Too Many Secrets (11 page)

After making sure she couldn't cause him any more trouble, Joe left, taking with him Jennie's half-eaten sandwich and the glass of milk.

It was dark before she saw either of the men again. Judging from the darkness and the way her stomach was growling, it had to have been way past dinner. She heard footsteps on the stairs, then in the hall.

Dan burst into the room, and he hadn't come to feed her.

“Time for you and me to take a little walk.” As he reached over to untie her legs, Jennie froze. He had a gun tucked in the waistband of his pants, the handle pressed into a stomach that looked like a stuffed pillow. “Only for you,” he sneered, “it's going to be a one-way trip.”

Jennie and Dan met Joe at the bottom of the stairway. “Where do you think you're going?” Joe snapped.

“To dispose of a little unnecessary baggage.”

“That wasn't part of the plan. Take her back upstairs.”

“The boss changed his mind. You got a problem with that?”

“Yeah. You shoot her and every law enforcement agency in the country will be after us.”

Dan snorted. “Who said anything about shooting her? This little gal is gonna take a walk out on the rocks by the beach. She gets too close to the edge … oops. It's all over. No bullets, and if we're lucky, no body … at least not till we're outta here.”

For a second, Jennie thought Joe would stop him. Then he shrugged and stepped aside.

“No!” Jennie screamed through the gag.
Joe, don't let him hurt me
. Dan poked her in the back with his gun.

Jennie glanced behind her. Joe stood in the doorway, his arms folded across his chest. “Hey,” Joe called. Hope exploded inside her.
He's not going to let Dan kill me after all
. Joe added, “If you want her death to look like an accident, you'd better untie her hands and get rid of the gag.”

Dan snorted and loosened the ropes on her wrists, but left the gag in place. She guessed he didn't want her making too much noise until they got away from the houses. Jennie massaged the aching muscles in her arms and shoulders and turned to make one last plea for Joe to save her. He was gone. “Let's go.” Dan pushed her on ahead of him.

Might as well give it up and accept your fate, McGrady
, part of her conceded.
You've run out of options
. Jennie struggled against the hopelessness. She didn't give up easily. But then she didn't have many choices when a guy the size of a redwood was holding a loaded gun at her back.

Jennie's legs and feet, stiff from being tied up so long, felt disconnected. She stumbled twice on the gravel driveway, but her clumsiness didn't stop Dan. He simply yanked her up and set her back down on her feet again.

They turned from the lighted driveway to the trees. His flashlight bobbed up and down on the narrow path. Jennie tried not to think about the end of the walk. Or the trail winding through the woods. The cliff. The rocks. The dark swirling water that would soon be her grave. She began praying,
God, if you're really up there, I could use a little help. And if I have to die, please take care of Mom and Nick
 …

“What the …” WHAM! A heavy thud interrupted Jennie's prayer. She glanced back. Dan was sprawled out on the ground. His gun had landed at her feet. She scooped it up, stuffed it in her jacket pocket, and ran.

The only light Jennie had came from slivers of moonlight sneaking through the tall firs. Branches slashed at her face and arms as she wove through the woods. Her lungs burned and felt as though they'd burst.

When she was sure she'd outrun Dan, Jennie pressed herself against a tree. She pulled off the gag and hauled in as much air as her lungs would hold. Blood pounded through her body like a sledge hammer. She listened for footsteps, but all she could hear was the wind stirring the leaves above her head, the pounding surf, the sound of her own ragged breathing, and her heart thudding in her chest. Relief surged through her. She'd lost him.

Her hope for the future didn't last long. She heard a rustling noise in the bushes behind her. Heavy footsteps beat the ground. Jennie pushed off from the tree and started running again. She'd gotten only a few steps when someone grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into the thick undergrowth.

“Shhh,” a familiar voice whispered in her ear. “It's me.”

Jennie collapsed against him. “Get down.” Ryan dropped to the ground and pulled her with him. They flattened out on the forest floor and waited. She closed her eyes and willed her body to become part of the thick moss and rotting wood. Every snapping twig, every footstep, and every swoosh of the branches wound her nerves tighter and tighter until she wanted to scream. Finally, the thrashing faded.

“He's searching the other side. Let's go.” Ryan helped her up and tugged her forward. They'd gone only a few yards when they stumbled onto another path.

“Where are we?” Jennie whispered.

“Just above Smugglers' Cove.”

“How did …”

“Later.” Ryan grabbed her hand and took off again.

The forest path dead-ended at the ocean. A metal cable guarded the hundred-foot drop-off. Ryan let go of her hand, swung under the cable, and started down. Jennie followed. They didn't talk. Didn't have to. They had climbed down to Smugglers' Cove at least fifty times.

When they got to the bottom, Ryan took her hand again. “We'll hide in the cave I found. We should be safe there.” They ran along a stretch of sand to an outcropping of rocks.

“The tide's coming in. We'd better hurry.” They raced the waves and beat all but one. Just as they crossed the last stretch of beach a wave crashed against Jennie's legs and nearly knocked her down. She reached up and caught Ryan's hand. “You okay?” he asked, hauling her out of the icy water.

No, I'm not okay!
she wanted to cry. Instead she nodded, trying to ignore the chill seeping into her bones and the sharp sting of salt water burning into her rope-burned ankles.
Keep going, McGrady
, Jennie ordered.
You can't give up now
. Jennie concentrated on getting her feet to move and started climbing again.

She didn't see the cave until Ryan wedged himself between two tall boulders and disappeared. “Come on.” He snaked his arm out and pulled her in.

“I can't see a thing,” she whispered, tightening her grip on his hand.

“Yeah. And I don't have a flashlight … or matches.” Ryan drew her forward a few feet, then turned her around. “You can sit here. There's a rocky ledge behind you—makes a kind of chair. It's dry.”

“I'm not.” Jennie sat on the ledge and wrung the excess water out of her jeans. Somehow the climb and the safety of the cave had lessened the chill, but she shivered anyway. A narrow haze of moonlight filtered into the cave's entrance. Enough light to take the edge off the darkness, but not enough to really see.

“How did you find me?” Jennie asked as Ryan settled beside her.

“I was coming to pick you up when this black Cadillac tore out of the side street where I was supposed to meet you. I pulled into the lot. When you didn't show up I got worried. I went to the bookstore, and Mrs. Stone told me you'd been there and left.”

“And I was waiting for
you
when I heard a car pull up behind me. I thought it
was
you. Talk about stupid! I just stood there and let them kidnap me. I should have run.” Jennie shivered again.

Ryan put his arm around her. “Don't be so hard on yourself. You couldn't have known. Anyway, I doubt you'd have gotten far.”

“I suppose … but … what did you do when you realized I wasn't coming?”

“I was pretty sure they'd gotten you, but by then the car was gone. I called Sheriff Taylor.” Ryan sighed. “He was no help at all. Said I couldn't file a missing person's report for twenty-four hours. Then he laughed and told me he'd seen you running down the street earlier and that I'd probably just been stood up.”

“The creep. You don't think he's involved in this do you?”

“I doubt it. He's getting ready to retire. My dad says he's just getting old and lazy. Anyway, with him looking for Gram, I didn't want to tell him too much, so I decided I'd try to find you on my own. I must have driven down every street in and out of town. Late this afternoon, I was about ready to give up and talk to the sheriff again when I saw the car pull out of the gas station. I followed it.”

“Where were they hiding me?”

“It's the old Wakefield house. It's only a couple blocks from Gram's and has been empty for about five years. I went home and took the back way here through the trees. Tried to figure out how to get to you. When the big guy brought you out, I saw my chance.”

“So you tripped him and rescued me. That was so brave.”

“Well, actually, I didn't trip him. I went around and came in from the beach side and was waiting for a chance to distract him when he fell. Ah … actually, I think someone … that is … I could have sworn I saw a shadow in the trees just before he went down. But … it was probably just my imagination.”

“Well, thanks anyway,” Jennie said, wondering if the shadow might have been Joe. She dismissed the thought as wishful thinking. Dan had probably just stumbled over a root. Jennie leaned her head against Ryan's shoulder. “You saved my life. He was going to kill me.”

“I figured that, but why?”

“I can identify them.” She told Ryan about them kidnapping her to get Gram to tell them where she'd hidden the diamonds.

“What a mess. It's hard to believe Adams would be involved in something like this. He's supposed to take over when Sheriff Taylor retires.”

Jennie nodded, then realized Ryan couldn't see her. “I know, but facts are facts. Joe is involved, all right. I got the feeling he didn't want me to get hurt, but still … from the way he acted when the sheriff came by, I have no doubt. I wish I knew what to do next.”

“Me too.”

“Do you think it's safe to go back to Gram's?” Jennie asked.

“No. Those guys aren't going to give up easily. They're probably watching her house.”

“We can't stay here.”

“I don't know … maybe we should.” Jennie felt Ryan move away.

“Where are you going?” She jumped up and grabbed for him, but got only a handful of air. “Ryan?” she yelped, not even trying to hide the panic in her voice.

Ryan pulled her into his arms. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.”

Jennie leaned her head against his chest. She seemed to be operating on two tracks. Ryan felt warm and comforting. But inside, fear raged, sending jolts of panic through her. “I wish I could see something. I've always hated the dark.”

“Then you won't like my next suggestion.”

“What?”

“I want you to stay here while I sneak back to my house for food, matches, and blankets. We need supplies, and you need dry clothes.”

“I'll go with you.”

“It's too dangerous. Besides, they're looking for you, not me. Even if they spot me, they probably won't do anything. They're used to seeing me around.” Ryan tightened his grip. “You'll be safe here. I'll only be gone ten, fifteen minutes max.”

“No, don't …”

He kissed her. The warm feel of his lips over hers had just begun to spread through her like melted butter when he disappeared through the cave opening. Jennie hurried after him and stopped at the entrance, then watched him scamper over the rocks as if he knew them all by heart. He probably did. When he was gone she sat just outside the cave and gazed into the starry night. A smile curled her lips.

You're a nut case, McGrady
, she said to herself.
Totally insane. You've been kidnapped, bound and gagged, held at gunpoint, threatened with death, and nearly drowned. Your jeans are soaked and your legs half-frozen, and you're grinning over a silly little kiss
.

A rustling noise in the trees above sobered her fast. She backed quietly into the cave. Footsteps thundered overhead, then stopped.

“I could have sworn I saw someone sitting out here.”

“Give it up, Dan. We've lost her.”

Great. They were still after her. As a deputy, Joe probably knew this area. What if he knew about the cave?

“The boss isn't gonna like this,” Dan said.

“Maybe not, but it doesn't make a whole lot of difference.”

“What if the kid goes to the cops?”

“That's not going to get her very far, is it?” Joe answered. “Who's going to believe her? We've set up an airtight case against the McGrady woman. By the time anyone figures it out, we'll be out of the country.”

Unfortunately, he was right. Sheriff Taylor would never believe her, especially since she was the granddaughter of a fugitive. And with the diamonds in Gram's house, going to the authorities now would make things worse for Gram.

“Let's go,” Joe said. “We'd better report in.”

“You do that,” Dan said. “I'll double back to the McGrady house and see if the kid went back there.”

The voices and footsteps faded. Jennie's knees buckled. She leaned against the wall to hold herself up. Had they really gone? Or was it just a trick? Her jeans were only wet to her thighs, but the cold had seeped into her entire body. A shiver shook through her. Jennie stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets. Her hand connected with the gun.

Jennie had never held a real gun before. The closest she'd ever come to shooting anyone was with a squirt gun. She cradled the cool metal and slipped her finger around the trigger. A real gun with real bullets. Her mother hated guns. Dad sometimes wore one under his jacket. She shuddered, remembering the hardness of it when he'd hugged her that last time. She tried to imagine what Dad and Gram would do. She wasn't certain. The only thing she did know was that she would die before letting them kidnap her again. Jennie swallowed hard and made a decision. If they came back she'd be ready.

A few minutes later Jennie heard footsteps again. A shadow blocked out the sliver of moonlight. Jennie backed against the cave wall, lifted the gun from her pocket, and took aim.