Chapter 12: Rescue Me - The Broken Road

Air Force met Navy just outside the door to the Mount Adams Ranger Station. It was pitch black by the time the two teams met up, but the front of the ranger station was well lit with two outdoor floodlights. Kadyn and Dan shook hands as the two teams approached one another. Dan began the introductions. “Kadyn, you remember my friends… Ron, Larry, and Marty.” He eyed the team that Kadyn had assembled, then added, “They all served Navy in Vietnam.” Dan nodded toward a man Kadyn didn’t recognize. “This is Marcus. He’s the skip tracer out of Portland.”

Kadyn shook Marcus’s hand. “The retired Navy SEAL. I appreciate your help.”

Marcus pulled a manila envelope from the inside of his jacket. He opened the envelope and handed Kadyn four photographs. “The property is located approximately one hour up the mountain. When I left there, an hour ago, your girl was sleeping on the couch in the living room. I couldn’t get a very good look at her, but she appears to be okay. The floor is an open concept. The suspect was in the kitchen overlooking the living room. He was preparing food when I left.”

Kadyn examined the photographs. “This place looks more like a house than a cabin,” he noted. He handed the pictures to Cenia.

She glanced at the photographs before passing them around.

Marcus nodded toward two men wearing brown uniforms. “The forest rangers have lined up twelve snowmobiles from local residents and outfitters. There’s a single dirt road going into the property, but it’s packed with snow. I have marked a location about a half mile from the house where we’ll have to park the snowmobiles and walk in. Everyone needs to stop when they see the trees marked with orange flagging tape. It’s the same kind of tape that loggers use, so it shouldn’t raise any red flags. The snowmobiles will be too loud to drive any closer than that.”

Kadyn nodded. “We’ll split into groups of three so we can each secure one side of the cabin. I want Cenia and Roger with me. We’ll take the front.”

Phil began distributing headsets from his pack. “We can communicate through these. I made sure they’re all functional. I want Mason and Marie with me.”

Kadyn nodded. “Matt, I’d like you to go with Dan and Marcus.”

Matt stepped forward and shook their hands. “I’m Matt.”

Dan strode toward a nearby pickup truck. He grinned at Kadyn as he lifted a tarp and began pulling guns out of the back. “You might recognize some of these.”

Marie’s eyes grew wide as she joined Kadyn and Dan at the back of the truck. “Nice,” she murmured appreciatively.

“How many people are we taking on?” Cenia asked as she eyed the arsenal.

Marcus joined them at the back of the truck. “One. The guy’s working alone. I was able to identify two guns in the house. He has a hand gun on the dresser in the master bedroom, which is located on this side of the house.” Marcus pointed to the photograph that Matt was holding. “He also has a shotgun, which is propped against the wall next to the door in the living room. Those were the only two guns I could see, but it’s possible he has more.”

“Are you sure this guy doesn’t know you’ve been there?” Mason asked skeptically.

The Navy SEAL folded his arms across his chest as he turned to face Mason. The hardening of his eyes was his only response.

“Marcus is good... one of the best. I’m sure Morris has no idea he’s been there,” Dan insisted as he tried to break the tension between the two men. “Ron, Larry, and Marty, why don’t you take the back of the house? Marcus, Matt, and I will take this side, where the bedrooms are located. Phil, Marie, and Mason can take the other side of the house, where the living room is located.”

Kadyn looked at the sheriff and the two deputies who were silently observing the conversation. “Sheriff?”

The sheriff gave Kadyn a measured look. “This is our jurisdiction.” He paused as he studied the group. “But, to be perfectly frank, you have more man power at your disposal than I do. I’d have to pull in officers from another jurisdiction.” His eyes settled on Marcus. “And we don’t have anywhere near your expertise in extracting people.” Finally, his eyes returned to Kadyn’s. “I’ll grant your request, but I’m only giving you a thirty minute lead. Then, we’re heading up there.”

Kadyn nodded. “Thank you, sir.”

“I didn’t see what that one had in the back of his truck.” The sheriff jerked his head toward Dan. “I don’t want any dead bodies when I get there. There’s too much paperwork with dead bodies, and there’s nothing I hate more than paperwork,” the sheriff grumbled.

Kadyn smiled. “We’ll do our best.”

“One more thing,” Marcus interjected as everyone walked toward the snowmobiles. “I gathered some additional Intel on your boy, Morris. He used to serve in the Army. So he’s not without skills.”

* * *

My eyes flew open, then narrowed when I discovered it was dark. I sat up and looked around. “What happened?” I asked, completely disoriented. Slowly, the fog lifted. My eyes locked on Justin. “You drugged me.”

Justin folded his arms across his chest. “You were having a panic attack.”

“I was not having a panic attack. I had a bad dream. Only, it wasn’t a dream. It was a nightmare. But it’s not just a nightmare. It’s real. It’s real… you’re real… this whole place is real…” I trailed off, at a loss for anymore words. Then I gasped. “You raped me.”

Justin rolled his eyes. “I did not rape you. You fell asleep. It’s a bit of a buzz-kill when the person you’re trying to make love to falls asleep.”

I ignored the fact that he had blown off drugging and suffocating me and focused on the more important issue. “You stopped?” While I waited for him to respond, I mentally inventoried my body. The only parts that really hurt were my face, my shoulder, and my left side.

He had the nerve to look insulted. “Of course, I stopped. I’m not going to have sex with someone who’s passed out. It makes it a little difficult to prove you would enjoy it, don’t you think?”

I stared at him incredulously. “You have completely lost your mind.”

He chose to ignore my comment. He motioned toward a large pine table that was positioned between the living room and the kitchen. “Come eat.”

I rose shakily and walked toward the table as I tried to unravel what he was thinking. Then I stopped abruptly and stared. The table was set with a white tablecloth, white porcelain plates rimmed in silver, elegant silverware, and crystal wine glasses. Light danced off the facets in the wine glasses. Five thick candles were clustered on a silver charger in the center of the table. I fidgeted in front of the table as I pulled the strap of my sundress back over my shoulder. “What is this for?”

Justin returned from the kitchen with a large platter of salmon. “You’re a bright girl; surely, you can figure it out.” He set the platter on the table.

My mouth fell open. The salmon was topped with capers and lemon slices and drizzled with a dill sauce. “You cooked this?”

Justin retrieved a bowl of salad and some bread from the kitchen. He set the food on the table, then shrugged. “I was hungry.”

“This is beyond insane,” I muttered as I lowered myself onto one of the chairs.

He opened a bottle of Pinot Grigio and filled both of our glasses before sitting in the seat next to me. “Salud,” he said, as he tipped his glass toward mine.

I chose not to return the salutation. I wasn’t about to touch the food or the wine. God only knew what Justin would do to me the next time he drugged me… and there wasn’t going to be a next time, not if I could help it. My head cleared as I watched him eat.

I slowly began formulating a plan to escape, but Justin was distracting me with his incessant small talk. He was acting like the last four days hadn’t even happened… like he hadn’t kidnapped me, hit me, chained me up, drugged me, or tried to rape me. In his deranged little world, we were simply two friends enjoying a nice dinner. The guy was beyond delusional.

I pretended to take interest in what he was saying as I worked through the details of my plan, but I was having a difficult time multi-tasking. In the end, I simply nodded, commented when necessary, and toyed with the food on my plate.

When Justin was halfway through his salmon, I briefly excused myself to go to the bathroom. I glanced at the bed as I walked by my room. Relieved to see that what I needed was still there, I continued on to the bathroom, then promptly returned to the table. “Do you have a pair of socks I can wear? My feet are cold.”

He glanced down at my feet. He looked surprised by the idea that I might need socks. “Sure. They're in the master bedroom, second drawer on your left.”

I turned and walked back down the hallway.

His chair scraped across the hardwood floor as he rose from the table and followed me.

I stopped in front of my bedroom and turned to face him. I took a tentative step toward him as I brushed my fingers against his hand. “I’m sorry. I’m not very hungry. I know you worked really hard to make this dinner special for me. I know I haven’t been fair to you and that all you're asking is for me to give you a chance.”

He eyed me suspiciously.

I looked down at my feet as I waited for his response.

“Will you?” he whispered softly

Relief flooded over me. “Will I what?” I asked as I looked up at him.

His eyes searched mine. “Give me a chance.”

I laughed nervously. “Well, I have to admit, I don’t think anyone has ever put this much effort into taking me out to dinner before.”

He smiled. “You’re not angry with me?”

“A little,” I admitted honestly, “but I’m also a little flattered… and I can’t stop thinking about the way you kissed me on the couch.” I looked back down at the floor, knowing full well that I was playing with fire. I prayed he was truly as delusional as he seemed.

“So that’s what you’ve been thinking about,” he murmured thoughtfully.

I glanced back up at him. “I want you to kiss me again,” I whispered.

His eyes darkened with desire.

I fidgeted nervously.

He pulled me against his chest as he lowered his lips to mine.

My hands fisted in his shirt. I closed my eyes and prayed I’d be able to convince him that I genuinely wanted this kiss. I choked back tears as I thought about Kadyn and our very first kiss.

I shuddered as Justin’s tongue swept teasingly across my lips. He reached his hand behind my neck and tangled his fingers in my hair as he angled my head back. He nudged my mouth open with his tongue.

My stomach lurched. I steeled myself as I resisted the urge to vomit. I forced myself to deepen the kiss as I slowly backed into the bedroom.

Justin broke the kiss just as my legs hit the side of the bed. He looked thoroughly confused as his gaze shifted between me and the bed.

I cupped his cheeks with my hands. “Please,” I whispered pleadingly. “I want you.”

His face lit with joy. He crushed me against his chest as he pulled me in for a bruising kiss.

I pulled back gently and sat on the bed.

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” he groaned. He boxed me in with his arms as he lowered his head for another kiss.

I tangled my left hand in his hair. Then I kissed him with all the passion I could muster. I slid my right hand toward the handcuff that lie open on the bed. I continued kissing him as I began to pray. Then I cinched the handcuff over his left wrist. The other end was already attached to the bed.

Justin stilled. He looked down at his arm. Then his eyes locked on mine.

I kicked him in the groin as hard as I could before scrambling across the bed. I fell off the other side as he lunged over the bed.

He grabbed me by the hair with his free hand and jerked me to my feet. His face was livid.

My arms flailed wildly as I vacillated between hitting him and pulling his hand from my hair. Tears filled my eyes as he yanked at my hair. I lunged for the lamp on the night stand and smashed it over his head. His grip loosened, and I wrenched myself free.

I bolted from the bedroom and ran straight for the front door. I grabbed Justin’s coat from the hook and shoved my bare feet in the monstrous hiking boots he had left sitting by the door.

“I’ll kill you,” he screamed.

I stifled a scream when I heard him trying to break the headboard. I pulled the door open and ran out into the snow. I looked around desperately. My breath caught when I spotted the Range Rover parked in the darkened driveway. I stumbled forward, then ran around the vehicle. I tried all of the doors. They were all locked. I braced my back against the Range Rover as I contemplated how best to escape.

I pushed off the vehicle and began searching for the road that Justin had driven in on. The driveway seemed to disappear through the trees. I stumbled toward the tree line and discovered tread marks running down a narrow lane of compacted snow. I glanced back at the house. Then I ran.

* * *

Kadyn stood staring in disbelief at the house. The massive windows revealed the entire living room, which was empty. He spoke quietly into the headset. “The front door is open.”

Cenia, who had briefly left Kadyn’s side, whispered over her headset, “There are two sets of footprints, roughly the same size. One stride appears much longer than the other.” She joined Kadyn. Then she pointed toward the trees at the end of the driveway. “They separate there. One set of footprints appears to stay on the road. The other disappears into the trees.”

Marcus’s voice came over the head set. “Ron, Larry, Marty, Phil, Marie, and Mason… you secure the house. Locate the guns and make sure nobody is in there. Dan, Matt, Cenia, Roger, and I will take to the trees on either side of the road. Kadyn, go get your girl.”

Kadyn walked to the end of the driveway. He quietly examined the narrow road. Then he ran.

* * *

Shards of pain ripped through my side as my feet pounded against the snow. I tripped over the oversized boots, then fell. I cried out as my hands and knees hit the snow. I had already fallen countless times. I was wet, cold, and completely exhausted. “I can’t run in these stupid boots,” I cried to no one in particular. They were completely filled with snow. I kicked them off, thoroughly disgusted. I turned the boots upside down and emptied them out.

Somewhere nearby, a twig snapped. I froze, then quickly scrambled to my feet. I looked around frantically, but I couldn’t make anything out in the dark. The clouds were covering the moon, and there were far too many trees.

I looked down at my bare feet. I was surprised that the snow was no longer bothering me. I slowly edged toward the boots.

The snow crunched behind me.

I abandoned the boots and took off running as fast as I could.

Footsteps pounded behind me. Then someone tackled me from behind. He rolled at the last minute, pulling me on top of him so he’d absorb the impact of the fall. A gloved hand immediately covered my mouth. I kicked at his legs as I tried to break free.

“Kri, it’s me.”

I stilled when I heard his voice. I closed my eyes and prayed. Please God, don’t let it be a dream.

Kadyn kept his right arm wrapped around my waist. He slowly removed his hand from my mouth. “Don’t scream,” he whispered. Then he released me.

I scrambled to my knees as I turned to face him. “You found me. Oh my God! You found me!” I flung my arms around Kadyn and sobbed hysterically.

Kadyn gently pulled away. His jaw clenched when he saw my face. “Kri, where’s Justin?”

I swallowed my tears as I tried to explain. “I think he’s still back at the house. I handcuffed him to the bed.”

A slow smile spread across Kadyn’s face. “Good girl.”

“Think again,” Justin rebutted from the edge of the trees. He stepped from the tree line and pointed his shotgun at Kadyn. “Get away from her,” he snarled.

“Not a chance,” Kadyn bit back. He slowly stood and helped me to my feet. He stepped in front of me, intentionally positioning his body between Justin and me.

Justin cocked the gun. “She’s mine,” he gritted out.

I could feel Kadyn stiffen as he scrutinized Justin.

I buried my face in the back of his coat. Tears streamed down my face as I began to pray. Please, God, don’t let him kill us. Not here. Not on this God forsaken road.

“Move!” Justin screamed furiously. His voice echoed through the woods.

I flinched, then slowly peered around Kadyn.

Justin was beyond livid. He looked crazed. He was shaking with fury, and his gun was still pointed at Kadyn.

Suddenly, a man fell out of the tree and landed on Justin. The gun was knocked to the ground. The man pinned Justin against him and kicked the gun out of the way.

I looked on in shock as Dan stepped out from behind another tree. He slammed his fist into Justin’s face. Dark red blood sprayed across the snow.

Justin collapsed and the stranger let him fall to the ground.

Dan nudged Justin with his boot before pinning him to the ground with his foot. His fists clenched, but he resisted the urge to hit Justin again. He reached down and handcuffed Justin’s hands behind his back. Dan looked at Kadyn once he straightened to his full height. A triumphant smile suddenly lit his face. “Navy beats Army every time.”

I fell to my knees. I shook violently as I stared at Justin’s lifeless body. Then I burst into tears.

Kadyn knelt down and scooped me into his arms. “I got you,” he said as he began walking back toward the house.

Dan and the stranger pulled Justin up by his arms and began dragging him toward the house.

I buried my head in Kadyn’s chest.

“Hey, Kri, he’s okay. Everything is going to be okay,” Cenia said reassuringly. She slid her gloves over my feet.

My head popped up in surprise. I stared at Cenia, then glanced over Kadyn’s shoulder. Roger and Matt were holding Justin’s legs as they helped Dan and the other man carry him.

We had just reached the clearing for the house when three trucks drove up behind us on the snow packed road. The sheriff, two deputies, and two forest rangers parked and climbed out of their trucks. The deputies took Justin to their truck.

Phil, Marie, and Mason met us at the door. Dan’s friends from Montana were there too.

Dan swore at the sight of my face when we stepped inside the well-lit house. He pulled me in for a hug when Kadyn finally allowed my feet to touch the floor. Dan kept his arm wrapped around me while he introduced me to Marcus, the man who had jumped out of the tree.

Dan grudgingly released me so Cenia and Marie could give me a hug. He joined Marcus and Kadyn, who were talking with the sheriff. Cenia and Marie walked me to the master bedroom, so I could change out of my wet clothes.

Marie tugged a large sweatshirt, sweat pants, and socks from the dresser drawers while Cenia helped me out of the dress. “These are way too big, but at least they’ll be warm,” Marie commented soothingly.

Cenia gasped when she saw the bruise on my side. “How bad is the pain?” she asked as her eyes met mine.

“Pretty bad,” I admitted. Marie helped me into the sweat pants. I rolled down the waistband while she rolled up the pant legs.

Cenia slid the sweatshirt over my head. “You may have cracked a rib.”

“The sheriff is going to want to take pictures of your injuries,” Marie warned as she tugged thick wool socks over my feet. “I hope they make it quick, so we can get you to the hospital. It looks like you have frostbite on your toes and the balls of your feet.”

“Try not to put pressure on your toes, Kri. I’ll track down a bowl so you can soak your feet in some warm water,” Cenia instructed before disappearing from the room.

Marie helped me back into the living room.

Kadyn joined me on the rug in front of the wood stove. He tucked a fleece blanket around my shoulders before wrapping me in his arms.

“Thanks,” I whispered shakily. I sank into Kadyn’s chest and relished the heat radiating from his body.

Marie joined Cenia in the kitchen. She began digging through the cupboards.

Cenia brought me a large plastic storage container filled with warm water. She gently tugged the wool socks off and slipped my feet into the water.

Tears bit at my eyes. “That hurts,” I exclaimed in surprise. I had assumed the warm water would feel good.

Tears pooled in Cenia’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Kri, but it’s important we thaw your feet.”

“She’s right,” Kadyn whispered as he kissed my cheek.

Marie brought me a cup of tea, a glass of water, and some ibuprofen just as the sheriff began questioning me.

Everyone listened quietly while I described what Justin had done to me. One of the deputies photographed my injuries. That same deputy offered to drive Kadyn’s snowmobile down the mountain so Kadyn could ride in the sheriff’s truck with me.

As Kadyn carried me outside, I glanced over his shoulder to take one last look at the house. It made me sad to know that something so ugly had happened in such a beautiful place. When I turned back around, my eyes strayed to the deputies’ extended cab pickup. I could see Justin’s head resting against the back passenger window of the vehicle. He was awake and watching me. Our eyes locked as Kadyn carried me to the sheriff’s truck. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from his bloodied face.

Kadyn curled my head toward his chest. “It’s over. He can’t hurt you anymore.” He kept me tucked against his chest as he climbed inside the truck.

The truck rocked back and forth as we made our way down the long, dark road. Within minutes, I was lulled to sleep with Justin’s bloodied face firmly imprinted in my mind.