Page 91 of Backwater Justice

“Yeah. Yeah. I know. Step aside.”

Even though this woman was doing all things illegal, he was amused by her verve and determination. “I can’t watch this. Take Chandler with you. He’s good protection.” He strode to the side of the building. The back door was an ordinary Schlage lock. The kind that you could find at Home Depot or any hardware store. Within seconds, Annie had it open. She called out: “Hello? Anybody here?”

* * *

Lori thought she was hallucinating. When she first heard footsteps above, she thought the man had come back to eliminate her. But then she heard a woman’s voice. “Here! I’m down here!” She climbed up the stairs and began pounding on the door. “Help me! Please!”

Chandler began barking loudly. Annie called out to Chris: “In here!” He dashed inside as Annie removed the padlock on the basement door. A tattered and frightened young woman matching the description of Lori George stared back at her. “Oh, my goodness!” Annie wrapped her arms around Lori. “Come. Sit.”

Chris pulled out a kitchen chair so she could sit, and then took a glass from the drying rack and filled it with water. The young woman was shaking uncontrollably. He handed the glass to Annie, who helped the girl bring it to her lips. “You’re Lori?” Annie asked. The girl nodded. “You’re safe now.” Lori began to sob. Annie put her arms around her. “It’s going to be alright.”

“Where’s . . . where’s . . . the man?” Lori stuttered as she looked around the kitchen with wide eyes.

“He’s not here, but we’ll get him.”

“Oh, please! I don’t want to see him again!” Lori continued to sob.

“Oh, sweetie, I didn’t mean we were going to get him back here. We’re going to get him. And I mean get him good!” She looked up at Chris, who looked on with disbelief. He wasn’t in town for an hour, and he was in the middle of a kidnapping recovery. Usually, it took days, weeks, or sometimes never to find the victim.

“This is a record for me.” He had a wonderful smile.

“You’ve never worked with us before.” Annie grinned.

“And who exactly are theus?” he asked.

“Long story for another time. We’ve got to get Lori to a doctor.” Annie remembered how terrified Vanessa had been at the hospital. She decided to phone the Rowans’ GP. She knew he’d be discreet. Plus, Lori was an adult, so there was no parental consent necessary. She scrolled through her phone call history log and found the doctor’s number. “Hello. This is Annie De Silva. I brought Vanessa in the other day.” A pleasant voice on the other end greeted her. “I have another slight emergency and was wondering if Dr. Foster had a few free minutes?”

The voice on the other end replied, “Are you sure you shouldn’t go to the hospital?”

“It’s rather sensitive. Please. It’s important.”

“Just a minute, Mrs. De Silva.” The receptionist put Annie on hold. It seemed to take forever before Dr. Foster got on the phone.

They exchanged pleasantries, and then Annie explained she had a friend who needed a quick checkup. It wasn’t an emergency, but it was urgent. Dr. Foster agreed.

Chris found a cotton throw on the sofa and wrapped it around Lori. Chandler put his head on her lap. Lori continued to cry, but the sobs were subsiding. “Come on, sweetie. We’re going to get you sorted out.” Annie walked Lori outside and tossed the car keys to Chris. He dashed toward the parked car and pulled it around the back. The bright light made Lori squint, and she covered her eyes with her forearm. Chandler did not move from her side. Gaines jumped out of the vehicle, secured Chandler, and then buckled Lori into her seat belt. She wrapped her arms around the dog and buried her head in his furry neck.

Annie bolted to the driver’s side and hopped in. “I know the way.”

Chris stared in amazement. The service could use a few spunky women like Annie. It wouldn’t be until later that day that he would discover not only was Annie a superb lockpick, but she also had a reputation for being a fine pole dancer, as well as a very wealthy countess. He’d guessed about the wealth part because of the jet, but the rest came as a huge surprise.

Once Lori stopped crying, Annie reached over the seat and handed her a phone. “Call your folks. Tell them you are okay. You’re being taken to a doctor, and you will call back in a couple of hours.”

Lori’s hands were shaking as she pressed the buttons on the phone. “Mama?”

A stunned woman answered. “Lori? Lori? Where are you?”

“I’m with some friends.” Chandler gave awoof. “And a dog.” She smiled for the first time. “They found me.”

“Where were you?” Mrs. George was excited and concerned.

“I’m not really sure, but these people found me, and I’m alright.”

Chris motioned for Lori to give him the phone. “Mrs. George? U.S. Marshal Christopher Gaines here. Yes, we have your daughter. She’s rumpled, and in shock, but she’s going to be alright.”

“But where are you?” Mrs. George insisted.

“Outside of Salem. Can you and your husband drive up here?”

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