Strangers in the Night (25 page)

That evening, everyone seemed in an especially good mood. Maybe it was the food—or the company—or both. Abbie and Jake had come out around six and Emma was thrilled to be able to play with the kids. Peggy and Abbie looked after the children while Dawn, Samantha, and Jeanette busied themselves in the kitchen of the B&B preparing the food. There had to be twenty people gathered there. After dinner things seemed to wind down as everyone crowded around the roaring campfire. Abbie kept a watchful eye on Emma as the child talked with Cassie and Peggy's girls. She looked so grown up.

When it was time for s'mores, the men—Jake, Travis, Keith, and Brent—fixed up sticks for the children to help them roast their marsh-mallows. For several minutes everyone focused on sandwiching the roasted marshmallows and chocolate bars between graham crackers.

Laughter rose along with satisfied moans as folks enjoyed their treats. Abbie waited in anticipation while Jake built his s'more and shared a bite with her. Their eyes met in a moment of longing and love, and Abbie found it almost impossible to turn away.

He lowered his head to give her a quick kiss and offered to make her a s'more of her own.

She laughed and nodded. Her gaze shifted back to the children, who'd been sitting beside her. Emma wasn't there.

Abbie sprang to her feet, feeling as though her heart would burst.

“Emma!” Her gaze darted around the circle.

Jake snapped to attention and let his stick drop to the ground. “She was just here.”

“Emma!” She screamed again as she turned and scanned the darkness outside the fire's glow. In a few moments, everyone seemed to be calling Emma's name. They found one of her dolls near the bench where she'd been sitting with the other kids, but no Emma. They questioned the children who thought Emma had been with them the entire time. No one seemed to know where she'd gone or when.

“Maybe she went inside to use the bathroom,” Peggy suggested.

When they couldn't find her in the house or anywhere on the property, Jake called the police. Abbie called her parents.

The likeliest scenario, the sheriff suggested, was that Emma had wandered off. Abbie hoped that was the case, but feared the worst—that someone had followed through on their threat and taken her baby. The sheriff took charge and set up search parties, and soon most of the adults had spread out through the town and the woods. The sheriff insisted Abbie stay at the B&B, which would act as a command center. She'd argued until he reminded her that she was needed in case Emma returned, or on the off chance Emma had been kidnapped and someone called to demand a ransom.

Her mom and dad, along with Tim, Daniel, and Skye, arrived and the sheriff assigned them to tasks almost immediately. Tim, Pops, and Daniel would join the search teams while her mother and Skye assisted at the command center. Abbie paced back and forth across the living room, going over and over in her mind who she'd seen that night who might have taken Emma.

Perkins came to mind. His car was still parked in the lot of the B&B, but he was nowhere around. She voiced her suspicions to the sheriff, who actually thanked her. He assured her that they would find Perkins and her little girl.

How ironic. She'd been ready to hand the property over to Perkins last night.
Please God. Don't let him hurt her
.

Weary and prompted by her mother, Abbie sat on the sofa, dazed and unable to believe that Emma was gone. Life went on around her, but she felt as though she were somewhere outside herself. She'd felt this way only one other time in her life—when she'd lost Nate and Ashley.

You haven't lost Emma
.

She managed to grasp the thought and from it took the courage to go on.
He has her. Perkins has her and the authorities will find him
.

By the next morning, Emma was still missing, and hundreds of people had joined the search. With daylight came the hope that they would be better able to find her. Jake had come in earlier looking bedraggled and exhausted, promising that he'd go out again as soon as he'd eaten something. He was there when she approached the sheriff about joining the search herself.

The sheriff relented, suggesting she stay with the team that would be going through the buildings in town again. He wanted her close by in case they heard anything.

Jake offered to go with her, and though the searchers had gone through the buildings the night before, the sheriff thought it might be a good idea to try again in case Emma had gone into one of them during the night.

Jake and Abbie spent the morning going through one building after another.

“You need to take a rest, Abbie,” Jake said as he waited for her to step out of the building that had once housed Cold Creek's newspaper office.

“I can't. I'm sure Perkins is behind this. His car is still here, so he can't have taken her far. Somehow I don't see him going into the woods. He must have hidden her here somewhere.” This scenario had been playing out in her head for some time now and was the driving force behind her determination.

“Abbie, think about what you're saying. Why would Perkins take Emma and stay here in Cold Creek? It doesn't make sense.”

“I don't know. But if he didn't do it, who did?”

Tired to the bone, she had to keep from dissolving into a puddle of tears. She had to find Emma.

The next building was the hotel. Abbie pulled out a set of keys, thinking she would need to unlock the door. When the heavy door groaned as it swung open, she stepped back in surprise. “It should have been locked.”

“The searchers must have forgotten to close the door after they went through here last night.”

She heard a thumping noise and grabbed Jake's arm. “It sounds like someone is here.”

Jake stepped in front of her. “Stay here while I have a look around.”

Abbie waited for a moment before stepping up behind him. “I think we should stay together,” she whispered.

“Shh.” Jake held up his hand. “Listen.”

A distant moaning broke the silence. Relief flooded her. “Emma!” The word caught in her throat and came out in a muffled cry.

Jake held her back when she would have raced ahead. “It might not be her, and even if it is, she might not be alone.”

Abbie gripped his sleeve as they went back outside. “What should we do?”

“Wait here for me while I get Jeff.”

Abbie knew Jake was right and that they should wait for the police, but the noise she'd heard sounded like a cry for help. She stepped back inside and listened. She heard it again. It wasn't Emma, she realized now. The tone was too low and masculine. It seemed to be coming from under the floor. She moved to the center of the room. If she remembered correctly, there was an entry into the basement under the stairs.

She hurried behind the stairway and noticed that the trapdoor leading to the basement was slightly elevated. She reached for it and jumped when Jake and Jeff came in with the sheriff. Abbie stepped back, allowing Jeff access. “Someone's down there.”

When the groaning came again, Jeff pulled the door to the side. He drew his gun and began to descend the stairs. “What in the world?” Then a moment later he called, “Sheriff, call an ambulance.”

The search for Douglas Perkins ended, but he was no longer a suspect in Emma's abduction. He'd been lying injured at the bottom of an enormous hole in the basement of the saloon for two days. Abbie stood at the edge of the yawning hole, full of questions.

Unfortunately, Perkins was in no condition to answer them. He had apparently dug the hole and somehow fallen into it. Jake, Jeff, and Tim worked with two medics to lift the large man up and out of what could have been his grave. For now, at least, the questions would have to wait.

Abbie and Jake followed the emergency technicians out of the hotel and to the waiting ambulance.

“So.” A harsh female voice reached her ears before her eyes fully adjusted to the sunlight. Abbie didn't need to see the speaker to know who she was. “My granddaughter is missing and you are out here doing God knows what.”

“Leah.” Abbie forced away the sudden guilt Leah seemed to heap on her. “We were looking for Emma.”

“Humph. Knowing you, Abbie, you probably took her and stashed her away yourself.”

“Mom, don't.” Daniel stepped up beside his mother. “You know Abbie would never—”

“What? Kidnap Emma? We both know what she's capable of.”

Abbie lifted her questioning gaze to Daniel. “When did she get here?”

“Last night. We stayed in a hotel in Portland and drove down this morning.”

Meeting Leah's slitted eyes, Abbie said, “How do I know you didn't take her?”

“How dare you suggest such a thing?”

“You would do anything to take Emma away from me. How do I know you didn't take her last night?”

“That's ridiculous. I wasn't even here.”

“No more ridiculous than you accusing me.” Abbie felt herself softening. Leah hadn't taken Emma, and she knew it.

“You ran away. You took my Emma and you ran away.” Leah's voice broke.

Abbie ran a hand through her hair. “I didn't know what else to do. I was wrong to run, but you were wrong too.”

Leah turned and walked away, her head bent, her gait unsteady, a cane in her left hand. Abbie shook her head, wishing she could ease the woman's pain. But she didn't have time to deal with Leah. Emma was still missing.

After sending Abbie an apologetic look, Daniel went after his mother.

Jake stood behind her and placed a steady hand on her shoulder. She leaned back against him for a moment, then sprang forward. “We need to keep looking.

Jake could hardly take it all in. By the end of the day, they still hadn't located Emma. Nightfall and exhaustion ended the search. They'd head out again at daybreak. Abbie had wanted to stay out in Cold Creek but agreed that she needed to clean up and change clothes. More than anything, Jake wanted to promise Abbie that he'd take care of everything. Instead, he guided her into the living room of her parents' home. He was surprised to find Leah and Daniel sitting in the living room with Lyle and Carlene. They all rose when Abbie and Jake entered the room, expectant looks on their faces. He was surprised to see that much of the animosity the families had had toward one another had melded into mutual concern.

“She's still missing,” Jake said. “We'll head out again at first light.”

Abbie dropped onto the loveseat. She hadn't wanted to stop, but Jake had reminded her time and again, they had to take breaks in order to keep going.

“There are leftovers in the oven,” Carlene said. “I'll fix plates up for both of you.”

“Nothing for me, Mom.” Abbie pushed to her feet and headed for the stairs. “I'm going upstairs.” She leaned heavily on the banister, obviously in pain. She had refused to go to the doctor to have the gunshot wound looked at.

Jake wanted to go after her, but she clearly wanted to be alone. He felt certain that she blamed him for all of this and she was right. As his gaze took in each of the grandparents, he felt like a failure. He'd promised Abbie he'd take care of her and make sure she stayed safe. Now Abbie had been shot, Emma abducted, and he was helpless to do anything about it.

Guilt nearly tore him apart as he thought about the part he had played in bringing Abbie and Emma out West. Admittedly, he'd been thrilled when the Grants voiced an interest in purchasing Cold Creek. And when Lyle and Carlene asked him to try to find Abbie, he'd been more than happy to oblige. He hadn't wanted to appear pushy, but he had to admit to being delighted when they finally signed the papers. If he hadn't gone to get Abbie—if he hadn't enticed her to come back with him, Abbie and Emma would still be safe in Grand Forks.

Carlene brought him a full plate on a TV tray. He had no appetite but ate anyway. The meatloaf and gravy and potatoes melded together in a glob. He choked it down as best he could and excused himself. “I appreciate the dinner, Mrs. Grant.” After thanking her, he announced his plan to go home.

Jake parked in his driveway but didn't go inside. Instead, he headed for the path that led to the beach. He needed to do some heavy thinking. Around one, he ascended the steep staircase to his deck and fell into bed.

The following morning Jake received a call from Jeff. He'd been at the hospital that morning and had gotten the whole story from Perkins. “He never intended to buy Cold Creek or any other property. He isn't a developer either. The guy is one of those big-time treasure hunters. He lives in California and goes all over the world looking for buried treasure.”

“In the basement of the hotel?” Jake shook his head.

“I talked to Isabelle about it,” Jeff said. “She admits that awhile back—shortly after her father and uncle had died—her son claimed that Jebediah's fortune had been buried somewhere in Cold Creek because her father wanted nothing to do with tainted money.”

Jake snickered. “Right. Abbie told me about that when she was researching the area. Sam's father dug up most of the town looking for it and never did find anything. But what's that got to do with Perkins? Samantha confirmed the story that Gunnar may have buried his brother's money, but in the end, the family decided that Jebediah had squandered all of his money on the hotel and had nothing left to leave to the family or to bury. So, end of story.”

“Not quite. This is where it gets weird. Perkins' father used to live out here and apparently knew Sam's dad personally. He'd even helped him dig a couple of times. The two had been drinking buddies. For a while, a lot of people were speculating about the missing money but then things died down. Perkins grew up hearing about the missing money, and when he heard the town was for sale, he figured it was the perfect opportunity for him to do some digging himself. At any rate, he came to Cold Creek to follow through on his father's ideas that the fortune was hidden in the saloon.

“He'd been digging in the basement at night for the past month, and then a couple of nights ago, the ground gave way underneath him.”

“So all of his plotting and scheming were for nothing.”

“Looks that way.”

“Serves Perkins right. But I don't really care about Perkins right now. We need to find Emma.”

“Believe me, I'd like nothing better. I don't think she's in the area, Jake. We're thinking that whoever took her was driving, and that means she could be anywhere. We know Perkins had nothing to do with her abduction. We'll keep looking, but as far as evidence is concerned, we're at a dead end.”

Jake didn't want to hear that. Somehow, somewhere, someone knew where Emma was. They had to keep looking.

Abbie heard all of these things from Jake the next morning over breakfast but didn't care about any of them. She just wanted to find Emma. The police had no leads. No one seemed to have seen Emma leave the campfire, and police suspected she'd walked away or been lured away by someone she knew. The FBI had been called in and since the Grants were a family of wealth, they expected a ransom call or note. But nothing came.

Abbie had been surprised to see Leah and Daniel at her parents' house the night before, but she might have known that her mother would work to patch things up. Daniel too, for that matter. Leah and Daniel were already there when she came downstairs for breakfast.

“I hope you were able to sleep,” her mother said.

“A little.” Abbie poured a cup of coffee for herself before joining the others at the table.

“I don't know how you could have slept at all,” Leah said. The tone bordered on critical, but when Abbie looked up, she saw only concern in her mother-in-law's eyes. Abbie was surprised that the strong woman who had never shed a tear during all the years she'd known her was crying now. Leah buried her face in her hands. “I'm so sorry, Abbie. This is all my fault. I see that now. I wanted you and Emma to stay on the farm. I wanted my family.” Leah used her napkin to mop up her tears. “All I did was drive you away. Now I may never see my Emma again.”

“We'll find her, Mom.” Daniel settled an arm across his mother's shoulder. “Don't cry.”

They would find her—they had to. Abbie managed to eat a few bites of scrambled eggs and toast then rode with Tim to Cold Creek, where the search had resumed. Because Barbara's body had been found there and the notes had both been written there, it seemed the likely place to search. Another team was still searching near the Grant's home.

At two in the afternoon, Dawn told the others she was heading back to the B&B to make sandwiches and snacks for the searchers. Peggy had offered to pick up Cassie from school since she was unable to join in the search. At two-thirty, Abbie finally took Jake's advice and they returned to the B&B to get a bite to eat. She had agreed to rest for half an hour and dutifully lay down on the couch.

Two hours later, Abbie woke up. She couldn't believe she'd fallen asleep let alone slept for so long. Jake was gone. He'd left a note on the counter saying he hadn't had the heart to wake her. The sense of urgency that had followed her all day came back with a vengeance. Still feeling groggy from sleep, she made her way to the kitchen for a glass of water. The door from the kitchen to the mudroom stood open. Dawn, who'd apparently been outside, slipped off her jacket and hung it on one of the pegs where a number of coats and jackets were kept. Beneath the outerwear was a messy row of boots and shoes.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” Dawn said as she stepped into the kitchen and turned to close the door behind her. “Want some coffee?”

Abbie nodded in response, but her gaze lingered on the door Dawn had just closed.

“I'm so sorry this has happened. I can't imagine how you must feel.”

Abbie turned her gaze to Dawn, her mind whirling with what she had just seen.

“Abbie? Are you all right?”

“Um …No. Yes.” Reason worked its way into her mind. She had to be mistaken. Dawn had hung her jacket next to one she'd seen before. If memory served her right, it was the same one she'd seen on the shooter.

Dawn set an empty mug in front of her. “Can I get you anything else?”

Abbie offered up a wan smile. “I…ah, no.” She had to be mistaken. A lot of people around here wore plaid shirts, red, green, brown, blue.

“You're like me,” Dawn said. “It always takes me awhile to wake up—especially after an afternoon nap. The coffee should be ready in just a minute. While it's perking, I need to wash up. Be back in a few.”

Dawn headed for their private quarters. Abbie slipped off the stool and hurried toward the back door. She had to have another look. She couldn't be sure, but the green plaid jacket looked far too much like the one the shooter had worn. What she saw next stopped her cold. Lying on the floor just behind a leather boot was a black ski mask. Had Travis been right? Was Keith the bank robber after all?

Abbie picked up the mask. Dawn would be devastated. Should she tell her what she was thinking?

Not yet
. Something wasn't right. Keith had been working here in town when Abbie encountered the shooter. Or had he? Brent said Keith had been working at the house. He could easily have slipped out unseen, trailed her to Travis's house, tried to kill her, and then gone back into town where he joined in the search for the gunman.