Chapter Fifteen
It was the first week of November, and Shanna was making real progress with her oils, but for some strange reason, she hadn’t heard from Wes.
And she couldn’t help it, she realized. She was worried. It was scary how dependent she was on him.
What would she do if something happened to Wes? How safe would she be, she wondered. Would she belong to the organization? Would they continue using the safety of her family as leverage?
And would she be forced into a life of prostitution without Wes’ protection?
She shivered at the thought, recalling the horrific moments of the past, when she’d realized she would never be able to go home.
Finally, Wes called.
“Shanna?” he said quietly after she picked up the phone.
Something in his voice told her that he’d run into some kind of trouble.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “I’ve been worried.”
“Someone connected me to the traffickers,” he answered softly. “Everything I own on paper is being searched.”
“So, what does that mean?” she asked, trying not to sound panicked.
“You can lay low for a while. I’m sure they’re going to be following me. They’ve already taken me in for questioning, but it’s all hearsay.” He sighed. “I have another son, Shanna. He’s a little older than you. He kidnapped some woman who rejected him in high school and tried to assault her. Anyway, even though he’s not a part of the organization and has nothing that could tie him to me, except for blood, the fact that he brought me into it could mean some big trouble for me. I’ve done everything I could for that kid. I even sent him to a good college in the east, where he flunked out. Anyway, I wasn’t arrested, but he’s going to be sitting in jail. I’m not providing bail.”
“Alright.”
Wes had another son? If that was the case, why hadn’t he been threatened?
“Anyway, my son’s name is Wade Armstrong, and he went to high school in Crystal Rock. I can’t see them letting him out, and I’ve been careful never to talk about you, but just be on guard.”
Shocked, her jaw dropped open.
Wade Armstrong? Didn’t he know that Wade had been working with her dad before she was kidnapped? Should she tell Wes? Maybe she’d better think about it first.
“Who was the girl he kidnapped?”
“Uh. Let me think,” Wes said. “Her last name is Mitchum. Do you know her?”
“Ashley Mitchum? Yes, I did. Years ago.”
“Wade might even know who you are.”
“Maybe,” she agreed. “Besides laying low, have you got any other instructions for me?”
“You’ll need food and supplies. I believe I’ve left enough cash for you to pick things up on your own.”
“But how do I get to town to do it?”
“You don’t. You can order on the phone and have everything delivered.” He went silent for a moment. “Have you seen the property next door past the barbed wire fence?”
“I have.”
“That place belongs to me too. You’ll find a key to the place in the back of the cubbyhole in your desk. There’s a hidden opening in the fence at the corner of the property near the lake. I’ve had deliveries there before, so you shouldn’t have any trouble. I’ll look into a service to come pick up your paintings.”
She couldn’t believe he was trusting her.
It was like he read her mind when he said, “I’m not going to be around forever. I’ve grown fond of you, Shanna. That’s why I’ve been trying to give you your independence a little at a time.”
He went silent momentarily, finally adding, “But don’t make me regret it.”
“You’re testing me,” she said softly.
“I am,” he admitted.
“I’ll try not to let you regret this,” she said firmly.
“Okay. I’ll check in with you soon. There are instructions near the phone over there in the kitchen. You can use that phone when you order groceries or supplies. I’ve left a preloaded credit card there for you to use along with a little bit of cash.”
“You thought this might happen?” she asked.
“Let’s just say that I prepared for almost everything,” he answered. “I’ll give you another call in about a week.”
“Alright,” she agreed, disconnecting.
She checked her supplies, making a list of everything she needed, adding the groceries that were most important to restock since the weather was changing. Most likely, they’d soon get snow.
It was only a little past noon. She might as well walk next door and see if everything was going to be as easy as Wes made it sound.
She’d been using the desk for years, ever since she’d moved in. She kept files related to all her paintings, and each one was numbered. Opening the roll top, she stuck her hand into the cubbyhole Wes had referred to, and sure enough, there was a set of keys in back on a ring.
After dressing in the clothes she usually wore to town, and donning one of her wigs, she stuffed the list along with the keys in her pocket, heading toward the shoreline. She’d noticed the path leading to the other house years ago, when she’d first moved into the cabin.
Occasionally, she’d see a few maintenance guys trimming trees or mowing, but she’d never seen anyone living there. Wes probably stayed there occasionally, she realized. He’d told her once that he had dealings with the marina here in Crystal Rock.
And she’d always had the feeling that someone involved in the trafficking trade was a resident here in town.
The place wasn’t too far away. She’d always been on guard and had tried to stay out of sight, knowing Wes had expected it of her.
Today, she made her way along the trail near the shoreline, easily finding the break in the fence that Wes had told her about. She was sure that it hadn’t been there a few years ago, so something was definitely going on with Wes, she realized. He hadn’t been looking as well lately, but she’d assumed that his drinking was responsible.
She made her way along the pathway to the house, easily unlocking the back door with one of the keys. Although the cabin was surrounded by barbed wire, she saw no other security set up. But there were cameras, she finally noticed, looking upward as she entered the house.
She was surprised to see that the cabin was very elegant inside as she moved from the mudroom into the kitchen. Like Wes had said, there was a list on the square kitchen table, located beneath the large picture window overlooking the lake. Another cell phone was resting on the table, and it was plugged into a charger on the wall.
Should she be afraid to explore inside the cabin, she wondered? She’d better play it safe and stay inside the kitchen until the deliveries were made.
Wes had even left the phone numbers for her to call.
Picking up the cell phone, she called in her grocery order first, before ordering supplies, which would be left at the front door in a couple of days.