Chapter 52
Tori jerked awake. What woke her? Bathroom break, that’s what. She padded to the bathroom, but once she was back in bed, sleep eluded her. She checked her watch. Only midnight? Tori closed her eyes.
Drew. Where was her nephew? And how were they going to get out of this mess if she didn’t know where this supposed data drive was? Years ago, when she had problems, she went to her mother . . . who always sent her to the Bible looking for answers, telling Tori that it was good therapy.
After her mother’s death, she’d walked away from God. No, not walked. She’d run.
Maybe she needed to try a little of that Bible therapy again. Tori had seen one in the room earlier. She sat up and turned on her lamp. A quick scan of the room located it on the dresser, and she retrieved the leather-bound book.
She opened the Bible to the page where someone had left a bookmark. It was a psalm, and one of the verses was underlined. “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Tears filled her eyes. The verse sounded just like her mother.
She missed her so much. Her mom would know what to do about Drew.
She flipped to the New Testament—Matthew.
Again, a verse was underlined. “‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.’”
That was the verse her mom always sent her to. It was the one Tori had turned to when her mom was in the hospital. “‘Ask and it will be given to you . . .’” Well, she’d asked and her mom died anyway.
A thought struck Tori. How would Mom feel about the way she had turned from God? She almost closed the Bible. But the thought wouldn’t leave. Her heart demanded an answer.
What was it Mom always said? God will never leave you. That he was as close as you want him to be. “God, are you there?” she whispered.
Of course he didn’t answer . . . except, a tiny bit of peace crept into her heart. “I’m . . . sorry I . . .” Tori gently touched her face, wincing when her fingers brushed the swelling. Maybe God had kept her from dying today.
“Lord, I don’t know if you’ll even listen to me, but I need help. Mom . . . and Scott . . . they both say you know what’s going on. If you could help me find Drew or what the kidnapper wants, it would go a long way helping me to believe you again . . .”
She closed the Bible and leaned against the headboard with her eyes closed. Waiting. After a few minutes, Tori sighed. Nothing. Just like she expected. She turned off the light and tried to go back to sleep.
She had almost nodded off when her eyes flew open. Of course. How had she forgotten the secret hiding place in her old bedroom? She’d shown it to Drew way back when she babysat him at the house. But it’d been so long ago.
If he had the data drive, that’s where it would be. Tori didn’t want to wait until morning to find out. Scott could take her. Wait—he’d texted that he was leaving and for her to stay at the house. She hadn’t heard him return, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t. Maybe he was asleep.
She pulled on her robe, cinching it at the waist before she hurried down the hall to his bedroom. A faint light shone under the door. She tapped lightly.
No answer. “Scott? she said softly as she eased into his bedroom. The room was empty, the bed not slept in. Where was he? Maybe he was walking the perimeter with Caleb. He’d put that locator on her phone, and it would show if he were on the property. Tori grabbed her cell and opened the app.
She frowned. No . . . Scott couldn’t be at McKay’s. Ha! Of course he could. He was an alcoholic. She’d known it was just a matter of time before he relapsed.
Just when she needed him too. Tori took a deep breath. She’d have to make it happen herself, which wouldn’t be a problem if she had wheels. Her car was still at Zack’s. If she woke Amy for her keys, she would try and talk her out of leaving—same with Caleb. She’d just have to walk.
Tori closed the app and noticed an unread text from Eli. The time stamp put it two hours ago.
I know it’s late and you may already be asleep . . .
Maybe he was still up. She needed someone to talk to.
I’m awake.
Three dots appeared below the text. He was texting her.
I really want to help.
Three more dots.
You’ve always been special to me.
Her mind raced. Eli would take her to Zack’s house. She could meet him at the gate, and that way she wouldn’t have to tell anyone who would try to stop her.
What if the data drive had information that would help her figure out where Drew was? And she wouldn’t be by herself—Eli would be with her . . . Her mind made up, she texted him.
Can you pick me up? I’ll meet you at the road in front of the house.
He texted a thumbs-up.
Tori pulled on her jeans and a sweatshirt and slipped her feet into her sneakers. She checked to see if Scott was still at McKay’s. He was. Had he been planning to go there earlier?
But why now? What had been his trigger? Surely not their argument?
Tori set her jaw. Hadn’t she always said once an addict, always an addict? One excuse was as good as another. She didn’t know why she was so surprised or disappointed. No, she knew why—Tori had actually thought Scott was different.
With her bag over her shoulder, Tori crept down the stairs and eased out the front door. Hopefully, Caleb was asleep and not outside standing guard. She didn’t see him and jogged toward the road. A car approached from the west and she held her breath until it slowed and stopped at the gate. Eli.
He lowered his window and grinned. “Would you like a ride, ma’am?”
She laughed and hopped in his SUV on the passenger side.
“Where to?” he asked as he pulled away from Oak Grove.
“My brother’s house.”
“Zack’s?”
“Yeah. For once I hope he’s at McKay’s and not at home.”
He glanced over at her. “Why do you want to go to your brother’s?”
“I want to get something.”
“And it couldn’t wait until morning?”
She eyed him. “If you don’t want to help me . . .”
“It’s not that. I’m just curious about what’s so important that you’d ask me to help when you’ve all but ignored me since you met Scott.”
“I told you before, it’s complicated,” she said. “I thought of something I wanted to check out and then I couldn’t sleep, but I didn’t want to disturb anyone. When you texted that you were up, it was like confirmation.”
He turned on the road to Zack’s house. “You still haven’t told me what you’re looking for.”
“It may be nothing at all. Just drop me off in front of Zack’s house.”
“I’m not leaving you, not with someone obviously out to hurt you, even if you won’t tell me the details.” He turned right at the end of the road. “And don’t tell me it’s complicated.”
Tori sighed. “But it is.”
“Don’t you think it’s time to tell me what’s going on? Or is Scott Sinclair the only one allowed to know?”
Heat blazed her cheeks. “Come on, Eli . . . it really is complicated. Yeah, someone is out to get me . . . Drew is missing, a friend’s ex-husband is threatening me, Scott is—” She didn’t want to go there. “I don’t even know where to start. And we don’t have time for me to fill you in.”
He blew out a breath. “Okay. Check out whatever it is at your brother’s, then maybe you can tell me what’s going on.”
“Yeah,” she said as he pulled into Zack’s driveway and parked. She pulled her key ring from her bag, glad she’d never removed the key to the house she grew up in.
“I don’t see Zack’s pickup,” Eli said.
“He’s probably closing McKay’s down. Why don’t you stay here and text me if he drives up?” She held his gaze while he studied her. “Please.”
“Since you asked so nicely . . .” He winked at her. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
So did she. And if she did, she was texting the phone that Drew’s kidnapper called her on and offering it in exchange for her nephew.