They eased across to the window, taking their time because the floorboards were old and had a tendency to squeak.
Tyler slipped aside the black cloth covering the window and peered out.
“It’s dark outside,” he whispered. “That’s good for us.”
He examined the window lock. It was a simple one. He had the window up in another minute, taking care to slide it slowly in case it made any noise.
He passed through the open window first and then helped Kathy.
They stopped to look around. A black SUV was parked in the front. It was the same one Tyler had climbed into at the mall. They had driven away and then a cloth had been placed over his face and he had quickly fallen unconscious.
“Looks like we’re in the woods,” he said quietly to Kathy. She nodded, shivered, and said, “Which way?”
“Hey!”
They turned and saw a man standing on the porch.
“Run, Kathy,” yelled Tyler.
She turned and raced away. The man hoofed it after her. Tyler stepped in front of the man and blasted him in the eyes with the pepper spray. The man screamed, staggered, collided with Tyler, and they both went down in a tangle of arms and legs. Tyler punched and kicked at the blinded man until he saw something. Kathy was not running anymore.
A man shrouded in the darkness had placed a gun against her head.
Tyler instantly stopped struggling.
“Big mistake, Tyler, an unforgivable mistake,” said Alan Grant.
“Please, don’t hurt her,” Tyler yelled, tears flooding his eyes.
The gun fired.
CHAPTER
66
“IT’S BEEN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS!” EXCLAIMED Sam Wingo.
“Yes it has,” replied Sean calmly.
They were at the motel where they had stayed the night, waiting for the phone to ring or a text to come from Tyler.
Michelle was leaning against the wall of the motel room. “And we told you they would do this to string you out, to make your nerves get the best of you.”
“And we know Kathy is with them,” added Sean. “The news story confirmed that she’s missing.”
Wingo looked miserable. “I know her parents. Her mom’s in the Air Force. All that was left… was a tennis racket and a can of balls on the sidewalk.”
“No one saw or heard anything,” said Michelle. “Which tells us these guys are pros.”
“But the good news is that although they’re aware we met, they don’t know that we’ve officially hooked up,” said Sean. “We’re going to provide backup that they might not anticipate.”
“We’ll have little time to prep,” added Michelle. “They’ll call and expect us to be there shortly thereafter.”
“How do we get back on the offensive?” asked Wingo. “I don’t like reacting to others, particularly when they have my son.”
“We’ve still got prep work to do,” said Sean.
“Prep work based on what?” asked Wingo.