Once Taken (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #2) by Blake Pierce

Author:Blake Pierce [Pierce, Blake]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2016-02-14T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Standing outside the SUV, Riley removed the Remington 870 twelve-gauge shotgun from its case and slung the weapon over her shoulder. The heft of the Remington felt good. Then she took out her Glock, checked it, and holstered it again. She picked up a flashlight and put it in her jacket pocket. The street here was well-lighted, but she might need it soon.

Although it was still raining, she tossed her folded umbrella into the vehicle. She wanted to have both hands free for whatever was about to happen next. She didn’t mind getting wet.

I’m ready, she thought, clenching her teeth and slamming the SUV door shut.

She looked around, but didn’t see Bill anywhere. He’d gone around to the other side of the construction site hoping to run into a night watchman. She couldn’t wait for anything or anybody now, but she had to let him know what was going on.

She pulled out her cell phone and texted.

“I know where he is. West beyond construction. Hurry.”

Then she wondered just how quickly Bill would be able to catch up. He might not even read her message right away if he were talking to a watchman. She added another text.

“Isolated house near river.”

She walked briskly through the rain and soon passed the rest of the construction site. The road dead-ended at a broad, open field with trees scattered here and there. She knew the river must be somewhere straight ahead, but she couldn’t see it.

The only light came from a small house just off one side of the road. That was it. That was Peterson’s lair. From what the girl had told her minutes ago, there was no doubt about it. She approached the house cautiously, Glock now in hand.

Normally, her next move would be to bang on the door and announce that she was FBI, but nothing was normal here. Peterson was holding April somewhere. Before Riley confronted him, she needed to find her daughter and free her.

She crept nearer the front of the house and checked its foundation. From her own experience, she expected Peterson to be holding his victim in a crawlspace under the house. But this was just a low cinderblock foundation and she saw no openings in it. She thought that perhaps there might be access on another side.

Riley moved quietly around the house until she encountered a wooden deck.

She’s got to be under there, Riley thought.

But then her eyes fell on a broken piece of lattice lying on the ground, leaving an opening under the deck. She bent down and used her flashlight to look inside. No one was there, although she could see where the muddy ground was gouged. Someone had been under there recently. It had to have been April.

But where was she? Had she gotten away, or had Peterson hauled her out, planning to do away with her?

Riley’s pulse was pounding. No longer worrying about being heard or seen, she rushed up onto the lighted deck and to the window. She could see no one inside the house.

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