At Hidden Falls (Angel's Bay Novel) (33 page)

“That’s quite a story,” he said slowly.

A chill ran down her spine as she thought of all the similarities between Leticia’s story and her own. “You saved me, but Harrison didn’t save Leticia. And neither of them saved Caitlyn.”

Nick sat up, a new energy in his body. “Caitlyn was sixteen, close to Megan’s age.”

“It’s not going to end the same way,” she said quickly.

“Do you know that?” he asked, jumping to his feet.

“If you mean, have I seen something about Megan, I haven’t.”

He paced around the clearing. “I don’t know what to do.”

“There’s nothing to do right now, Nick. We just have to wait until dawn so we can keep searching.”

“She could be in town. We could be in the wrong place.”

Isabella didn’t think so. Her nerves were tingling, and this place was familiar to her. Because of Leticia? Or because of Nick? She’d sensed that trouble was heading his way; was this it? “What do you want to do?”

“What do
you
think?”

She didn’t want to be wrong. Not this time, not with this man. “Let’s wait.”

Nick sat back down on the blanket. “It’s killing me to think of how scared she must be right now. She talks tough, but she’s still a little girl on the inside. She’s my child, and I’d cut off my right arm for her.”

“I know you would.”

He stretched out on his back, and she curled up next to him, resting her head on his chest. She could hear the rapid beat of his heart. Eventually, it began to slow to a steadier pace.

With a sigh, Isabella tried to relax. She didn’t know when she fell asleep, but soon she was dreaming.

The branches from the trees scratched her arms. Nick was running faster and faster, his fear and his hope driving him forward. She could smell smoke. Food cooking. Through the trees—there was a tent, a barbecue next to a cooler. Her heart stopped.

Megan was crying, tears streaming down her dirty face, twigs in her hair, terror in her eyes. She was sitting on the ground in front of the tent. She jumped up at their approach and cried out. Was it a shout of welcome or of warning?

Something glinted in the sunshine, then a long shadow fell.

Nick didn’t see the danger coming. She had to stop him. Oh, God, what if she was too late—again?

“Nick!” she screamed. “Nick!”

“Isabella, wake up,” Nick said. “Isabella.”

His hands held her shoulders as he shook her awake. She blinked her eyes open in a daze.

“You were dreaming—about me.”

She nodded, her throat too tight to speak.

“What did you see?” he demanded.

She swallowed, her throat sore from her screams. Early-morning sunlight slanted through the trees.

“Isabella,” he repeated.

“I’m not sure,” she said slowly, the details already blurring in her mind.

“You’re just afraid. You don’t want to be wrong.”

“I’ve been wrong before.”

“That was before. That was with other people,” he said forcefully. “This is me and you, Isabella. We’re connected. You came here because of me. You came here for this moment. It’s here.” He let his words sink in. “I believe in you.”

Her heart turned over, and tears filled her eyes. Did he truly mean it?

“I do,” he said softly, reading the doubt in her eyes. “There have been very few people in my life I can honestly say I have faith in, but you’re one of them. Now you have to believe in yourself. Whatever you got right or wrong before doesn’t matter. It’s all about now.”

“I saw Megan sitting on the ground in front of a tent. She was crying, and you rushed over to her. But someone came out of the shadows. I think . . . I think he had a gun.”

Nick paled. “Where was the tent?”

“It was in the woods. We ran through the trees.” She strained to remember. “The hill rose behind her. I feel like there was a stream nearby.” The splash of water echoed through her head, but was it from her dream or the nearby falls?

“Let’s go,” he said. “We’ll follow the water.”

She realized that he was talking about the creek runoff from the falls. Getting to her feet, she said, “It’s not much to go on.”

“It’s better than nothing. Was there anything else?” he asked as they walked toward the far end of the falls.

“There was a barbecue and a cooler. It was a campsite. Megan must have stumbled across it.”

“But she was crying,” Nick said tensely. “So whoever set up that camp scared her or hurt her.”

Isabella’s stomach turned over at the thought of how many hours had passed and what might have happened to Megan. Why hadn’t her dreams been more specific? Why hadn’t she tried harder to force the visions to come?

Nick grabbed her hand. “Don’t go backward. Stay with me.”

“Are you reading my mind now?”

“Blaming yourself is only going to get in the way.” His grip tightened. “You and me, Isabella. Feel me. Feel my link to Megan. We’re all connected. You came here to Angel’s Bay to save me. Now I need you to help me save my daughter. Which way?”

She gazed at the trees ahead. “To the left,” she said, going with her instincts and praying she’d be right.

Nick charged forward, and they ran through the trees, the creek water their constant companion. The sun moved higher in the sky, making it easier to see. A few minutes later, Isabella smelled smoke.

“We’re getting close,” she said. “I can smell the fire.” Her nerves tightened. She felt as if she was back in her dream, the branches scratching her arms, a break in the woods coming closer and closer.

Finally, they broke into a clearing. It was all there: the tent, the barbecue, the cooler, and Megan sitting by the tent.

“Megan!” Nick shouted.

His daughter jumped up in relief, tears streaming down her face.

Isabella looked around. Shadows fell from the trees, none of them moving. Yet danger was coming. She could feel it, but she couldn’t see it.

Megan took a step toward her father, then froze. “Daddy, look out!” she screamed as a man came around a tree, a rifle in his hands.

Nick ran toward Megan, putting his body in front of her like a shield.

Isabella saw the man lift his gun, and her heart stopped as he took aim. His gaze was focused on Nick and Megan. He hadn’t seen her. He didn’t know she was there, and this time, she was not going to let the worst happen.

She rushed the gunman from the side, taking him by surprise. She tackled his midsection, hearing the gun go off as they fell to the ground. His weight crushed her. She tried to shove him away, but he slammed his fist into her face, and her head bounced off the dirt. Dazed, she thought for a terrifying moment that this might be it for all of them. She couldn’t see Nick and had no idea if he’d been shot, but she could hear Megan crying.

As her attacker scrambled toward his gun, Nick came up behind him and threw him down. Fists flying, Nick went after the man with the unrelenting fury of a man fighting for his child’s life. The man collapsed on the ground, but Nick hit him again and again.

“Stop! He’s unconscious,” Isabella said as she got to her feet. “Stop, Nick.” Even if the other man deserved to die, she didn’t want Nick to kill him. “Megan needs you,” she said.

Her words finally got through. Nick ran back to his daughter, who launched herself into his arms.

Isabella picked up the rifle and moved a few feet away from the man, keeping an eye on him in case he woke up.

“Are you all right?” Nick asked, searching Megan’s face as his hands ran up and down her arms.

Megan gave a sob as she nodded her head.

Nick pulled her back into his embrace. “You’re safe now, honey. No one will hurt you. I’m going to take care you.”

Tears gathered in Isabella’s eyes. She hoped Megan could believe him, because the way the two of them clung together was proof of how much they needed each other.

A sudden movement in the tent made Isabella stiffen. “Nick!” she said urgently as the flap of the tent began to move.

He looked up, then pulled Megan behind him. “Who’s there?” he demanded.

“It’s okay, Dad,” Megan said. “It’s just a girl. She was nice to me.”

A face appeared through the open flap, then the other girl slowly crawled out of the tent. Her thick blond hair was down to her waist, her face pale, her blue eyes shocked. She looked from them to the man on the ground. “Is he—is he dead?” she asked, stumbling to her feet.

“No, he’s just unconscious,” Nick said. “Who are you?”

“Annie.”

Isabella gasped. “You’re the girl everyone has been looking for?”

Annie tipped her head toward the man who’d attacked them. “That’s my father. He kidnapped me, and he wouldn’t let me leave.”

“Are you all right?” Isabella asked, moving quickly to the girl’s side. “Did he hurt you?”

Annie shook her head. “He just slapped me a few times.”

“Everyone is so worried about you. My brother, the chief of police, sent search parties out scouring these hills.”

“He did? My dad said no one would care that I was gone. All they wanted was my baby. Oh, God, how is he? Is he okay?” she asked, her voice breaking.

Isabella set the rifle down and put her arm around Annie’s shoulder. “He’s fine. Charlotte has been taking care of him. But I know everyone will be happy to see you. We need to call nine-one-one,” she added, turning back to Nick.

“There’s no service out here,” Annie said.

“We’re going to take you home.” She glanced at Nick. “Any idea where we are?”

“I know the way,” Annie said. “My father’s car is through the trees, but he has the keys in his pocket.”

“I’ll get ’em.” Nick strode forward and knelt next to Annie’s father. The man groaned as Nick pulled out his keys, but he didn’t open his eyes or make any attempt to fight back.

“Is he going to be all right?” Annie asked, worry in her eyes. “The war made him crazy, you know? He wasn’t always like this.”

“As soon as we get service, we’ll call for an ambulance,” Nick said. “Let’s get out of here.”

As they approached the beat-up old car, Isabella felt her nerves tighten once again. Carl Dupont was still lying motionless on the ground, so why was she feeling on edge? As she walked around the front of the car, an image flashed through her mind.

The car was headed straight for her, two people
struggling in the front seat. It turned at the last second, and she hit the brakes . . .

“Isabella?” Nick questioned as he opened the back door for Annie. “What’s wrong?”

“This was the car that ran me off the road on the coast highway,” she said in amazement. She looked at Annie. “Your father was driving. You were headed straight toward me, and then he made a quick turn. That was the night he took you, wasn’t it?”

“I saw a car skid across the road on our way out of town, but I didn’t know what happened after that. That was you?”

“Yes.” Isabella should have been used to the unexpected connections by now, yet this one shook her.

“I was trying to get him to turn around,” Annie said. “I made him angry, and he drove faster. I thought for a while he was going to kill me.”

“But he didn’t,” Nick said. “And he’s not going to hurt anyone ever again. Now, let’s get going.”

“Megan, you sit in the front with your father,” Isabella said.

“Are you sure?” Megan asked uncertainly.

She gave her a smile. “Absolutely. I don’t think your dad will be able to drive if he can’t see you. He’s been so worried about you.” She got into the backseat alongside Annie, while Megan and Nick settled in the front.

“I’m really sorry I ran away,” Megan said.

“I’m sorry you felt the need to run away,” Nick replied, giving her a tender look. “I don’t want that to ever happen again.”

“How did you find me?” Megan asked.

“We went to Hidden Falls,” Nick replied. “We ran into your boyfriend. He’s not good for you, Megan.”

“I know,” she said quietly.

“Did he hurt you?” Nick asked, an edge in his voice.

Megan quickly shook her head. “No, he was just being stupid. And I was so mad I didn’t want to hang out with him. I didn’t think I was going to get lost, but I got confused in the woods. I tried to get back to the falls, but I couldn’t find them.

“When I saw the tent, I thought it was a family camping, but then her dad came at me with a gun and told me that I wasn’t going to be able to leave, because then the enemy would know where they were.” Megan’s voice broke. “I was scared, but Annie told me he wouldn’t hurt me.” Megan flung a look of gratitude in Annie’s direction. “I’m sorry he took you, but I’m glad you were there.”

Annie nodded, fatigue etched in deep lines around eyes that shouldn’t look as old as they did. Isabella couldn’t imagine the ordeal she’d gone through.

Despite Annie’s exhaustion, she had enough wits about her to direct them down some narrow dirt roads that eventually led them to the outskirts of town.

When they got out of the hills, Isabella took out her phone and called her brother. “Joe, I’ve got some good news. We found Annie.”

“How the hell did you do that?” he asked in amazement.

She could have told him that for once in her life, her gift of insight had been a true gift, but she just said, “It’s a long story, but we’re headed into town. We’re taking Annie back to Charlotte’s house. Her father’s in the woods and needs an ambulance. I’m going to give Annie the phone. She can tell you where he is.” She handed the phone to Annie, who in a halting but clear voice directed Joe to the campsite.

Then Annie handed the phone back to Isabella. “He said he’d meet us at Charlotte’s house. You’re his sister, huh?”

“Yes. I was on my way into town the night your father ran me off the road. Fortunately, Nick saved my life.” She smiled as Nick’s glance met hers in the rearview mirror. “Everything worked out the way it was supposed to.”

“You were crazy, tackling Annie’s father,” Nick said. “He could have shot you.”

“I thought he’d shot you for a minute.”

“He missed when you knocked him down.”

“You were really brave, Isabella,” Megan said. “You saved us all.”

She smiled. “Joe taught me how to tackle a long time ago. He’ll be happy to know it finally came in handy.”