Page 34 of Special Agent Anastacia

“It’s Sadie’s old greenhouse, the shed George built where she could care for her violets.”

The three approached, guns drawn in two hands while Nash obeyed their motions for him to stay behind. Ana sensed that it wasn’t something he’d normally do, but after seeing her warning glare, he’d slowed to respect her unspoken, pointed directions.

Ana listened at the door before calling out. “Anyone here? Hello.”

A muffled noise sounding clearer now was enough for Ana to try opening it without any luck.

Then they distinctly heard a faint voice saying, “Help. Please, help.”

When the wooden barrier still didn’t budge, she moved a few steps back so she could kick at the offending door to open. Sure enough, with the right amount of force in the exact spot to make the most impact, it swung wide, and she held her gun in front before making an entrance.

In the darkened far corner, she could barely make out the bodies of two women, one lying on the ground while the other leaned over as if to protect. Showing the badge she carried everywhere, Ana spoke soothingly. “I’m Special Agent Ana Marchenko. This is Officer Dave Chalmers and Nash Ralph. We’re here to help you.”

“Thank God.” The female protector broke down into tears of relief, her voice husky… almost imperceivable. The bruising and cuts on her skin proof she’d undergone a lot of trauma. “The devil took my daughter and Hanna. B-but Beth’s badly hurt and couldn’t be moved. W-we need an ambulance.”

While Dave hurried to his cruiser, the nearest connection to his office, Ana approached the two women and saw who she suspected was Hattie Roddam. Her bloody wrists were bound by zip ties to the leg of a counter and a strip of duct tape hung from the side of her scratched, bleeding face.

Nash approached with a pocket knife and cut away the ties on the women. Both watched while Hattie covered her mouth with hands that shook pitifully. She ripped off the hanging tape and didn’t even notice the bleeding that followed. What they did see was a fighter with badly scraped cheeks, suffering from dehydration, but still protecting the injured.

Ignoring the stench of two people being held hostage for who knew how long, Ana suspected that Hattie had used the wood of the table to rub away the tape from her mouth, probably so she could call for help.

“Take Beth. Sh-she’s been severely beaten. I t-tried to stop the bleeding but she’s very weak.”

Flooded with admiration for the woman’s quick thinking, Ana watched as Nash did a quick examination before lifting the skinny body of the younger girl off the cold ground. Once he carried her outside, Ana bent to help the tall redhead stand.

Unable to bear her own weight, Hattie apologized. Licking at her lips, she tried to gather enough moisture to whisper. “I-I’m sorry. We’ve been locked away for maybe t-two days with nothing to eat o-or drink.”

“Shush. No need to apologize.”

Dave arrived just then holding out a welcome bottle of water. Ana lifted it to Hattie’s sore lips carefully, helping her hold it in place. More drizzled down the sides than went into her mouth, but it seemed to help.

“Let’s get you to the house so you can get more liquids in you and some food.” Both Dave and Ana supported the weak, trembling woman.

“I ne-ed a shower, but I don’t think I can do it alone.” Hattie began to weep.

“It’s okay, Hattie. I’m here to help. We can take care of it together. Hush now, darling. Don’t cry.”

As if having Ana there gave her strength, her voice grew stronger. “I-I don’t know where the devil is with Carly or if she’s still alive. He’s heartless, the rotten b-bastard.” Though she sounded faint, when she said the last word, it held a lot of venom.

She looked at Dave and added, “He’s scum. I want to k-kill him, Sheriff. I really mean it.”

Which is exactly what Ana felt too. And she had a sneaky feeling Dave agreed with them both. But if they had any hope of finding those girls alive, they’d need Hattie’s help. Therefore she had to keep the poor soul from completely unraveling. The sooner she could get the poor woman feeling well enough to talk, the better.

Chapter Twenty-five

Nash couldn’t believe that any human being could treat another the way those women had been left to suffer. Did the scum have any intention of returning? Had he driven away, leaving them tied up, uncaring if they died there? Christ, without water or food and with the younger girl in such bad shape, they didn’t have a hope in hell of surviving.

Lordy, he wished he’d get just get a few moments alone with the prick. If he had his way, Satan’s spawn might rot in jail for the rest of his miserable life, but he’d like to leave some bruises on the heartless bastard first. All the while those thoughts unravelled in his head, he gently carried the poor half-dead girl in his arms toward the house, thinking she’d be better off waiting for the ambulance there.

Once he had her settled on the couch, he hurried to get water and a damp cloth to wash away some of the blood from her injuries. When he watched Ana and Dave taking most of Hattie’sweight to help her inside, he passed his cloths and bowl over to Dave so he could help Ana.

Swinging Hattie into his arms, he smiled at her shock and said, “I’m one of the good guys, with Dave and Ana. I’ll give you a lift. Where were you headed?”

Ana rushed in front of him, speaking to Hattie. “Where’s the bath?”

With her head lolling on Nash’s chest, Hattie whispered, “Upstairs, right.”

In seconds, Nash had the poor dear sitting on the side of the tub, balancing her so she wouldn’t fall. “Here’s Ana. She’ll help you. But if you need me, I’ll be right downstairs.”

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