Dangerous Abduction (O'Connor Brothers Book 2) (27 page)

T
he room was so cold and the blanket wasn’t keeping him warm anymore. He slid off the bed but kept the blanket wrapped around him. He walked to the door and turned the knob and it opened. A man was laying on the couch and his eyes were open wide but it wasn’t the man who said he was his daddy. This man was dirty and smelled really bad.

“I need to use the bathroom,” he said but the man didn’t even look at him. The door to outside was open and there was snow all over the floor. He slowly walked towards the man and saw white stuff coming out of his mouth. It looked like soap but why would the man eat soap? He touched the man’s hand. It was really cold but the man still didn’t move. He was just staring at the wall. “I’m going to pee.”

After he used the bathroom, he walked back to where the man was still on the couch. He must be really tired, because the man didn’t even move when he walked to the front door. He peeked out and saw all the trees around the house and stepped outside. He glanced back, but the man still lay there. He walked back inside and saw his coat and boots next to the door and he pulled them on. He wasn’t staying here anymore. He was going home.

“I’m going home to Mommy and you tell my daddy I don’t want to come with him no more. I want Uncle James to be my daddy.” The man didn’t say anything so he rolled up the blanket under his arm and walked out of the house. He was suddenly really scared since he wasn’t sure if he remembered how they got there. He remembered his poppy Kelly telling him once when they played hide and seek that he found him because he saw his footprints in the snow. He saw small round holes in the snow towards an opening in the trees. He crouched to look at them. He stood up and looked where they disappeared down the pathway.

“I’m goin’ home,” he whispered and followed the holes away from the house. He turned several times to see if the man was following but he was by himself. It was scary walking in the woods alone but he wanted to see Mommy, Uncle James and Mason.

He’d been walking a long time and he was getting really tired. He saw a stump on the side of the path and sat down. He looked back at the house and thought he should go back. Mommy told him he should never run away just because he wasn’t happy. He stood up and turned towards the house, but something moved behind him and he turned around. A big white dog was standing in the pathway and it was staring straight at him. Mommy said not to go near strange dogs, but this dog didn’t seem mean.

“Hi, doggie, are you lost too?” He said and walked slowly to the dog with his hand out. Uncle John said dogs needed to sniff people to make sure they were nice people. The dog sat down and wagged his tail. “I’m lost, too,” he said as he put his hand in front of the dog’s nose. The dog licked his hand and it tickled. He rubbed the dog’s head and looked around. He really was lost.

The dog barked and he watched it walk down the path. “Do you know how to get home, doggie?” The dog barked again and backed up. “Do you want me to go with you?” The dog jumped up, barked and started to walk down the path. Maybe he knew how to find someone who could call Mommy, Uncle James or Uncle John. Maybe the dog could take him home. “Wait up, doggie.” He ran up next to the dog and grabbed onto the collar. “I’m gonna call you Buddy ‘cause that’s what Uncle James calls me.” The dog barked again. “You like that, Buddy? Good.” He walked, holding the dog with one hand and the blanket rolled up under the other arm. He was going home to Mommy.

********************

M
arina woke up calling out to Danny, but he didn’t answer. Of course he didn’t answer because his crazy father had taken him. It had been four days now and still no word from Marc or any sign of where they were. She knew Danny was scared because she could feel it, but she didn’t know how to explain the feeling.  James’ grandmother said she completely understood.

“One summer when my Sean was eight years old, he got lost in da woods and I could feel it in da pit of me stomach how scared he was. It’s a connection mothers have wit their children, and it never goes away. Kathleen can feel how scared James is with Danny missing.” Nanny Betty told her as they sat in the kitchen drinking a cup of tea later that morning.

“It’s different today, though. I feel his fear but there’s something else. Almost like he’s hopeful?” Marina didn’t know what it meant.

“It might be a sign dat we’re going to find da lad soon.” Nanny Betty reached across the table and clasped her hand. “We’ve all been prayin’ ta bring him home.” Marina wasn’t a really religious person. The first time in years she’d been in a church was when Danny was baptized, and then Stephanie’s wedding, but over the last few days she’d prayed more times than she could count. It felt hypocritical since the only time she prayed was when she needed something, but praying seemed so natural when she was struggling with something.

“I hope you’re right, Mrs. O’Connor.” Marina held Nanny Betty’s hand tightly and it gave her a sense of calmness.

“Mrs. O’Connor was my mother-in-law and she was da devil incarnate. Ya call me Nan like all me udder grandchildren.” Nanny Betty squeezed her hand and stood to put her cup in the sink. There was a firm knock on the front door and Marina jumped up to go answer it. Since everyone was out searching, Nanny Betty had drawn the short straw to stay with her. James still insisted that she stay home in case Marc called. She opened the door and gasped.

“Mr. Roberts? What are you doing here?” Marina stared at the man standing on the step.

“I know you still haven’t found the little fella, and I wanted to help with anything I can.” He said as she motioned him inside.

“I don’t know what you could do, but the thought is wonderful. Why don’t you come in and have a cup of tea?” Marina took his coat and hat. He reminded her of Dick Van Dyke with his white hair and blue eyes. He had a friendly face and from what she knew about him he was in his early seventies.

Marina hung up his coat and hat and he followed her into the kitchen where Nanny Betty was busy washing dishes in the sink again. She refused to use the dishwasher and told James several times it was the lazy man’s way.

“Nan, this is the man who helped me the other night.” Marina said but when Nanny Betty turned around her face lost all it’s color and her hand flew to her chest.

“Elizabeth Power, well as I live and breathe,” Thomas said.

“Tommy Roberts. Dear God it is you.” Nanny Betty seemed as if she was about to pass out.

“Yes, it’s me.” Tom’s smile made him appear years younger, but the expression on Nanny Betty’s face gave new meaning to the words ‘if looks could kill.’

“I didn’t think you were ever coming back to Newfoundland for love nor money.” Nanny Betty crossed her arms over her chest but Marina heard the slight tremor in the woman’s voice. Not typical for Nanny Betty to be nervous around anyone.

“I’ve been back in Newfoundland for about three years, Elizabeth.” The way Tom said the name made it sound almost intimate.

“It’s Betty. Nobody calls me Elizabeth since me fadder died.” Nanny Betty snapped and turned back to the sink.

“You’ll always be Elizabeth to me.” Tom said. Either Nanny Betty didn’t hear him, or she’d chosen to ignore him. “I didn’t realize you were related to her.” Tom had turned to Marina and smiled.

“She’s James’ grandmother.” Marina corrected him. It was like a light went on in his eyes and he chuckled.

“Ah... So Jack won the prize did he.” Tom said. “Where is the son of a gun?” Marina saw Nanny Betty’s back stiffen and she turned around slowly. Her face was so red it almost looked purple.

“For your information, Mr. Roberts. I won the prize when I married Jack and if you must know we lost the love of my life six years ago.” Marina was getting concerned with Nanny Betty’s reaction. The woman was never out of control but she seemed ready to snap at any time.

“Love of your life, huh? I remember he wasn’t always,” Tom said.

“He always was but I was too blind ta see it at first, but thank da lord my mistake left da province for bigger and better things.” With that statement Nanny Betty turned on her heels and stomped out of the room.

“Over fifty years since I’ve see her and she’s still as high spirited as ever.” Tom chuckled.

“I’m guessing there’s a story there?” Marina asked as she pointed to the kitchen chair.

“Yes, but I don’t have the right to share that story.” Tom sighed. “So, what can I do to help?”

Marina flopped into the chair across the table from him. “I’m not sure, but I’ll have James call you if he can think of something,” Marina said.

“Marina, I’ve never been married or had children and I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but whether it’s monetary or otherwise. I want to help.”

“That’s so nice of you. I promise, I’ll let you know or have James call you.” Marina smiled at him.

“Yar still here.” Nanny Betty grumbled as she stomped into the kitchen.

“I was just leaving, but you have my number, Marina, if you need anything.” Tom took her hand and squeezed it gently. “Elizabeth, I hope to see you again.” Tom turned and walked out of the kitchen. Marina heard the front door close and turned to Nanny Betty.

“How do you know Tom?” Marina had to hold back a giggle when Nanny Betty called Tom everything under the sun and some names Marina was sure Nanny Betty had made up.

“Tommy Roberts is not worth talkin’ about my dear.” Nanny Betty said nonchalantly as if he were no better than a piece of dirt on her shoe. “I’d just like ta know wat he thought he could do dat my boys couldn’t.” There was the hostility that Nanny Betty had showed earlier for Tom.

“He was offering to help find Danny,” Marina explained.

“Well, din. Dat was nice of him, but I don’t know wat he thinks he could do.” Nanny Betty stood in front of the kitchen window staring out into the darkness.

“I don’t either.” Marina admitted.

James had gotten home a few minutes later and Nanny Betty quickly made her exit with nothing more than a quick see ya later. She was really out of sorts since she’d seen Tom and Marina was really curious as to what the story was.

After a shower James came back into the living room where she was talking to John and Stephanie. She’d told them about Nanny Betty’s reaction to Tom and how Tom had reacted to her.

“Do you suppose they dated before she met your grandfather?” Stephanie asked John.

“I think Tom knew him because he said something about Jack winning the prize.” Marina remembered the comment and thought it was a weird thing to say.

“As far as I knew Grandda and Nan have been together since they were teenagers,” John said.

“I don’t know. All I know if Tom can be of any help, I’ve got no issue with asking him, if it helps us find Danny.” James sat next to Marina and kissed her temple.

“Mason was excited to go stay with your parents tonight.” Marina said.

“I know, I stopped there on my way home. He wanted to know when Danny was going to be home.” James sighed. “What am I supposed to tell him?”

Marina didn’t know either, but over the course of the evening the feeling of dread she’d had over the past few days seemed to change to something else. She didn’t feel the same fear she’d been feeling for the last few days, and it worried her because she didn’t know what it meant. Actually, she was afraid of what it meant.

For the second night in a row John and Stephanie spent the night with her and James. Ian was now hosting three of the other four brothers. They all seemed intent on staying in Hopedale until Danny was found. Marina was getting ready for bed when she heard her cell phone ringing and ran to grab it. She glanced at the screen but it was a blocked number. It made her heart pound in her chest.

“Hel...hello,” she stammered.

“I’m looking for Marina Kelly,” the soft female voice asked.

“I’m Marina Kelly.”

“Ms. Kelly, do you have a son Danny?”

Marina started to shake and her legs were about to give out. She went down on her knees before she answered.

“Yes, I do. He’s been missing for the past four days.” Marina tried to keep her voice calm, but she hiccupped halfway through her response and the tears started. James walked into the room as she went to her knees. He was at her side in seconds, and Marina hit speaker on her phone so he could hear.

“My name is Barb Druken and I live on Shea Heights. I train K9 dogs for the R.C.M.P and the N.P.D. One of my dogs escaped the kennel earlier today and when he came back he had a boy with him. The boy said he’s name is Danny Kelly and gave me your number.” Marina gasped and covered her mouth with her hand as the tears flowed.

“He’s okay?” Marina sobbed.

“He’s a little cold, but I’ve got him wrapped in blankets by the fireplace,” Barb told her. “Would you like to speak with him?”

“Oh my God, yes.” Marina almost screamed and James ran out of the room, returning seconds later with John and Stephanie.

“Mommy?” Danny’s voice echoed through the phone and her tears flowed down her cheeks.

“I’m here, baby. Are you okay?” Marina sobbed.

“I wanna come home.” His pleading voice made her want to run right to him.

“We’re coming to get you, baby. Don’t worry. Can you put the lady back on the phone?” Marina was on her feet and heading out of the bedroom.

“I’m here Ms. Kelly,” Barb said.

“I need your address,” Marina said but before Barb could answer John interrupted.

“I know where she lives,” John said. “I was with Cory when he picked up a couple of the dogs last year.”

Marina thanked her and she didn’t remember getting into the truck but the next thing she knew they were driving on the highway towards St. John’s. John had made the calls to the family on the drive and Kurt had warned them not to ask Danny anything. He needed to be interviewed by someone outside the family. Marina didn’t care who questioned him. All she cared about was having Danny out of Marc’s clutches and having him in her arms.

The drive to town never seemed so long before, but when she thought they were never going to get there, John told James to turn into a driveway off Blackhead Road. Marina was out of the truck before James had a chance to put the truck in park. She ran to the small bungalow at full speed and almost tripped as she ran up the steps to the door.