tell him she's not here Read online

  And he had to die because that would be the only way she’d ever feel safe again, if he were dead.

  She wondered what it would feel like to die or how it would feel to kill someone, to watch their soul slip away until there was nothing left but an empty shell. Would she have the strength to beat another living person to death?

  She closed her eyes and imagined him lying on the floor, the blood draining away his very essence. Shrugging slightly, she had changed from the person she was before. She would enjoy his death. God help her, she wanted to kill him, or she’d never be completely free, ever.

  Chapter Five

  Jimmy Joe felt great. Grabbing a box, he loaded it on a cart, and then checked the number off the sheet attached to his clipboard. He hummed an old Sixties tune, pleased with himself. No one knew his secret. They would treat him with a lot more respect if they knew. Oh sure, they’d act all horrified, especially the older guys, the ones with young daughters. However, kidnapping a sixteen-year-old girl and using her as a sex slave, was every man’s dream wasn’t it? At least it had always been his, and he had finally done it.

  It had gone great. All his planning, picking out the perfect girl, preparing the time and place where he took her. It really couldn’t have gone better. He was a lot smarter than people realized, especially here at work. They thought him a dolt, a moron. Just because he had a little trouble with his paperwork, they thought him stupid. Well, he knew better, he was smart. He would show them all one day just how smart he was. But for now he hugged the knowledge to himself. He had planned and executed the perfect crime.

  And his trophy was perfect, tall and blonde, thin with a small oval face. She was his prize to do with as he wanted. She feared him; she had good reason to. He had shown her right away who was boss.

  Glancing at his watch, he made a face. It was already after five. He always made it a practice to work later than the other guys. That way everyone would say, “That Jimmy Joe’s a good worker, a good guy. That guy earns his money.” Working in a grocery warehouse loading boxes was hard work, but it kept him in good shape. Thirty years old and not an ounce of fat on his body – what girl wouldn’t appreciate that? He could have been some slob of an old guy with a giant beer gut.

  She would come to appreciate him; she was young. If she didn’t, well he’d get rid of her and find himself a new one. He even knew where he’d bury her when the time came.

  Lucky for him, his granny had left him an old trailer out in the boonies. Even though there was no electricity or water, it was a perfect place to keep a woman, and a perfect place to get rid of one.

  He glanced at his watch again and smiled. I’m coming pretty girl; just keep your panties on. I have to stop and get some food and I’ll be with you just as soon as I can, he smirked. The anticipation was thrilling. He paused and then gazed around at the near empty warehouse.

  He wiped the smile off his face and bent his head. Must not look too happy, otherwise someone would wonder about him.

  ***

  Impatiently tapping the steering wheel of his truck, Jimmy Joe waited in the long line that surrounded McDonalds. The place was packed; he’d already been sitting here for ten minutes. His girlie would be wondering where he was.

  He flipped on the radio, switching channels until he came to a news station. The broadcaster was talking about a kidnapping in Florida of a twelve-year-old girl. She’d been taken from her home the night before, while her parents were asleep down the hall.

  Jimmy Joe wondered what kind of pervert would kidnap such a young girl. He, at least, had the decency to kidnap one who was old enough to drive. He sure as hell wouldn’t want one that young. The broadcaster went on to say it was the second kidnapping of a young girl in a month. He mentioned the kidnapping of sixteen-year-old Kerry Stewart who was reported missing in Indiana. She’d been taken after work in the middle of a snowstorm and had been missing for thirty-six days. A thrill ran through his body as he listened to the broadcaster. There was reward money too. In a better mood, Jimmy Joe listened to the reward money offered for both girls.

  The parents in Indiana would be keeping their money, he thought proudly. When he grew tired of her he’d bury her behind the old trailer. Of course, she’d have a decent burial. Not like some. He would wrap her in plastic and say prayers over her. It was the least he could do. He snickered.

  He pulled his truck up to the speaker and ordered value meals. His girl, he called her Lucy, would be happy he brought her McDonalds. He had forgotten to feed her the day before.

  Jimmy Joe named the girl after Lucille Hall. He’d always thought the actress was hot when she was young. Besides, everything he’d read about bondage, advised he take the girl’s name away, so she’d lose any sense of her own identity. So, he called the young girl Lucy. The next one would be Jennifer, after Jennifer Jones.

  He handed a twenty to the girl at the window and watched as she counted out his change. She was pretty and about the proper age he liked, but he wouldn’t be stupid enough to kidnap someone from his hometown.

  He thanked the girl, revved the engine, and headed out to his granny’s trailer.

  ****

  Orley Pratt ducked down inside his car and watched Jimmy Joe order food from the drive-up window at McDonalds. It was driving him crazy, not knowing what his best friend was up to.

  He reached for the can of Old Milwaukee he kept balanced between his legs and took a long drink of beer. Last night he’d made a decision to find out why Jimmy Joe had been blowing him off all month. He waited across the street where Jimmy Joe worked and when he left, Orley was four cars behind him. When he pulled in at McDonalds, Orley parked in the lot across the street.

  He watched as Jimmy Joe pulled out of McDonalds, and then hid his car two vehicles behind Jimmy Joe’s truck. He felt like a super spy which made him giggle.

  Maybe even a little like James Bond, he thought proudly. Anyway, he was sick and tired of asking Jimmy Joe to go hunting, fishing, bar-hopping and being turned down. After all, he and Jimmy Joe had been best friends since grade school and he deserved to know what his friend was up to.

  Orley frowned when he saw the truck heading out of town. Where in the hell was the guy going? The only person Jimmy Joe knew out this way was Roy Atkins, and he only knew him ‘cause of his sister.

  Orley took another sip of beer and frowned. Hell’s fire in Heaven, if Jimmy Joe was bold enough to nose around Tracy Atkins again, he’d be in for a world of hurt. Tracy’s boyfriend, Sedgwick, would crush Jimmy Joe like a box of crackers. Sedgwick was foreign and Orley had seen him beat the living shit out of two old boys at the bar one night, just for giving Tracy the eye. God only knew what he’d do to Jimmy Joe if he was actually stupid enough to be sneaking out to see Tracy.

  Orley shook his head in pity. Well, if Jimmy Joe thought he was going to help him, he was crazy. Oley would not.

  He reached over, turned to the local country music station, and was happy when an old George Jones tune came on. He loved George Jones.

  Orley wished he were in a band. Guys in a band always got women. Course, he couldn’t play anything, but he could sing. Not real good, but hell, he could sing. If he were in a band he would sing nothing but George Jones songs. His favorite was ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’. That song always made him cry.

  He even knew how he would dress if he was in a band. He’d buy those shirts that had the fringe on them. They were so cool and he’d wear sunglasses all the time. Even on stage.

  Deep in thought, Orley didn’t notice Jimmy Joe slowing down and he had to hit the brakes when Jimmy Joe’s taillights flashed on. What in the hell was he doing? Tracy Atkins didn’t live that way.

  Orley watched Jimmy Joe’s truck turn left off the main highway and frowned. This was the way to Jimmy Joe’s old granny’s place. He knew his friend only ever went out there to smoke pot and drink whiskey. Then a thought struck him with a shattering force. What if Jimmy Joe had another best friend? He grabbed his beer and drained th
e can. That was the only reason he could think of for Jimmy Joe to be acting the way he was.

  Orley fought with the overwhelming urge to cry. How could Jimmy Joe do this to him? After all those years of being best friends, he was sneaking off to drink and smoke with his new best friend.

  Orley felt tears trickle down his cheeks and drop off his nose. He grabbed another beer from the six-pack and popped the tab. Well, if that’s how it was… then so be it.

  Orley turned his car around and headed back to town. He would show Jimmy Joe. He would smoke and drink all by himself.

  He sniffed and wiped his arm across his eyes. Well, if Jimmy Joe thought he was gonna cry, he was dead wrong. Orley was gonna get stinking drunk.

  Chapter Six

  He was coming soon; Kerry could feel it. Nervously she wet her lips. Even licking her lips hurt. The harder he pressed his lips on hers, the more he hurt her, the more he seemed to enjoy himself.

  She bowed her head in prayer. “Help me God, please help me. I promise to be good from now on. I’ll never miss Church again. I’ll help Mom more and I’ll always be nice to Emma. I’ll visit my grandparents more too. Please God, all of these things I promise, if you’ll help me now.

  She leaned against the wall and listened for his truck to pull up. Forcing herself to breathe slowly and evenly, she concentrated on remembering last night. She had to look and act the same way, otherwise, he might get suspicious. He had to help her up; she remembered that. He kept her so drugged that he always had to help her to the bed. That’s why he wasn’t afraid to bend down and unchain her legs. He thought she was too drugged to try to escape.

  Well, he had a surprise coming tonight. She hadn’t swallowed the pill he had put in her mouth this morning. She spit it out after he had locked the closet door.

  She knew she must be careful how she acted when he came. To behave the very same way she did last night; otherwise, she might never get the chance she needed.

  She sensed his arrival moments before she heard the truck pull into the rutted driveway. He was here; it was time. Please, God help me.

  ***

  Jimmy Joe swung his truck into the front yard and parked. He listened to the last of a Merle Haggard song before climbing cheerfully out of the driver’s side door. He balanced the bag of McDonalds and a small tray with two Cokes against the side of the truck while he shut the door. He’d been looking forward to this all day. After he woke her up and they ate, he was going to have some fun. Hell, he was going to have a lot of fun. She feared him, he liked that, and so she should. He alone decided if she lived or died. He was like Superman in a way, strong and smart.

  He banged through the door into the old trailer and yelled, “Lucy, I’m home.” A joke; the joke he’s used every day since he’d abducted her. He walked cautiously into the darkened trailer and felt his way to the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room. The trailer was cold and smelled of mildew.

  Jimmy Joe dumped his keys, the Cokes and bag onto the Formica counter. He groped around until he found the matches to light the kerosene lamp. He kept his voice good- natured, “Sorry, I’m late but McDonalds was packed. Did you miss me?”

  He swaggered over to the closet door and pulled the deadbolts back, then swung the door wide open. Letting his eyes adjust to the dim glow of the lamp, he said softly, “Time to wake up, Lucy. Your lover’s here to give you something good and I mean good besides the food.”

  He reached down and grabbed the handcuffs, then used them to haul her up. “What’s the matter? Can’t you take a little drug? Drugs are good for you, don’t you know that?” He joked. His elongated face with its thin stringy hair looked menacing under the soft glow of the lamp.

  He shook her hard to wake her up, then reached over for the keys on the small table beside the closet door. “You need to wake up.” Smacking her on the butt, he removed the handcuffs.

  Kerry swayed unsteadily in front of him.

  “Damn girl, stand up.” He snapped, getting annoyed as he bent down to remove the cuffs on her legs.

  ***

  Pretending to be drugged had been hard, she felt almost immobile. She couldn’t believe he didn’t hear the heavy pounding of her heart. Almost too scared to breath, she swayed toward the table. Without giving herself to back-out, she grabbed the chains and swung them down hard onto his exposed neck. Feeling him fall at her feet, she hurriedly brought the chains up again and struck him as hard as she could. Without giving him time to react, she kept swinging the chain over and over with all her might until her arms couldn’t move.

  Exhausted and breathing heavily, Kerry leaned against the table and stared down at the man on the floor. Straining her eyes and ears, she listened for any sound from the man at her feet. She couldn’t hear him breathing. Gathering the chains in one hand, she searched his body for the keys. For a moment, she felt lightheaded and had to grab the table for support. Taking a deep breath, she forced her hands over his body. The keys, where were the key? Then she spotted them lying beside him on the floor. With trembling hands, she unlocked one foot then the other, keeping an eye on him all the while. Was he dead? When she heard him give a small moan, she stumbled backwards. He wasn’t dead. She kicked him hard in the back. He didn’t move but she could hear the slight rasping of his breath.

  She couldn’t leave unless he was dead. The man had to die. He had to.

  Kerry looked wildly around. She caught sight of the kerosene lamp flickering in the semi-darkness. Dazed, she shuffled over to the lamp, her feet and ankles still stiff and sore from the manacles. Glancing back at him, she pushed the lamp across the counter and watched as it smashed on the floor. Flames spread rapidly through the garbage and old clothes strewn on the floor beside the counter.

  Giving the man one last look, she grabbed the truck keys from the counter and she out of the burning trailer.

  Chapter Seven

  Frustrated, Jason Stewart slammed the phone down. Thirty-six days and all he’d heard from the police was that they were doing everything possible to find his daughter. Yeah, right.

  Kerry wasn’t their only concern and he knew that. However, she was still a minor – surely, that counted for something. He knew someone, somewhere could help. If only he knew who to talk to.

  He walked over to his desk and stared down at the contract he’d been working on. Who was he fooling? He couldn’t concentrate on any damn contract. He was terrified for his daughter.

  He ran shaky hands through his hair, returning to stare out the window. He hated feeling this helpless. He had always done everything right. He’d worked hard through college, gotten a job right out of school. He’d met and married his beautiful wife. Worked his way up the ladder, gathering contacts and learning what to do and not do. When Emma and Kerry came along, he’d branched out on his own, putting all his time and energy into building something. His company was growing faster than he’d ever dreamed, but in the end, what did it all mean? Not a damn thing without his family.

  How was a guy supposed to protect his children from outside evils?

  You begged and pleaded with them to drive safely, not to talk to strangers, always to be aware of their surroundings, all the while hoping they’d be safe.

  He knew in his heart that Kerry was out there somewhere and needed his help. He would give it all up, if he could just get her back safe. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he began bargaining with God. “Please help my daughter. Please keep her safe. I’ll do anything you want me to. I beg you to allow her to come home safely to her mother and me. Please listen, God. Please listen to me.”

  ***

  Sherry Stewart walked into Kerry’s bedroom and gazed unseeingly around. Kerry had never been a very organized person. She liked the chaos of clothes and belongings spilling out of dresser drawers onto the floor and bed. She had argued it was her things and she should be able to see them if she wanted too.

  Sherry didn’t buy into that explanation but she had agreed to close Kerry’s door on occasi
ons when the mess was too much.

  She sat on the window seat and felt fresh tears falling. Where was her baby? What kind of monster would take a sixteen-year-old girl away from her parents and family?

  Sherry couldn’t bare to be in her daughter’s room for longer than a few minutes. She jerked herself up and stumbled back into her bedroom. Crawling into bed, she pulled the blankets over her head and prayed. “Please God, please protect my baby. She’s such a good girl and her family love and miss her so much. Please let her come home to us.”

  She felt her throat tighten with emotion, making it hard to breathe. She curled into a fetal position and closed her eyes. She felt as if she couldn’t go on another day without knowing if Kerry was alive or dead. How could anyone function from day to day when a child was missing?

  Sherry groaned with pain and reached for the bottle of sedatives she kept on the nightstand and shook a couple into her hand. Reaching for a half filled glass of water; she swallowed the pills and waited for unconsciousness to overtake her.

  ***

  It had been over thirty days since Kerry had disappeared. The police had stopped coming around and seemed to have forgotten all about her sister.

  The news that a sixteen-year-old girl had disappeared from the Dairy Queen had been front-page news for all of one day, then the odd story here and there. Now nothing.

  Her mother and father, in hopes of keeping Kerry’s disappearance in the news, had put up a million dollar reward for any information that led to her safe return, but so far, no one had stepped forward with any information.

  What kind of degenerate would take a young girl away from her home, she wondered? All the warning and pleading from her parents made sense now.