Flee From Evil (30 page)

“But—”

“Cass.” Vince’s fingers wrapped around her arm. “Billy and Lew will take care of your car.” His eyes spoke something that told her he was telling the truth.

But she knew how that had turned out in the past.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Groggy, Sophie pulled her lids against the force that held them in place. Oh yeah, duct tape. She squirmed as best she could in her limited ability to stretch out the ache in her joints, and tried to relax against the mattress.

Light seared into her vision. Could this be what happens to someone steeped in utter darkness too long? A warmth followed it, and there he was again.

“Daddy.” It was almost a sigh this time.

He smiled and ease ebbed into her aching joints. “Hi there, sweetheart.”

She searched his features, hoping to take every nuance of his contentment inside of her. “Any words of wisdom for me today?”

She could almost feel the hand that reached for her cheek. “Think on Joseph.”

Oh yes, another person from the Bible who’d been imprisoned.

“God had a plan.”

“I’m scared.”

The melancholy of his expression comforted her. He understood. “I know, honey.”

“What should I do?”

“Trust God.”

“I don’t know how anymore,” she whimpered, wishing he’d remove the bindings and pull her into his arms.

“He is with you always. Remember Genesis 50:20.” It was the verse her father had made her memorize when kids picked on her at the private school. “Say the words.”

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

The snorting jolted her. The light faded and pulled away. “Daddy, don’t go.”

Clattering sounded, then, “Wake up, you’re dreaming again.”

From beautiful visions to the distorted voice that plagued her days.

She shivered. “Why can’t you let me be?” Her anger mounted. “You imprison me all day. Can’t I escape in my dreams at night? What do you want from me?” Her sobs muffled in the comforter.

“Tell me your dream.”

Sophie hesitated. For all she knew it could be Freddy Kruger on the other side of the room, set to use her hopes against her. But she suspected the nicer Voice. Should she tell him? “I dreamed my father came to talk to me.”

A dripping sound caught her attention. Was it raining outside? If only she could see the sun one last time.

Instead her mind drew up a picture of a boy in a multi-colored coat. “My father reminded me of Joseph in the Bible, who was sold into slavery and wrongly imprisoned so lives could be saved.”

“You think that’s what’s happening here? To you?” The derision in The Voice almost made him sound like the other one, the one who made her skin crawl.

Did she think that? “I know God can turn any evil into good.”

The chair squeaked and The Voice sounded higher up. “You believe that, Sophie? Evil into Good?” She hadn’t heard this kind of anger from him. And he’d never used her name before. Why did it feel so personal?

“I believe God has the power to make all things good, and in the end, He will do exactly that.” Somehow those words seeped into her soul. Did she really know this for sure?

“What if that
end
means your death?” Previously, The Voice had eluded that word, almost as if to give her hope, so she would continue to behave.

And yet now, the word no longer scared her. “Then I’ll be with God.”

The scoff was not distorted.

“If that is His Will, I accept it.”

The rattle of something like a chair falling over sounded, almost as though it had been kicked. “You’re crazy.”

Now she was confused. “You want me to fight for my life?”

“Yes.”

This undistorted word was so low, she barely heard it. In fact, she wasn’t sure it was real.

~*~

Vince pulled into Cass’s mother’s drive, the sun sinking below the trees. It had been a long day, driving around, trying to find out more about this Perkins guy. He and Cass had even gone to Home Depot together to see if he was around. Evidently, he’d taken some vacation days.

Vince had closed his savings account. Every drop of it now resided in a duffel bag in the back seat. He pulled it out and followed Cass to the front steps. His cell buzzed. Cass turned to watch him as he checked the ID and pushed the
talk
button. “Eddie, what ya got?”

“Good stuff, my man.” Vince’s muscles uncoiled with a faint relief.

Cass neared as she saw his reaction.

“Chen’s been stalking your guy all day. It turns out he’s got a cabin in some woods out in Western Maryland. Chen trailed the dude and looked around the place. My money says the girl’s inside.”

“Did he see her?”

Cass’s eyes went wide at the words.

If anyone could find out what was in that house, it was Chen. The guy had all kinds of equipment to see into the buildings he cased. He didn’t like to take chances breaking into them unless they promised gold, or at least a very expensive wide-screen TV and a state-of-the-art stereo.

“Chen could only get a view of the main floor, but he says Perkins and another guy keep going down into the cellar and spending lots of time there.”

“Sophie.” Vince nodded to Cass. She released a breath.

“Chen’s gonna get a little closer to find points of entry, but says the place is stocked with firearms. Apparently, it’s the hunting cabin.”

Vince tried to hide his concern from Cass’s probing gaze. By the look on her face, it didn’t work.

“Hey, Vince.”

“Yeah?”

“We’re close, man. We’re gonna bring that girl home.” When did this become Eddie’s fight too? “Me and Chen. We got a plan. Meet us at the shop in the morning to work out the details—10:00 a.m. sharp.”

“Right.” Vince hit
end
and stuffed the phone in his pocket.

“What did he say?”

“I’ll tell you inside.” Vince followed Cass into the house and filled her in while she made sandwiches for dinner.

“What kind of plan? Going in with guns blazing, getting my Sophie killed.”

Vince shook his head. “That’s not Chen’s style. He’s a
cat
burglar—meaning he steals things from houses when the owners are still inside. His goal is stealth. If anyone could go in and get her out without being noticed, it’s him.”

Cass sliced the last sandwich and dropped the knife on the counter. “I don’t know how much more I can take.” She sagged against the cabinets.

Vince neared, wanting to gather her into his arms, but every time he’d gotten close, she’d pushed him away. He wanted to comfort her, but knew somehow his comfort also brought her pain. Would she ever trust him again?

They ate in silence together. Cass turned on the news until she said it was too depressing. She flipped to a movie—too happy. She shook her head. Vince feared her next words.

“I’m going to bed.”

How would she take his suggestion? “How about I sleep on your couch?”

Cass glared. “Why would you do that?”

“I don’t like you being alone.”

“And your presence makes me safer?”

Vince shifted. “Yes, Cass. It does.”

Her gaze softened. She gestured to the furniture. “Suit yourself. I’ll get you some blankets.”

~*~

Vince opened his eyes to the woman emerging from the bathroom, wearing shorts and a sleeve-less blue top, auburn curls glistening from the recent shower. Cass pulled her fingers through her hair, attention focused on the floor.

Her eyes lifted. “Oh. You’re awake.”

Vince threw off the blanket and sat up on the couch. “What time is it?”

“Six. I couldn’t sleep.” She sat in the chair, elbows resting on her knees.

He’d only nodded off a couple of hours ago. “Eddie said to come by the shop at 10:00.”

Cass leaned her chin into her hands. “You trust this guy to save Sophie?”

“I do.” It wasn’t even Eddie as much as the feeling in his gut he believed he got from the Holy Spirit. Was it accurate?

“And the
cat
burglar?” Her gaze locked on his.

He didn’t falter. “Yes.”

“They make a living stealing from people.”

“I made a living drugging them.” Vince regretted reminding her. This might not be the best argument in his friends’ favor. “I have to believe they have some good in them because it gives me hope for myself.”

She didn’t speak, only stared at the floor.

Vince folded the blanket and placed it over the couch back.

Cass looked up. “Do you believe all people are redeemable?”

Wishing he could pull up an answer from his divinity studies, he chose to speak from his heart instead. “I’ve seen people in my life who seemed evil through and through.” His mind traveled back to his youth. “And I’ve known others who just seemed lost.” He shook his head. “Only God really knows which is which, so we need to listen when He tells us to avoid some, and be ready for those He gives us to guide.”

“What if they lead
us
into evil?”

Was that what she thought he did to her? “God is always there, Cass. Even when we stray.”

Her nod was barely perceptible. “Yes, He is.”

Vince stood and smoothed out the wrinkles in his shorts. He’d been wearing this outfit three days now. He better head home and take a shower himself before they met at Eddie’s shop. Maybe that would help clear his mind. “I believe my friends are lost. I see it in their eyes—the purposelessness. They need a reason to check this God of ours out, and I have no idea what that reason for them will be.” He sucked in a breath. “But I know God has it all worked out. He just hasn’t let me in on the plan yet.”

Cass stood. “I better make us some eggs. I suspect we’ll need lots of sustenance to get us through this day. It’s gonna be a long one.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Vince sensed Cass’s breaths grow shallow as she entered Eddie’s pawn shop. Things were coming to a head, and there was no guarantee of the outcome. He placed a hand at her back, and she startled. Glancing toward her, he hoped to decipher if it was okay. She moved closer, as if for more support. He tightened his hold.

Eddie peeked from the curtained room, and nodded for them to come inside it. Used, and likely stolen, goods littered the floor, shelves, and counters in the small space. Chen sat at one of the tables. Vince and Cassandra took a couple of chairs.

“Cass, this is Chen.”

The Asian man gave a curt nod as a smile lifted one side of his lips.

Eddie sat in the chair next to Chen. “Chen says he’s only seen two guys at the cabin.”

“One older. One maybe in his late teens,” Chen confirmed. “The older one comes and goes. The younger one stays in the cellar most of the time.”

“How do you know this?” Cass looked so innocent, naive, next to Vince’s old friends.

Chen’s eyelids lowered as his gaze rolled over every inch of her. “I have cameras that see where I want them to.”

Vince felt her shiver more than saw it.

“I have been watching the house for most of a day and part of a night. Whatever is in that cellar must be very important.”

“Sophie.” The break in Cass’s voice rattled Vince. They needed to get Sophie home to her mom.

Eddie leaned back in the chair. “Chen says he can get the girl, but not knowing what’s in the cellar, he wants the older guy gone.”

Chen nodded as if to agree but did not speak.

“The best time would be when Perkins goes for the money.” Eddie faced Cassandra.

Cassandra scowled. “But what if he leads me to the cabin.”

Eddie’s expression was confident. “He won’t lead you to a place he owns.”

“So while I’m giving him the counterfeit money, Chen, here, will be rescuing Sophie?”

“Yes.”

Vince tensed. If only it were that easy. “Eddie, we still don’t have all the cash.”

His expression was placid. “How much ya got?”

“With what Billy gave us, we’re up to eight thousand.”

The guy stood, strode across the room to a safe, spun the dial and opened it. Stacks of bills filled the inside. He grabbed a few and laid them on the table. “That should cover the counterfeit payment.” He pulled out some more. “These’ll be decoys.”

Vince swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”

Eddie smirked. “On your sermon salary. Don’t gotta lifetime to wait on that. Consider it payback for bein’ nice to my mom … and prayin’ with her.”

“That was no thousand dollar prayer.” Vince wasn’t sure what to think.