Her Unsub had been active for at least ten years without raising a blip on the radar. Not the type for a spontaneous daytime snatch and grab.
But the kid's story broke her heart. And Huntingdon County needed all the help they could get to stop the carjacker before he harmed Marion Caine.
Everyone's hopes for a successful outcome were dashed when they found Caine's car abandoned near the Stolfultz farm. The county deputies immediately mobilized a search, but from the looks on their faces, it was clear they were thinking recovery rather than rescue.
Lucy agreed. The statistics did as well. But no one could bring themselves to give up on Marion. Not while her ten-year-old son was right there with them, begging for them to save his mom.
Adam ended up with Lucy as they began the search. She worried about him, tried to send him back, but it would be hours before either his father or child services made it to the scene. Besides, he knew the terrain, he boasted. Had walked every inch of these mountains, hunting with his dad.
Lucy spotted the van but it was Adam who heard the screams. He rushed inside Echo Cavern before she could stop him or call for backup.
Absolute black. That's what she remembered best. She grabbed a flashlight before chasing after Adam, but given the immense weight of darkness, it was useless. Made her more of a target than it helped her spot any potential danger, but she couldn't bring herself to turn it off.
"Adam!" Her calls echoed back and forth, swirling around her, playing blind man's bluff.
Then the screams came. Women. She followed the sound and found two young women, naked, chained by iron collars around their necks. The old-fashioned collars were secured by handcuffs to the thick chains bolted to the cave wall. A lucky break—although Lucy realized later it was simply a convenient way for the Unsub to reposition his victims as his fancy led him.
She released the first girl who refused to leave without the second girl. Knelt beside her, stroking her hair, calling her name. "Rachel, it's okay. Rachel, we're saved."
The second girl, in addition to the chain around her neck, lay on her stomach, each wrist handcuffed to the opposite ankle, her limbs contorted behind her in a way that must have been excruciating. Yet she never made a sound.
Lucy led them to the car, told them to wait for the backup she'd called. Was tempted to do the same. But she had no idea how long it would take the deputy. And Adam was in there, alone in the dark.
She nearly didn't make it past the threshold. The weight of the darkness almost pushed her back outside. Megan's face kept filling her vision. Megan was around the same age as Adam. If she'd been lost in the dark… The thought gave her the courage to plunge back into the black.
Crossing the chamber where she found the girls, shadows crushing her, that's when he knifed her. He moved through the shadows so fast she never saw him. Just the shove and the burn of the blade slicing her flesh.
She lunged after him, but he was gone before she could aim the light at him, much less her weapon. Then her light caught sight of Adam on the opposite side of the cavern.
"Hurry. He's got my mom. Hurry. You have to save her."
Lucy tried. Tried to hurry. Tried to save Marion.
But the rest of what happened in that cave, well, the last thing she needed was to keep re-living the rest. Not when she should be concentrating on finding Adam and helping him.
Least she could do after getting his mom killed.
Chapter 10
Jenna paused at the substation's doorway, reading the plaque dedicating the renovated Dairy Treat to Marion Caine. If Adam Caine had come home, would the locals protect him? Maybe even the local law enforcement?
She swung the door open and stepped inside, ready to trust no one. Hard to do with the scent of french fries and chilidogs perfuming the air.
The place was pretty much empty. They'd left the plastic booths and turned the counter area
But the kid's story broke her heart. And Huntingdon County needed all the help they could get to stop the carjacker before he harmed Marion Caine.
Everyone's hopes for a successful outcome were dashed when they found Caine's car abandoned near the Stolfultz farm. The county deputies immediately mobilized a search, but from the looks on their faces, it was clear they were thinking recovery rather than rescue.
Lucy agreed. The statistics did as well. But no one could bring themselves to give up on Marion. Not while her ten-year-old son was right there with them, begging for them to save his mom.
Adam ended up with Lucy as they began the search. She worried about him, tried to send him back, but it would be hours before either his father or child services made it to the scene. Besides, he knew the terrain, he boasted. Had walked every inch of these mountains, hunting with his dad.
Lucy spotted the van but it was Adam who heard the screams. He rushed inside Echo Cavern before she could stop him or call for backup.
Absolute black. That's what she remembered best. She grabbed a flashlight before chasing after Adam, but given the immense weight of darkness, it was useless. Made her more of a target than it helped her spot any potential danger, but she couldn't bring herself to turn it off.
"Adam!" Her calls echoed back and forth, swirling around her, playing blind man's bluff.
Then the screams came. Women. She followed the sound and found two young women, naked, chained by iron collars around their necks. The old-fashioned collars were secured by handcuffs to the thick chains bolted to the cave wall. A lucky break—although Lucy realized later it was simply a convenient way for the Unsub to reposition his victims as his fancy led him.
She released the first girl who refused to leave without the second girl. Knelt beside her, stroking her hair, calling her name. "Rachel, it's okay. Rachel, we're saved."
The second girl, in addition to the chain around her neck, lay on her stomach, each wrist handcuffed to the opposite ankle, her limbs contorted behind her in a way that must have been excruciating. Yet she never made a sound.
Lucy led them to the car, told them to wait for the backup she'd called. Was tempted to do the same. But she had no idea how long it would take the deputy. And Adam was in there, alone in the dark.
She nearly didn't make it past the threshold. The weight of the darkness almost pushed her back outside. Megan's face kept filling her vision. Megan was around the same age as Adam. If she'd been lost in the dark… The thought gave her the courage to plunge back into the black.
Crossing the chamber where she found the girls, shadows crushing her, that's when he knifed her. He moved through the shadows so fast she never saw him. Just the shove and the burn of the blade slicing her flesh.
She lunged after him, but he was gone before she could aim the light at him, much less her weapon. Then her light caught sight of Adam on the opposite side of the cavern.
"Hurry. He's got my mom. Hurry. You have to save her."
Lucy tried. Tried to hurry. Tried to save Marion.
But the rest of what happened in that cave, well, the last thing she needed was to keep re-living the rest. Not when she should be concentrating on finding Adam and helping him.
Least she could do after getting his mom killed.
Chapter 10
Jenna paused at the substation's doorway, reading the plaque dedicating the renovated Dairy Treat to Marion Caine. If Adam Caine had come home, would the locals protect him? Maybe even the local law enforcement?
She swung the door open and stepped inside, ready to trust no one. Hard to do with the scent of french fries and chilidogs perfuming the air.
The place was pretty much empty. They'd left the plastic booths and turned the counter area
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