Death and Deceit (19 page)

Ricardo was quiet now directing all his attention on the road ahead. The winding
twist of it gave Jessie an idea. She wondered if Ricardo had seen the car behind. If he had he didn’t mention it, but he was speeding and that wasn’t a smart thing to do on that road.
The moon above her was lost now behind the trees. Jessie sat quietly watching
Ricardo’s every move. His mind seemed on the road and she decided he was being far
too attentive. It was time to do something.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

“I told you already.”

“This cabin, is it far?”

“You’ll see. Be patient.”

“You shouldn’t drive so fast. Why are you?”

“Be quiet.”

“No. I think you should slow down. What’s the rush? We have our whole lives ahead.”

Ricardo shot a glance at her and she noticed his look of surprise. It was what she’d hoped for. She baited him further. “I’m with you now.”

“I thought you wanted to shoot me.”

“I was wrong. Kent tried to hurt me, but he can’t anymore. I didn’t want to see
him die, but at least now he won’t be harassing me any longer. And maybe he didn’t die.”

“I told you I’d look after you...protect you, didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did, Rick. Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I love you. You should know that by now.”

He was relaxing. His voice was soft and low. He glanced often in her direction
ignoring the road, even slowing the car some. Jessie turned her body slightly towards him. She jerked her knee upward then slammed all her weight on his right foot, the foot that controlled the accelerator.

The engine whined and the cruiser thrust forward veering crazily in a zigzagging
line then tail spinning. The steering wheel spun out of Ricardo’s hands but he reacted quickly grasping onto it again, turning and braking. The squeal of the brakes and the impact from the sudden stop jarred Jessie’s mind and body.

The cruiser came to a stop across the road, headlights pointed into the right side bank. “You stupid idiot,” Ricardo screamed. “Were you trying to kill us?”

Jessie clinched her fists and sat stone-faced staring at the new spring growth on
the side of the road. Just as the car had screeched to a stop, she’d glanced out her window and seen the faint headlights of the car behind them, then someone turned them off. But she knew now that she’d created enough attention, and that whoever was behind them was truly following them. And they were close enough now not to lose them.

Ricardo ranted and raved on as he righted the cruiser, but Jessie smiled to herself
in satisfaction. Someone would find her sooner or later. And with the hope of help from behind, she gained new strength. She would do everything within her power to bring down Ricardo Alvarez.

****

Liz and Kent watched the car ahead go into a spin. Liz stopped and pulled over.
She turned off the headlights. “What the hell was that?”

“That’s it. The cruiser.” Kent could see, from a shaft of moonlight, the markings
on the side of the vehicle. But he didn’t know what had caused it to go out of control.

“He veered crazily then slammed the brakes,” Liz said. “Maybe he hit an animal or tried to avoid one.”

They watched while the car backed and straightened until it was headed up the hill again. It took off in a blast of screeching tires.

“He’s irritated now,” Kent said. “Poor Jessie.”

“Do you think he knows we’re following?”

“I don’t know,” Kent said. “He’s probably being cautious in case someone’s after
him, but he might not think we are. He probably thinks I’m done for.”

“What do we do now?”

“Just keep going, slowly. We don’t want to hit something, and we don’t want to
catch up with him. Remember, he has a gun. We’ll try and follow until he gets to a
destination.”

“Way up here?”

“Maybe. Who knows what a warped mind will dream up?”

“He had Jessie tied to the bed. Her clothes were—”

“Shut up, Liz. I don’t need details. I can’t understand the guy. He’s a cop. Jessie met him at the police station you say, and now he’s turned around and kidnapped
her. Do you make any sense of it?”

“You told me to shut up.”

“Hold it. Pull over.”

Liz did so, shutting down the lights as well. They watched as the cruiser turned
off to the left in what looked like another road or driveway. After about five minutes,
Liz asked, “Well, do we follow or what?”

Kent opened his door. “We’re going but I’m driving now.”

Liz could see he was okay and she got out and took the passenger side. She wondered what would happen, if the cop was luring them into a trap and wished with all
her heart that she’d never ever encouraged Jessie to buy the damn computer in the first
place. Then Jessie would never have met him.

She looked over at Kent and could see from the strains of moonlight breaking
through the trees that his brow was heavy with worry lines. She wondered if he was as frightened as she was.

“Kent,” she said. “I’m scared.”

“Shut up, Liz. I haven’t got time for this. Jessie’s life is in danger just as much
as ours is.”

Liz went silent and slumped down on the seat as they drove down the narrow road. It was rutted and bumpy, not the kind of road anyone should speed on. The
trees were sparser along the roadside, letting more moonlight spill unto their car. Liz pulled her blouse together and found two buttons missing. She smoothed back her hair with her palm. She must look a sight she thought, wondering what Jessie had made of her pounding on the motel door claiming to have been raped. Would she think Kent had been the one? Would she still believe Kent had harassed her e mail? Whatever Jessie might be thinking, she hoped at least she’d have figured out they were now trying to help her. But with Kent down from a bullet, maybe Jessie had given up hope. Liz certainly hoped not.

“What’s that?” Kent said, shifting his eyes to the right over Liz’s head.

Liz straightened up and looked out her window. “What?”

“Nothing, I guess. I thought I saw something. A flash—”

“You did,” Liz confirmed peering out the side window. “In there. It’s another
roadway and there’s the cruiser.”

“What?” Kent slammed on the brakes and cut the lights. They sat with bated breath.

Finally Liz whispered. “I think it’s empty.”

Kent got out. “Stay here,” he said. “But get over this side. If anything happens
to me, get the hell out of here. Go back to town or wherever, and get help.”

Kent sneaked behind his car then crept softly up to the back of the cruiser. He stood in the moonlight in full view, but there was silence around him. He circled the cruiser then turned and looked back at Liz.

She rolled down the passenger side window and said, “I told you. No one’s there.”

Kent returned to his car and was joined outside by Liz. He opened the trunk and
took out a large flashlight. Reaching inside again he pulled out the tire iron and handed it to Liz. “Take this. It’s all we have.”

“Where are we going?”

“There’s a path at the side of the cruiser. It’s the only thing we can do...follow it.”

“But, Kent—”

“You can go back, Liz, if you want to. But if Jessie’s at the end of that path, I’m
finding her.”

“And I’m coming,” Liz said, toting the tire iron.

The moon was at a high point. Liz looked up once and felt small and scared when the full length of the dark, waving trees miniaturized her. The path was strewn with tree roots, and Liz caught herself from falling a couple of times. Her legs were starting to get sore and she had to slow down. Her head ached from the heat and exertion. With all her aerobic training she wondered why she felt so bad.

“Be careful,” Kent advised.

“I’m trying,” she replied, “but I’m trembling so.”

“You can’t be cold.”

She didn’t answer and she assumed that since the night was balmy, he understood it was a tremor of terror.

****

“Not much farther now,” Ricardo stated as his arm gripped Jessie’s. “The worst
though is yet to come. Straight up hill.”

Jessie had gone willingly. She had no choice. His hand gripping her arm made it
impossible for her to escape. And where would she go anyway? Running through the woods seemed somehow no more appealing than staying with Ricardo. He might be crazy but he was experienced in the woods, and she didn’t think he intended to hurt her, at least not until they reached the cabin. Maybe then she’d have some kind of chance to defend herself.

Halfway along the path Jessie had left a trail behind her. She now reached into the unzipped portion of her overnight bag and pulled out another piece of clothing. After
doubling it in her fist she reached behind her and let it drop. She was now glad Ricardo
had insisted she pack a bag.

He stopped abruptly and looked around. Jessie held her breath hoping he wouldn’t see the lingerie in the grass, for they were now at the foot of the hill after crossing a long field of tall grass.

“Up the hill and down,” Ricardo said. “Then we will be home, my pet.”

They moved on, climbing higher. A few trees grew on the hillside, but it was mostly clear-walking in grass. Every so often Jessie dropped another piece of clothing. Even if the car she’d seen behind them hadn’t followed, sooner or later someone would
find the cruiser, and then they’d find the clothing and wonder. If she were lucky it wouldn’t blow too far, and it would lead someone straight to the cabin.

At the crest of the hill Jessie stopped dropping things. She didn’t know where the cabin was situated, and she didn’t want Ricardo to see what she’d been up to if he should be walking outside the cabin. If someone got this close, they’d find the cabin. She had to believe that.

“See down there?” Ricardo pointed to the bottom of the hill. “There’s our little home. For a while anyway. For as long as it takes for you to lean on me...to love me like I love you, my dear.”

Jessie felt sick. She would never love him. But she might pretend, if that got her
anywhere. She might as well start now. “It looks small,” she said. “But kind of cosy.”

“It’s not bad,” he said as they stood on the hilltop looking down on the moon-lit
cabin. “I’ll make you happy there. Just give me time.”

****

After Liz had tripped for the fourth time, Kent took the tire iron and gave her the
light. “Here, use it sparingly. I don’t believe we’re close enough for him to see us or the light, but we need to conserve it just in case it’s needed later.”

Liz marched on. Occasionally she turned on the light to get her bearings. On one
occasion the light caught something, and she targeted it on the object then picked it up.

“It’s panties,” she said.

Kent, who’d forged ahead, stopped and turned. “What?”

“Look at this. A pair of pink panties. What do you make of that?”

Kent walked back and examined the underwear. “They’re nice,” he said. “Sexy.”

“Kent.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know, Liz. “It’s been a weird night. Come on.”

Liz got braver with the light and after finding the panties she kept shining it around looking for something else. Maybe a house was near. Maybe they fell off a clothesline. But who would live up here in this godforsaken place — and wear panties
like that?”

“Turn the damn light off,” Kent said. “You want to get shot at?”

Liz snapped off the light but not before she spotted something else. Kent saw it
too and picked up a sleeveless T-shirt. “Put the light here, on it.”

Liz shone the light across the striped T-shirt in Kent’s hands. “It’s Jessie’s,” she
said.

“Jessie’s? Are you sure? It could be
like
hers.”

“Positive. I’ve seen her wear it at work. Kent, she carried an overnight bag. Can’t you see what’s happening here? Jessie’s playing Hansel and Gretel. This is her trail.” Liz flashed the light down the path. “There’s got to be more. Come on, we’re
on the right track.”

Kent and Liz moved faster now, following the bits of clothing found on the trail.
In a short time they reached an end to the path. A clearing appeared that opened into a
large field.

“Shit,” Kent groaned. “At least on the trail we knew where to go.”

“We still do,” Liz said, shining the light down. She kicked at the grass. “It’s long,” she said, “and trampled down. Just follow the path.”