Hell and Determination (7 page)

Incorporated
he smiled. Rick Wilder knows where his bread’s buttered; he’ll join us after his Performance.”
          Rick could surely hold his audience the crowd gave a standing ovation, ‘he’s going places  “Mark announced excited with his new found talent a mixture of Dean Martin and
Frank Sinatra in one, with his Dark features and seductive smile. Jo had to agree he would go far. “Thanks for the introduction,” Jo beamed has Ricky joined them. “Anytime,” Omaha can have him back when the tours completed.
        It was late evening the following day when Jo and Suzy made an appearance at the Macaba, exhausted with the day exploring, and the 3000 ft- walkway that stretches across the Missouri river spectacular elevated views of Omaha's skyline.
          Nine o’clock the following morning, she retrieved her messages that had been placed on her desk one in particular caught her eye. Jo see you at the end of the week, Married in Florida. Signed Gillian Stark Strand. PS. congratulations on booking Rick Wilder. “Well I’ll be blown,” Jo sighed having to smile at her friends spontaneously.
           Earle bobbed his head around the door,” would you like Suzy to come to Fremont with you? Booked a car for six” ‘I’ll be damned- Patsy Troy -thanks Mark, yes, let Suzy know.” Jo checked her diary no more engagements for the rest of the week.
The afternoon was spent catching up on a mountain of paperwork this was a job for Suzy when she could find the time to get everything in order.
                     She warned Suzy to dress casually for tonight’s entertainment the drive into Fremont would feel like a long drag after the travelling they had done yesterday. They had packed overnight clothes in case they decided to stay over.
                     “Right Suzy I’m going to let you take over the audition tonight, when you have decided if Patsy meets the requirements of the Macaba, It’s all yours.”
                   Suzy glared at her Boss in dismay.  She couldn’t possibly be serious, could she?
Jo laughed taking her arm has they made their way to the entrance of Ginny’s Bar, were Patsy Troy would be entertaining tonight, “ listen I’ll get us seated then I’m going to make a reservation across the road, don’t feel like trailing back tonight, besides we don’t look very professional with our overnight bags hanging on the chair.”
                      Jo made their bookings and left the overnight bags in her room, glancing in the mirror she adjusted the belt on her cream flannel slacks, placed a hand through the rich auburn locks ready for the long night ahead, she would welcome the cool drink Suzy was about to purchase.
                       The winding passage to the Inn blazed in a fanfare of radiance aligning the way to the entrance, beams glimmering the decked exhibition, smiling as she recalled the expression looming on her assistants face. Sorry Jo muttered as she rounded the corner scraping shoulders with the guy in question. A cold shiver ran the full length of her spine surely she was mistaken.  Reality hit hard has he smiled.
                    “Well if it isn’t my long lost wife.” The feel of his hand stroking her cheek caused her to cringe, his sarcastic smile undressing her body made her blood run cold.
She tried averting her eyes to the road ahead, the beat of her heart hammering beneath her rib cage. Time and time again she had rehearsed this very moment, too run was her only choice yet she was glued to the spot in frozen terror. “Brandon please let me pass I have friends waiting.”
                  ‘I’m sure you have, but your friend as  a long- long wait, nearly three years  I’ve searched high and low, if you think for one minute I’m going to turn my back, you have another thought coming. Always warned there‘s nowhere to hide. Besides you have one friend waiting. She as a long wait ahead.”
        Jo screamed as he gripped the length of her hair between his fingers wrapping it around his hand in a tight hold.
        Feeling dazed with the sudden blow he’d inflicted she found herself being forced into the old Dodge pickup blood trickled down her cheek , he fastened the seat belt then turned taking the highway to San Jose.
                          Suzy glanced at her watch then back to the door irritated that her Boss would leave her alone for so long, there had been no sign of her when she peered across the street over an hour ago. Patsy Troy was doing her first spot, maybe she had lay on the bed and dozed, taking her shoulder bag she made her way across the road to the reservation desk where she had been informed Miss Broughton had taken the key and not returned.
Suzy knocked on the door then ran back to reservation for the spare key.
The bags lay at the foot of the bed but no sign of her Boss.
Not sure what could have happened she returned to Ginny’s Bar and waited of Patsy leaving the stage. A strange feeling loomed she tried her cell phone again, no answer. Jo’s mobile had been turned off.
                
           Jo stared around the cold room dazed from the repeated blows, there was no doubt he was capable of murder. Brandon was in the kitchen preparing drinks, he had set paper on the fire on the wood burning stove, and she couldn’t see any logs so presumed he must have to go outside. They were in San Jose she had seen the sign before he turned right onto the short winding road towards the cabin.
     
        Suzy explained the disturbing information to Patsy unsure whether to call the cops, it had gone two hours since Jo was last seen, and although she had known her Boss for such a short time she couldn’t picture being left this way, it wasn’t her nature. She decided to phone Earle see what he could advise. Earle was still at work organizing a boardroom meeting when his phone rang, Suzy blabbered on revealing her only information, he advised her to phone the cops then stay in the bar  till he got there, relieved she was no longer alone Suzy did has he asked.
Earle took the lift down to Jo’s office not really sure what he was looking for, phone numbers anything or anybody who could shed a light on this mysterious disappearance, he found the list that she entered into her mobile the other day. Her diary lay on her desk locked. He placed them in his pocket maybe the police could make use of them, his cell rang letting him know the car was out front.
It had gone eleven when Earle eventually turned up, there wasn’t much the police could do, and it had been reported. All they could do was wait till morning, Mark purchased drinks at the bar he knew Jo was in trouble he could sense it, remembering all the fuss about not disclosing her whereabouts to anyone, knowing she had been through hell at some point, though no more information had been forthcoming. He spread the list of phone numbers on the table before him nobody in the vicinity that she had logged.
Jo bided her time cautiously waiting for the opportunity to escape, the bathroom was at the rear of the small cabin, and she had heard Brandon pull the chain. There was a rear door from which she had observed him releasing the bolt. The revulsion gripped her very soul, he was clean shaven well groomed, those eyes - Lord those eyes the torment and bitterness .Had she really been a party to all that despair?  She was well aware of the agony he could cause.
“Brandon please, I’m sorry but keeping me here against my will isn’t going to help.” Jo averted her eyes staring down at her knees as he paced the cabin revolution twitching in his sarcastic smile. “Sorry you are- no you don’t know the meaning of the word he hissed,” forcing her chin towards him, “Sorry you will be.”
              She made her way to the bathroom, he had removed the shoes from her feet and the wooden boards were cold and rough to the soles.
             Listening carefully has he brought logs from the rear of the building Jo spied her chance; this was her only chance- if she was to avoid spending the night in his company.
She waited until his footsteps passed the bathroom door no doubt full of logs, peered her head around the frame then crept has quietly as she could through the rear entrance ,making sure the bathroom door closed gently behind her. Dark expanse of woodland lay before her, the quiet rustle of the Highway in the distance. She ran towards cover staying has near to the sound of the traffic has possibly, branches scraped her bare arms the adrenaline so strong she hardly noticed, an old storage shack appeared in the distance ,her heart thud in her chest has she heard the rustle of branches at her rear. Crouching into a human ball she stayed motionless listening for any sound approaching ,the only sound coming from the road,  too far in the distance, edging forward slowly making has little noise as possibly she headed in the direction of the shack. Sheer terror kept her going till eventually she was able to close the door behind her she couldn’t see anything, trying to catch her breath she curled up in the corner. The tear’s burned the deep cut on her cheekbone, she prayed he wouldn’t find her has footsteps could be heard approaching the shack, the door opened, then closed again the rustling of the ferns could be heard has he departed in the opposite direction. Not once did he call her name.  Her eyes began to focus as they adjusted to the darkness around her, sacks of corn were stacked in the corner  rats scurried around the base not threatened by her sudden appearance. Jo cringed as she tried to adjust her body into a standing position; her foot gave way to the piercing pain that throbbed in her ankle.
The thought of making a run for the highway was out of the question rat’s or not she would have to stay put till daylight, she pulled the top layer of sacks to the ground, then climbed the best way she could ,till at last she could rest above the scattering beneath.
                               
                  Earle and Suzy stayed the night in the adjoining rooms that Jo had booked, neither any closer to the mystery surrounding their Boss, they had even returned to the police department, handed over the list of phone numbers and Jo’s diary. Earle explained the rumours he had heard about her past, how he feared for her safety.
               It was seven thirty the following morning when the police turned up at the motel.
It was believed Jo had been taken to the regional medical centre at San Jose picked up on the highway in a state of shock, cut and bruised barely able to walk. All I know is she is comfortable, going to get a statement so I’ll give you a lift.
Jo sat in the comfort of the hospital bed waiting for the pain in her ankle to ease after the injection had set in, her arms bandaged and a stitch in her cheek, sedated against the shock. Recalling the early hours of the morning, Rats chewed at her ankle wakening her to the reality of the night before, she forced down the screams that trembled in her throat. How she scrambled to the highway was a blare.
             Tears freely flowed has Earle and Suzy approached the bed her anguish clear for all.
Earle felt a lump forming in his throat has he witnessed the scene before him, “How in God’s name could anyone have caused this? The bruises to her face were appalling. Suzy held her hand, no words were appropriate for what she had witnessed.
“Is there anyone you want me to contact,” Earle asked before the officer started his questions.
“Ben.’ Jo begged, please get Ben, I have Betsy’s phone number she will pass the message on.”
“Where’s your phone? He asked stroking the long strand of hair from her eyes.
“Brandons took it.”
Mark approached the nurse concerned about the depth of Jo’s injuries,” I can ask the Doctor to have a word, in reality we need to speak to a relative.” she assured.
Earle decided to call Miss Stark, honeymoon or not this was an emergency.
The night was drawing in when Gillian arrived, the detective had managed to contact Ben through the logging company he would be there has soon has he could book a flight.” ‘It’s not good.” Earle murmured to his Boss she has a fever they have started some kind of antibiotic, the rat bites were deep and caused an infection.”
“Rat’s,”  Gill announced in alarm, “Oh my God,” she exclaimed scurrying down the corridor to
Jo’s room,  which she had requested over the phone to be a private room no expense spared. When they approached the desk she asked to see Jo in her dignified manner, “sorry no more visitors tonight unless it’s family.” the matron on duty announced.
Nothing Gill could say made any difference; she left her number at the desk so any relative could get in touch. Suzy and Earle returned to the Macaba knowing there was nothing more they could do.
                        Jo tried to focus on the familiar voices her eyes stuck together with a sticky substance, the soothing warmth of the swab that the nurse used to gently ease the matter from the burning eyes. Ben she recognized the gentle drawl of his words the comfort of his hand, the other deep voice she realized .Has she gently eased her eyelids apart was her Pa.
Tears started to flow has she recognized the spruce figure of the man before her wiping a lone driblet from his cheek. Making his way to the side of her bed, sinking down in the chair he gripped his Daughters hand and wept. “Will you ever forgive a foolish Man, full of so much self-pity he can’t see what's before his very eyes? I’m so sorry my little one.”
Ben took in the scene before him choking back the lump that had formed in his throat; it was too early to say what the best course of action would be when she was well enough to leave.
All that concerned him now was to avoid that Brother of his having any access to Jo; - the word Brother brought nothing but shame on the family name.
                            Ben assisted the police telling all he knew related to his Brother, the sentence he had served after assaulting his Ma’s partner, he even recalled Betsy’s suspicions on the attack that had taken place the night before Jo’s sudden departure back in Seattle.