Blood and Justice (29 page)

He waited until he was sure it was safe, and then stepped inside. He was in a mudroom, with another door ahead of him, probably leading to the kitchen. There was no window in it either.

As before, he cautiously opened the door to the kitchen a crack and listened. He stepped aside as he swung the door fully open. No sound. He crouched down and moved into the kitchen. The room was clear.

To his right was the den he’d looked into through the window outside. Nobody was in there, but he went in and looked around, just in case. Still nobody.

Back in the kitchen, he saw a doorway leading down a short hallway. There was a bathroom on the right, the living room further down and to the left, and then a set of steps to the right, leading up.

Keeping his back to the left wall, he slid down until he could see into the bathroom. All clear. A few more inches and he could see up the steps. All clear. Another cautious step, and he was near the archway on his left, leading to the living room. He ducked down, and took a quick look into the room.

There was a chair pushed up near a window, facing out to the front of the house. The window was open. He saw a couch and a television, some bookcases and other knickknacks spread about, but the shooter was not here.

He’d obviously been shot at through the open window, but the chair was now empty.

He must be upstairs.

He moved back to the bottom of the steps and looked up. He knew if the killer was up there waiting, and he was caught halfway up, he would be trapped, and could easily be shot at before he could get back down, and to safety.

Thoughts of Annie forced him to take a chance. He moved up the first step and listened.

Silence.

He moved up to the second step. It squeaked. He listened.

Nothing.

He took one step at a time, stopping to listen after each one.

When he was halfway up, his head was at floor level, and he could see through the bannister to his left, down a passageway and to a bathroom. There was a bedroom halfway down the hallway, with an open door. At the top of the steps, straight ahead, he could see another door. It was closed, and there appeared to be a sliding bolt lock on it.

He reached the top of the steps. He hugged the wall as he moved to the bedroom with the open door. Looking quickly in, he saw nothing, so he stepped inside and looked around. The room was extremely tidy, and clean, but obviously a man’s room. This must be Jeremy’s room.

He opened the closet door, checked under the bed, and any possible hiding place. Nobody was there.

Back into the hallway, he went to the bathroom. He stepped aside as he pulled back the shower curtain. Nothing.

He frowned. There was only one place left. The other bedroom.

As he approached the door, he saw the bolt lock was closed. The door was locked from the outside. He couldn’t be in there.

Just in case, he slid back the bolt quietly, and then pushed the door open a crack.

All was quiet.

He peered through the crack. His mouth fell open as he saw a girl, lying on a bed by the far wall. She was facing the door, but her eyes were closed.

He swung the door open. It banged slightly as it hit the wall.

She opened her eyes and gasped.

He hurried toward her. “Jenny?” he asked.

“Yes. Yes. I’m Jenny,” she said excitedly. She sat up and asked with a slight frown, a little more cautiously, “Who are you?”

He grinned. “Your mother sent me. My name is Jake.”

She smiled and let out her breath. She sat still a moment. A few tears leaked from her eyes, and then a sob, slowly at first, and then uncontrollably.

Jake sat on the bed beside her, his big arms around her. She clung tightly to him.

“It’s ok. You’re safe now,” he soothed.

Finally, she looked up at him. “Where . . . where is he?” she said weakly.

“I’m not sure. He was here, but now he’s gone, and you’re safe.”

She was quiet. Her sobbing had stopped and she wiped at her tears.

“My wife and I are private investigators,” he said. “Your mother hired us to find you, and here I am.”

She looked up and drew in her breath sharply. “Oh no! He’s got her!”

“My wife?” Jake asked.

“Yes, yes, it must be her. He said she was a private detective.” She motioned toward the window. “I watched them. He took her to the barn.”

Jake stood and walked to the barred window. He looked out to the left where he could see the old barn, maybe two or three hundred feet away, further down the gravel driveway.

He came back to where Jenny sat. “I have to go and find Annie,” he said.

She grabbed his arm, holding on tight, and pleaded, “I’ll come with you. I don’t want to stay here any more.”

He nodded. She reluctantly let go of him as he moved toward the door.

“Stay behind me,” he said.

She followed him out the door, to the top of the steps leading down.

“Stay up here,” he ordered, “until I make sure it’s safe.”

He went slowly down the steps and into the hallway. It was all clear. He motioned for Jenny, and she came down.

He poked his head into the living room to be sure Jeremy hadn’t returned, and then led her through the kitchen to the mudroom.

He opened the outside door and peered out. It was all clear. He motioned for Jenny to stay back as he stepped outside.

Chapter 48

Monday, August 15th, 2:45 PM

JEREMY pulled the barrel of the rifle from the window ledge and dropped the weapon into his lap.

“Got him,” he screeched.

He’d seen someone moving through the trees at the front of the house. When he’d fired the first shot, he was sure he’d hit him, and when he fired the second one, the guy dropped.

He watched the spot for a while and saw no movement.

He grinned. His grin turned into a chuckle, and then a laugh.

“That’ll teach him,” he shouted. “Yes, that’ll teach him.”

He slid the window open and climbed out. He pulled the rifle out after him and holding it in a ready position, he moved forward slowly.

He didn’t know whether the guy was dead or not, maybe just injured, and he may have a gun, so he’ll need to be careful.

He crossed the small front lawn, and then the driveway, heading for the copse of trees.

He kept his eyes on the spot where he was headed, his rifle cocked and aimed, in case the invader was still alive and had a weapon.

He breathed heavily, excited, a bit nervous, as he walked.

He reached the spot and frowned. There was no body. There was no blood.

He spun around looking, looking for a sign, any indication of where the trespasser was. He saw nothing.

He looked through the trees in front of him, and then back, toward the house.

That’s when he saw him.

The intruder was at the side of the house, just going around the back corner.

He swore and hurried toward the house, around to the side, and then back to the corner.

He peered around. The invader was standing at the doorway to the mudroom. He raised his rifle and stepped out, his finger tightening on the trigger.

He lowered the rifle and swore silently as the trespasser stepped inside the house, out of sight.

He was disappointed, but then, he realized the burglar was trapped. He’d nailed the front door shut, and the back door was the only way out.

He swore as he realized he’d left the front window open, and hoped the intruder didn’t see it. Probably not. The back door is the only way out, he decided. I’ll nail him then.

He stepped back around the house, and then hurried for the forest that began at the side edge of the property.

Once he was safely in the darkness of the woods, he circled around through the forest extending across the back of the property, starting maybe fifty yards or so from the house.

He crept slowly forward until he reached the tree line. He lay down on his stomach, shielded by a bush; his elbows bent, the gun ready and trained on the mudroom door at the back of the house.

He waited, muttering to himself.

He wanted to nail this trespasser, this intruder, this thief. He’d broken into his house and now he deserved to die. There was no doubt about that.

He gritted his teeth and watched, and waited.

Minutes went by. He didn’t move. More minutes. He remained still, anticipating the kill. It would be for sure this time. Any minute. Just wait. Wait.

Now!

The scumbag stepped from the mudroom door.

Jeremy squeezed the trigger.

Missed.

He squeezed it again.

Missed again.

The trespasser was moving along the back of the house. The gun moved and exploded again.

The dirtbag was gone around the corner of the house. He watched for a while, but saw no movement. He knew for sure he’d missed him this time.

He stood and aimed carefully toward the corner of the house. Then, he saw a face, just the top of a head, and a pair of eyes, looking at him. He pulled the trigger.

The gun was empty.

He hastily pulled out the magazine and fumbled in his pocket for more bullets.

Suddenly the intruder was coming his way. He was running through the garden, and would be here before he could get the gun reloaded.

He swore as he turned around and ran.

He’d lived here all of his life, and he knew this property well, every tree, every bush. He ran straight, crashing through the trees, his breath coming in gasps.

Suddenly he stopped short. He would need to be quieter. He could hear his pursuer behind him. He couldn’t hope to outrun him. He had to outsmart him.

There was a fallen tree just to his left, big enough to hide him. He vaulted the tree, lay down and loaded the magazine, rammed it in, and aimed the rifle toward the sound of the approaching pursuer, and waited.

Chapter 49

Monday, August 15th, 3:13 PM

JENNY heard the sound of the shot, and dropped down. She saw Jake jump sideways, and then she heard another shot, and then another. Then, silence.

She crawled forward carefully until she could just see through the mudroom door and across the back yard. She saw the forest beyond and Jeremy holding a rifle, and then watched as he turned and ran, and Jake raced into the forest behind him. The sounds of the chase grew quieter.

She waited a few minutes and then cautiously left the house. Keeping low, she ran around the corner to her right, hurried forward, and down the gravel driveway toward the barn.

She knew Jeremy had taken Annie there, and she wanted to see whether she was safe. She also knew she would have a better chance by hiding in the barn until Jake came back, rather than staying in the house. Probably safer than running to the road, or trying to get away in any other direction.

The barn door was hooked on the outside, so she lifted the hook, unlatched the door, and swung it open.

The woman she’d seen that morning, being pushed toward the barn, was sitting on the blanket, leaning against the far wall of the barn. She was relieved to see she appeared to be safe, but could see the woman was chained up, the same way she had been.

That must be Annie. Jake had said her name was Annie. She hurried toward her.

Annie jumped to her feet when she saw Jenny.

“Annie?” Jenny asked.

Annie’s mouth was open and she stared a moment. Finally, she said, “Yes. Yes. I’m Annie. Jenny, it’s you.”

Jenny ran to Annie and hugged her. The chain rattled as they cried, laughed, and held on to each other.

Finally, Annie stepped back, still holding Jenny by both hands. “What happened?” she asked. “I heard gun shots. How did you get free?”

“Jake,” Jenny replied. “Your husband. Jake came and found me. He let me out.”

Annie looked worried. “Where’s Jake now?”

“He’s chasing Jeremy.” Jenny replied as she motioned behind her. “Back there, in the forest.”

“And the gun shots?”

“Jeremy has a gun, but don’t worry. He missed every time.”

Annie knew although Jake was a bit impulsive at times, he also knew when to be careful. And he was smart, but still . . . Jeremy has a gun.

However, she was overjoyed to see Jenny was safe. Annie looked at her and asked, “Jenny, are you ok? Did he hurt you in any way?”

“I’m fine. Really. I don’t know how I’m going to feel a little later, but right now, I’m ok.”

“Did he molest you?”

Jenny shook her head, and asked, “What about you? How are you?”

“I’m ok too. Pretty frightened, though.”

“Yeah me too,” Jenny said, and added, “I was chained up here, where you are, for a while.”

Annie raised her brows. “Oh!”

“At first I was in the room up there, and then I crashed through the wall, but he caught me, and chained me up here.” She shuddered. “Finally he took me back up there again.”

“I suppose you didn’t find any way to get out of this collar?”

“I tried. It’s hopeless.”

Annie thought again of Jake and forced a smile. “It’s not hopeless now. Jake will call the police, and they’ll catch Jeremy.”

“Yes, they will,” Jenny said, and added, “I’ll stay here with you until they come. It’s safer here for me, and I can hide if necessary.”

They sat on the blanket together. Annie held Jenny’s hand, her other arm around her shoulders, their heads touching, as they waited.

Chapter 50

Monday, August 15th, 3:12 PM

AS JAKE stepped from the mudroom door he heard a shot. A bullet whizzed by his ear and he dropped down.

His first instinct was to move back into the house, but he didn’t want to endanger Jenny. The shooter was straight ahead of him, so thinking fast, he dove to his right and ran for the corner of the house.

He was chased by two more bullets before making it around the corner and safely out of sight.