A/N – Sorry guys. I know I took me a while to post this one. Long weekend, really busy :) I hit a bit of writers block too. Wasn't too sure where I wanted to go yet, stick to the plan or ditch it for something else but I think I've got it all sorted out now!
Expect more violence, bad language and such stuff in this chapter – just to forewarn you. Definitely not suited for younger viewers.
Chapter 27:
Sue's phone call had created a hope in Jack, one he held on to, as long as he could. If she had survived this long, they could have a chance at saving her. Pratner and Cain were still in lock up, now waiting to be interrogated, as all the agents were desperately trying to follow a black SUV, somewhere on highway 495. Jack was going to make sure that they paid for what they did.
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Sue knew James was angry. More than angry – livid. She had called someone to reveal her location and the clerk noticed her outburst when he tore her away from the phone. Luckily he was able to cover her fighting back as a seizure. But it was still too close of a call. She had almost ruined everything.
The vehicle turned to the right, onto a bumpy road and then finally came to a stop. Sue knew what was coming next. The backdoor opened, as it had so many times before to release her - only to be still held captive.
"Well bitch. You're going to pay for almost getting us caught." James yanked her out of the SUV and as hard as she tried to resist, she was overcome. Her fatigue was wearing on her muscles, and the hopelessness dulled her brain. She was starting to lose it. For all she knew, no one may have picked up that phone and would have no idea where she was and what was going to become of her. She looked around and noticed they were off the highway slightly, on the edge of a forest by the river. The SUV was parked to the side, and James started to drag Sue into the trees, where no one from the highway could possibly see them.
She struggled with every ounce of consciousness she could, but she felt herself disconnecting from her body. Her mind started to block out everything that was in front of her. She didn't recognize the man that held her against the tree. She didn't feel the pain he was inflicting. He touched her and she didn't respond. He hit her, and she didn't try to defend herself. He stepped back, observing the bloody mess. Bruised. Swollen. Shivering from the night cold. Violated and beaten. Her eyes were blank and inert. She slumped against the bottom of the tree, wet from the damp soil. Dirty with not only dirt but the blackness of the pain she carried.
James turned when he heard the siren come closer. Now was his chance. He took a rope and bound her hands and feet. He dragged her to the side of the river where he tied the other end of the rope to a rock, her head still above the water. He wasn't going to kill her himself, there was no need to incriminate himself. He was going to let the little bit of life left in her slowly melt away with the river. Let the water claim her. He turned to look at her ghostly figure, bobbing in the slow current of the river. Her lips were turning blue, her life slowly deteriorating, eyes still open but with the look of death glaring from her pupils. And then he turned and ran.
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Bobby had convinced Jack to let him drive. Instead, Jack fidgeted in the passenger seat with his cell phone, begging it to ring. The police had cut off a section of the highway a good 100 miles ahead, knowing that the SUV would have to be somewhere between them and the blockade. Unless it had turned off a side street. D and Myles started driving through the outlaying communities, hoping to spot Crydle and Sue. Hope was fading as the clock ticked.
It was only by chance that Jack caught a gleam of light bounce off in reflection. Desperately looking out his window, searching for a sign, he noticed a black vehicle camouflaged in the trees.
"BOBBY! STOP! Look over there – do you see what I see?" Bobby slowed, the highway dead to all other traffic. He turned and caught a glimpse of the vehicle. And without words, he turned and headed on the side road. The finally caught up to the abandoned automobile.
"It's definitely Crydle's." Jack said as he hopped out of his car. Bobby took out his radio and signaled to the other officers, D and Myles that they had found the vehicle and where they were located. He looked at Jack's hopeful face, and gave him a quick smile. Then he turned and said quietly back into his radio.
"Send an ambulance also – STAT."
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The dark forest was in front of him. He knew Sue was close. He could feel it. He was going to save her; it was only a matter of time. Bobby went to Jack's side and handed him a flashlight.
"Helps on the way mate. Let's go find Sue and end this nightmare."