The Soul Redeemer: From Victim to Victory (21 page)

She jumped up, hope dawning in her soul.  "Is he in your truck?"

"Lady, your dog would have been able to tell that the pretender was not you and they would not have been willing to risk that.  I'm sorry."

Hope dashed, anger began to surface.  "You mean they killed my dog?  NO!" 

New waves of emotions began to flood her heart and threatened to overwhelm her.  She fell back into the chair and buried her head in her arms as grief, pain, fear, and anger pulsed through her body and soul.  Her poor, sweet, huge hearted Jo who didn't have a violent bone in his body.  She couldn't bear to think of him suffering.  Yet, she was powerless and helpless to do anything about this mess! 

She was used to fighting.  She was a warrior, and yet here she was feeling totally disarmed and naked.  She had worked so hard for so long, training herself not to respond to trauma or pain with the defense mechanisms she had used in the past, but the news of the loss of her constant companion seemed like too much, and she felt herself again searching for and then falling into the numbness and familiarity of dissociation.

"Nicki, don't go away from me."
  The voice began as a whisper in her mind, a distant echo from the past.  Jake had spoken those words to her after their first baby died at birth and she was being pulled into the counterfeit way of escape.  She didn't know who was speaking them to her now, but the affect was the same.  She remembered that she had chosen the path of truth, not of hiding. 

In that moment, Nicole's spirit cried out, "Jesus, come help me!" 

And He heard her.  A calm peace began to replace the chaos in her soul, and even though there was pain, its grip was loosened and was no longer controlling her. 

She heard voices singing,
"Sweet Jesus peace, water so free, flowing from Him to you and to me,"
ministering to her as they had once before.  She didn't need to open her eyes to see who was singing.  She knew they were angels and that no one else heard them.  She knew they were giving her the message that Jesus, her Prince of Peace, had not abandoned her and that He would walk with her through this new part of her journey, no matter where it led. 

Nicole lifted her head, and even though she was physically tired, there was a new strength in her spirit.  Hope.  Hope that was rooted in faith. 

Just yesterday morning she had read in Mark 4 how Jesus had challenged the disciple's faith when they were in the storm on the sea.  He wasn't asking them about their faith to calm the storm, but their faith in reaching the other side.  It wasn't about the storm at all!  It was about keeping their eyes on the plans God had for them when they reached the other side. 

This faith that had taken root in her was not faith in circumstances around her; but rather faith in the knowledge that the One who had plans for her would see her through this storm and safely deliver her to…wherever that would be. 

She opened her eyes, looked at Detective Miller, and with a sense of purpose and determination to battle through this nightmare, she said, "I'm ready.  We'll go with you now." 

He nodded then held the door of the bar open as the five of them walked out into the uncertain, unfamiliar future. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daemon was pacing the floor.  He knew he should have used one of his own men to kidnap Nicole instead of that useless hired man.  What had ever possessed him to do that in the first place? 

Eddie was late checking in, and when he had finally tried to call that incompetent fool, he had only gotten voice mail.  He'd wait to see if his "package" got delivered at the expected time this morning, and if not, he'd send his own men to do the job the way he should have in the beginning.

His phone rang.  He looked at the number hopefully, then in disappointment he rudely answered, "Dorothy."  He was in no mood for pleasantries. 

"We've lost her signal.  Has Eddie checked in yet?" she asked.

"What do you mean we've lost her signal?"  Daemon shouted.

"You dare shout at me Daemon?" Dorothy's words asked a question, but her tone commanded an apology. 

Daemon backed down.  "I'm sorry, love.  I have not heard from Eddie.  He failed to check in, and now you are telling me that we lost signal?  What happened?"

"We tracked her as far as the ranch, then suddenly lost signal at approximately 7:00 pm, Pacific Time, last night." Dorothy explained.  "There's been nothing since then."

"That's it," Daemon scowled.  "I'm sending our guys in."

N
icole was too tired
to pay much attention to where they were going.  She must have dozed off for it seemed like only a moment later Maria was nudging her.  "Wake up Miss Nicki.  We are here." 

They had stopped at a gate and the detective got out of the truck and opened it.  Nicole looked around, and was surprised at the beauty of the ranch.  Set against the mountains, the ranch was dotted with pine trees.  She could see an old corral ahead that looked as if it needed repair. 

The detective got back in the truck and said, "We have about a quarter mile to go.  It's a bit bumpy."  They continued on a rutted, dirt driveway, and as they rounded a clump of trees, Nicole saw an old two story farmhouse.  Off to right of the house she could see an old barn nestled against a hill, and to the left was a fairly large garden and what appeared to be a chicken coup.  Even close to the mountains the sky seemed so big that it made everything else feel small.  Big sky and beautiful country. 

"Nicole,"
came the whisper in her spirit. 
"Remember that I make all things beautiful, even ashes.  Don't allow the circumstances to rob you of the joy and peace that I have set before you.  Enjoy the beauty."
  

"I'll try God," she replied inside her mind.

As they got out of the car and Nicole stepped onto the ground, she felt safe and offered up a thank-you prayer to God.

The detective led Maria and Nicole to an upstairs bedroom with two single beds made up in it. They thanked him and without even thinking of cleaning up, they climbed into the beds. 

Nicole's last thoughts before sleep claimed her were of Jake and that other woman in her house.  The dark angels were at work in her home, and she knew that whoever was trying to fill her shoes would be trying to spread her seed of destruction to her family, especially Jake. 

"Lord I am in my arsenal right now.  Help me know which key of the Kingdom and weapon of warfare that I need to use to help fight for my husband." 

And she knew.  Spiritual discernment!  "Please God, send Your angels of truth and light to shine on the darkness in my home.  Send angels to protect Jake physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  Please send warrior angels to fight the demons.  And last Lord Jesus, give Jake all the discernment he needs.  Holy Spirit, please enlighten Him." 

She had no way of knowing that Jair was doing his job very well, and that her prayers were empowering him to reach Jake at an even deeper level, to prepare him to receive the truth that would rock his world.

Nicole's body woke up to the smell of bacon and coffee, and her mind woke to reality a minute later as she realized where she was.  So this wasn't just a dream. 

Maria was not in her bed, and Nicole assumed she was responsible for the good smells.  She went down the stairs and into the kitchen.  Maria was standing at the stove and the detective was reading the newspaper at the kitchen table.

"So you're old school, Detective.  I'm surprised.  I thought I was the only dinosaur around here."  She looked around.  The kitchen was adequate, but was definitely lacking a woman's touch.

He briefly glanced at Nicole with an expression of tolerance, made a sort of grunting noise and motioned for her to sit. 

Maria brought her a cup of hot coffee.  "Good morning Miss Nicki.  You sleep long and good.  Now you eat and get strong."

"Oh Maria, you and your worries about strength!"  Nicole laughed.  "Thank you. As a matter of fact, I hadn't thought of it till now, but I'm sure your sandwich did give me the strength I needed to be able to make it to the saloon this morning." 

Now the detective answered.  "Not this morning.  Yesterday morning.  Like Maria said, you slept for almost eighteen hours."

No.  That couldn't be!  Nicole did not have time to sleep life away, she had to get home!  She had to figure out how!  There was another woman in her house, her kitchen, her
bed
!  She could feel the air in her lungs being squeezed out, trying to escape, yet her throat was being constricted as Panic once again tried to gain control.  She felt like she was going to explode.  A fleeting thought crossed her mind….Maybe this is what anxiety attacks felt like. 

"No Nicole, this is not the way,"
a whisper from somewhere deep inside called out to her. 
"Relax.  You can cling to, trust in and rely on Me."
 

"Yes, that's right," she thought.  "I have chosen a better way and I serve a faithful God.  Jesus help me!"  She began to feel the choking sensation subside and could hear Maria asking again for her response about being ready for bacon and eggs.  The detective was looking at her strangely, yet not without compassion.

Nicole smiled weakly and told Maria that she would love some of her bacon and eggs.  Then with renewed purpose, she looked intently at the detective and asked, "Now Detective Miller.  What's the plan?  Yesterday you said that there were things I could do to help this counter operation so that I can go home."

He looked up from his paper and put the last of his toast into his mouth.  Nicole watched as he seemed to swallow without chewing, and then he said, "There are things that you can help with.  But you have to understand that this is going to take time.  You need patience.  So why don't you start by going up and taking a shower?  Then we'll talk."

Nicole smiled.  "Are you saying that I stink?"  She looked down at her crumpled dirty clothes and caught a whiff of something unpleasant.  She said, "Don't answer that." 

After finishing her breakfast in silence, she said, "Thank you for the breakfast Maria.  You're a great cook!"

"Thank you Miss Nicki.  There are clean clothes on the chair in the bedroom that I think fit you." 

"Oh great!  I hadn't thought about that yet."

The water felt so good that she momentarily forgot that she was in a hurry to talk to the detective.  She found that the clothes fit very well, and her impatience returned.  For once she was glad that she didn't need to take the time to put makeup on.  She didn't have any to put on!

She went back downstairs, but the house was silent.  She looked out the kitchen window and saw Maria in the garden pulling weeds.  "Do you smile all the time?" Nicole asked as she joined the other lady. 

Maria just looked up at her still smiling.  "Hey, who are you, pretty, clean lady?" she teased.

Now Nicole smiled.  "I'm looking for the detective.  Do you know where he is?"

"I see him go to barn I think," Maria said as she pointed toward the old structure that looked as if it was in desperate need of repair.  Obviously he didn't have animals that used either the corral or the barn. 

The barn door stood ajar, just enough for her to enter without pushing it open any further.  Nicole stood quietly inside allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness.  Sunlight streamed in from the cracks in the wood and lit up the dirt floor with bright slat designs. 

She didn't see the detective and was about ready to go back out when she heard what she thought was a voice.  It was very faint and she wasn't sure if she had imagined it or not.  Then it came again, and this time, her attention was drawn to the back of the barn behind one of the horse stalls.  There was a shaft of light emanating from a door at the back of the pen.  She wasn't intending to spy, but as she got closer, she heard the detective's voice and no other.  He must be talking on the phone.  She was close enough now to understand what he was saying…

"Yes sir, she's awake now.  Yes, the other woman is still here…..No, I haven't said anything that would compromise the operation.  I agree that she could be a plant, and am working on that…..Well, I don't think Nicole will be happy with that arrangement…."

The conversation made her skin crawl.  One thing she was sure of, and that was that Maria was not a spy.  She was a God send, and she decided that she would not cooperate further unless they allowed Maria to stay.

The conversation came to a close.  "Yes sir, I'll be sure to keep you informed."  And then silence.

Nicole quietly exited the barn, wondering how she should proceed.  She stood outside in the sun for a moment, and then decided that the best thing to do was to confront the detective or whoever he was.  There were too many questions and no time to play games.  It was time for answers. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jake
was exhausted but hadn't been able to sleep.  The first night he attributed it to the adrenaline of fear and worry, and then the feelings of anger.

But last night he hadn't been able to sleep either and he wasn't sure why.  He sat in his chair drinking his morning coffee.  Nicole was still asleep.  She had slept a lot since coming home and they hadn't talked much about the attack or anything else for that matter.  He had turned on her DVD's of I Love Lucy and when she wasn't sleeping, she was watching those. 

It wasn't unusual for her to unwind after a difficult day with her favorite comedian or to watch them when she was trying not to think about things.  But as he thought about Nicole's response to him last night when he climbed into bed, he was disturbed. 

Normally, he would have been delighted that she was showing interest in making love.  But not last night.  It hadn't felt right for several reasons.  One, her body wasn't healed from the bruises of the beatings, and two, she had acted different.  More insistent.  When he had declined, she had acted angry.  That was unusual.  What was that about? 

And then there were her eyes.  By every physical appearance they were fine; but when he looked into them, he felt…empty.