Taken - Before her very Eyes (18 page)

“They took samples from the bed.
Dusted for prints all over the house. Found a fresh set, which we assume is
yours. But other than that, the place looks fairly clean. They’ve found samples
from when you—” Nate met her on the stairs. “But nothing much new. We’ve got
his footprints from the dust and a few from the yard, plus the car tracks, but
it looks like he was fairly clean. No prints, probably wore gloves when he
dropped the ransom note off. The door knob, note and even your badge is
spotless.”

Summer racked her brain, trying
to think of anything left unturned. “Tire strip he used on my car?”

“Standard issue police strip,”
Nate said, ushering her down the stairs. “Could’ve picked it up from pretty
much any undesirable on the street corner.”

Summer couldn’t believe it. She
was hoping it’d be harder to pick one of those up. Hoping that they could trace
it back to a supplier. “They’re that easy to get?”

“If you have the money and the
connections, they’re not that hard to find. You know as well as I do that
there’s a whole other world out there stewing just under the calm society that
we pretend is the reality of our existence.”

“Dean’s cell phone?”

“Thousand pieces. It’d been run
over a hundred times before we could recover it from the road. The last I’ve
heard, the lab’s only found minute traces of prints on the outer plastic case,
but no enough to get any kind of match.”

Nate led Summer into the main
room, on the lower level, and slid one of the remaining unbroken chairs to her.
“Sit down and rest.”

She hated to be told what to do,
especially when she was feeling down and out over the lack of evidence they
had. The kidnapper had planned very thoroughly for this. It was evident in how
he waited, hiding in the pile of trash for them to show up. He knew everything
about them. She shivered remembering the way the light had glistened off the
blade of the knife when he’d stabbed Dean.

“Wait!” She grabbed Nate by the
shirt. “The keys! Dean’s keys for his Mercedes.”

Nate shook his head.

“The kidnapper wasn’t wearing
gloves when he stabbed Dean. I’m sure of it.” Summer paced around the room,
stirring up the layer of dust. “Then he slipped on the mask and climbed from
the trash. I can’t be a hundred percent sure, but I’m betting ninety that he
wasn’t wearing gloves when he picked the keys from the sidewalk.”

Nate grabbed her shoulders as she
passed by and directed her to the chair, but she refused to sit. “They’re
clean. He must have wiped them down before he left the car. Everything was
wiped clean. Not a print, except yours. Not even Dean’s. So you know what that
means.”

Summer did. He’d used a clean
cloth to erase everything before she climbed into the car. “But what about the
key itself.”

Nate was looking more and more
confused every second that passed. “I told you they’re—”

“Clean. Yes, I know,” Summer
grinned, “but the sweat from his skin would’ve corroded the metal. Now, if they
use the Bond technique and apply an electrical charge and a fine carbon powder
to the metal of the key, it might just reveal a fingerprint.”

“Does it work?”

“The hell if I know. I’m not one
of the lab rats.” Summer moved to the cracked picture window and looked through
the filthy glass at the shroud of trees encircling the house. “But it’s worth a
shot.”

“Damn right,” Nate said. He
quickly called in the request to the station, having them forward the
information to the boys in the lab.

Summer turned back to Nate.
“They’re going to do it?”

“As we speak. Said it’ll take
some time for the prints to emerge if there are any, but if he used some kind
of oil based cleaner on the rag when he cleaned the car, then there might not
be anything to see.”

“He’s smart. I’ll give him that,
but somehow I don’t think he’s that smart.”

The phone in her pocket vibrated,
then began ringing. Summer felt her calm wash away in a surging tide as the
reality of the situation hit home. She fumbled, digging the phone out then
quickly flipped it open. “H—Hello?”

“Get in a car and start driving
south from the city.”

“South, where?”

“Anywhere. Just head out of the
city and go south.”

“I want to talk to Sabrina
first.”

“Can’t do that. They may be
tracing the call.”

The line went dead and Summer
felt like she’d been kicked in the stomach. She’d been counting on hearing
Sabrina’s voice one more time and didn’t care if they were tracing the call or
not. She craved hearing that sweet little voice like a drug addict craved
another hit.

“South?” Nate said, already
heading toward the door. “Let’s go. I’ll follow and hang back.”

“No!” Summer stood her ground. “I
told you I won’t risk Sabrina’s life by pissing him off. I’m going by myself and
that’s my final decision.”

Nate stood inches away, glaring
down at her. “There’s no way in hell—”

“Gun!” Summer held out her hand
and was disappointed to see it shaking. She had hoped her nerves had settled,
but they hadn’t healed completely, even with John Scott dead.

Nate reached for his sidearm.

“No, not yours.” Summer tightened
every muscle in her body, willing them to remain still, but she knew it’d only
hold for a very short period of time before the twitches and shakes took over
with vengeance. “Did you get my gun like I asked?”

Nate’s eyes were barely more than
slits as he fought to control his anger at being told he couldn’t come out and
play today, then reluctantly he bent down and unstrapped the holster from his
leg and handed it to Summer.

“I’m sorry, Nate.” Summer took
the gun from the holster then tossed the holster in the corner and slid her
brand new sidearm beneath her pant leg. “I really appreciate your help, but you
have to understand why you can’t come.”

Nate nodded, but she didn’t think
he did understand. She knew revenge was rooted deep in his mind and if she
didn’t want him following, then she’d either have to shoot him or lose him.

“Oh, by the way,” Summer smiled,
realizing what a stubborn ass she was partnered with, “I borrowed your car.”

Nate’s face slackened.

“I hope you don’t mind.”

“Then… you saw the pictures?”

Summer nodded and fished the
after photo from her pocket. “I have to admit, it does get your blood boiling.”

“It’s—”

“I understand.” She raised an
eyebrow. “After years of working beside you. I finally understand what drives
you.”

Summer headed to the door then
turned back. “And don’t worry, I’ll take good care of your car.”

Nate forced a smile. “One scratch
and you’ll be buying me a new one.”

Summer nodded and stepped onto
the porch. “Promise that you won’t follow me.”

Nate bit his lip and nodded.

“Out loud. I don’t want any of
this, just kidding shit.”

“Fine! I promise.” Nate kicked
over the chair and followed her outside. “But if something goes wrong—”

“Don’t worry, everything will be
fine. I’ll call you as soon as I have Sabrina.” Summer stopped on the top step
and turned back. “I promise, if anything goes wrong you’ve got my permission to
destroy the entire country just to get that bastard.”

“I’ll kill him!” Nate clenched
his jaw. “And I’m not kidding.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less
from you.” Summer smiled. “That’s what makes you such a good partner.”

“Go on. Get out of here before I
change my mind.”

Summer ran to the car as fast as
her sore foot would allow. Once inside, she started the engine and tore down
the gravel road, heading in the direction of the highway.

“South? How far south does he
want me to go?” Summer said, placing the phone back onto the holder. Was south
the direction that they would make the swap, or was he only keeping her moving,
watching from a safe distance to see if anybody was tailing her?

Summer leaned over and opened the
glove box, then fumbled through the assortment of maps she knew Nate would
have. He always had the cruiser organized and his car was the same. She dropped
map after map to the floor until she found the Ontario map. Flipping it open on
the passenger’s seat, Summer glanced at it trying to pick an area that was
secluded enough for him to feel safe about making the exchange.

There were plenty of small towns
and flat farm land to the south, but nothing on the map jumped out at her for
the perfect drop spot for the exchange. He’d want somewhere where he could see
her coming for miles around, with enough access that he could make a getaway
without being seen, but as hard as Summer tried to find a location, she
couldn’t. There just didn’t seem to be an ideal spot to the south, because
eventually you ended up at the edge of Lake Erie with no place to go.

“Maybe this is a ruse to keep me
guessing? He’s probably going to call back and switch direction anytime soon.”
She glanced at the phone, but it didn’t ring, so she rounded the next corner
and headed south-west toward a hill. A good spot for him to be sitting on top,
watching for her to approach.

She slowed her approach, scanning
the hillside when her phone rang, causing her to jump.

“Damn it!” Summer grabbed the
phone and flipped it open. “What?”

“Where are you?”

“Middle Line Road, past Buxton.”
There was the distinct sound of paper rattling.

“Okay, continue down to Four Rod
Road then head south again and turn left onto the Sixteenth Line.”

“Just name your location and let’s
get this over with.”

“In time. Just make sure you’re
all alone, because if I see one cop, I’m gone and you’ll never see Sabrina
again.”

“Don’t worry.” Summer bit back
her anger. “I’m all alone. I don’t care about the money. Just give me my
daughter.”

“Then keep driving.”

The phone went silent again.
Summer flipped it closed and set it back down. After checking the map, she
turned left at the next road and made her way down the Four Rod Road. She ran
her finger down the path that he’d told her, but there still wasn’t anything up
ahead.

When Summer turned onto the
Sixteenth Line, the phone rang again. She glanced across the empty farmer’s
fields, then in her rearview mirror for any sign of the kidnapper or anyone
tailing her, but the countryside seemed so desolate that she felt all alone in
the apocalyptic future.

“Drive down the road until you
see the lone barn with the red X on the door. Once you’re there, pull inside
all the way to the back wall and turn off the car.”

“Are you in the barn? Hello…”
Summer tossed the phone down beside her. “God damn it! Stop hanging up on me!”

She drove down, past a few
collapsed barns until she spotted the first standing structure. Her heart
started racing as she pulled slowly onto the rutted, muddy laneway that led to
the old barn. As she neared, she sighed at the sight of the fresh red paint on
the partially open door.

There still was no sign of the
kidnapper anywhere, but she followed the orders and pulled her car into the
barn until her bumper was nearly touching the weathered old boards. Once she
turned the car off, the sound of bats was unmistakable. They seemed agitated by
the rumbling of the car engine, but soon fell silent as the seconds ticked by.

Summer waited for what seemed
like an eternity, glancing repeatedly over each shoulder, anticipating the
kidnapper’s arrival, but the countryside was extremely quiet today and no cars
dared go past the barn since she’d pulled in. It was almost as if she’d driven
down an abandoned road.

The phone rang again and she
quickly answered it.

“Get out of the car, place the
money and car keys through the hole in the back wall, then wait inside the car
for me to arrive. Once I have the money, I’ll send Sabrina out to you. Follow
my tracks and you’ll find your car keys a short distance away. Understand?”

Summer understood perfectly.
She’d have to trust this man to release Sabrina after she’d folded all her
cards. “Fine.”

After gathering the bag from the
floor, Summer climbed out of the car and cautiously walked to the back wall
where there was a large chunk of board missing. She glanced out the back and
noticed a service lane extending out into the field, disappearing over the hill
in the distance. He was probably sitting just on the other side, waiting for
her to make the drop. She debated whether she should hide beside the wall and
shoot him when he gets close, or if she should play it safe and trust he’ll
live up to his end of the bargain.

Playing it safe, Summer held the
bag out the hole and let it fall onto the makeshift table below, then dropped
the car keys on top of the bag. She wished she’d brought her own set of keys
from the Volvo. He wouldn’t know the difference between the two sets, then at
least she’d be able to chase him if he double crossed her. But she didn’t, so
she returned to the car and waited, gazing through the cracks in the splintered
wood for any sign of them approaching.

Two minutes later she saw the sun
reflect off the truck’s windshield as it cautiously climbed to the top of the
hill, down on the service lane. Summer felt butterflies swirling in her
stomach, a welcome change to the nagging feeling that she usually got when the
stress level increased.

He’s bringing Sabrina and he’s
gonna release her.

Summer could almost feel Sabrina
in her arms right now.

He’s… stopping?

Summer squinted, trying to make
sense of what he was doing in the distance. The driver’s door opened and it looked
like he was aiming a rifle off into the distance.

Summer looked to her left and
bobbed her head until she found a gap in the boards. A car was coming down the
road—A police car. “Damn it, Nate! I told—”

The gun shot echoed through the
barn, sending the bats fluttering around the rooftop. Summer ignored the flying
rats and watched as Nate’s cruiser veered off the roadway and came crashing to
a halt in the muddy field beside the barn.