And Then Came A Lion (Lions and Lambs Book 1) Read online

  “Why wouldn’t I be upset? We should all be upset that a monster is prowling our city taking kids.”

  “And no word from the police yet?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing.”

  “I really do believe the man’s long gone. Off in some other city terrorizing them.”

  Susannah slapped the counter. “Don’t say that.”

  Mark threw his hands up. “Okay, my mistake. I don’t want anyone hurt. Besides, they’ve probably sent out the man’s description to every police department from here to New York.”

  Susannah relaxed. “You’re right. I’m sure they have.” She waved him away. “Go. I’ll finish.”

  He nodded, hesitated, and then left the room. Seconds later, she heard the TV.

  After finishing the dishes, she made coffee, and took two mugs into the den. She set one cup next to Mark and settled in her chair with the other. The TV program held no interest for her and she picked up her book, but images of predators and kids swirled around and around in her mind. Life was so unfair.

  A long time ago, her dad had told her that nothing was fair in this broken world. He was so right.

  ***

  Susannah sank down into one of the chairs in Rachel’s ultra-modern kitchen. It was the opposite of her older Victorian, but Rachel made the room warm and inviting. The coffee pot was always on, as well as the constant aroma of fresh baked cookies or bread. Susannah couldn’t figure out how Rachel managed it all between work and the kids. She had to be one of those supermoms everyone touted.

  Billy raced through the kitchen and out the patio door. Molly tore after him, screaming loud enough to break all of Rachel’s crystal.

  Rachel sighed. “It never ends.”

  Susannah saw the twinkle in her eyes. Even through the challenges, Rachel loved it. Motherhood had to be the most beautiful calling in the world.

  “You and Mark still discussing a family? Are you sure you want to do this?” She gestured to the argument heating up out on the patio.

  “Yes. I want children more than anything. I wanted kids the moment we said our vows, but he wasn’t ready. Says he still isn’t ready. I wonder if he will ever be ready. We can’t wait too much longer. My biological clock is ticking.”

  “He might swing around now that his job is doing so well. Tight finances are a deterrent to adding any more expenses. And, children are expensive.”

  “I don’t think money has ever been the issue. I don’t think he wants the responsibility.”

  “Ah.”

  Susannah shrugged. “But, I love him, so I guess I’ll do what Mom suggests.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Pray and be patient.”

  Rachel nodded. “Yeah. Look at what we’ll do for love.”

  Susannah laughed and then said. “That sounds like a soap opera.”

  “Well, isn’t life just one long, unending soap opera?”

  “For some. Recently mine has heated up to a horror movie.”

  “Still can’t shake the dream?”

  Susannah shook her head.

  Rachel took a sip of her coffee and set the mug down. “That might go away once the man is arrested.”

  “Maybe. I sure hope so.”

  Susannah stood and carried her cup to the sink. “Well, I’d better head back home. Chores await.” She shook her head. “Why do we cram so much into the weekend?”

  Rachel laughed. “Silly isn’t it? The world won’t come to an end if we don’t finish our to-do lists, but we think it will.”

  “True, but we will probably still try. Talk to you later, Rachel.” Susannah waved and stepped out onto the porch.

  Beautiful morning for walk, not too warm, birds singing, and not too much to worry about at the moment. What was that scripture? Today’s troubles are enough, so don’t go borrowing tomorrow’s. Sounded like a very good plan.

  She crossed the yard to the trail. Both Rachel and Susannah were ecstatic when Frank agreed to put in an offer on the newer home so close to Mark and Susannah. The two childhood friends could once again be within only a few minutes’ walk of each other. Granted it was along a trail skirting the undeveloped area the city named Lincoln Park, which wasn’t really a park, but a nature reserve in the middle of several subdivisions.

  Susannah paused before entering the timber. This part always made her nervous, even in the daytime. Anything could be lurking in the thick brush crowding the path and she wouldn’t know it was there until it reached out and grabbed her. Instead of a morning stroll, she opted for a power walk.

  ***

  Brian sat on the lumpy bed and stared at the wall. If he had any sense he’d be somewhere else, but the urge for payback negated his better instincts. No one had ever interfered before and it rankled. Someway, somehow, he’d find out who she was and he’d ensure she never interrupted him again.

  He flexed his hands, rolled his shoulders, and rotated his neck. A little tension was good, kept him focused. Besides, patience always had its reward.

  ***

  Susannah set her book down and uncurled from the chair. It was time to stop procrastinating and get to the store. She didn’t even have the stuff to make pancakes.

  “Come on, Buddy. Let’s go for a ride.”

  She eyed the dark clouds as she backed out of the garage. Looked like a storm. With luck, it wouldn’t hit until she was back home. Thunderstorms were best viewed from inside.

  Susannah parked in front of the market and hurried through the glass door. She cut down the cereal aisle toward the coolers along the back wall, heading toward the dairy section. A young boy and his father blocked her way.

  “Excuse me.”

  The boy moved over. Susannah squeezed past. A casual glance suggested father and son shopping for a few groceries. A closer look at the boy told a different story. Telltale marks lay under his high-collared shirt and under the cuffs.

  She paused, reached for a box of cereal directly in front of the child, and touched his arm.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  The man looked over, took the boy’s hand, and pulled him away. The child looked back. A silent communication passed between her and the boy. The boy’s face did not changed, but his eyes did. For a brief moment, they flashed with hope.

  Susannah walked to the end of the aisle, grabbed a half gallon of milk from the cooler, and went up to the checkout. The man stood ahead of her in line. She watched the pair pay for their purchases and exit the store.

  She handed the checker a bill, impatiently waited for her change, and then rushed outside. The man and the boy were on foot, just crossing the street.

  Susannah pulled out of the parking lot and headed in the same direction.

  She probably shouldn’t do this, but she had read that witnesses reporting abuse was the most common ways of rescuing kids from abusive situations. What was that agencies website that monitored the Amber Alerts? She’d read about a recent rescue in the paper…

  The pair entered a house at the next intersection. Susannah drove a half block further and pulled into an alley. She parked and ran back toward the street.

  After taking note of the address, she pulled out her cell phone. A few words typed in her browser pulled up the National Amber Alert Coalition’s website. She selected missing children for Washington State. Of course, the boy could be from anywhere, but her intuition indicated otherwise. Eighty-one names popped up. Half way down the list, she found the boy’s picture. Robbie Viens was last seen in Malden, Washington, playing in his front yard ― three months ago.

  The NAAC allowed online reporting. Susannah followed the links and filled out the form. She clicked off the website and dropped her phone back into her pocket.

  Wait or go home? It could be hours before police responded, except the website said response time was quick. She looked at her watch. She still had a little time before she’d have to rush home – if she grabbed some takeout for dinner.

  She went back to her car, pulling forward until
she could see the house. She reached over and ruffled Buddy’s ears.

  “Well, Buddy. What do you think of us being on a stakeout?”

  He winked. It was one of the breed’s traits, but it always seemed to occur at the appropriate moment, as if he really understood.

  Minutes passed. She looked at her watch. She should just go home. She did all she could, except barge in and drag the boy out. That, she couldn’t do, unless...

  She could stand on the porch and pound on the door, using some kind of pretense to keep the man talking until the police arrived. Susannah put her hand on the car door and paused. Several police cruisers glided to a stop in both the front and the side of the house. She let out a long sigh and took her hand off the door handle. She watched officers fan out, and with precise coordination, surround the house. Officers entered through the front door and she presumed the back as well.

  Seconds turned into minutes. She leaned over the steering wheel and peered at the house. What was going on? She sat back and drummed her fingers. This stakeout business was nerve-wracking and she was already a nervous wreck.

  The front door opened and two officers escorted a handcuffed man to the back of one of the cruisers. Another officer appeared with the boy. Susannah watched the cars until they disappeared, then drove out of the alley and headed to the closest Chinese restaurant. Mark would understand, right?

  ***

  Susannah parked the car in the garage, snatched her phone from her purse, and went directly to the NAAC website. The story of Robbie’s successful rescue had already replaced the Amber Alert. His abductor now awaited trial for abduction, abuse, and a host of other crimes.

  Susannah set her phone down. How could anyone be so cruel to a child?

  Once again, she heard her dad’s voice. “There has been evil since before the world began.”

  And so there had.

  Chapter Four

  The old Indian appeared once again in her dreams. This time he took her to a subdivision several miles over on the north side of town. A white van sat parked in front of one of the houses in the middle of the block.

  The old Indian gestured to the side of the house. A man worked the screen loose on one of the windows and crawled in. Moments later, he emerged through the front door, carrying a small girl.

  Again, the following images showed horrific suffering and a brutal death.

  “Susannah, this will happen in one hour.”

  She rolled over and opened her eyes. The clock read three am. There was no doubt as to what she should do, but it was a little cloudy on the how part. Regardless, she couldn’t allow the child to be hurt, no matter what she had to do to stop it.

  She grabbed some clothes and slunk out of the bedroom and down the stairs. After hurriedly dressing, she grabbed her keys from the peg and eased the side door open. She paused and listened, only the usual nighttime noises. With a sigh, she slipped out the door and into the garage.

  The images the old Indian showed her were precise, making the house easy to find. She parked half a block down and crept up to a hedge separating the home from its neighbor. She stayed well hidden in the shadows, yet close enough to have a good view of the front and side of the house. The man would come from the right. She adjusted her Bluetooth. Who knew it would have such a practical application. Both it and the pepper spray Mark had bought her, were useful.

  The sound of an engine drew her attention back toward the road. A white van slowed in front of the house and parked. The driver climbed out and went immediately to the side window. Susannah shivered. He either knew the girl, or had stalked her long enough to know intimate details about her.

  He expertly removed the screen, and then pried the window open without making a sound. That ugly art must have come from a great deal of practice, but this would be the end of his predations.

  Susannah spoke into the microphone. “Call 911.”

  The dispatcher answered on the second ring. “What is your emergency?”

  “A prowler has just broken into a neighbor’s house.”

  “What is the location?”

  “Fifty-seven east Fountain Avenue.”

  “The police are on their way. Please stay on the line.”

  The front door opened and the man emerged carrying the child.

  “He’s coming out of the house with a child now!”

  “Stay calm, Ma’am. The officers are close. Can you see where he is taking the child?”

  “Yes. He has a van parked in front of the house.”

  “Can you get a license number?”

  “Yes.”

  Susannah shifted her position until she had a clear view of the back of the vehicle. She gave the dispatcher the number.

  “He’s got the girl in the back of the van. Where are the officers?”

  “Officers will be there any moment.”

  Not soon enough. Keeping in the shadows, she cut through the front yard, circled the front of the van, and inched along the driver’s side. At midway, she stopped and readied the pepper spray.

  The back doors of the van shut. She raised the spray. The man stepped around the side and Susannah pressed the trigger on the canister. It had the desired effect. He went down to his knees, his hands over his eyes. Susannah stood ready to spray him again, but the man stayed down.

  When the long awaited cruiser finally turned onto the street, she crept back to the hedge and ran for her car.

  ***

  Susannah laid her purse and keys on the counter, and went out onto the back deck. So far, Mark hadn’t noticed her absence. But, if he did find out she’d run off in the middle of the night to rescue another child, what explanation could she give?

  “Where have you been?”

  Susannah jumped. “Mark!”

  “Where were you?”

  “I had an errand.”

  “In the middle of the night? Are you having an affair?”

  “No!”

  “Then what were you doing?”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “Then make some coffee.”

  They sat opposite each other in the breakfast nook. Mark listened to her explanation without comment, now and then shaking his head.

  “How many times have you done this?”

  “Just twice.” Well, that wasn’t a total lie. She only dreamed of the old Indian twice.

  “Is this something that will continue?”

  “I don’t know. This has never happened before.”

  “You didn’t have a dream about the little boy. How did you know to interfere there?”

  “I didn’t interfere. I called in a report.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about these dreams ― premonitions ―before?”

  “I didn’t think you’d believe me.”

  “You could have tried.” He fingered his mug.

  Susannah knew more was coming and waited, allowing him formulate his thoughts.

  Mark dropped his hands to the table. “How do I know you are telling me the truth now?”

  “I am.”

  His eyes narrowed. “So you say.”

  Susannah shrank back.

  He stood up, knocking his chair back against the cabinets. “I need to think about this.”

  He left the room. Seconds later, she heard his footsteps going upstairs.

  Susannah stepped out into the foyer, glanced up the staircase, and shook her head. No, it would be better give him some space. She went into the living room, curled up on the couch, and cried until she fell asleep.

  Mark left for work the next morning without speaking a word. He didn’t bother with coffee or the special breakfast Susannah fixed as a reconciliatory gesture. Her one consolation, he carried only his car keys when he left.

  She ignored the overwhelming urge to call him on his cell phone. He wouldn’t appreciate her neediness ― but she did need him, and she desperately needed to know he still loved her, still wanted to work on their marriage, and still wanted her.

  Brushing b
ack a fresh set of tears, she plodded up the stairs to ready for work. A folded paper lay on the dresser, tucked next to the mirror. Her hand shook as she opened it. The paper held only four words. I still love you.

  ***

  Every few minutes Susannah glanced up at the wall clock opposite her desk and groaned. It seemed like the minute hand refused to move. If the clock didn’t work, did that mean time had stopped? Perhaps, it hadn’t stopped for the world in general, but it sure seemed to be standing still for her.

  Rachel looked over at her. “Would you stop that? He left you that note. So, stop it.”

  “What if he changed his mind and went back home and packed his things?”

  “Susannah, stop conjuring up trouble that isn’t there.”

  “How do you know it isn’t?”

  “Did you try calling him?”

  Susannah shook her head. “No. He said he needed some space.”

  “Well, then give him some space. He’ll come around. He loves you. This isn’t divorce quality stuff.”

  “I wish I could believe that.”

  Rachel threw both hand up and shook her head. “I give up.” She turned back to her computer.

  Susannah stared at her screen for a few minutes and then looked over at Rachel. “What are you doing for lunch?”

  “Unfortunately, I have some errands. Want to tag along?”

  Susannah sighed. “No. Maybe I’ll just take my book to the breakroom.”

  “Not going to the park?”

  “No, not today. I’m not in the mood to go alone.”

  In truth, she wasn’t in the mood for anything, except calling Mark. But, that would just have to wait. There was that patience thing again. Just how much patience was she expected to have?

  At noon she took her lunch bag and book to the breakroom. It proved to be a good choice. The book drew her into another world, into someone else’s problems, and for a short while, she forgot her own.

  The rest of the afternoon went by a bit faster, and finally it was time to clock out and go home. Mark wasn’t there. But, it was still early. She’d wait a bit before she started to worry.

  By six-thirty Susannah was pacing the kitchen. Should she start dinner or wait? She stopped at the back door and stared out the window. What if he didn’t come home, what then? She sank into the bench seat in the breakfast nook and put her head in her hands.