Chapter 12
(Ok here's the next chapter-thank you for the feedback so far, much appreciated)
With every jolt during the short drive up to the cabin, the pain ripped through her, but still she held on, if only just to have his arms around her, holding her for a short while, until her body finally succumbed to what seemed the inevitable; her death and fading away from this world. Her already weakened body had been carried and almost dropped inside the door of the old musty cabin, without any consideration for the pain this would have caused. C.J caught sight of the bloodied blade but powerless to defend herself. Ignoring her pleas not to hurt her any more, Cody, pulled the knife from a back pocket and then thrust it into her side for third time, driving it further and deeper than the previous two wounds. Cody's anger towards her was both tangible and terrifying. C.J let out a piercing scream, the pain penetrating her whole body followed by waves of dizziness and nausea. Her world began to spin and then fade once again.
Cody left, but not without leaving his final birthday calling card the 'Ace of Diamonds', which he had laid deliberately across her necklace. As he left he tossed the bloodied knife into the rough brush close to the cabin nonchalantly and got into the old station wagon without giving her a second thought other than smiling at himself...mission accomplished, she would die a long slow and painful death which would teach her a lesson that those who go against him suffer the consequences
Matt leaned back and looked out of the window of the helicopter, the landscape below growing familiar once again. Thoughts raced through his mind along with panic for her safety. Panic was swiftly followed by regrets as to why he hadn't just flown them both out there on the Friday evening before her party, but C.J had always loved the drive out to the ranch and he had taken her to her favourite restaurant en route out to the ranch, which he couldn't have done had they flown.
Bo and Lamar arrived back in their pick-up, laden with grain for the animals, and saw several police cars with their lights still flashing descend on Matt's ranch. Looking at each other they gingerly got out of the car and looked around them in bemusement, stunned into silence. Within moments a police helicopter landed in the paddock and a familiar face jumped out.
"Matt what on earth is going on" Lamar exclaimed in panic
"Where is she Lamar...where's C.J?" Matt called out as he ran towards them. Bo and Lamar immediately picked up the urgency and panic in his voice and Bo calmly replied
"Well she was here when we left to go up and sort the calves...she planned to go for a swim".
Matt raced round to the side of the house where the swimming pool was located, with Bo and Lamar following close on his heel, but the water showed no signs of ripples but Matt noticed that the pool house door remained ajar.
"Did she say anything about going for a ride or a drive maybe?" Matt urged them
"No she said she didn't feel she had time for a ride so she would swim instead. I did see a pick up head up to them foothills, maybe she took herself up to her favourite spot up there...ya know when you have been raggin' on her or when she's been upset" Bo replied.
"But her pick-up is by the barn I saw it as we flew in" Matt said puzzled
"I definitely saw a pick up drive up that way, you know where the old log cabin is; can't have been more than only thirty minutes or so ago" Bo said and Lamar nodded to confirm the statement. Bo then continued on "Look I'm just gonna get a pitcher of water and ice and then we can help find her, she can't have gone far, all the cars are here...Matt do you want a drink as well?"
"No thanks Bo...Vince, I think I know where to start looking" Matt called out
Joining Matt on the terrace by the pool Vince picked up a card from under a table, remnants from the previous day's party. Absently, Vince opened the card and his eyes widened as he read the words but noticed there was no signature.
"What have you found Vince?" Matt asked
Vince quietly passed the card over and saw the shock on Matt's face as he read it.
"She never...she never mentioned this at all" Matt stammered quietly
"Maybe she didn't see its importance and ignored it ...possibly seeing it as a silly but idle threat" Vince replied to counter the fear that was so evident in his friend's eyes and face.
"You ok if I take this as potential evidence, we can get finger prints hopefully" Vince asked
"Sure. Vince we've gotta find her and fast...I know something is wrong" Matt said
Vince pulled a plastic lab bag from his inside pocket and slipped the card in, shaking his head with sadness and prayed a silent prayer. Bo rushed out from the kitchen "Houston have you been in the kitchen...have you seen the mess?" Bo shouted in panic "There's blood everywhere"
Matt and Vince looked at one another and then raced over; following Bo into the kitchen, pool of blood and chairs strewn across the floor greeted them as they came through the door
"Oh dear God" Matt cried out
Vince immediately stepped in and took over the situation and called over to an officer who stood close by.
"Photograph and document everything, get forensics and fast. I want the blood and any other traces swabbed and bagged for evidence...ask the pilot to ready the helicopter and make sure the paramedics helicopter is on its way." Vince instructed.
Turning to Matt he asked "Matt which direction is this cabin that Bo mentioned"
"On the far west side of the ranch, directly west of this house" Matt replied quietly
"Ok let's go" Vince said
C.J began to come round fighting against the waves of searing pain that hit her, her thoughts drifting away to when she was nine years old, her birthday and the day her mom had died. A sudden wave of panic hit her realising she might well end up sharing the same date as her Mom's death. Tears rolled down her face, a mixture of total helplessness and fear mixed with intense agony. C.J had no idea what time it was or how long she had laid there or how much time she had had left but felt her imminent death approaching.
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters
Recounting these words from memory, the pain began to subside, her thoughts wandered back to her mum's bedside whilst her aunt read the very same psalm to her mother which she had so loved. The world around her felt as though it had stopped it's frenetic pace, and in its place a sense of calmness and tranquillity surrounded her.
The helicopter lifted back up into the air and within minutes it reached the cabin on the far west side of Matt's ranch. Matt jumped the minute it settled and ducked to avoid the rota blades
"C.J...C.J it's me Matt" Matt shouted as he raced towards the cabin, nestled in the woodland clearing.
He restores my soul. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort. C.J mustered some further strength from deep within and opened her eyes when she heard her name but was met with a wall of darkness save for a glimpse of light which shone through the old worn curtains, confusion hit her and she closed her eyes.
"C.J ...can you hear me...are you ok"
'No she hadn't imagined it...once again she heard her name but couldn't work out which direction it was coming from' she thought to herself
"I'm here" she whispered "I'm here"
What then seemed eternity to C.J but had been minutes, the door suddenly burst open causing C.J to open her yes abruptly, but her vision had now been compromised and all she was able to make out, was a vague outline, albeit a familiar one. Matt spun round to see her lying on the rough floor, her face pale and wan; taking in a silent swallow his eyes fell on the pool of blood and then to her body with the three stab wounds within close proximity to each other, showing underneath her torn blouse. His eyes closed momentarily to take stock of what he saw and then dropped down knelt beside her and stroked her forehead.
"Oh God C.J what have they done to you"
"Houston...is that you" she heard herself say but was in fact barely a whisper
"I'm right here sweetheart...you need to hang on in there...can you do that for me" he said softly, his voice laced with anguish as he stroked her forehead, brushing her matted hair from her face.
C.J nodded slightly and then tried to lift her arm to touch Matt's face but strength evaded her and her hand flopped back down. Matt gently took her hand and held it a while to comfort her, before taking her in his arms to cradle her body, which felt cold to the touch. Tears began to run down his face as he began to take in the situation and everything C.J must have suffered at the hands of that monster in a short period of time. He wiped the tears and closed his eyes to muster the emotional strength he now needed in order to try and prevent losing his best friend to such a horrific fate.
"You found me...thank you...just hold me while I sleep a while" she whispered followed by a swallow that sent a shock of searing pain right through her causing her to gasp and then shiver..."I'm so cold" C.J managed to say before her world finally went dark and then slowly replaced by a bright white light. Letting out a feint moan, her breathing became protracted and shallow, and her heartbeat grew gradually fainter.
Holding her closer to his body in attempt to warm her he pleaded with her "No C.J ...please no...don't go ...not now...please"
