Page 49 of Mystery at Rescue Ridge

“Oh, Screen Siren.This isn’t how I’d envisioned this moment between us happening at all.Be a good girl and sit still so I can finish setting up our date.”

“This is no date.I’m being held against my will.”

“No, you’re not, silly.You can leave any time.”

“If that was true, I wouldn’t be sitting on the bed right now.”

He reached over.She flinched.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Screen Siren.”

“Evie!”

He pulled the torn cotton blouse together like he was buttoning a shirt.At least she had some coverage now, not that it mattered.Lawrence had the upper hand in this situation.Not for long, you sonofabitch.

Lawrence turned to scoot off the bed, his back to her.She had to strike now or the opportunity might not come up again.

Evie launched herself at his back, wrapped an arm around his throat in a chokehold, and squeezed with every last bit of strength she had left.

Owen explainedthe situation to Ms.Bart in a three-minute call.“Do you have a building or barn on your property that’s no longer in use?”

“As a matter of fact, it’s old as dirt and falling apart at the seams, but there is a barn,” she said, then detailed where the barn could be found.“I’ll call someone to sit with the kids in case they wake up.”

“Absolutely not,” Owen said.“I don’t want you anywhere near the barn.”He didn’t use words like,We might be too late.Hell, he couldn’t allow himself to think them, either.Ms.Bart’s belief in speaking things into reality couldn’t be tempted with something as important as Evie’s life.

“Okay,” she relented after a thoughtful pause.

“Travis is here, and we’re heading over together.”

“Good.”The hesitation in her voice caused his imagination to run wild.Did she believe they were too late?“Bring our girl home, Owen.”

“Yes, ma’am.That’s the goal.”He was careful not to make empty promises.As much as the thought of entering an old, broken-down, neglected barn haunted him, based on his recent experience, he’d trade places with Evie in a heartbeat if given the chance.

“I’ll see you soon.”With that, Ms.Bart ended the call.The determination in her voice struck a chord.

Owen turned to Travis, who’d already stood up with his keys in hand.“Let’s go.”

Evie tightenedher grip to the point her arm went numb.If she let up, she was sure to be killed.She had to escape.Now.

In the next second, Lawrence jerked forward and then rolled.Evie flew off, landing on the mattress before bouncing onto the hard dirt.She landed face-first with a mouthful of soil.She spit, and then tried to jump up.

She didn’t make it very far before being smacked in the back of the head with something substantial.A wooden post?Stars filled her eyes as her vision blurred.A wave of nausea washed through her.She tamped it down and forced her mind to focus.

Scanning the area in front of her, she searched for anything to use as a weapon before the next blow.

She heard a grunt behind her.A second before being hit again, she rolled left and out of reach.The wooden post smacked the dirt instead.

Lawrence shrieked as he lunged toward her.

Her long legs had always been her strongest feature.Using those long legs, she drew her knees back to her chest and then kicked.The bottom of her foot connected with his chest and throat area.He immediately grabbed at his neck and sucked in air as he was catapulted to one side.

Taking advantage of the momentary break, Evie made a run for the door.It was barely light enough to see the lock.She tried sliding the barn door open anyway.No luck.

The couple of seconds it took her to try the lock gave Lawrence a chance to catch up to her.His bony fingers sank into her right shoulder and spun her around to face him.He pushed her against the door.The old wood splintered, jabbing her in the back with what felt like tiny needles.

“Think you can get away from me?”Lawrence’s voice was a high-pitched squeal at this point.

“Help!”Evie shouted.No one might hear, but she had to take a chance.

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