Sandra slipped a reassuring arm around the younger womanโs shoulders and hugged her to her chest. She needed to convince her to remain calm and try to relax as much as possible. There were plenty of times they could have escaped. Bachmeier really wasnโt as keen of a kidnapper as he would like to think, but she was determined to find out who this other person was.โWhat happened to your parents?โ she asked.โHe caught Dad outside and they struggled by the back door,โ Sabrina said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. โHe shot Dad, but I donโt think it was very bad. It just looked like he caught his shoulder.โโThank God,โ she whispered.โPlease, Sandra, letโs get out of here. Iโm really scared.โโI want to leave too, but we canโt,โ she said in a hushed tone. โWe need to stay with him for a while longer. Remember, Iโm armed, I can take care of him if we need to.โโHow is that possible when weโre handcuffed like common thieves?โ Sandra smiled brightly, raising her arms up to show Sabrina th
โI swear to God, sheโs not going to walk for a week when I get my hands on her,โ Creighton growled as he paced the floor of his private jet. Sitting on one of the sofas was Inspector Morris, her partner Boden Tabor, a small stalky man in his mid-thirties with bright red hair and a mustache, and Andrew. They watched in stunned silence as Creighton walked back and forth, running his large hands through his messy hair. Morris and Tabor had joined with the two after veering off their tail, allowing a second team to take their place to avoid raising Bachmeierโs suspicions. She had relayed the information Sandra told her and how she refused to leave until she knew what was happening. The news, however, did not set well with her husband.โMonsieur Ashford,โ Morris began, her tone calm, hoping to gain some sense of control in the room. โYour wife seems like a very intelligent woman. She picked up on an excuse immediately when that jerk interrupted us in the bathroom. Your sister said that sh
โI would be happy to if we were unfastened.โ Sandra smiled to herself as he moaned a bit louder, then walked to her side and slipped the small key through the lock and tossed it to the bed next to her. She was surprised that he hadnโt realized they were fake cuffs, and it made her wonder again where he had picked them up at.โThere, now shut the hell up.โ He lay back on the bed and pulled the pillow over his head. Sandra stared at him in amazement. They could walk right out the door and he wouldnโt bother trying to stop them. He had a hangover that would likely stun an ox, but she still was not in the mood to escape. Not just yet.โWe need to eat,โ she said, perhaps not as loudly as she would have preferred, but the words caught his attention, nevertheless.โHow the hell much does one person eat?โ he growled, tossing the pillow aside.โWe havenโt had any real food since yesterday afternoon,โ she began. โWhat do you expect?โโI suppose silence from you is too much to ask for?โโLet u
โGo call your parents,โ she told Sabrina quickly. โTell them to let Creighton know we changed cars.โโBut heโll catch us.โโIโll stand watch. Now hurry. Iโll start getting the things he wants.โ Sabrina nodded, swallowing hard then went to the small payphone on the wall beside two video games. Sandra collected the juice for her and Sabrina and several bags of chips, crackers and chocolate before going to the cooler with the beer. There were single bottles, cans and cartons with glass or aluminum cans, she just didnโt know which one to get. Thinking about how the coffee affected him, she smiled and took a carton with a dozen twelve-ounce dark brown bottles and carried them to the counter. Sabrina joined her barely five seconds before Bachmeier stepped up behind them. She placed a package of gum on the counter when he narrowed his gaze to her, covering her absence from Sandraโs side.They paid for the items with Sandraโs card and carried them back to the car and once again climbed into
Tabor pulled the Suburban into the parking stall of the convenience store a little while later as Creighton and Andrew jumped out of the back, before he had a chance to put the vehicle in park. Morris was right beside them as they approached the cashier, flashing badges and speaking in French to him. The young man identified the pictures of Sandra and Sabrina and grimaced at the one of Bachmeier. He told them all that happened, and that Sabrina had used the phone. Creighton began pacing the floor while Morris went around the counter to check out the security cameras.Just a half hour earlier and they would have been able to catch up to them. Why was Sandra doing this? Why didnโt she leave when she had the chance? He was angry at her relentless insistence that she stay with him. He was angry that she was keeping Sabrina in the midst of this and he was angry at himself for allowing any of this to happen. He swore, when he got her back, he was locking her in the house and never letting h
Creighton sat in the back of the Suburban and watched his phone. The swirling green dial assured him Sandra was still in contact with him and somehow that made him feel better. He knew where they were and knew who was responsible for the murders at their farm. Now all he had to do was get her back in his arms and lock both her and Sabrina in a gilded cage.โWeโll be there, but probably not before them,โ Andrew said, checking his own phone. โJust get us there. I have a score to settle with that son of aโฆโโAs much as I agree with you, I canโt let you touch him,โ Andrew interrupted. โIt would cause problems with the courts. Just let us take care of him and you worry about keeping that wife of yours safe.โ Creighton glared at his brother, but knew he was right. As much as he wanted to break Bachmeierโs neck, he wanted him to suffer in jail even more, along with his accomplice.โI have a blueprint of the clinic from Miriamโs contractor,โ Andrew said with a smile. โWith this, weโll be ab
โYou donโt want to do that,โ Bachmeier argued. โSheโs worth money to us. Unharmed.โโSheโs not worth the spit of a slug to me,โ the larger man said, his tone filled with hatred and thick with accent. โTake them into the other room and tie them up. Weโll deal with them later.โ Bachmeier pulled the two by the arms and forced them down the hall to the medieval room. In the center of the ancient style dรฉcor sat two chairs with thick wood bases, sitting back to back against each other. He shoved them down to the seats and snatched the cuffs from the drawer, securing their hands behind their backs.โGag them,โ Silvano said from the doorway. โI donโt want to hear that sickening American voice again.โ He watched as Sandra turned an angry eye to him while Bachmeier completed his task of cuffing their feet to the posts of the chairs. He took two ball-gags from the credenza and placed the wiffle style plastic objects into their mouths, strapping them behind their heads.โCome on,โ Silvano said
So, it was Silvano who had killed those guards and that prisoner. He was the mastermind behind all of this, but that still didnโt explain why. She and Sabrina sat back to back on the wooden chairs, hands cuffed behind their backs, ankles tight against the legs of the chairs. They couldnโt speak around the balls in their mouths, but Sandraโs mouth was dry, and her face throbbed with pain, making her feel slightly nauseated. She was beginning to grow very anxious and nervous as she sat staring around the medieval decorations. It was the room Miriam said was her particular favorite. Fear was an unwelcomed friend and she knew if she didnโt control it, she would lose her stance. She had to remain calm and push aside her emotions. There would be time for letting go once she was back in her husbandโs arms. Closing her eyes, Sandra drew a deep breath thinking of her unborn child, her home in Yorkshire, her grandparents who would be arriving in England that same day, with her sister whom sh
Sandra hung up the phone with a slam, then glanced to her grandparents who were sitting at the kitchen table. She was starting to get angry with all the rejections and dead-end avenues. She called Davies and told him she wanted him to get the plane ready to go to France, only to be told the police had restricted his flying. They were concerned that whomever it was that had killed her husband would try and sabotage the jet.She was getting frustrated and felt like she was being held back. If she didnโt know better, she would think she was being placed under lockdown. She could understand the policeโs concern, but she had more men around her then they had at Fort Knox, and she would be willing to take all of them with her if she needed to.โI canโt leave the house, I canโt go to France, I canโt even gather eggs,โ she grumbled as she joined the older couple. โWhat am I supposed to do? I canโt sit here and wait until doomsday to find out what happened to my husband.โโHoney, youโre going
The room was warm as the setting sun shone through the blinds. Two detectives sat on the sofa, watching as the man continued to pace the floor. Trying to keep him calm was growing increasingly harder with each hour.Creighton could only assume the horror his family was going through, not to mention Sandra. They had been having difficulties, but this made all of that seem trivial. He had to call her, he had to contact her somehow and let her know he was alive, but the police were refusing to allow him the chance. They had to keep him concealed for the time being, though it was steadily becoming impossible. The man was acting like a caged animal, anxiously trying to find a means of escape.โHow much longer do we have to sit here?โ he growled, looking to those gathered around.โWe need you to remain patient for a little longer,โ a bald-headed man told him. โMonsieur Ashford, we understand what youโre going throughโฆโโLike hell you do,โ Creighton snapped. โI have a pregnant wife at home w
โI know sheโll be happy when itโs over,โ Emma said, returning to the room, her eyes red from the tears sheโd been wiping away. โShe canโt let Brandon go to school, and she has to keep the children inside instead of letting them go out to play.โโIโm sure they are going stir crazy,โ Cathy said with a frown. โEspecially Grace. That little girl is used to having the freedom of the farm to run and play.โโThe only good thing is the weather,โ William told them. โItโs been really wet, and she doesnโt like getting her dresses dirty.โโSounds like her aunt,โ Andrew said with a soft chuckle.โMaybe we should take this meeting over to my sisterโs,โ Cathy suggested with a sideways grin.โLet me call Derek and Kristin,โ William said, standing and walking to the phone on the wall. โThey wanted to know what you found out.โโJust have them meet us at Sandraโs,โ Andrew told him. โWe can discuss this all there.โโI thought Sabrina and Irena would be here,โ Cathy said, looking at Emma who was wrapping
Parker and Harvey held off the reporters for as long as they could alone, then eventually had to call NHTโs security. Within a few short hours, there were enough burly looking men to scare off anyone trying to get near the house. Sandra kept her children inside, though it really wasnโt difficult. The rain had eased by supper, but just like the past several days, it picked up again this morning.Max growled as he laid of the entry. The noise of cameras clicking, and the soft hum of voices mingled among the breezes of the day. She had tried to watch television, but every station was reporting on the accident. Eventually, she had no choice but to surrender and put on Graceโs favorite princess movie. At least it kept them from listening to those who insisted that there was no hope in finding any answers this soon.Sandra drew a deep breath as she wiped the moisture from her forehead. She had decided to keep herself busy and baked two apple pies, along with nearly a hundred sugar cookies.
โNo, itโs about assuming you knew what I would want. You did this, claiming it was for us when it was for you. You canโt stand the idea that your little sister has something you never would. It was bad enough when I felt like I was competing with Creighton for your attention, but now Iโm watching you compete with Sandra for the mother of the year award.โโStop comparing me to Sandra!โ Cathy screamed. โItโs not my fault sheโs perfect. Sheโs always been everyoneโs favorite. I canโt tell you how many boyfriends Iโve dumped after I found out they were using me to get close to her. I didnโt want Creighton, but after he chose her over me, it made me angry. I was competing with her again, and she was too stupid to realize it. He chose that simple, no makeup, no fuss girl over me. She shares his bed, when Iโm a better lover then she would ever be. She has his money, his admiration, your parentsโ admiration, even my grandparents enjoy spending time with her over me. She even has a perfect body
โMaybe Michelle heard from him,โ the boy said hopefully.โI havenโt spoken with her, but I want to call in the morning. She may know something more than the police do.โThe two were silent for a long time as they considered their own thoughts, until Sandra realized the tea was gone. She looked to Brandon who looked like he was finally able to fall asleep, then stood and took the cups to the sink.โCome on, son,โ she told him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. โLetโs see if we can get some sleep.โโMum, can I come sleep with you?โ Brandon asked once they reached the second floor of their house.Sandra smiled and hugged the boy, nodding as he looked up to her.โYou can sleep on your daddyโs side,โ she told him. โJust donโt tell him I let you in our bed. He may get jealous.โBrandon smiled as he walked with her into the bedroom. Sandra helped him between the covers and tucked him in, then left to check on Grace. The house was silent and soft snores of her little girl could be heard
Sandra paced her bedroom trying to stop her mind from racing through the events of the day. Derek had come home after his mother called him, insisting on picking up Brandon from school. Sabrina called to say the reporters were going crazy with the news of the Tornadoโs fire and that she and Giovanni would be home as soon as they could get there.Irena spoke with her parents and insisted on calling in a prescription for Sandraโs nerves, though she refused to use it. She needed to stay alert and concentrate in order to determine what was going on. The last thing she needed was to surrender to the effects of a drug.After speaking with Andrew, William informed the rest of the family about Cathyโs surgery, though he wouldnโt go into detail. He assured them he would check into the reports from his end and stay abreast of the investigation. Once Cathy felt like traveling, they would drive out to Yorkshire to be with the family.Nana tried to get Sandra to let her stay overnight, but she was
Sandra opened her eyes and looked around. She was in her bedroom, yet she couldnโt remember laying down. The house was silent and the soft pattering of rain outside reminded her that the dog had made a muddy mess of the entry. Then she remembered her grandfather and William coming over, and slowly began to piece together the last thing she remembered.There had been an accident on the Tornado and three bodies were found. She knew in her heart it wasnโt Creighton. She couldnโt even begin to guess who would have been on their ship, or how it ended up at sea, but she knew her husband wasnโt the one killed. Now all she had to do, was convince the others into believing her.Sandra stepped down the stairs to hear Grace talking to her great-grandfather, the dog running from one room to another as he chased his rope and the smells of food drifting out of the kitchen. She stepped into the living room and saw Papa sitting beside Grace, one of her own books open in front of him as he listened to
Sandra stared at the two men for a long moment as their words began to sink in. When she spoke with her husband earlier that morning, he was still at the hotel. He didnโt mention having plans of returning to the yacht. Why would he go back there when he told her he was packing to come home?Then she thought about the bodies found. One was female. Who was it? Did Creighton lie to her about not being involved with Garconโs assistant? Had he gone there to meet with her, perhaps a final rendezvous before coming home to his family?โDid you hear what we said?โ Papa asked her.โItโs impossible,โ she began, her anger taking over her words. Sandra looked down at Grace who was trying to wipe the muddy water from her little dress. She hadnโt understood what her grandparents were saying. All she cared about was her soiled outfit.โSweetheart, go upstairs and find a clean dress,โ Sandra told the little girl. โPut that one in the hamper and warsh your hands. Weโll make lunch when youโve finished.