35. Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Doug
J ones knocked on the front door, Maxwell beside him. Jack and I were covering the back. Jones knocked again, louder this time, and announced himself.
Still no answer. We weren’t ready to kick in the doors, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t search for a key or an unlocked window.
“Or try the door,” Jack said as he reached for the handle.
Unlocked. That was unexpected.
As expected; Smith wasn’t there.
Maxwell looked around, determining Smith’s state of mind from the mess she’d left behind. It wasn’t promising.
Back at the office, Jones updated everyone on what we’d found. He then asked Maxwell to share her new evaluation.
As Maxwell filled us in, I could see sympathy mingled with fear in Beth’s eyes. She’d lost a husband and understood Smith’s grief, and now she deeply understood the pain of losing a child. Even if he was found safe and sound, Beth would never forget the fear she was experiencing today.
Her sympathy for the woman who took her son showed just how strong she was. I don’t think she realizes it . I made a mental note to tell her just how strong I thought she was, once this was all over.
Maxwell stood by her earlier statement, she didn’t believe Smith would harm Chase. However, given the state of her home, we should expand the search. “There’s some indication she planned for this and is likely in hiding.”
“I’ll search further back in her bank records to see if there’s any indication she was stockpiling cash, and I’ll freeze her credit cards.” Jones turned to me and said, “Sharpe can you check her phone, see if she’s turned it on?
“Yes, sir.” I opened my laptop, started the program, and turned the screen so Beth couldn’t see it.
“I’ll check for a passport for Smith and her son,” Maxwell paused when Beth gasped. She shouldn’t be here for this . I held Beth’s hand and nodded. Maxwell continued, “Sheppard, have your team send BOLOs to airports, and transportation terminals in Texas and the surrounding states.”
Beth’s nails dug into my skin as she squeezed my hand in a death grip. I squeezed back to let her know I was there for her.
Maxwell wasn’t without empathy, but she had a job to do, and she delivered information the same way she issued orders—with authority and without emotion. John was the same way when we were on a mission. Understanding the necessity for law enforcement to detach themselves didn’t make it any easier for Beth to bear.
I rubbed Beth’s back to comfort her as her panic set it. All of this was speculation and worst case scenario because we couldn’t ignore any possibility, no matter how unlikely. We should have gone to the conference room, though Beth wasn’t one to sit on the sidelines, no matter how hard it was to hear the truth.
Once the updates were done, Jones and Maxwell set up shop in the spare office. They’d be filing an FBI missing person’s report.
Thank God they didn’t say that in front of Beth . Having an open case allowed them to use the full power of their badges going forward in the investigation.
While they did that, John and Jamie called every relative listed on Smith’s background check. They'd ask nicely, once, but if her relatives were uncooperative the gloves would come off. I had no doubt they’d be creative with the list of things they’d threaten to charge them with if they didn’t cooperate.
Chase had now been missing for twenty-four hours and our window to find him was closing. Fear was driving us, and our patience was thin.
John said, “conference room,” as he and Jamie walked into the lobby. Jamie stuck his head in Jack’s door and said the same thing.
“I’ll be right back.” I said as I closed my laptop and stood up.
“Can I come?” Beth asked, desperate to hear any, and all, news.
“Not this time,” John answered her, his voice soft and full of empathy.
After seeing her reactions to Maxwell’s updates earlier, none of us wanted her to be in the room for initial briefings. In a short text chat, we agreed it’d be better if we summed up the information and presented it to her in a way that was less blunt and shocking.
My heart broke as new tears formed in her eyes. I had no doubt she was assuming the worst. “Beth, I know this is hard, but please, trust me. Trust us.”
Maxwell was the last one in the conference room, so she closed the door behind her. Jamie started talking before she took her seat. “No one has seen or talked to Smith in days, but her brother said she goes to a friend’s cabin when she wants to get away.”
“Did you get an address?” My fingers were poised over my keyboard, ready to type as he answered.
“No, he didn’t know it, but he gave us the friend’s name.”
It didn’t take long for Jones to find the address. I pulled up a map and shared my screen on the projector, so everyone could see it, as Jones looked for more information on the home owners.
Using the terrain map feature to assess the cabin’s location, our confidence soared. It was isolated in a wooded area, with a long dirt driveway. Smith didn’t have a passport, and hadn’t bought any airline tickets recently. The FBI had flagged her driver’s license so she couldn’t go anywhere requiring an ID, and her accounts were all frozen, so she had limited funds.
Jones looked up from his laptop. “The homeowners are on a cruise. They’ll be home Tuesday, at the earliest.”
“Do you have access to a drone?” I asked. After a recent case, in which a drone would have been helpful, I’d purchased one and gotten my recreational license, but didn’t have my commercial license yet. John signed Jack, AJ, and I up for the next available class being offered for first responders. The next time we needed a drone, we’d have our own.
“I can call the sheriff and see if he has an operator available.” John answered.
Maxwell cleared her throat and all eyes turned to her. “Given what we know, we don’t need to wait for the drone. The cabin makes sense. It’s secluded and familiar to her, so she’ll feel comfortable and safe.
Not for long .
We finalized our plan to storm the castle, so to speak, with John emphasizing our priority was Chase’s safety. We weren’t going in guns blazing, but we were going in hot. We weren’t taking any chances.
Before gearing up, John talked to Beth to tell her what was going on. She wouldn't like it, but we’d decided it’d be best for her to wait at the office with Meg.
She argued she couldn’t wait here without losing her mind. After John broke the news, it fell to me to comfort her. She tried to use our relationship to persuade me, but I couldn’t, in good conscience, agree to let her come with us. We had no idea what we were walking into, which made Beth a liability.
I knew Beth well enough to know she wouldn’t stay out of harm’s way if she thought Chase was hurt, and we couldn’t afford to split our focus between managing her and finding him. Beth was willing to risk her life for Chase, but I wasn’t willing to let her.
And we don’t need the distraction . Though I was significantly kinder when I explained it to her.
“We have a team of trained professionals ready to fight and die, if needed, to bring Chase home. Including me.” I grabbed her hands and brought them to my chest. She winced when she felt my soft armor under my polo.
“It’s standard procedure, Beth.” I wrapped my arms around her and whispered a half-truth, “We aren’t expecting any trouble.”
We always expect trouble .
As we reconvened in the lobby, Beth badgered John relentlessly until he offered a compromise. She could wait nearby, at a location of his choosing, with Dean. John made it clear Dean wasn’t to bring her on site until he gave the all clear.
“You aren’t to let her out of your sight,” he ordered Dean, “Cuff her if you have to.” There was no bite behind John’s bark, but it added weight to his threat nonetheless.
“Yes, sir.” Dean answered, as Beth thanked John.
That settled, we paired up, with Maxwell and Jones joining us this time, and left for the cabin. Dean was told to wait five minutes after we left before escort Beth to the agreed upon location.
I kissed her forehead before breaking the hug. I wanted nothing more than to promise her this would all be over soon and we’d bring Chase home to her, but I couldn’t.
Beth reached up and touched my cheek. “Thank you.”
#
Once on site, John let Jones take command. It felt weird taking orders from the FBI, but it made sense. This was now an official FBI case, even if they weren’t treating it as such. If they had; SSI would’ve been benched.
We parked on the road, near the end of the driveway, did a comm check, and made our way on foot to the edge of the tree line surrounding the cabin. It wasn’t a thick forest, but there were enough trees to provide a natural cover line. From our position we could see movement inside, but the thin curtains prevented us from making a positive ID. John, Jamie and AJ circled around back.
“Smith’s vehicle in back. Curtains closed. No visual on Pan.” John’s voice was scratchy in my earpiece.
“Copy that,” Jones replied.
He gave our team quick orders.
Jones and Maxwell would take the lead, and breach if necessary. Jack and I, Sierra Three and Five over comms, would be right behind them. The guys in the back would cover the door, but not enter unless ordered to. We were concerned about Smith’s reaction if we breached both doors at once. She might not want to hurt Chase, but she was unstable—panic and desperation could make a person erratic.
We were doing this by the book, giving her a chance to turn herself in. We wouldn’t break down the door unless we had to. Our goal was to take Smith alive, with minimal violence. She was a grieving mother who needed help, not a hardened criminal.
And the last thing any of us wanted was for Chase to see someone shot or killed in front of him.
“Foxtrot moving to front door, Sierra Three and Five on our six. Sierra One, hold your position. No one leaves this house.” Jones started moving as soon as he gave the order, Maxwell close on his heels.
We crouch-jogged across the driveway, scanning the windows as we went. If she happened to look out and see us, we’d lose the element of surprise. The plan was for Jones to knock politely and ask her to come out, hoping the presence of the FBI at her front door would be enough for her to realize there was no way out.
Jones knocked on the door. His voice politely authoritative, “Mrs. Smith, it’s the FBI, open up.”
No response except a silhouette moving inside. Still no sign of Chase.
Jones pounded on the door, and yelled, “FBI, open up!”
We could see movement in the house, but she didn’t answer the door.
“Sierra One, confirm your position,” Jones’ voice echoed as I heard him live and over comms.
John confirmed, “Sierra One in position.”
Jones tried one more time, hammering on the door and yelling like a cop in a movie, “We have the cabin surrounded. Come out with your hands up.”
No response.
Jones tested the doorknob, just in case. Locked.
“Sierra Five, on three, kick it in,” Jones said as he moved out of the way.
I got in position, nodded, and waited for his count. My pulse pounded in my ears as Jones and Maxwell moved into position on opposite sides of the door. They’d have a line of sight into both sides of the room when I kicked the door open. Their eyes were already focused beyond the door.
I shut down my fear and focused on the job.
“Foxtrot One breaching, on my mark,” Jones’ voice was low but clear.
I waited, like a cat ready to pounce, as Jones counted. “Three. Two...”
On one, I put my weight behind my leg and knocked the door open with one solid kick. We heard a muffled scream as the door swung open violently. I stepped back, giving Maxwell and Jones room to enter. I drew my gun and held it close to my body with the muzzle pointed at the ground as I followed Jack in.
The cabin had an open floor plan; the living room and kitchen were to the left, and there were two closed doors off to the right. Jones and Maxwell took the door at the far end while Jack and I took the other one.
We took up position on either side of the second door, covering it and the open space, while Jones and Maxwell searched their room. We heard, “clear,” a second before they exited.
Chase is in this room.
My heart beat faster as sweat broke out on my forehead.
He has to be .
Foxtrot One took up position to cover the living space while we searched our room.
When Jack and I turned towards each other, he signaled he’d open the door. I’d go in first. I nodded and waited for his signal.
Please, God, let us find Chase safe and sound.
When he nodded, I counted off the longest three seconds in my life.
Focus!
Jack opened the door and I rushed in, gun at the ready. Jack was right behind me.
It took us less than half a second to see her huddled in the corner, holding Chase with her hand over his mouth. Smith’s scream pierced the silence as soon as she saw our guns.
Relief made my knees weak but I couldn’t give in. We’d found Chase but he wasn’t out of the woods yet.
Tears streamed down Chase’s face as he tried to wiggle out of her grasp. He looked scared, but unharmed, as he stared at us, his eyes wide with shock and fear.
We lowered our guns but didn’t holster them—we still weren’t sure if she’d resort to violence.
I saw the instant Chase recognized us. His tear-filled, red-rimmed eyes doubled in size, and he tripled his efforts to break free, punching and kicking at Smith.
She had the strength of a woman possessed as she held him to her chest. One arm was wrapped like a vice grip around his tiny neck while her other hand covered his mouth to keep him from screaming.
I took a deep breath before whispering, “cover me,” without moving my lips.
As soon as I heard Jack say, “covering,” I holstered my gun and held my hands out in front of me. Smith looked confused as she looked from me, to Chase, to Jack.
“It’s over Mrs. Smith. Let Chase go.” I used his name, reminding her he wasn’t her late son, as I sank to one knee.
“Scotty?” Her voice shook with grief and fear.
Maintaining my posture, I slid a little closer every time she shifted her focus away from me. She didn’t register the change in my location.
I need to get closer . Close enough to physically restrain her if I needed to. I doubted it’d come to that. I could see the pain and confusion in her eyes. It wasn’t hard to find compassion for her, despite everything she’d done. “Mrs. Smith, Jill,” I held out my hand, palm up, and pointed to Chase, “that’s not Scotty. His name is Chase.”
She blinked a few times, tears rolling down her face as she looked for answers in Chase’s hair.
I slid closer still. I can reach her if I lean forward . But would I be fast enough?
She dropped her hand from his mouth and asked, “Where's Scotty?”
As soon as she did, he yelled, “Uncle Jack Mr. Doug,” and started squirming again. I slid a few inches closer when she looked at Jack, struggling to grasp the reality in front of her.
“It’s okay, Jill. It’s time to let go.”
With a sob, she let her arm fall slack, and crumpled in a heap on the floor, burying her face in her hands. I could see her shoulders shaking as I instructed Chase, “Run to your Uncle Jack.”
This time, I let the relief flow through me. Thank you, God. Chase was safe.
Chase scrambled to his feet and ran to Jack. “Uncle Jack!”
Jack quickly holstered his gun and sank to his knees before Chase crashed into him. I left my gun holstered as I watched Smith. She wasn't a threat anymore. I also knew Jones and Maxwell were covering us from the doorway, based on the chatter I’d only been half listening to in my earpiece.
Jack announced, “Scene is secure. Pan is safe.” He hugged Chase close to his chest and stood up.
Maxwell relieved me so Jack and I could remove Chase from the room. The sooner he was away from her the better.
As we left, I heard them talking to Smith, promising her they’d get her the help she needed, over the sound of sobs.
Poor woman . I opened the back door for the rest of the team, while Jack carried Chase to the living room and set him down on the couch.
As soon as he was in the door, John took command again, “Jamie, you and Janerek find out what Jones needs from us.” Relief washed over his features as he glanced at Chase, then turned to me, “Sharpe, call Beth.”
“Yes, sir,” we answered in unison as I took out my phone. I wanted to be the one checking on Chase, comforting him, but I had my orders.
Chase turned towards the sound of John’s voice, and cried out, “Uncle John!” a split second before escaping Jack’s hold and running over.
“Hey, Kiddo, are you hurt anywhere?” John asked as he kneeled in front of him, running his hands over Chase’s body as he hugged him.
He shook his head as he cried into John’s shoulder, “I want my mommy.”
“She’ll be here soon,” John said as he made eye contact with me over Chase’s head.
I nodded as I gave Dean the all clear and hung up. John said to call Beth, but Dean had specific orders to stay put until he heard directly from one of us.
I bowed my head and thanked God as relief washed over me. Chase is safe and Beth is on her way. Smith hadn’t hurt him. Not physically, at least. He’d need a psych evaluation to find out what emotional damage she’d caused during the twenty-seven hours she held him captive. He’d need therapy, but at his age, and with the support of his family, he should bounce back without long-term repercussions.
John was holding Chase tight enough to crush him.
More tension left my body when Chase said, “You’re squishing me, Uncle John.”
“Sorry, I’m just so happy to see you,” John answered with a laugh as he released him.
I still hadn’t had a chance to hug him, so I got down on my knees and opened my arms. I choked on the words as I asked, “Can I get a hug too, Little Man?”
Chase didn’t hesitate. “When will my Mommy be here?” he asked into my chest.
“She’ll be here any second now,” I answered without releasing him.
Jamie and AJ had been tasked with contacting the local PD and securing the scene. It was a given none of us wanted Smith and Chase in the same room, so Jones held her in the bedroom until we left. Jamie made sure he got a hug from Chase before ushering us outside. After I picked Chase up, AJ gave him a fist bump and told him he was brave, and then took up position at the back door. Jamie would cover the front.
We’d underestimated a threat once, with Emily, and it’d almost cost her life—we wouldn’t do it again.
Chase craned his neck as far as he could, without letting go of me, to look left and right as I walked down the porch steps. “Where’s my mommy?”
“She’ll be here soon, I promise.” I rubbed his back to soothe him. He wasn’t crying any more, but judging from his vice-like grip he was still more than a little shaken.
I prayed Beth would get here before the police, allowing her some time with Chase before they had to talk to him.
I turned around when I heard tires crunching on gravel. Beth.
“Your mom is here,” John said as he rubbed Chase’s hair.
Chase pushed against my chest, but I refused to put him down until the car stopped.