Hello:

I think some of you have been waiting for this chapter.

Chapter 46

The SUV speeds down a dirt lane making no attempt to avoid the numerous branches an occasional tree limbs encroaching on the road. The driver appears possessed as she looks straight ahead, not bothered by the slapping of green foliage against the sides of the vehicle.

The sound of a ringing phone stops as the name on the screen speaks.

"Maddie, I'm so sorry about not getting back to you." The male voice is pleasant and apologetic. "I've been real busy."

"Busy?" She asks with teeth bared through receding lips.

"I've been all over the Northwest of this damn state. That Martinez has me running around like a damn delivery boy."

"You've been busy? Hah?" Her tone brings a hush to the conversation.

She breaks the silence.

"I want to meet you. Now!" Maddie's demand echoes through the SUV.

"Don't say a damn word. Joe, you owe me an explanation." She is annoyed by the stillness coming from her dashboard.

"I know about Hope. I am on 5. Meet me in the parking lot of that motel where I made the biggest mistake of my life." She needs a breath to finish. "Prove me wrong, Joe. Please prove me wrong."

"Maddie, I'm sorry." His tone is barely audible.

"Don't be sorry. Be there." Her left thumb promptly ends the call.

The motel parking lot

Joe waits leaned against his Benz. Maddie walks in a brisk pace straight for him.

He speaks "Sweetheart, I…"

In a flash her right hand swings in an arch toward his chin.

"Stop." His volume is low and in control as he grabs her wrist before it could meet his cheek.

"Pleas, please…don't do that." Once more the tone is relaxed and meant to be comforting.

Pulling her hand out of his grasp.

"I hate you! I hate you!" She falls into his arms, crying without care of the couple leaving the beat-up pick-up truck a short distance from them.

"Maddie, I didn't mean for this to happen."

"To hell with me. How could you be involved with that maniac. How could you do this to Hope?" Her chin rests on Joe's chest as her exhausted eyes begin to blink . "How could you?"

He answers.

"Hope will be safe. I promise. No harm will come to her." Joe's embrace tightens, as he whispers in her ear. "I'll take you to her and then you can bring her home." He takes a breath as her hand glides along his suit collar toward his face. "But, I must tell you everything. And then you decide."
"Joe, tell me. Please, my eyes don't know what it is to not cry."

The couple sit in the Mercedes as the person in the driver's seat speaks uninterrupted. Maddie has stopped her tears. She sits hunched over the console and then flops her back on the leather seats. A look of shock and disbelief takes her expression.

Filled with relief at his confession, Joe is able to say one last thing.

"Maddie, I need your keys."

The Cabin

As the SUV pulls up to the derelict looking residence, Maddie grabs Joe's arm.

"Joe, with all you told me." She takes a breath. "Do you feel that way about Tia now?"

Turning to her. "Maddie, I love you. You don't have to believe me and maybe you shouldn't." He casts his vision downward. "Maddie, I want to be with you. I need you." He inhales. "I can't live without…" He hurries from the driver's side.

"Hope!" Maddie shouts. "Hope we are here." The previous distraught woman feels the strength she has forgotten since meeting him. "Joe, we'll talk about this when everything is over. Now, let's hurry before the Wicked Witch of the West shows up."
Joe unlocks the front door and rushes to the trapdoor a few from the cold fireplace.

"Hope, Hope." Maddie calls down the wooden stairs.

"Oh, Maddie…you found me." The young teenager let loose a flurry of tears over a relieved smile.

"Joe, I knew you'd save me."
He goes to a wooden table, he snatches a large key and moves to the bound young woman.

"Oh, Maddie. I was so scared. She wants to kill mama."
"She wants to kill everyone." Adds Joe.

Helping the young girl take a few steps, Joe places her on a chair near the mold covered wall.

"Listen, Hope. You need some time to gain your strength. She won't be back here till tonight.

"But Joe, we can carry her to the car. She needs to go to a hospital and we," Maddie's voice is strained to emphasize the point. "We have to tell everyone what's going on." She grabs his shoulder to turn him to her. "We have to tell Nicole."
From the bent over position, Joe reaches into his suit jacket and eases a hand to his front.

Hope's eye and mouth open at the sight.

"Maddie, I do love you." He turns and points the bloated pistol at her face. In a second she lies in his arms unconscious.

"Joe!" Hope screams. "You killed her." Her words are torn with a mixture of sorrow and fear.

After laying the still body down, he looks at the bewildered Hope.

"Hope, she's just asleep." Grabbing the young woman's shoulders. "Listen to me. Listen to me."
When the startled teenager is settled, he explains.

"Look, I'm going to leave by the back window upstairs." He stops to check her eyes. "Are you listening to me?"
She nods.

"You come up with me. After I leave you yell for help." He tilts his head down, eyeing her expression. "There are two men off in the forest. They've been following me. When they hear you they'll come running." He shakes his head as he plans his next move. "Maddie will be up in a little while. I only gave her half a dose." He pauses. "Scream like you guys can scream, they're not far away, but they will be hiding."

"Do you understand?"

"Joe, what is going on?"

"I'm going to end this."

Joe zooms up the stairs and out the back window. A short distance away waits a Harley-Davidson 2006 Sportster. His years of deep cover in hostile land has taught him in order to survive when things do not go as planned, there had better be an escape route.

This seems one of those times.

Writer's explanation:

This chapter is different than my usual writing style. Guest B has pointed out that I do jump around quite a bit.

Due to the necessary confrontation and it's following revelations, I just couldn't switch scenes or a better description, switch characters.

FYI:

When I reintroduced Tia and the new character, Agent Torello, I had no idea my fingers would take me to this point. Especially with such a deep involvement of Maddie. Those characters, all three of them wrote their own dialogue and actions. My fingers just did the labor.