With Baited Breath (17 page)

“No,” Kathy admitted.

“Let’s walk out on the bridge and see if we can see boats on the bay.”

“We may as well. We’re not accomplishing anything here.”

They got out of the car, quietly closing the doors so as not to arouse suspicion from Herb in the house, then they started for the bridge. The sound of music and laughter from the bar across the street drifted over them, along with the smell of cigarette smoke. The sky was completely black with only a few scattered clouds on the horizon. The stars were out in full force, and Tori easily picked out Polaris. They walked to the middle of the bridge and looked out over the water.

“If we were standing on higher ground, we’d be better able to see boats out there,” Tori said.

“I wonder if the view would be better from Anissa’s place. The house has to be at least ten or fifteen feet higher than here.”

“Maybe, but she’s facing west. The islands at the north end of the bay might block out some boat activity.”

“Should we go back to the boat house?” Kathy asked.

“It faces west, too. We’d only see a small part of the bay. “

“Sounds like we’re wasting our time,” Kathy said, sounding depressed. “Maybe we should think things through.”

“If we were spies, we’d have infrared goggles. Then we could see everything that’s going on in the shadows around the house,” Tori said.

“And where would we get a pair? Military surplus?”

“I’ll bet we could buy a pair online—at Amazon or maybe eBay.”

“You think?” Kathy asked.

“You can get just about anything online these days.”

“Yeah, but we don’t have the money or the time.”

“Then we’ll just have to go back to the car and hope we see something.”

Kathy slapped her cheek. “Good, because I feel like I’m being eaten alive.”

They headed back to the car.

Kathy took command of the binoculars once again and trained her eyes on the house across the road.

“Let’s think about this logically. If someone was coming across the lake, and then squatting at your house, they’d have to tie their boat up somewhere.”

“Yeah,” Kathy agreed.

“And the closest place to dock is right in our back yard—or front, depending on your point of view.”

“You think someone’s using your dock?”

“The lights have been broken for years. It’s pitch black out there. Gramps and Grandma slept like logs. I doubt they would have heard anyone cut through the yard. “

“We could go move your car and watch the path from the dock.”

“Yeah,” Tori agreed. “But whoever is using the dock probably wouldn’t sneak around the compound as long as there’re lights on in the house.”

“What time does your Gramps usually go to bed?”

“Eleven-thirty, after the news.”

“So why don’t we go inside, make a pot of coffee, eat some cookies, and when he goes to bed, we’ll tell him we’ll lock up for the night.”

“I’ll bet nobody will make a move for at least an hour after the lights are out. The guest room window overlooks the yard,” Tori said.

“Yeah, but what if they cut through behind the back of the house instead of circling around?”

“Good point.”

“I still think sitting in your car would be the best vantage point. We could go back outside once the lights are out.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Tori said, but didn’t make a move.

“What else?” Kathy asked.

“Well, whoever is squatting seems to leave before daylight, right?”

“Yeah.”

“So that means someone is picking them up.”

“I wonder what the timing is. There has to be a time lag between when they get in and when they’re picked up. Otherwise, there’d be no need for anyone to squat in the house. It may be a period of several hours.”

“I saw fast food wrappers on the counter that weren’t there the other day. I wonder if whoever picks up the squatters also feeds them.”

“Where would they get fast food around here?”

“There’s a McDonalds at the far side of the village up on the main highway. I’m pretty sure they’re open twenty-four/seven.”

“What happens when you get your dock light fixed?”

“That’s a good question. And it
will
be fixed by Tuesday at the latest.”

“But the bad guys don’t know that.”

“That’s right.”

Kathy shook her head. “This all sounds like a great movie plot, but it’s all supposition on our part.”

“Yeah. If nothing else, we’ve had fun speculating.”

“
You’ve
had fun thinking about it. Someone’s peeing in my potential house and I want it to stop. I’m the one who’s going to have to clean it!”

Tori allowed herself a smile. “Come on, let’s go inside. We might as well be comfortable while we wait.”

CHAPTER 14

Tori moved her car back to the compound’s main parking area. When they reentered the house, they heard a voice coming from the living room, and it wasn’t the TV. “Sounds like your Gramps is on the phone,” Kathy whispered. “Who could he be talking to at this hour?”

Tori shrugged, and the women crept closer to the arch that separated the rooms for better eavesdropping purposes.

“Yeah, I know,” Herb was saying, “she wants to run the place. Have you heard of anything more insane?” He laughed, but then he was quiet for at least a minute.

“I hope you’re kidding. You know how hard Josie worked to keep this place afloat—goodness knows, she told you everything.”

Must be Irene
, Tori mouthed. Kathy nodded.

“Yeah, she and her friend have been working hard to spruce the place up, but—”

They leaned in closer. Too bad he wasn’t using a speaker phone; then they could have heard both sides of the conversation.

“No. I’d never hear the end of it from her parents if I let her—”

Tori clenched her hands and shook them, obviously frustrated.

“Yeah, but—” Herb said. He was quiet for a few seconds. “Yeah, but—”

Was Irene on Tori’s side?

“Okay, okay. I’ll think about it.”

Was he being honest or did he just want to shut Irene up?

Tori motioned to Kathy and they tiptoed back to the door. She opened, then slammed it. “Gramps, we’re back!” she called. She turned back to Kathy. “Should I make a pot of coffee?”

“May as well,” Kathy said. “It could be a long night.”

Tori filled the pot, measured the coffee, and hit the switch, then she got out a couple of cups. She looked up to see Herb standing in the doorway from the living room. “Do you want a cup of coffee, Gramps?”

“I’ll never get to sleep if I do.” He leaned against the wall.

“We’re gonna have cookies, too,” Kathy said, reaching for the plastic container that sat on the top of the fridge. “We’d love to have you join us.”

Herb shook his head. “Nah, I’m going to go to bed early tonight. I have a lot to think about.”

Tori pursed her lips to keep a smile from forming. She put her hands behind her back and crossed her fingers, too. “Sleep well, Gramps.”

Herb nodded and turned back for the living room.

They waited until they heard his bedroom door close before they spoke.

“Maybe things
are
going to turn around,” Kathy said.

“I’m not counting on anything just yet, but I’m going to allow myself just a teensy bit of hope.”

Kathy went into the living room and turned off the lights. By the time she returned, Tori had poured the coffee into a Thermos. She checked the time: just after eleven. Grabbing the mugs by their handles with one hand, she scooped up the thermos with the other. Kathy grabbed the cookie container and the binoculars before they turned off the kitchen lights and snuck out the back door.

They walked through the darkened lot and got into Tori’s car, then quietly closed the doors. “Now we wait,” Tori said.

“And talk,” Kathy said. “I wonder why Irene thinks you should take over the business?”

“I don’t care what her motives are as long as she’s successful.”

Tori pushed her seat back until she had enough room to play waitress and pour the coffee, and Kathy opened the cookie container. It didn’t matter what Kathy baked, it all tasted good.

The first hour went by pretty fast. Kathy wanted to brainstorm changes she needed to make to the house across the way to make it habitable. She was already thinking about how she’d decorate it, too, and incorporate what they’d found stored in the Lotus Lodge. Tori restrained herself from yet again pointing out she didn’t yet have the house and just listened, while her own mind wandered as to what her first steps might be should she ever be able to refurbish the shabby little motel. And was Anissa right? Could she one day tackle the boathouse and make it into a stunning rental as well? They were pipe dreams, but they appealed to her anyway.

Sitting in the car for two hours, with two cups of coffee pressing on her bladder, made for an uncomfortable situation. “I don’t know what to do. What if I go inside and that’s the exact moment someone ties up to our dock?”

“Why don’t we take turns?” Kathy suggested. “You can go first. You may as well take the cups and Thermos in. Meanwhile, I’ll keep watch.” To prove it, she picked up the binoculars.

“Okay.” Tori gathered up their stuff, quietly opened the car door and went inside. She was back less than five minutes later. “Okay, your turn,” she said, but Kathy waved a hand and shushed her.

“I think I see some movement by the dock.”

“You’re kidding.”

Kathy passed the binoculars over to Tori. “No, I’m not.”

Tori stared into the darkness beyond the house. At first she was sure Kathy was mistaken, but then she saw silhouettes moving among the shadows. “Oh, good heavens,” she whispered as she took in the shapes. Two taller figures herded a number of smaller ones. They cut around the back of the house, heading toward the road.

“What do we do?” Kathy asked.

“We can’t call 911 yet. Not until we see them trespassing in the house.”

“What do you make of them?”

“They looked like a couple of big guys and a bunch of kids.”

“Why would someone smuggle children across the lake from Canada—if that’s what they’re doing.”

Tori’s mind shifted into worried overdrive. “I hate to think it, but what if they’re trafficking in some kind of slavery?”

“What do you mean?” Kathy asked, aghast.

“Prostitution, sexual slavery—I’ve heard that people have been abducted to serve as surrogates and even for organ harvesting.”

“Oh, come on,” Kathy said.

“I’m not kidding. We’ve got to do something—and fast!” Tori was a teacher. The thought of children being molested in any way by ruthless predators sickened her.

They waited until there was no more movement, and then silently exited the car. Tori led the way up to Resort Road, circling around to the main road. The Bay Bar still had a few patrons, but nobody was out on the deck. They waited and watched as the burly figures herded the silent band of children across the street, running for the shelter of the unruly hedges that formed an effective barrier between the bar and the empty house. Once the group was out of sight, Tori and Kathy made their move, jogging along the shoulder of the road. Coming to the big willow, they darted to the side of Kathy’s car and crouched down.

“I don’t think they saw us,” Kathy whispered.

“We’ve got to get closer.”

“I wish we’d brought the binoculars.”

“Let’s cross the road. We can sneak up at the edge of the hedges to see what they’re up to.”

“Right.”

Tori led the way. They could hear the thumping bass from the bar’s jukebox, which would effectively cover any noise the squatters made. Tori and Kathy stayed at the far edge of the hedge. From that vantage point, they could see only one figure on the steps, standing in front of the door. He couldn’t have had a key, for it took too long for him to get it open, and Tori wondered if he was picking the lock. The door finally swung open and the figure ushered the others inside before the door closed again.

“They are now officially trespassing,” Kathy said. “I’m calling the cops. You keep watch.” She turned away.

Tori squinted, hoping to better see what was happening. To do that, she really needed to get closer. It was so dark, she wondered if she could peer into one of the windows without being seen. Chances were the intruders would stick to the back of the house so any lights they might be using wouldn’t be seen from the road. It was in the kitchen out back where she’d seen the new batch of fast food wrappers, and figured that’s where they’d be.

Darting around the end of the hedge, she stuck close to it until she came up to the house. She edged along the building, wondering what kind of insect life she was likely to encounter, until she came to the first window. Standing on tiptoes, Tori peered through the dirt-encrusted glass but couldn’t see a thing. She moved to the next window, which was just as filthy. Nothing to see there, either.

She sidled along the house until she came to the back. Slowly, she moved until she could see into the kitchen. A flashlight sat on the littered counter, its beam pointing away from where she stood. Six children sat on the filthy floor, their backs to the counters where the rubbish wasn’t piled quite as high, eating what looked like slices of white bread with nothing on it. They looked Asian, malnourished, dirty, and scared. The two men, dressed all in black, stood to one side, conversing. The tall one was white, the shorter one could have been Asian, but in the available light, it was hard to tell. If nothing else, their body language made them look menacing.

Tori ducked back down, wondering what she should do. The prudent thing to do was to wait until the police came—but what if they were delayed by an accident or some other petty crime? What if they considered trespassing too minor an infraction to warrant a visit from one of the few cars on patrol? And what if she did nothing and the creeps who were transporting these kids got away with their human contraband? How long had this operation been in effect? How many other children had they kidnapped and what had become of them?

What happened to Kathy? Did 911 have her on hold, or had they told her to keep a low profile and wait until a Sheriff’s cruiser could be dispatched?

Muscles rigid with tension, Tori dared to look through the window once again. The children still sat on the floor, but one of the guys had left the room. The shorter man was on the phone, probably calling whoever was supposed to pick them up. He seemed to be angry. She could hear him shouting, but thanks to the booming music coming from the bar, she couldn’t make out what he was saying. The children cowered, looking like they expected to be punished, a couple of them were in tears.

Tori ducked down again, her stomach churning. She had to do something to save those kids. But what? Even if she stormed the house, yelling for the children to run, she realized they might not speak English and would have no idea what she was telling them to do. She might frighten them even more. But would waiting doom them to a worse fate? And what might those scary-looking guys do to her?

Tori wondered if she dared look into that kitchen again. It was stupid, reckless, but someone needed to look out for those children, and—

A hand grabbed her arm, pulling her off kilter, the grip crushing. “Ow!” she cried.

“What are you doing here, bitch?” the big guy she’d seen inside demanded.

“Nothing. I was just—”
Hanging around?
That wasn’t going to cut it. “I saw you breaking into the house, and….” That wasn’t going to help, either. “Let me go!”

But he didn’t let go. Instead, he slammed his fist into her left temple. She fell against the house, her head slamming into the clapboards, stars dancing before her eyes, and slumped down into the weeds. Dazed, she was barely aware as he grabbed her by both wrists and started dragging her around to the back of the house. Her shirt rode up and prickly weeds, grass, and stones dug into her skin. “Let me go,” she called weakly, her voice sounding wobbly, but the brute ignored her.

When they got to the back door, he stopped and kicked her in the gut. Tori writhed on the ground, curling into a ball of agony, and the guy kicked her again. “Bitch! That’ll teach you to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Tori couldn’t speak—she could barely breathe—as the man grabbed her like a sack of potatoes and tossed her over his shoulder. He stomped up the steps into the kitchen and tossed her on the floor, the piles of rubbish doing little to break her fall.

The children screamed and cried while, towering above her, the second man hollered at them in a language she couldn’t understand.

“Shut up!” the brute hollered, louder than everyone else. The children’s cries softened to whimpers.

“What da hell we gonna do with her?” the second man demanded, training the powerful flashlight’s beam directly into Tori’s eyes.

“Let me think, dammit, let me think!” the brute hollered, and for good measure, kicked Tori one more time, her knee exploding in agony. “Stop, stop!” she begged, knowing it was useless.

Kathy! Where are you?

“I told you we should wait. It to close to you killing that man.”

“You killed Michael Jackson?” Tori asked.

“Shut up!”

“He saw your boat on the bay,” she guessed. “He followed you here. He knew what you were up to. He was going to report you!”

“Yeah, well, he didn’t. And neither will you, bitch. I’ll fill your mouth with maggots, too.”

Tori stared into the man’s dark cold eyes. She didn’t doubt him for a moment.