Taken in the Night
Author
Elizabeth Goddard
Reads
17.1K
Chapters
23
ONE
Small campfires glowed in the darkness, dotting the campground as Danielle Collins drove five miles per hour along the curvy, paved road. Her window down, she listened to subdued voices murmuring here and there as she passed campsite after campsite searching for her brother’s flashy Tesla, which would definitely stand out.
She rubbed her tired eyes and tried to blink away the blurriness, exhaustion feeding into her mounting irritation. She’d spent most of the day traveling with her almost-six-year-old daughter, not an easy feat by anyone’s standards, only to arrive at the Sacramento International Airport and learn that her brother would not be there to pick them up as promised. He’d invited them, after all. Persuaded. Convinced. No, insisted. But no, he wouldn’t be there.
Instead, she’d received a text from John as she waited in baggage claim. He’d asked her to meet him at their favorite family getaway when they were kids. A guessing game. And she was in no mood.
Really. A campground?
Her texts and calls to him had gone unreturned.
She’d had to rent a car, one that she hadn’t reserved ahead of time.
“Mommy, I’m hungry.” Her daughter, Lucy, remained buckled in the back seat, where it was safest.
“Again? We just drove through and got you nuggets and fries—” Danielle glanced at the clock on the dash “—forty-five minutes ago.”
“Okay. But I’m tired, too.”
“Then close your eyes and go to sleep.”
Danielle would absolutely wring her brother’s neck for dragging her across the country and pulling this stunt. But this was not like John—and he had that in his favor. Was it some sort of crazy surprise that he was planning for Lucy’s sixth birthday at the campsite instead of his house? Or did he want them to spend the time camping and reminiscing about their childhood because he had received a terminal diagnosis?
It was out of character for him to spring this on them. He was a planner, and he would have detailed everything she should bring with her for camping.
Was he in some kind of trouble?
That would also be out of character.
Shoving her hair back from her face, she spotted his vehicle and parked behind the Tesla. Blew out a breath and glanced in the mirror to see her faded skin and red, puffy eyes. She felt much older than thirty-three.
But Lucy would keep her young. Danielle glanced over her shoulder at the back seat. Lucy’s eyes remained closed. Had she fallen asleep, after all? Should Danielle leave her in the car while she checked to see if this was even the right campsite, although what were the chances that another camper would have a Tesla?
She hated to wake Lucy.
Danielle got out and walked around the vehicle. Campfires filled the evening, and families walked. Kids played. Her apprehension melted, if only a little.
She was so not in the mood to travel across the country for a surprise camping trip. Her brother had truly lost his mind if that was the case.
Opening the door, she reached in to unbuckle Lucy. “Come on, baby. Let’s go check on Uncle John.”
Outside the tent, she said, “John. It’s me. You there?”
The zipper flew up, and John poked his head out. “Quick. Get in.”
He tugged her inside. He looked more haggard than she did, and Danielle instantly knew this wasn’t about a surprise birthday party camping trip. She hadn’t truly thought it was.
“Hey, Lucy.” John crouched to eye level. “I can’t believe how much you’ve grown, Peanut. I don’t get to see you often enough, do I?”
“We come visit you once a year at Christmas, though. Last Christmas you made that hidey place for me in the walls. Will I get to see it while we’re here to visit you?”
John’s face twisted as if he contemplated the answer.
“I think you need a hug.” Lucy hugged him.
John chuckled but didn’t answer Lucy’s question about her hiding place.
Danielle didn’t miss the forced laugh. “What is going on? You were supposed to meet us at the airport.” We’re supposed to have a surprise birthday party for Lucy at your house.
She kept her voice even and telegraphed to her brother that she didn’t want Lucy upset.
Lucy had been diagnosed with heart issues at two and had a pacemaker to assist with her condition. That’s why Danielle just might blow a gasket. John had been badgering her to move here and live with him since her husband died two years ago, and she’d repeatedly refused him. She wasn’t sure how she’d let him convince her to make this impromptu trip. Well, yes, she knew...he’d wanted to do something special for Lucy. But it was all last-minute, and him not showing up at the airport had thrown her off.
“Sorry.” He gestured to the folding chairs. “Here, Lucy. Sit down. I have bags of popcorn for you to snack on. Some sparkling water, too.”
Popcorn? At least he hadn’t gotten junk food. Danielle tried to keep Lucy on as healthy a diet as possible, and she’d already had to resort to chicken nuggets and fries on this trip. But her child had to experience a little bit of real life, too. She wouldn’t put her in a bubble.
Danielle tamped down her rising irritation and pulled a tablet and headphones out of her bag to distract Lucy while she and John had a conversation, then Danielle eased into one of the folding chairs. His tent was big enough for them to sit inside as though around a small campfire.
And that brought to mind a question. “Why aren’t we sitting outside with a campfire like everyone else?”
“We would be too exposed.” John eyed Lucy.
“Too exposed to what? And in that case, why not a hotel room instead of a campground? Why not your home?” Danielle watched her daughter eat popcorn and smile at the movie on her tablet. With the earbuds in, Lucy shouldn’t hear their discussion. Any other time and Danielle wouldn’t have offered the tablet. Camping was for unplugging.
“Please just tell me what’s going on. Are you hiding? Are you in—” she whispered the next word “—trouble?”
He hung his head. “This will go easier if I just show you. Stay here. I have to grab something from my vehicle.”
John stepped out of the tent. Danielle took in her surroundings. A small cot and sleeping bag. A backpack. Coleman stove. He’d always been an outdoorsy person, and that allowed him to get away from his job with a biotech company. She didn’t even know for sure what John did at the company. Danielle had been too wrapped up in Lucy and keeping her healthy, which had been more difficult since Tom had died two years ago.
Outside the tent, two men spoke. John and someone else. A confrontation ensued as their voices rose, then...
Pop, pop.
Danielle froze. Had that been firecrackers or something...sinister... Something deadly? Heart pounding, she held her breath and waited while she watched Lucy, who remained absorbed in the movie on the tablet.
That sound was probably nothing. It had to be nothing and she was on edge for no reason. But that wasn’t true at all. John was tense, and he was scaring her.
Danielle should check on him.
She started to stand when the tent rustled. Expecting John, she eased back in the chair. Instead of John, a strange man stepped through the slim opening and lifted a gun with a suppressor.
Before Danielle could even think to scream, he pointed the gun at Lucy while lifting a finger to his lips. “You scream and I kill her.”
As if only just realizing someone other than her uncle had entered the tent, Lucy lifted her eyes to the man with a gun. Confusion and horror twisted into her sweet, innocent features.
Danielle rushed to Lucy and covered her daughter’s mouth. “It’s okay, baby. Momma is here. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Danielle would do anything to protect Lucy, including telling a huge lie.
Special Agent Reece Bradley shoved through the convenience store near the entrance to the national park. He headed straight back to the drink section and grabbed a bottled water.
After paying for it, he chugged it down inside the store, thinking he might need to add another bottle and some snacks. Working for the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch as a special agent, he’d missed both lunch and dinner, and the drive back home was another hour. Today had been a long, grueling day since a man’s body had been found up by Foreman’s Creek a few days ago. Reece had been called in to investigate the murder, but so far he hadn’t found a lot of clues at the crime scene, or what was left of it, in the national park.
He headed back to grab another water and lingered at the snacks section, knowing he needed to eat his vegetables, because at thirty-five, he wasn’t getting any younger, and he couldn’t hope to keep his previous Navy SEAL fitness level if he resorted to junk food.
But junk food was closer and easier, and he was ravenous.
The door dinged, signaling that another customer had entered. The creeping, hurried cadence drew his attention, especially since it was coupled with deep, panicked breaths. That sound set him on alert and, without turning his head to gawk, he eyed the newcomer.
The woman spotted him, then turned on her heels and headed down another aisle.
Wait a minute.
He knew her.
It couldn’t be.
Maybe she’d recognized him and was avoiding him. But he had to know. Last he saw her, she was in Kentucky with a husband and a baby. He strolled down the aisle and found her gathering up sacks of chips. Then she moved to the refrigerator and pulled out several pop bottles.
“Danielle...?”
She glanced up at him and forced a smile, an attempt at hiding the fear and panic in her eyes. She stood taller, too, as if that could change her terrified demeanor. A person would have to be blind not to see the fear.
What was going on?
“I’m sorry.” Her voice trembled. “You’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
Okay. He deserved that.
“It’s me, Reece. You know it’s me.” He took a risk and stepped forward, reaching a hand out, palm open. “Danielle, what’s wrong? Are you in trouble?”
“No.” She fairly shouted at him, then calmer, she said, “No. I’m good. I don’t know you. If you talk to me again I’ll... I’ll call the police.”
He stared after her as she rushed to the counter and threw a couple of bills down.
To the cashier she said, “That’s two twenties. That should cover all these chips and drinks. I don’t have time to wait. Keep the change.”
Then she fled, bursting through the front door. Her hands filled with junk food, she dropped a few bags on the way out.
Reece discreetly peered through the window to see the vehicle she got into. She appeared to be alone.
He rushed to the front. “Did that seem weird to you?”
“Very. You want me to call the police?”
“Not yet. I got it.” Reece flashed his badge. “I’m going to follow up on it. You can give a statement later if that’s required.”
Concern for Danielle lodged in his gut.
Reece caught the license plate, and he stepped off to the side where he’d parked his unmarked SUV and got in. Then sped after her. He would follow her for now instead of scaring her off. He had no idea what was going on. No crime had actually been committed, but certain earmarks for trafficking and such couldn’t be ignored.
He followed the vehicle, keeping a good distance between them so she wouldn’t realize that he was following, but not so far back that he would lose her. If he got too close, he could cause her trouble, depending on the situation. Her safety was his priority.
The rear lights wove from side to side, as if Danielle was losing control of the SUV. Oh no. He needed to get closer. Looked like his intervention would come sooner than later. He increased speed. Her vehicle jerked to the right and headed for the ditch, where it plunged a few feet and abruptly stopped. The right back door flew open. A man gripping a young child jumped out.
He waved a gun around.
Oh, Danielle...
Pulse thundering in his ears, Reece turned off his vehicle lights and pulled off the road far enough back that maybe the man hadn’t noticed him yet. Reece had been a Navy SEAL before working as a special agent for ISB, but in all his experience, he had never had to face saving someone so close to him. Myriad strategies raced through his brain about how to get Danielle and her little girl away from the armed man without putting them in even greater danger, because they were already in harm’s way.
Danielle rushed around the vehicle toward the man, who clearly used the crying child to his advantage, and the sound could tear Reece’s heart open.
Keeping to the trees and shadows, Reece crept forward, his gun ready.
“No, please, don’t.” Danielle’s cries of desperation stabbed through him. “I beg you, let her go. She can’t endure this. I’ll do anything you ask, just...please...let her go.”
Reece pushed away the crushing pain in his heart that her cries brought on and focused on the task. He took in his surroundings. The silent night around them on the lonely mountain road. No other vehicles had driven by. Dusk shifted in into full-on night as he slowly approached. Only the light from the ditched vehicles revealed what was going on, but it was much too dark for Reece to take a shot at the man.
Reece continued his approach and sneaked around. He could come up on the man from behind, but he still couldn’t get a clear shot without risking the child’s life.
The man tugged the whimpering child behind him. “I should cut my losses while I still can.”
“What do you mean?” Danielle asked, but the fear in her tone said she understood all too well.
Suddenly he pressed the weapon to the girl’s head as if he’d grown tired of the effort of managing those he’d abducted.
Reece was out of time.
He stepped out of hiding and aimed his weapon. “Police. Drop your gun.”
Squeezing the child tightly, the man twisted the gun at the child’s temple.
“Mommy!”
Danielle took a step forward. “Please...”
Reece didn’t have a clear shot. He couldn’t take one without risking the girl’s life.
“He left something with you,” the gunman said. “You have twenty-four hours to find it. I’ll be watching. Double-cross me and I’ll kill you and your little girl.”
The man held the child as a human shield, pointed his gun at Reece and fired.
