Always & Forever (44 page)

“I think I know where they are,” he said as soon as McMann barked a greeting. “I’m heading to Lilly’s old house. Meet me there with the brigade. If I’m right, she and Savannah are in danger.”

“Her house? Who has them?”

“Charles Danner has a half-brother. Our good buddy, Curtis Crandall.”

He heard McMann’s sharp intake of breath. “Son of a bitch. It really has all been connected.”

“Tell your men not to turn on their lights or sirens. I don’t want to tip him off.”

Zach snapped the phone closed, tossing it on the passenger seat as he pulled up in front of Lilly’s house. Her silver Escort sat in the driveway, but there was no sign of Crandall’s vehicle.

Zach hopped out of his car, making his way to the front door. Uncertainty tore at him. If he entered without the cops, he might cause more trouble. On the other hand, what if Lilly and Savannah needed him right now and he sat out here dithering about it?

The thin wail of terror coming from the back of the house decided him. He tried the door very quietly, hoping Crandall was too arrogant, or to stupid, to think about locking it. He was in luck and the handle twisted in his grasp.

Zach crept into the darkened house. A quick glance around the living room revealed no one lurked in the shadows, and Zach moved as stealthy as he could down the hallway.

“Someone help me!” Savannah’s cry ripped at his heart, and Zach ran the last few steps, bursting into the room with his fists ready.

The room was empty, except for one very unhappy little girl, sitting on the bed with tears streaming down her face.

Zach rushed to Savannah and gathered her in his arms. “Hush, Princess. Everything’s okay now. I’ve got you.” Zach looked around the room as he held his niece, waiting for Crandall to pop out of the closet. “Where’s Aunt Lilly, Princess? Did he take her?”

Savannah looked at him and her chin quivered. A few fat drops fell off her cheeks and plopped on her dress. “I didn’t see Aunt Lilly. I saw no one. I woke up and didn’t know where I was.” She pouted at him. “My eyes were all fuzzy and no one came when I cried.”

He squeezed her, relief flooding through him. If Savannah’s biggest worries were feeling a little fuzzy and being alone, perhaps she would be fine. If only he could find Lilly in time as well. She’d left Savannah alone. Zach knew she wouldn’t have done that unless forced to. He couldn’t believe he actually thought Lilly might have gone with Crandall willingly. She must have done everything to protect his niece.

He scooped Savannah into his arms and headed for the front door, eager to get out of the space. Crandall obviously took Lilly elsewhere, but Zach’s imagination expected monsters to jump out and steal Savannah away at any moment.

They stepped outside just as the Dodge Chargers sporting the Serenity Police Department logo pulled up. Sarah’s red Mustang followed close behind, and she and Steven piled out as soon as it rolled to a halt. They raced across the lawn and snatched Savannah from his arms.

“Thank God,” Sarah cried, her tears starting a fresh wave. “I thought we lost you, sweetheart.”

“I was lost,” Savannah agreed in a grumpy voice. “And no one came when I called.”

Zach patted Sarah’s shoulder and walked toward McMann. “I don’t know where Lilly is. Crandall must’ve taken her.”

“Is Savannah okay?” he asked.

Zach nodded. “She said her eyes were all fuzzy when she woke up, but she never saw anyone. She could probably use some medical attention.”

“Ambulance is on the way,” McMann promised. He looked around, shuffling his feet. “Any ideas where he might’ve taken Lilly?”

Fear tightened Zach’s insides, making it hard to think. What would he do if Crandall hurt her? “I stopped paying attention to what he did when I found out about him and Victoria.” He pulled on his hair, trying to force an idea forward. “Where could they be?”

“This all leads back to the money, right?” McMann asked. “Maybe they’re on their way to a bank somewhere so she can hand it all out to him.”

It was more than that, wasn’t it? Crandall came on to Lilly the night of the boat party. If Zach was right, something also happened between them the night she claimed to fall down the stairs. Tamra Sands saw Lilly kissing a man in the parking lot, but Lilly had sworn she still loved him. What if the man had been Crandall and he forced Lilly to kiss him by threatening to hurt her again?

Tommy said Crandall was obsessed with a new woman, and had a history of harassing a lady who refused his advances in the past. Maybe Crandall convinced himself he and Lilly were a couple, and that was why he did all this.

Zach sprinted to his car and snatched up his phone. He punched in four on the speed dial and waited for his little brother to pick up.

“Zach, what’s going on? I just heard about Savannah.”

“We found her and she’s fine.” Zach paused. “But Lilly’s missing. Where would Crandall take a woman if he wanted to hide out?”

“There’s only one place I can think of,” Tommy said. “Crandall asked me a few weeks ago about our old lodge up in the mountains. He might go there.”

Zach hoped Tommy was right. If he went chasing off in the wrong direction now, he might never find her.

Lilly patted the corner of her mouth with her napkin and tried to hide her nerves. “That was delicious, Curtis. I didn’t know you were such an excellent chef.”

He turned a dull red under Lilly’s brilliant smile. “I took some lessons after I learned how into cooking you are. Maybe next time we’ll cook something together.”

Lilly glanced at the doorway of the dingy cabin. The main room served as kitchen, living room, and dining room. The only other interior room was the bedroom with an attached bathroom. It was much like the suites at Woodbridge Manor, if one ignored the smell of mildew and the rotting beams that ran along the ceiling.

Lilly’s purse sat on the ground next to her feet. So far, Crandall hadn’t demanded to inspect it, and Lilly could only hope her luck held. If he became suspicious, she was done for.

The deadbolt to reach outside the cabin required a key on both sides, rather than having a turn knob inside. Crandall locked it when they entered the house, but left his key ring hanging on a nail right next to the door. She could get to the keys once she incapacitated him, but it would take more time than she originally estimated to escape.

She still didn’t know if she could trust the stun gun. She thought the best idea would be to find a way to surprise him. So far, he had kept his eye on her the entire time, and an opportunity had yet to present itself.

“Do you want me to clean up in here?” She batted her eyelashes at him. “After all, you did the cooking.”

“No. Just leave it.” He leaned in to her. “I’ve got other things on my mind tonight.”

Lilly turned her automatic grimace into a pout. “Do those plans include me?”

Lord, but she sounded inane. Who would buy this crap?

Crandall stood from the table and scooped her into his arms, spinning her in a circle. “Of course they do, my love?” His slobbery lips roamed all over the lacy front of her cocktail dress. “I think it’s time we moved this to the bedroom.”

Crandall opened the bedroom door and carried her through it, leaving her purse behind. He tossed her lightly onto the grimy bedspread covering a worn mattress.

“Are you excited? Do you want me?” he asked.

“Oh yes,” Lilly agreed.
I want you to drop dead.
She had to find a way to get her purse back.

He snatched a little strip of silk and lace off the edge of the bed and held it up for her inspection. “I bought you a present. I’d really like it if you wore this for me tonight.”

A germ of an idea planted itself in Lilly’s head. She had to get away from him soon, and this plan just might work. She’d do anything to avoid sex with this monster.

“I’d like to freshen up a bit first. I want everything about tonight to be perfect,” she said, taking the nightgown from him. “I need some things out of my purse.”

He grinned broadly. “Of course you do. You women and your makeup.” He winked. “I’ll grab it for you.”

Lilly held her breath as she watched Crandall walk into the outer room. He picked her purse up off the ground and hefted it in his hand.

“Pretty heavy,” he said, stepping back through the doorway. “What do you have in this thing?”

She forced a laugh as he handed her the purse. “All the mysteries of the female sex.” Lilly dropped her voice to what she hoped was a sexy rumble and rubbed Crandall’s arm. “I can’t wait to be with you. Tonight will be so wonderful. Why don’t you step outside while I get ready for you?”

***

Zach bounced down the road in the passenger seat of Officer McMann’s cruiser. Dusk had fallen and traveling through the forest held its own dangers. Zach completely forgot about the old hunting lodge. Grandpa used to take them hunting and fishing all the time, and Crandall frequently tagged along.

Even though no one had used the cabin in more than twelve years, power still ran to the place, in case there was ever use for it.

Crandall had his own key, given to him by Grandpa long ago. It seemed like the perfect place to hide out, especially if you participated in recreational kidnapping and an occasional spot of blackmail and stalking.

A deer ran to the edge of the trail, pausing as the car lights mesmerized it. McMann slowed the vehicle to a near stop and crept past the animal.

Zach leaned forward and gripped the dashboard. What if they didn’t reach her in time?

McMann glanced over. “Sorry, but we won’t do her any good if we’re dead.”

Zach bit back an angry retort. He knew McMann wanted to get to Lilly almost as badly as he did. He wouldn’t slow down if he didn’t feel it was necessary.

Just the thought of what Crandall might be doing to her right now, while they slowed to less than fifteen miles per hour, nearly drove Zach mad. With the improved light and the head start, Zach estimated Crandall probably reached the cabin well over an hour ago.

If he hurt Lilly, McMann wouldn’t need to use his gun. Zach would kill Crandall with his bare hands.

“How much further do we have?” McMann asked, picking up a little speed once past the deer, but still driving much slower than Zach wanted to go.

Zach glanced around. Things looked different than they had when he was a boy. Old landmarks had changed, obscured by trees and overgrowth. “I think it’s only about five more miles.”

McMann urged the car a little faster. “Don’t worry. If he thinks he has a relationship with Lilly, he might’ve tried to woo her first. We’ll get there in time.”

Zach ran both hands through his hair. He tried to erase the thought McMann’s words conjured of Crandall pressing his big body against Lilly and pinning her down.

Please, please, let us be in time to stop him from doing anything to her.

***

Lilly drew the filmy negligee over the top of the black G-string panties and lacy bra, which barely covered even her inadequate bosom. Her cheeks burned with shame, wearing such an outrageous outfit. However, if it was the only way to save herself, it really didn’t matter.

“Are you ready yet, my love?” Crandall called through the closed doorway. “I can’t stand the suspense.”

Lilly blinked away the tears that threatened at the edges of her eyes.
You can fall apart later,
she told herself sternly.
Right now, it’s time to get the hell out of here.

She twitched the bedspread as flat as she could. Maybe with his eyes full of the skimpy outfit, Crandall wouldn’t notice the slight bulge under the edge of the mattress. If this plan didn’t work, Lilly had no clue what to try next. She had to pretend to seduce him. It was the only way.

Lilly quickly applied new lip-gloss and set her purse aside. She sat on the end of the bed, fluffing her hair around her shoulders. She crossed her legs and thrust her chest forward. “Come on in.”

Crandall flung open the doors and stood appraising her. He wore nothing but his underwear and a grin.

She tried to stay calm by going over the plan in her mind. She knew she could do this. She had to.

Lilly patted the bed next to her. “What are you doing all the way over there?”

Crandall needed no further encouragement. He came at her in a rush that knocked her backward and pinned her to the bed. “Oh, Katherine. I’ve wanted you for so many years. I have to have you right now.”

Lilly felt hot tears slip down her cheeks. Her heart pounded madly in the cage of her chest. This was the hardest part of the plan. She had to pretend to want him.

If you don’t take control of this, he’s going to rape you.

That thought galvanized her into action. It would be great if Zach barged in and saved her, but Lilly knew that wasn’t going to happen. She’d put on a brave front for the last two years, pretending she didn’t need anyone but herself.

Now was the time to prove it. How could she ever be ready to marry Zach and start a family, if deep down she knew she couldn’t stand on her own?

She pushed against Crandall’s chest, trying to force him off her. “I want to be on top,” she whispered. “Roll over.”