for the nearest convenience store, called a cab, and used the mad money to pay for it. And she never told her dad. She was so ashamed that she had done exactly what he’d always told her not to do. She’d gotten into a car with a boy she didn’t really know.
But she had learned her lesson, and she never had to use the mad money again. When she was seventeen, she took all the unused money she’d been saving and bought her dad a new car stereo since his old one only played tapes, not CDs.
That was all so long ago. Now we’ve got satellite radio and iPods. And he is gone, too. Obsolete.
Beth shivered, either from the cold, or from the cold loneliness that had crept in again. When Sam left, she’d been in a total state of shock, then her dad died and all her friends and relatives came in an took over. They made all the arrangements, and they stayed with her and kept her from going insane. They also took care of Abby. Of course, her new son-in-law, Terry, had helped tremendously. But eventually they had all gone on with their lives. Just as they should have.
Now, she was truly alone. It was time, because if someone else had continued making all the decisions, then Beth might never get back on track. Cindy had been prepared to move in and stick around for “as long as it takes.” But Beth had finally grown a backbone and sent her home, too. In the long run, it was for the best. Both Cindy and Abby were just a phone call away if she needed them.
She wondered aloud if her life would have turned out differently with someone else—John, for instance. She shook her head, scolding herself for such silly thoughts. We were little more than children. But the memory of his clear green eyes and strong, tanned arms warmed her. At least for the moment.
Chapter Ten
Kurt was getting antsy. He’d bought the Styrofoam ice chest and pup tent at Wal-Mart in Pine River a week after he’d snatched Danny from Albuquerque. Kurt loved Wal-Mart—so big and anonymous. The very place to find everything he needed. He’d known he would need a hiding place once he started implementing his plan. Cops start getting very suspicious when young women go missing.
He’d stashed the tent and supplies in the forest so he and Danny could go to ground when needed. He thought he knew where the cave was from the map he’d printed off Dave’s computer. Actually finding it was another matter. Amanda Myer’s cell phone probably had GPS. But cell phones were traceable. Anyone who watched cop shows on TV knew that was a sure fire way to get caught. He and Danny would just have to search using the new compass he’d bought. The cave was going to be his safe haven.
He was sitting on top of a boulder near a little creek as he surveyed the scene. The gurgling of the water calmed him. He wanted to make it the soundtrack for the demise of his next victim. Too bad he was going to lure her to his car using Danny as bait, just like he’d done with the other two.
Kurt had stopped to rest for a moment in his trek up the mountain. It was hard going, with the kid. He was constantly forced to stop and wait on him, or prod him into moving faster. At this rate, they might not locate the cave until tomorrow.
Kurt looked at the thick blanket of dead leaves on the ground. He decided to go ahead and pitch the tent here and spend the night beside the creek. Tomorrow, he would dope the kid up good, and then go in search of the cave on his own. There’d be no fire, though.
From one of the many pockets on his jacket, he pulled out a couple of packets of beef jerky and handed one to Danny. “We’re stopping here,” he said. Then he popped up the tent and allowed Danny to go inside to sleep. He didn’t like having the boy out in the open. Even in the National Forest, there could be prying eyes. He had camouflaged the car with branches, but he knew from experience that one could never be too careful. The best thing to do would be to find that cave as quickly as
But she had learned her lesson, and she never had to use the mad money again. When she was seventeen, she took all the unused money she’d been saving and bought her dad a new car stereo since his old one only played tapes, not CDs.
That was all so long ago. Now we’ve got satellite radio and iPods. And he is gone, too. Obsolete.
Beth shivered, either from the cold, or from the cold loneliness that had crept in again. When Sam left, she’d been in a total state of shock, then her dad died and all her friends and relatives came in an took over. They made all the arrangements, and they stayed with her and kept her from going insane. They also took care of Abby. Of course, her new son-in-law, Terry, had helped tremendously. But eventually they had all gone on with their lives. Just as they should have.
Now, she was truly alone. It was time, because if someone else had continued making all the decisions, then Beth might never get back on track. Cindy had been prepared to move in and stick around for “as long as it takes.” But Beth had finally grown a backbone and sent her home, too. In the long run, it was for the best. Both Cindy and Abby were just a phone call away if she needed them.
She wondered aloud if her life would have turned out differently with someone else—John, for instance. She shook her head, scolding herself for such silly thoughts. We were little more than children. But the memory of his clear green eyes and strong, tanned arms warmed her. At least for the moment.
Chapter Ten
Kurt was getting antsy. He’d bought the Styrofoam ice chest and pup tent at Wal-Mart in Pine River a week after he’d snatched Danny from Albuquerque. Kurt loved Wal-Mart—so big and anonymous. The very place to find everything he needed. He’d known he would need a hiding place once he started implementing his plan. Cops start getting very suspicious when young women go missing.
He’d stashed the tent and supplies in the forest so he and Danny could go to ground when needed. He thought he knew where the cave was from the map he’d printed off Dave’s computer. Actually finding it was another matter. Amanda Myer’s cell phone probably had GPS. But cell phones were traceable. Anyone who watched cop shows on TV knew that was a sure fire way to get caught. He and Danny would just have to search using the new compass he’d bought. The cave was going to be his safe haven.
He was sitting on top of a boulder near a little creek as he surveyed the scene. The gurgling of the water calmed him. He wanted to make it the soundtrack for the demise of his next victim. Too bad he was going to lure her to his car using Danny as bait, just like he’d done with the other two.
Kurt had stopped to rest for a moment in his trek up the mountain. It was hard going, with the kid. He was constantly forced to stop and wait on him, or prod him into moving faster. At this rate, they might not locate the cave until tomorrow.
Kurt looked at the thick blanket of dead leaves on the ground. He decided to go ahead and pitch the tent here and spend the night beside the creek. Tomorrow, he would dope the kid up good, and then go in search of the cave on his own. There’d be no fire, though.
From one of the many pockets on his jacket, he pulled out a couple of packets of beef jerky and handed one to Danny. “We’re stopping here,” he said. Then he popped up the tent and allowed Danny to go inside to sleep. He didn’t like having the boy out in the open. Even in the National Forest, there could be prying eyes. He had camouflaged the car with branches, but he knew from experience that one could never be too careful. The best thing to do would be to find that cave as quickly as
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