Read Online Dark Creations: Dark Ending (Part 6) by Jennifer Martucci, Christopher Martucci - Free Book Online Page A

she was saying, but judging from her animated hand gestures, she was telling him that the Bronco had broken down just outside his house.  She flipped her hair and touched her hand to her heart coyly.  Tom Baker, like most men, smiled goofily in her presence and turned to go back inside.  Jack assum ed the sheriff went in to put shoes on as he returned moments later wearing sneakers and carrying a flashlight in one hand. 
    Sheriff Baker marched down his walkway with a swagger that was comical and made his way to the SUV.  He leaned over the engine then handed her the flashlight.
    “Hold this here for me, please,” he said and raised her hand that held the light so that it was the correct height, allowing it to linger longer than necessary. 
    “Gosh, I really appreciate this, uh, oh no!  You’re helping me and I don’t even know your name,” Alexandra giggled, a sound Jack never thought he’d hear escape her. 
    “Tom, my name’s Sheriff Tom Baker,” he emphasized the word ‘sheriff.’
    “Oh, you’re the sheriff,” Alexandra crooned.  “Thank God.  At least I know I’m safe with you,” she kept on and Jack suppressed the urge to gag. 
    “ All right,” Jack whispered to James.  “As soon as he bends over that engine, we move, okay?”
    “Okay,” James replied and raised his gun. 
    He waited until the sheriff had just begun to hunch over the engine then Jack and James burst from their hiding place and collared him. 
    “Try starting it now,” Sheriff Baker said right before Jack pressed the barrel of his gun to the back of his h ead.  “What the?” Sheriff Baker started and turned only to stare down the muzzle of Jack’s pistol. 
    “ Make another sound and I’ll put a bullet in your head.  Nod if you understand me,” Jack managed in a calm and controlled voice.  His pulse hammered dangerously in his ears, but his hands remained still.
    “Do you know who you’re screwing with?” Sheriff Baker tried and Jack jabbed his head with the barrel of his gun so that his intent could not be mistaken. 
    “I know exactly who you are,” Jack said through his teeth.  James came up alongside him and cuffed the sheriff’s hands behind his back.  “Move,” Jack said and shoved him.  They walked around the car and James opened the back door.  Jack pushed the sheriff inside and climbed in beside him, aiming his gun all the while.  Alexandra shut the hood of the Bronco then slid into the passenger seat.  James took the wheel and they drove off.  
    Sheriff Baker sat up and looked at Jack.  Terror was etched in his features and Jack regretted what he was doing.  “Who are you and why are you,” Sheriff Baker began but did not finish his sentence.  Recognition flashed in his terrified features and Jack felt like lead had been dropped on his chest. 
    “You remember me, don’t you?” he asked levelly. 
    “Yes,” Sheriff Baker answered and his voice trembled. 
    “Yeah well, I got something I need to show you,” Jack said and knew the sheriff saw him as not only a madman, but a kidnapping madman now.  Shame burned up his neck and Jack was thankful for the darkness that hid it from the others, from the sheriff.  “If you behave yourself and pay attention, you might just survive this.”
    Sheriff Baker did not respond verbally.  He simply nodded nervously then stared straight ahead, refusing to glance Jack’s way. 
    Jack felt truly sickened by what he was doing.  Never in his wildest imaginings did he dream he would be kidnapping a town sheriff.  He’d been a decorated soldier, a leader and a pillar in his community.  Now he’d been reduced to someone others believed was a crackpot, a loose cannon.  If there had been any other way to convince the sheriff and mayor of what was going to happen to their town, he would have tried it.  He’d attempted the truth and they’d scoffed at him, dismissed him and suggested he voluntarily commit himself to a mental health