Under Currents (36 page)

She told him what Adam said about Jeremy and Devin’s disagreement. “I don’t think there’s a way to prove Devin had anything to do with Jeremy’s death unless I spend a lot of money. But it’s not just the money. It’s bound to affect the children. They’ve finally adjusted to the fact that Jeremy died in a car crash. Do I really want them knowing their dad was murdered?”

“Still, you need to know, and Scott and Ally need to know what really happened to their father. Maybe not now, but when they’re older. If I can’t prove Devin killed those girls, then you and Adam need to go after Devin with the information about Jeremy and how he’s tried to force you to sell.”

“None of that matters.” She steadied her gaze on him, hoping he wanted the same thing. “We could drop this whole thing and move away from here where no one knows—”

“No! This is your home. We can’t have any kind of future together with the way things stand.” He sighed. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I appreciate what you’re willing to sacrifice for me, but you just can’t pick up your business and move.”

“I know you’re right.”

“Once the truth is known, no one should feel hostile toward us. Speaking of the future, let’s pick up a box of condoms. We could go to that little store just outside of town.”

"Just pick them up at the pharmacy. Everyone in town already suspects we’re sleeping together. At least they'll know we're having safe sex."

He chuckled. "We've been damn lucky so far that my little soldiers have missed the mark."

♦♦♦

Julie waited in a sitting area at the Northeast Correction Center for Aunt Noreen. She’d never seen her aunt look more beautiful or nervous.

She removed the coins from a Ziplock bag she’d brought and purchased a soda from the vending machine. They were required to leave their purses locked in the trunk. After going through the metal detectors and being checked for drugs and weapons, Julie realized just how structured and rigid prison regulations were. She thought of Caleb spending ten years in a place similar to this, and a pang squeezed her heart.

When Aunt Noreen returned to the waiting room, she still had tears in her eyes. She wiped them away. “I’m ready.”

It wasn’t until they were in the car that Julie decided to probe. “So how’d it go?”

Noreen nodded. “Good. I’m glad you suggested that I visit him. He didn’t look so well. Prison has really aged him.” She blushed. “He said I still look like a teenager.” She laughed. “Now that’s a joke.”

“Well, you do look extremely lovely today.”

“I decided not to tell him about Devin. It would have devastated him knowing his son was a murderer. He asked me to thank Bob for letting me visit. I doubt I’ll ever see Reece again. This is quite a drive, and there wasn’t much to say just small talk. We say a lot more in our letters. We will continue to write and I’ll send him books and little gifts. I feel better now that Bob’s aware of our correspondence.”

Julie drove a few miles and noticed the faint smile on her aunt’s face.

“I’m glad you’re smiling. Caleb thought I should stay out of your business.”

“No, I’m glad I went. For years, I thought I still loved Reece more than anything. But I don’t. I held his hand, and I could have been holding a stranger’s hand. I didn’t feel the rush of love or any desire. I realized just how much I love Bob. I spent years living with one man while imagining I’m in love with another.”

“Don’t start the guilt thing. Just enjoy each day you have with Bob.”

Julie thought of Jeremy and how short their time together had been. Tears filled her eyes. Ally and Scott had already experienced times when they couldn’t remember Jeremy’s voice. Sometimes, she couldn’t either. She tried to play videos of their father from time to time so they’d remember, so they wouldn’t forget.

♦♦♦

Caleb turned off the television and straightened up the den. He didn’t want any distractions while he talked to Julie. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her and ask her to marry him. That was the plan. If he put it off until his life was perfect, they might not ever get married.

Nathan dropped off their grandmother’s wedding rings while Julie had been gone. Hopefully, Julie wouldn’t be disappointed not having a new ring set. It was the best he could do.

He'd waited all evening for the rug-rats to hit the sheets. Ally and Scott had been at George and Cora’s house, swimming with their cousins. He thought they’d fall right to sleep, but neither had. First, Scott wanted water, and Ally needed a nightlight. Scott came up with at least three other reasons to get out of bed. Ally kept calling Julie back every few minutes for silly reasons. Finally, Julie warned them not to get out of bed, not to call her, and to go to sleep.

Scott and Ally were finally asleep.

Sweet.

Now he'd have a little downtime with Julie. 

"Hey, babe, you plan on staying in the kitchen all night?"

"I'm pouring a glass of tea. Want one?"

"No thanks. There's something we need to talk about."

She laughed. "Be there in a second."

Julie walked into the den carrying a glass of tea.

The glass in her hand shattered.

Shards of glass exploded outward.

Her eyes widened in shock.

Then she dropped to the ground.

Shit! No!

God, not Jules.

Chapter Twenty-one

“Julie!” Caleb shouted. "Are you hit?"

“No. I’m all right.”

“Thank God.”

Caleb slid to the floor. He crawled to the lamp and yanked its cord, leaving them in the darkness. “Stay down.”

Then he eased to the window and peered out, hoping to discover who was shooting at them.

The overhead light came on."What's going on?"

A bullet zipped by Caleb.

“Turn off the light, Scott. Get down!"

From the bedroom, Ally screamed.

They couldn't stay.

Nor could they trust the police.

Caleb had to get Julie and her kids to a safe place. If they could reach the boat, he would take them to Eden. No one would find them there. He hadn’t taken the tent down, so they’d have shelter.

He’d never forgive himself if he got them killed. He loved them too much.

Clearing his name wasn't worth risking their lives.

Several more bullets battered the house.

“Julie, get Ally and meet me at the backdoor. Scott, go wait by the door and stay down.”

“But I’m scared.”

“Scott, just do it!”

“Do what Caleb says,” Julie ordered. “Watch out for the glass."

“Stay low,” Caleb warned.

The boy lowered to his hands and knees, then inched his way through the den. Julie made her way to Ally’s room.

Caleb attempted again to peer out the window. Two men moved about in the shadows. His heart pounded like a drum solo. He had to get Julie and the kids out.

He headed to the kitchen where the others waited. “We’ve got to go now. I’ll carry Scott and you get Ally.”

“Wait. The gun!” Julie removed it from an upper cabinet and gave it to Caleb. “It’ll do us more good if you have it.”

Caleb eased it in his pocket and then slipped out the backdoor first, scanning the area. “Let’s go.”

“My phone’s in the den.”

“Leave it! It’s too risky to go back. To be honest, I’m not sure who to call or who we can trust.”

Ally whimpered while Scott just looked big eyed and frightened. Caleb set Scott down and took Ally from Julie, consoling her. “You’ve got to be very quiet, Ally girl. Look how brave Scott’s being.”

“I’m afraid of the noise.”

“I know you are, angel.”

When they reached his aluminum boat, he instructed Julie and Scott to climb inside. He handed Ally to Julie, then untied the boat from the ramp. Caleb crossed over them and moved to the rear, trying to be quiet. He carefully lifted the paddle without clanging it against the metal and pushed away from the bank.

“We could go to my parents’ house and call the police.”

Caleb shrugged. “I don’t know if I trust the Faith Police Department. Besides, it could put your parents in danger.”

Once the boat drifted to the middle of the river, he set the paddle down and cranked the engine. They headed upstream.

Ally sobbed softly. Scott stared back at their home. It would never represent the safe-haven a home should, not after tonight.

Caleb didn’t have to guess who was responsible. But he wondered if Devin had had the nerve to come himself. At first, he’d suspected Mr. Peel since the gunfire had come from a single shotgun. Until, he’d spotted two men.

“Where are we going?” Julie asked.

“To Eden,” Caleb admitted. “Once you and the kids are safe, I’ll go for help.”

“We need to call the state police.”

“Maybe.” Caleb leaned forward and placed a hand on Julie’s shoulder. “I’m afraid I’ve lost confidence in people. Like my parole officer. Devin’s a rich senator. There’s no telling how many pockets he's padded.”

"Not everyone is on his payroll," Julie said, her hand stroking Ally's back to calm her. “I can’t believe I left my phone. How dumb is that?”

“We got out with our lives. We’ll manage. Besides, your phone wouldn't be any good out here.” Caleb had made this trip up river almost every morning since being back, so he hoped he could navigate it in the dark. As they traveled, his eyes adjusted. Occasionally, the moon peeked out from the clouds and lit the area.

♦♦♦

“How in the hell did you miss?” Devin asked over his phone.

“Wasn’t my fault. He moved his head right when I pulled the trigger. A shot gun is not my weapon of choice. Shit. I thought I hit him. By the time we kicked the door in, they were gone.”

“Where?”

“Best I can figure, he loaded them in his boat and left.”

“You sure?”

“Pretty sure. Her van was still parked in the drive. There’s no way in hell they could’ve left in a vehicle without us spotting them.”

“Where is Henry Peel?”

“Sleeping it off in his truck. He has enough drugs in him to knock a bull out. He’ll still be there when we get back and alive enough to be arrested.”

“My family’s asleep. Meet me at my boat ramp ASAP. We have some unfinished business. I had hoped to only take out McGregor, but it looks like I might as well clean house and be done with it."

♦♦♦

Caleb kept the boat at a steady pace, allowing him time to watch for large rocks or fallen trees in the river. The houses became fewer as mountains and forest surrounded them like a fortress. Water rushed along the side of the boat.

He wasn't sure how long they'd been traveling. He eyed the right side of the river, watching for the offshoot to the creek. Had he passed it?

In the distance, the high pitched roar of a speedboat launched Caleb’s pulse rate into orbit. "Julie, you and the kids get in the floor and stay down. Now!”

He opened up full throttle. His fishing boat lunged ahead.

The powerful speedboat came closer.

It would only be a matter of minutes until it was upon them. He considered pulling over to the bank and trekking through the woods to the road. And then what? No one would be on the country road so late at night.

A spotlight targeted the rear of Caleb’s boat. The speedboat’s engine hummed with power as it closed the distance like a shark after a tuna.

Damn the luck.

Caleb maneuvered around debris. “Hang on. This could get rough.”

Devin's voice bellowed out over a megaphone. “Give it up, Caleb and I’ll spare the kids.”

Julie lifted her head. “That’s Devin!”

“Yeah, I’m surprised he’s doing his own dirty work.”

“Stop now, Caleb and I’ll let her children go,” Devin repeated.

“Caleb, my children.”

“He’s lying. Scott’s old enough to testify and get the story straight. He can’t let any of us live.”

The first bullet whizzed just over their heads. “Stay down!”

Scott whimpered, Ally cried, and Julie prayed.

As more bullets pinged through the air, Caleb maneuvered his boat in a zigzag pattern to make them harder to hit.

Ahead where the Current River split, Caleb steered his aluminum fishing boat into a smaller section overgrown with tall grasses and reeds. The larger boat zoomed in behind them, but then stopped. The idiots were stuck.

Thank you, Jesus.

Caleb grinned.

When his fishing boat reentered the main river, Caleb didn't hear the speedboat. Hopefully, they'd damaged the engine. If not, it wouldn't be long before the shark returned.

Caleb needed a plan. He wasn’t sure they could make it to Eden. Hell, he wasn’t even sure if they’d already passed the creek.

Then the unthinkable happened.

The fishing boat’s engine sputtered and coughed. “We’re out of gas.”

“Oh God. What now?” Julie whispered.

The river’s current carried the powerless boat back downstream. At the base of an eddy, the fishing boat lodged against a fallen tree.

The droning sound of the speedboat's engine once again posed a threat.  Caleb hoped Vincent would pass by without spotting them.

Caleb removed Julie’s gun from his pocket. He tightened his fingers around it. “Stay down. And if there’s no way out, I’ll flip the boat. Julie, you get a grip on Ally.” He glanced at Scott, who sat in front of Julie. "Think you can stay afloat?”

“Yes, sir.”

“When you get to the bank, Scott, don’t stop running until you come to a house, then ask the people to call the state police. Understand? State police.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What about you?” Julie asked.

“I’ll stay behind and deal with Devin.”

“But, Caleb—”

“Don’t argue, Julie.” He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "I need to know you and the kids are safe.” He lowered his voice even more. "I love you.”

“You do?”

“With all my heart.”

“You waited until we’re being shot at and on the run to tell me? I can't believe it.”

“I know it’s not the best timing. We'll be having company soon. Be ready.” Caleb leaned and kissed her in the wobbly fishing boat.