Page 162 of Running to You

What was he talking about?

He let her foot go, and she put it down, feeling moisture seep through the sock while he removed her other shoe, jerking it so hard she had to hop to keep her balance. “Where is it?”

“Where is what?”

“The tracker. The wire.” He tossed that shoe into the woods, then knocked her other foot out from under her.

She fell sideways, hard, on the gravelly ground, pain shooting up her shoulder, her wrist, her back.

He pulled off her sock, tossed it away. Then he crawled over her, straddled her, and held her arms against the ground. “Tell me where it is. Now.”

“I swear, I don’t—”

“The tracker. The wire. The listening device. I know you’re wearing something.”

“I’m not wearing a—”

“Don’t lie to me.” He lowered himself, got in her face. His breath stank of onions and rotten fish. “If it were up to me, you’d be naked and tied like a pig. I have half a mind to do it anyway. Jed’ll get over it if it keeps him safe.”

No, no, no. The horror of the picture he painted had her squeezing her eyes closed, begging God for help.

Gil went for round two, pressing his hands against every inch of her. He searched the breast pocket of her shirt, then the pockets of her pants. She didn’t move, didn’t fight. Just lay still, eyes closed, praying. Praying he wouldn’t look in her ear. Praying he wouldn’t find the button camera.

Thank God Sam wasn’t seeing this. Thank God the camera only worked within a certain range.

Gil climbed off her to check her legs again, then flipped her and searched her backside as well.

“Ha!” He grabbed her hand and bent it up against her back, shooting pain up her arm. “What’s this.” His fingers pinched the silicone ring Sam had given her.

“It’s just a cheap ring. It’s nothing.”

“You didn’t have it the other day. Meaning pretty boy gave it to you.” He released her arm, flipped her over, then grabbed her wrist as if she might try to escape. Watching her closely, an evil glint in his eye, he slipped the silicone ring off her finger and studied it. “Maybe it’s a newfangled listening device or a tracker. Or maybe it’s some sort of symbol of your boyfriend’s undying love. Either way…” He reared his arm back, and she flinched, expecting a blow. But he launched the ring into the woods. “It’s gone now.”

Gone.

Sam believed the ring signified the promise that she would return to him. She knew it wasn’t a sign, not really. But somehow, without it, her hope faltered.

The plan was already falling apart.

The promise was gone.

* * *

Eliza tried to be as small as possible for the rest of the drive. She didn’t speak, didn’t dare open her eyes, and didn’t stop the stream of prayers. And maybe God heard her, but it felt like the prayers went no higher than the roof of the SUV.

She should have listened to Sam. She should never have agreed to this. How could she possibly help? Every decision she ever made ended up hurting people.

The choice to follow the Kellers to Utah.

The sale of Dad’s business.

The deadly visit to the creek back in Arkansas.

Like that one, this decision would get someone killed. Would it be Jon? Michael or Grant or one of Sam’s other brothers? Nicole? Mom? She didn’t even want to think about the other possibilities, but their faces swam before her eyes, the man and the little boy she couldn’t bear to lose.

Please, God. Please.

It was dark by the time the car slowed and turned, switchbacking its way up a steep slope on a crumbling and bumpy road. And then a voice spoke in her ear. “That you, Eliza?”