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CHAPTER TWENTY
JULIE CRASHED A saucepan down on the tabletop with a lot more force than was necessary. She was trying to control her anger, she really was. Because her father—and probably Aaron, as well—were only looking out for her best interests, even while they were taking over her life. A small part of her probably agreed that perhaps it was time she admitted defeat. It’d be safer for everyone involved, including herself, if she hunkered down somewhere for a little while. But she hated being told what to do.
Where was Aaron, anyway? Wasn’t he usually hovering around like one of those infernal flies buzzing around her face?
Julie bent down to retrieve a large saucepan from beneath the table, muttering under her breath about men and their egos and how they should keep their arrogant ideas to themselves. When she stood up, she gave a squeak of surprise, and dropped the saucepan with a clatter onto the earthen ground.
“Chase? What are you doing here?” It took Julie’s mind a few seconds to catch up. What was the mild-mannered guest doing all the way out here? But on a second glance, she noticed he was no longer so nerdy looking. The glasses and the button-up shirt were gone, replaced by a black cap and khaki shirt and pants, as if he were trying to mimic Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter. What the hell? “Where’s Maya?” she queried, her mind still whirling.
Chase didn’t answer, merely raised a hand, and pointed something at her. What was that thi—
“Argh.” A guttural groan was forced out her throat as her body went into spasms, over which she had no control. It hurt like hell, like fire ants were biting her all over, like flames were licking at her extremities. And even when the pain subsided, she was left floundering, like a fish out of water, with no strength in her muscles and very little conscious thought.
She felt his hands on her then, tying her wrists together, but there was nothing in her power she could do to stop him. Slowly the spasms subsided, and she lay gasping for breath on the dusty ground. Then Chase hauled her to her feet. He was stronger than he looked.
“Walk,” he commanded.
But she was hardly in control of her legs, and she stumbled forward, falling flat on her face.
“Get up,” he yelled, hauling her to her feet again. “And walk. We need to get out of here.”
This time when her feet hit the dirt, she managed to stay upright, and she staggered in the direction he pushed her.
“What do you want?” she croaked, gaze madly searching the camp for any sign of Aaron.
“I thought that’d be obvious,” Chase answered. “I want to rid you of your sins.”
All those terrible things Aaron had told her came crowding into her mind. The way that woman had been tortured, and the way the other woman had been nailed to a cross and left to die. She let out a moan of fear.
“No. You can’t. Please don’t do this,” she pleaded, turning around to face him.
“You should have thought of that before you took your innocent baby’s life,” he replied. How had she never noticed his cold blue eyes before? Like they held no emotion. He pushed her in the back to force her to get moving again. She stood her ground. Why should she do as he told her? She should fight, he wasn’t armed, as far as she could tell. The small can of pepper spray was still in her front pocket, if only she could reach it.
“Move,” he said, voice low and menacing. Then he flicked the khaki shirt aside to reveal a gun in a shoulder holster hidden beneath. If she didn’t know better, it looked a lot like Aaron’s weapon. But how had this man found it? And did he even know how to handle it?
“Do you really want to find out if I’m prepared to use this?” he asked, caressing the handgun with a smile. When she hesitated, he said, “I didn’t think so. That way. The car’s over there.” He lifted his chin to indicate a stand of trees over by the edge of the billabong, along the road leading out of the stock camp.
Where was Aaron? Had this man disabled him with the same technique he’d used on her? Or was he hiding somewhere, waiting for the right time to come out and pounce? Julie decided not to mention him, just in case.
Limbs still shaky from whatever Chase had done to her—was it a Taser?—she walked along beneath the blazing sun in the direction he told her. In her mind, she went over her options. There was still no sign of Aaron. If he had been incapacitated, or God forbid, killed—nope, Julie wouldn’t even begin to entertain that idea—no one was due at the camp until the muster crew returned in around three hours. Which left no one to save her. She’d have to save herself. She catalogued all her available tools on her body or anything that could be used as a weapon. Stupidly, she’d removed her UHF radio from her shoulder holster and laid it on the table in the mess tent. So, she had no form of communication. There was the pepper spray, but unless he untied her hands, that was out of reach. Her mobile was practically useless out here, so she’d left it in the caravan. Otherwise, all she had on were her jeans, with a belt, Blundstone boots, and shirt. Nothing that could help her defeat a gun-toting crazy man. The sun was hot on her face, and she wished she had her Akubra for shade. Her mouth was dry, and she needed a drink.
At last, they reached the small copse of trees. Julie caught glints of sunlight reflecting off metal through the gaps in the leaves, but from the camp the car had been well and truly hidden.
“Get in,” Chase demanded, opening the passenger door. Hesitating, she looked around, hoping for some miracle. Hoping for rescue. Then a thought struck. Where was his wife? Was she in on this as well?
“Where’s Maya?” she asked.
“Get in,” he said, more roughly this time, ignoring her question.
What choice did she have? Awkwardly, because her hands were behind her back and the car was a long way off the ground, she levered herself into the four-wheel-drive. Then watched as he shut and locked her door and walked around to the passenger seat. It was the same rental the newlywed couple had arrived at the lodge in. She was already playing out different scenarios in her head of how she could possibly use her feet once they got driving to kick out at him, knock the steering wheel out of his hands, or boot him in the chin. If she could cause the vehicle to crash, then he wouldn’t find it so easy to spirit her away.
Chase leapt into the driver’s side, then picked something up off the floor and shoved it in her arm. A syringe full of some kind of drug, and even though she tried to fight him off, she could feel consciousness slipping away. It was a weird feeling, even while she fought to keep her eyes open, her body gave in to oblivion.
“Where’s Maya?” she mumbled. For some reason, she needed to know where the other woman was. “What have you done with her?”
“She was a bad wife. Wouldn’t do as I asked,” Chase said, but she almost didn’t hear his words. “It wasn’t really my fault, she made me do it. But at least she’s with Him now, she can rest in peace.”
What had he said? But she lost consciousness before she could process his words.
