety level had already reached new highs. His breath labored in his lungs as he fought the snow and ice to get to Fiona’s house. He estimated he was about another quarter of a mile away.
Grabbing his cell phone, he punched in Eli’s number once again. The man answered on the second ring. “What is it?”
“Where are you?”
“Right at the edge of your property. About two miles out. Where are you?”
Panting, Cal said, “On foot. The car broke down on me. Flat tire. But I’m almost there. Had to leave Reese in the car.”
“I’m coming as fast as I can, but it’s slow-going.”
“I know. Be careful. But hurry. Anything from Joel?”
“No.”
Cal could hear the worry in his friend’s voice. Finally, the house came in to view.
And the barn.
He came to a stumbling halt, shock rendering him nearly motionless. “Oh, my—”
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
Eli’s question cracked across him and fear tumbled headlong through his heart.
“The barn’s on fire. It looks like a total loss.”
With renewed adrenaline shooting through him, Cal picked up the pace. His prayers winged Heavenward.
Please, Lord…
He could see the horses in the far pasture. It looked like someone had managed to get them out. But as valuable as the horses were, his main concern was Abby, Fiona, Tiffany and Zane.
He could also see a snowmobile parked to the left side of the house.
Cromwell.
Pushing himself to the limit, he raced through the constricting snow, desperately praying he wasn’t too late.
Abby froze wondering what had given her away.
“Stand up.” The low order scraped over her skin.
Slowly, she rose from her crouched position behind the chair, turned and saw the mirror on the wall, exposing her hiding place. Her heart thudded against her chest and her breathing seemed constricted. Fear thrummed a steady beat through her veins and she kept a tight rein on her nerves.
Cal, where are you?
But this was her fault. She’d brought this trouble into the McIvers’ household, it was up to her to get rid of it.
One way or another.
The gun dug into the back of her skull and she winced.
“Get me the flash drive. Now,” Randall ordered. His cold calculated words made her shiver.
Abby wanted to stall. She needed time to think. Because once she gave him what he wanted, he’d have no reason to keep her alive.
Randall pulled the gun from her head and spun her by the shoulder to face him. When she looked into his eyes, her terror tripled. She’d never stared evil in the face before. But she knew she was looking at it now.
And she knew her time had run out.
“Fine. Okay. You win.”
Even as she said the word, a plan formed in the back of her mind.
And the baby cried.
Randall’s eyes cut to the hall, then back to her. “And no tricks or I’ll kill both of them.”
Abby shuddered. And knew she didn’t have a choice any longer. “Follow me. I’m staying down in the basement.” She didn’t worry that he would think she was lying. After all, that’s where he’d tried his first attempt to nab her. There was no way he could know that she’d moved upstairs. “The drive’s down there in my purse.”
A wary look replaced the meanness. “Then you go down first.”
She nodded, walked into the kitchen and started down the steps. The darkness pressed in on her. Not having any light in the stairwell, she held on to the rail to help guide her. One by one, she took the steps, descending to the basement on shaky legs. Two steps from the bottom, she opened the door and took a deep breath.
Prayed for strength and courage to do the right thing.
“What are you waiting for?” The muzzle of the gun nudged her forward.
Courage, she thought.
Lord, please help me.
Taking in another bolstering breath, she forced herself not give in to the fear…or to chicken out on doing what she knew she had to do.
She’d only have a split second to act.
Fortunately, outside light filtered through the window, illuminating her way. Giving her just enough light to see what she needed to see.
Heart thumping, stomach churning, she reached the last step, spun out of sight around the edge of the wall that hid the steps—and Randall’s view—and grabbed the nearest rifle from the display rack.
“Hey! What are you—” He came around the corner, his blackened eyes widening in the fraction of the second he realized her intention.
Swinging the rifle by the barrel, she slammed the butt of the weapon into Randall’s already-broken nose.
His screeching cry of pain echoed around her as she bolted past him. His hand shot out and snagged her leg. Hard fingers dug into her as he pulled her foot out from under her. She landed on the steps with bone-jarring thud.
“Let go of me!”
Abby scrambled to claw her way up, but Randall just wouldn’t loosen his grip. She kicked out with her free leg and caught him under the chin.
He gave another howl and she was free.
Knowing she was dead if he got his hands on her again, she crawled on all fours up the stairs, slid through the open door at the top and slammed it behind her.
Shooting to her feet, she rammed the lock home, then searched for another weapon, her breath hitching in her chest, hands shaking. Now he would be extra mad and would probably just shoot her on sight. And everyone else he came in contact with.
Somehow she had to get him out of the house.
She opened cabinets, then shut them, seeing nothing that would be useful. Eyeing the block of knives on the counter, she gulped. Would she be able to use one in a way that meant possibly killing Randall?
She thought about Fiona, the baby and Tiffany.
Maybe.
She stopped. Randall was in the basement. If she could get Abby, the baby and Tiffany out of the house…
But that would be impossible. No, she had to take care of Randall. One way or another.
An open drawer revealed a silver roll of duct tape. She snatched it and placed it on the counter. If she could knock Randall out, she could use the duct tape to keep him in one place until help could arrive.
Shaking, she started looking for a heavy frying pan.
A noise at the front door startled her and she raced over to look out the window.
Had Randall gone out the basement door and come around to the front?
Pushing aside the curtain, Abby looked out and nearly wilted with relief. She unlocked the dead bolt and threw the door open. “Cal!”
“Are you okay?” He grabbed her and looked past her. “Is Fiona all right?”
“Yes, but Randall’s here. He’s in the basement and—”
“I’m going to kill you!” Randall’s enraged scream came from behind the locked door and echoed throughout the house.