Abduction

Prologue

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May 3, 1993, started out to be the worst nightmare she could have imagined. It started out to be that way. It was for certain the worst fight Trisha could remember ever having with her father. And she had seen plenty of fights in their life to know that. The fight has left her tired and feeling as if she had been kicked in the chest. She sat back against the seat of the pickup truck and reflected on all she had just been through. As she did, she felt herself unsure whether to scream or cry at this time.

Why wouldn’t he just listen to her? Jonathan P. Campbell, Police Chief and heir to millions of dollars. This is the man that laid it all aside just to be a cop. He was a man who believed he was always right and that very few men would have the guts to say differently. Well, at least not to his face, she thought.

Trisha was an only child and that meant that she got all of her father’s strong will. She was born Patricia Gayle Campbell, the Patricia for her father and the Gayle for her mother’s name. She knew her father would be a little upset with her. That had been an understatement to say the very least. She had always managed to get him to give in a little but not at this time. He had been so closed minded about it all and so goddamned unreasonable. He just wouldn’t listen to her at all.

James was a good man and not afraid to do a hard day’s work. He had no intentions of leaving her now or when the baby came. He had a good mind; and more than that, he had a heart of gold. All her father could see was that James was young and that she was pregnant. He wouldn’t give James the time to prove any of this to him though.  And it was all her father’s fault for demanding she get rid of the baby and move away from Pittown. He had left her no choice except to do exactly what she and James were doing. She had to leave town and have her baby somewhere else besides the place she had called home all her life.

Trisha was showing her father that she had the same strong will as he did. In fact, she had the same strong will as her mother must have had also. It was the same strength that had brought a man like Jonathan Patrick Campbell down from a hard-ass cop to a gentle giant when she and her mother were alone with him. Her mother could make him smile in ways Trisha had not seen since her mother had passed away. She pushed her head back deeper into the seat and just thought about her father and her mother. She thought about all that had been before her mother died and all that happened since that time. She felt the dried tears on her cheek and realized that she had been crying. God, she hated that, and her father would hate it even more. After all, he would be saying. You got yourself into this position. Why would you cry about it now?

Chapter 1

Where were they to go from here? Her father had disowned her and James’ family had called him every name that a man could be called. They had let him know without question that he was to leave home immediately. They were more afraid of the repercussions from her father than they were of James’ safety. She could not help wondering what that must have said to James or how he was feeling about all that had happened in his life. Was he unhappy about the turn of events since they found out she was pregnant? His face showed no emotions that she could read right now and she wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.

The rain fell hard against the windshield as her thoughts drifted further into where they were and what brought them to this point. She was seventeen years old, pregnant and with no place to call home anymore. The money situation was not a lot better either. She put some money away from her part-time job as a waitress but that wasn’t a lot. James had a little more money with him from the college fund he had started years ago. He had been saving for college since he was a paper route carrier when he was ten years old. She had told him not to worry about the money because it would be enough to get them started. Leaning her head against the cold window of the truck, Trisha found herself wondering about those words herself now.

They were going to need a lot of things soon and the items they needed were not cheap. They were going to have to buy some baby clothes and food and have a warm place to stay before she got too much further along. They would need to find a place that did not ask a lot of questions about two young kids out on their own. James was going to have to work somewhere so that they had money to replace that there were going to spend. And she could work herself also, if that became necessary. Two thousand dollars was not going to last them for very long, that she knew. Trisha turned her head a little to the left so that she could look at James. She would talk to him about all of this when they got settled in somewhere, but not now. James had all he needed on his mind at this time. Her father would know by now that she was gone and he would have gone to James’ house to harass his family first. Jonathan Campbell would stop at nothing to find and destroy James any way he could and to make her see things his way. She did not need to bother James with all of this now because he already knew all of this himself. She looked at him again as he drove down the darkened road and thought what a handsome and mature man he was becoming. He made her feel safe just being with her and his smile was the most comforting sight she had ever seen. She loved this man beside her very much. And she hoped that his love for her was strong enough to stand against the fury of her father’s anger.

We will stop as soon as we find the motel that I called about before we left town this morning, Trish. We can get something to eat there and a little rest before we start on the road again. His voice had broken into her thoughts so abruptly that it had startled her. It was a few seconds before she even realized that he was talking to her.

How did you know about this place we are heading for, James?

The doctor’s office drew me a map while you were in the room with him. They had a little list of places to go and told me this place was well known but understood privacy. When I talked to the guy about a room, he said to just come in anytime and he would have a room for us. I told him I was not sure when we would be there and he said it didn’t matter and to just come right in.

I hope we get here soon, James, because I think this storm is getting worse the farther down the road we get. Besides that, I am in need of a place to get out and walk for a few minutes too. She brushed her hand along the side of his face and through his hair.

James turned and smiles at her as she did that. It shouldn’t be too much further now, Trisha. Can I ask you a question, Patricia?

She knew that is must be a serious question for James to have called her Patricia. He only used her full name when he was upset or very serious. She started into his big dark eyes and running her fingers through his soft black hair, she smiled softly at him. Why, of course you can, my darling.... Of course you can. She said it in her best Bela Lugosi voice, trying to lighten the stress she knew he must have been feeling now.

Are you sure that this is what you want to do, Patricia? We can still turn back and go home if that is what you want to do. I will face your father and my family if I know you are with me.

What would we go back to, James? Back to my father making me abort this baby just before he shipped me off to some far-off place where he wouldn’t be embarrassed by me? You don’t think that he is going to let you and me be together, do you? He will not let himself be the butt of jokes in his town. My father is the one that has been telling all the other parents~ including yours, I might add; that they needed to know what their children were doing. That’s what a good parent does, he told them.

Maybe having you back with him will be enough to mellow him long enough for you and I to explain to him that we want to get married and have our baby, Trisha.

You know my father better than that, James. He was always very protective of me and even more so after my mother died. At least when she was alive she could talk with him and get him to give me a little room to breathe. If it had not been for her, when I was in 5th grade, Daddy would have beaten the shit out of a boy’s father that gave me a rose. He told the guy to straighten his boy up or he would. Mom stepped in between them and pulled my father back and he was so furious but he never came against mom. God, he was so pissed, James that his veins were bulging but he just walked away with Mom. She was the only one, and I do mean the only one that could do that to my father. And you want me to take him on, James? I love you, honey, but he would destroy you in ways you haven’t even read about in books.

I hear what you are saying, Trisha, and I didn’t say I wouldn’t be freaking out the whole time. I just don’t want you looking back one day and hating me for ...

Stop it James! We made this decision together and now we will just take what comes to us. I love you and you love me and that is all that matters right here and now. Do you regret any of this, James?

Oh my goodness, of course I don’t, Trisha! His eyes were wide as if she had slapped him or totally surprised him with her question. He was looking at her eyes and he smiled at her. It was that smile that just warmed her soul. He took one of his hands and covered hers with it and then took his eyes off the road for a moment to gaze at the eyes. It was those eyes that had won his heart and made him want her enough to forget about her father and all he would do to him. Her big brown eyes and her light brown hair just made him feel things he didn’t know you could feel. And if you tossed in her strong will and the bounce in her step, he was sure it was all he would ever want. He was also sure that not even a man like John Campbell could ever fully contain nor control this young lady’s will or desire to grow.

The headlights from an approaching car made him look forward again. He swerved just in time to avoid hitting the other car, its horn blaring as it sped past him. His heart was racing and he tried to act as if nothing happened.

What happened, James, did you fall asleep?

No, I didn’t fall asleep, honey. I was just daydreaming I guess and lost track where I was for a second or two. I am doing just fine here and you should try and sleep a little until we get to the motel.

James drove on towards the motel and thought about everything that was happening. He hoped he was as strong as he told Trisha he was. The only certainties in his life right now were that he loved Trisha and that her father would in fact stop at nothing to get to him. That thought alone was enough to keep him awake and heading east as far as he could get.

The storm was relentless and the further he drove, the slower he had to go because the rain was pounding so hard off the windshield he could barely see. He could see it hitting the road in front of him so hard that it was bouncing back off the pavement. There were trees lining the road here and the wind was causing them to bend very low to the ground. There were branches on the road and he could hear the wind whistling through the side window on his truck. Lightning would suddenly streak across the sky and everything around him would be visible to him for a second or two. The windshield wipers were moving as fast as he could make them and he wondered if they were going to be fast enough. A booming clap of thunder sounded and it caused Trisha to jump in her seat. James reached over and pulled her to him. She nuzzled in next to his body and drifted back to sleep and he smiled softly to himself. Through the trees he saw a light flickering and he hoped this was the motel. He was tired and wanted to get off the road for a while himself. They had been on the move for nine hours and he was getting stiff-legged. As he rounded a curve he saw the sign for the motel.

Trisha. He nudged her gently. Come on, sweetheart, we are at the motel so you need to wake up. We have a couple of hundred miles behind us now, so we should be safe here for the night.

Mmmmmmm, she murmured as she snuggled up close to James. All I want is a hot bath and a bed to sleep in. Oh, and feed me, James, she added with a girlish grin.

There is a café next door and the light is still on. I will go inside here and get our room and then I will feed my little starving girl. You are eating for two now, aren’t you?

Yes I am, James Lyman, and you’d better not make one comment about the weight or I will be forced to do bodily harm to you. She held up her little fist to him and laughed but James knew she had been taught to defend herself by the best. They both laughed hard as James feigned being afraid of her fist and that he was shaking. It was a much-needed laugh for them both.

The motel was surrounded by huge oak trees that had been there, James was sure, since before he or Trisha had been born. The motel, although not falling apart, was in great need of repairs. The rain and the wind were beating hard against the sides of the building. The rumbling in the distance and the increase in lightning flashes were like an ominous warning of a worse storm to come. If it wasn’t a warning of that, it was certainly saying the storm would not pass anytime soon. The vacancy sign flickered on and off as the wind whipped the wires around like a schoolgirl’s jump rope. A huge branch was reaching down from a tree and striking a window as if it wanted in out of the storm itself. The shadows catching it made it look like a giant clawed hand that should be scaring, not scared. As a window slammed shut hard somewhere in the darkness, Trisha jumped and grabbed hold of James tighter.

Stay in the truck with the doors locked until I get our room, Trisha. Then we can go get some food.

No, James, I want to go with you. This place scares me and I don’t want to sit out here alone.

I will only be in there for a few minutes and then I will be back. There is no reason for you to get out and get all wet when I can do it faster alone. And the very worst thing you need right now is to get sick from the weather, Trisha. I will not be long, I promise you that. With that he touched her face and opened the truck door.

Jimmy, she said in a whisper, please hurry back. I really do not like it out here.

James knew that she meant what she said because she called him Jimmy. She only said that name in fear or anger. With a quick kiss on her lips James was out of the truck and disappearing into the darkness. Trisha watched him as the night seemed to swallow him up right before her eyes. She quickly locked the doors and sat back in the seat and listened to the storm outside. Trisha hugged herself tightly as the winds slammed into the side of the truck. She could feel the truck leaning away from the wind and then lunging back to the right when the wind would ease up. It only did that for a moment and then was back beating the sides of the truck again. She was momentarily thankful that James had asked her to stay in the truck. She would have been soaking wet before they made their way back to the truck.

Trisha heard a sound outside the truck. It wasn’t from the storm, she thought aloud. It could be a branch blowing against the truck or just the old truck settling. She heard it again, this time louder, and it made her body shiver. As lightning lit up the night, she saw something or someone move outside the truck. She was beginning to get scared and she thought she was doing it to herself.

God, Trisha, you little chickens hit. It is just the wind so quit scaring yourself. Daddy would be less than impressed with you right now.

She saw the movement again and this time it was right outside the truck. She heard the door handle shake. Unlocking it, she waited for James to get inside. The door swung open wide and the rain blew into her face, causing her to squint into the wetness. Thank goodness you are back, James. I was starting to....Who the hell are you?

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Inside the motel James was looking at the room they were going to stay in for the night. It was small and looked as if it had not been rented in a long time. The dust was thick on everything, and he could feel the wind seeping into the room from the windows. The windows were shut but the caulking was cracked and falling away, allowing the storm to almost come inside. It did have a shower and a bed with blankets on it and those where Trisha’s only wants tonight. Well, that and to be fed. James took one last glance at the room and then closed the door and went back to the lobby. As he entered the lobby, he could hear the desk clerk talking to someone.

Yes, of course. I will let you know and I will inform the proper people. I have to go now and tend to my customers. I will talk to you later. Goodbye.

James looked at the clerk as he hung up the phone and wondered who would be calling in the middle of this storm. Not that he cared really, he just wanted to get Trisha inside and something for her to eat.

We will take the room, sir, and I will go out and get my girl~ my wife and bring her inside. James flushed a little when he changed his words and fumbled for a reason. We are newlyweds and I am not used to saying wife yet, he offered to the clerk.

Of course, sir, I do understand. Will you be staying long with us?

Oh no, just over the night and then we will be leaving. We are on our honeymoon, he told the clerk, trying to make small talk. He was nervous and trying very hard to conceal it. He was hoping it was working for him. We want to get an early start so I was wondering if you could give us a wake-up call.

That will not be a problem at all Mr....?

Oh, it is Mr. Jones. I would like to pay cash for this if I can?

The clerk had a half smile on his face that made James feel a little uneasy and he wasn’t sure just why.

That will be fine, Mr. Jones, did you say? He smiles again when he said the name and James figured a place like this got a lot of fake names.

We are kind of hungry and was wondering how late that restaurant was open. I saw a light on in there when we were turning into this place.

You did see a light on in that old building? That building has been closed for years now so excuse my expression of surprise, sir. Perhaps I should notify the authorities that you saw a light in there. It could be some vagrants living in there. Would you mind if I made a call to them?

James began to move his feet from side to side now. You know what I think it was, sir? I think the lightning may have made it look like there were lights on in there. Sometimes the reflection in the rain can cause things to look lit up. I bet I never saw a light on in there and that it was just the storm. I wouldn’t even bother the police on a night like this sir, I think I will just go out and bring in my girl and call it a night.

The clerk had that half smile back again as he started to speak. Yes Mr. Jones, I think you may be right about that. How very kind of you to not want to have the police come out on a nasty night like tonight. I don’t get to see many young people like you with that respect anymore. That will be $30.00 dollars for the night and I will be sure to wake you in the morning.

For some strange reason James suddenly wished they had driven on to the next town and stayed there. He never felt so uncomfortable in his life and he did not like the feeling. It was only for one night and so he figured it would be all right until morning. As he went outside to get Trisha, he caught the site of something red in the distance. The light was going away from him and fading fast. James’ heart began to pound hard in his chest and he began running towards the truck.  As he got nearer to it and could see through the pouring rain, his heart skipped several beats. He could see the truck door open and even from where he was, he knew Trisha was not inside.

Trisha! Patricia, he called out in his loudest voice. He was in full panic now and he noticed her blanket was lying on the ground in the mud. Oh my God, baby.... he half cried and half yelled, where are you, Patricia? Please answer me. God damn you, Patricia Campbell, I told you to stay in the truck." He was saying these words to no one and yet saying them so Trisha might hear them. His heart was still pounding and he looked towards the café. There was a light on in there, just like he thought there was and he began to run towards it.

As the winds and rain whipped through the trees, it made a sound like a far-off train whistle. It was the branches being snapped back and forth that truly resounded in the darkness though. They made a sound like a bullwhip being cracked against the leather hide of a raunchy old bull. The cracks and whistles went on through the darkness as if they were trying to scare Mother Earth herself.

James reached the café and looked inside one of the windows. The building was empty except for a few chairs and tables. An odor sifted out to him and he sniffed the air. It was the smell of beer and cigars and the smell was not old and stale. There had been someone in here and recently too. He could feel the warmth of tears on his cheek as he stood there. He looked down at his footprints in the mud and watched them wash away. They disappeared completely almost as soon as he had made them. He knew that it would be impossible to find any tracks that Trisha had left behind. Returning to the truck James saw only deep puddles that formed where there may have been footprints at one time. He slammed the door shut and went back into the motel.

Do you have a phone I can use please? I know you do so just show me where it is. There was a panic is James’ voice as he spoke to the clerk.

Who do you want to call and where is your girlfriend? Oh I am sorry, I did mean to say your wife. Please forgive me young man, I forgot you were newlyweds. The smirk on the clerk’s face was almost more than James could bear.

My girlfriend is not in the pickup truck where I left her! I need to call the police and have them come out here and try and find her!

Are you sure that she just isn’t looking for a rest room or something, young man? Maybe you should look around outside for her one more time. After all, I don’t think they would come out here on a nasty night like tonight anyways.

Please, sir, let me call the police and ask them if they will come out here and help me find her. I will pay for the call or whatever it is. You need to do that for me. I am asking you to please call them for me if you won’t let me do it.

The clerk stared at James for a few moments, then, inhaling a long, deep breathe, he finally spoke. Well, son, we don’t have a police department here in this town because we are just too small and too far out of everyone’s district. I can try and contact the next county over and ask if they have anyone available to help you. It really is the best I can do for you at this time. Oh yes, and it will cost you twenty dollars cash, in advance.

James reached into his pocket and tossed two soaking wet ten-dollar bills on the desk and then pushed the phone at the clerk. With what could only have been described as fire in his eyes James looked at him. Dial that goddamn phone, mister, and I mean now. I’m not going to mess around with you anymore. My girlfriend is out in this storm somewhere and she is pregnant. If something happens to her I will hold you responsible for it. That means you can deal with her father and you wouldn’t like that at all. You can trust me on that one, mister, so dial that number.

As the clerk dialed the police he looked up at James. Maybe she just changed her mind and left you, son. Woman have a tendency to do that, you know.

James glared at the man and then shook his head. She would have not done that at all. She would have stayed near the truck until I got back. She must have just gotten stiff and stepped out to stretch and ended up turned around somehow.

Yes, I suppose that is what happened, son. Still, one can never tell with woman these days, and pregnant on top of it all. Young girls can be funny about this sort of thing. I remember when my wife was going....

James interrupted the clerk with anger and fear mixed in his voice. Can you please get them to answer the phone or something? God, are they all dead or on coffee break?

I will be more than happy to ask them that when they answer if you would like me to, young man. The man looked at James with what James thought was almost familiarity in his eyes. Did this man know James or did he just want to intimidate him? James wasn’t sure and he wasn’t sure of more things than he wanted to admit to.

No, that won’t need to happen, sir, and I am sorry. I guess I am getting very scared and want to find my girlfriend. James watched the man’s eyes to see if he could see any signs of him feeling bad for him or Trisha. There was, of course, none. He heard the clerk speak into the phone.

Hello, is this the Belle Valley Police? It is? I have a young man here with me right now and he insists his girlfriend has disappeared into the night. Pardon me? Yes, sir, on a night like tonight. The man looked up at James and just glared at him and then looked away again. He began to speak again to the police. Yes, I would say so and he seems very sure of all of this, sir. Hold on, and I will ask him for you. The man leaned forward and cupped the phone. He was right up to James’ face at the desk when he began to ask his question. They want to know how old she is and when you last saw her.

You know the answer to the one question and she is seventeen years old. What the hell has that got to do with anything?

James could feel himself starting to get very nervous again and tried to calm himself down. He wasn’t sure he could do that again. He also knew though that if he lost control, his chances of getting help and finding Patricia were all but lost.

Which answer would I know, young man?

You know that I just came in here and looked at the room and went right back out to get her. I wasn’t in here more than ten minutes or maybe fifteen, that’s all. That means she was here not more than a half of an hour ago. You know that so just tell them so they can get here soon.

I don’t mean to be so precise, young man, but if I answer the police’s questions correct, then I can’t say that. You see I never actually saw the young lady you say is missing. You simply told me she was there.

Of course she was there in the truck, why would I make that up?

I believe you, young man, he said, placing his hand on his chest, but I have to answer the questions factually and honestly. You do understand that, am I correct?

Yes, I do understand it, but I say it is all a bunch of bullshit and a waste of time. Time that we could be spending looking for her instead of standing here talking, damn it!!!

Without a response of any kind to James’ words, the clerk turned away some and resumed his talk with the police. Yes, sir, he said she is seventeen and that he left her in his truck long enough to....No, sir, I did not ever see her but he says she was there. In defense of the boy, it is terrible outside and so he may not have wanted to take her out in this weather. And Officer... he says she is going to have a baby.

There was a very loud crack of thunder and it was so hard that it shook the motel. It caused James to spin around where he stood. He had a look of surprise on his face and just stared at the door of the motel. It looked as if her were half expecting someone or something to come rushing through the doors. Then he softened again and turned to listen to the clerk still talking on the phone.

Yes, sir, of course I understand and I will tell him that. We have plenty of beds and he should be quite comfortable here tonight. Thank you so much for your time and have a good evening. With that said the clerk hung up the receiver and looked at James.

I am truly sorry, young man, but they can’t even get out of their town tonight because of the storm. He also mentioned that a person isn’t considered missing until after they are gone for twenty-four hours. They will send someone out here as soon as the storm clears even a little and for sure in the morning. He did say that I was to reassure you that they would be here as soon as weather allowed them to be.

I can’t wait until morning to find her! I am going to go out and look for her myself. I am telling you that she is out there somewhere and I am going to find her.

As James started towards the door he suddenly remembered the red lights he saw going away from him when he first went to get Trisha. He turned to look at the clerk, who seemed not to care at all about what was happening. This guy was not a nice man at all, James thought almost out loud.

Are we your only customers tonight or did you have others here before us?

What possible reason would you be asking me that for? And why would you think I needed or would want to answer that question?

I saw red taillights going away from here when I first went out to get Trisha. They were heading west and were quite a distance down the road when I saw them. I was wondering if you had someone here that left when we got here.

The clerk looked at James with disbelief and shook his head at him. If you saw red lights when you went outside why didn’t you tell me when I had the police on the phone? That would have seemed to be a very important piece of information you left out. Why didn’t you mention it to me, sir? You aren’t a runaway from that halfway house way down the road or something like that, are you? I don’t need any trouble happening around here from anyone.

I told you who I was and I am not a runaway. Why is it so hard for you to believe what I am telling you? I didn’t tell you about the red lights because I simply forgot about it until now. I am telling you the truth and you never have answered my question and the red lights.

"I think I did answer you, young man, you just weren’t listening at all. I don’t need to