Author's Note: Here it is, the rescue and in typical fashion Pete and Linc save the day just at the nick of time. And thanks to all the readers and wonderful friends reviewing this, it has me ready to work again on the sequel after a three year hiatus.
DESPERATE CIRCUMSTANCE
Saturday, November 22, 1980, 1:30 PM PST
Melissa had dozed off, taking a nap in the back room after Julie gave her another peanut butter sandwich for lunch. She had sung to her to calm her down and her little girl had slipped off to sleep. While Melissa slept, Julie fretted, allowing her fear to materialize and prompt her to try to find some way, any way out of the ramshackle cabin.
Now determined, Julie checked the two dingy windows and found that they were sealed up and therefore totally unusable. She then tried to see if the door could be forced open but what David said was true, that the rickety appearance was deceiving, for the door was very sturdy and David had locked it. Julie sighed and was wondering what else she could do when she spied David's truck pulling up to the cabin. She hurried and sat on the bed as the lock clicked and David opened the door coming into the cabin. As he entered he glanced over at Julie who was perched there watching him came over to Julie.
"Melissa taking a nap, huh?" he gestured toward the half-closed door to the other room.
Julie tossed her head scornfully. "Napping helps her forget where she is. Which reminds me, David, how long do you plan on keeping us here?"
David replied, "Not long. I want to offer you a proposal. We have a chance to become very rich Julie, richer then either of us ever dreamed possible," he said with building excitement.
"What are you talking about, David?"
"We can sell the ranch and be rich enough to live in style," David said amiably.
Julie said, "The ranch has been in Dan's family for over forty eight years and it's Melissa's legacy. What would make you think that I'd want to sell it?"
"I know someone who's very interested in buying the ranch and he's willing to give us three times what it's worth," he said invitingly.
Julie just sat there staring at him dully.
"$2.5 million Julie! And that's not alł, his partner plans to match the offer, dollar for dollar... do you realize what that means? Artie Lattimer's a big time developer from Vegas. He's really interested in the property for a mountain resort. He wants to pay cash down, Julie, that's $5 million for the property," he replied eagerly.
"Dan told me all about the $2.5 million offer."
David's eyes lit up. "He didn't tell you everything 'cause he didn't even know this."
Julie eyed him in distrust. "What are you talking about?"
"Artie's silent partner decided to sweeten the pot by offering to match the bid, dollar for dollar...$5 million!"
Julie sighed...she knew all about Artie Lattimer, alias Arturo Lanzi and his 'partner', Gino LaRocca. She had known about them since her days on the Squad. Remembering the discussion she and Dan had the morning before he died, she looked at David as if he were insane, "I don't want to sell the ranch. It's my and Melissa's home," she stated.
David blinked at her then smiled again, as if he hadn't heard a word, "We'll get a bigger home, a place that will let everybody know how very rich we are. Or we'll be. And we'll have it all, money, position, all the things of the very rich."
Julie's eyebrows raised and she eyed him dubiously. "I never wanted to be very rich, David. I care only about raising my little girl," she pointed out.
Off in his own dream world, he ignored her and went on. "You're a great mom. Just the kind of woman I want to raise a child with," David said, reaching to caress Julie's brow.
David then sat down beside Julie on the bed. She moved over, squelching a shudder of revulsion but he didn't notice as he continued to gush in excitement. He said, "When everything's done, honey, we'll be able to provide the best for Melissa. And we'll have a great life, you and me." He reached to take her hand.
Julie was horrified to realize that he was serious. He had created in his sick, twisted mind a surreal scene of the three of them as a family. She tried to get him back to reality.
"David, we're not married and Melissa is not your child. I was married to Dan for eight years and Melissa is Dan's daughter." Julie said as she made to get up off of the bed, but David pulled her back to him with an iron grip.
"Dan is gone, Julie. He didn't know how to provide for you. He was an easy mark, always trusting everyone. He was a sap, Julie and not worthy of you," he said, reaching to brush hair from her eyes.
Julie was getting really frightened. "David, he was your best friend," she reminded him.
David got up from the bed and paced around. "Best friend?" he snorted. "His father cheated my father out of his rightful share and then my father killed himself. His death was Steve Bennett's fault. And when the old man finally croaked, his son was taking over what was rightfully mine. But now it's really going to be mine. The ball is in your court, Julie, you have two choices. Either you marry me and we'll both own the ranch as husband and wife or…." he paused for effect. "You can join Dan, and the ranch reverts to me as partner." He gave her a cold smile, as his intent became clear.
Julie felt a chill go down her spine as she listened in disbelief. . . .
2:00 PM
"Pete! Help me, Pete, please!" the scream was Julie's in the dark woods.
Pete was racing through the thick brush, trying desperately to follow the sound of Julie's frantic call and like being caught in a labyrinth, everywhere he was led to was a dead end. He shouted out her name over and over as he continued searching at a furious pace, almost wild with fear. She continued screaming and her terrified screaming became louder as he came to a clearing, which led to a deep gorge. Pete heard the screaming get closer and even louder as he approached the edge and as he leaned over he fell, tumbling hundreds of feet until he hit the ground...
Pete awoke abruptly and sat bolt upright on the bed, shaking his head to clear it and looking around to reorient himself. He discovered that the whole thing he had thought was reality was in fact, a very vivid dream.
He saw he was in his guestroom at the ranch and then everything came back as he reached full consciousness so he threw his legs over the edge of the bed and put his shoes on. He then got to his feet and spying the rolled up map document on the dresser, frowned thoughtfully as an idea came to him. With a look of determination, Pete strode over and retrieved the map, spreading it out on the bed.
His eyes were drawn to the structure at the far end of the property that had caught his eye before; the old scout's cabin in the mountain range and a feeling of realization came to him along with an intense urgency. Suppose Julie and Melissa were being held there? Pete snatched up the map and hastily rolled it as he wrenched open the door to rush downstairs.
When he got down to the foyer, he heard voices in the dining room so he went in there. In there he found Linc, a shamefaced Hank with Hannah seated beside him, and Lou Rafferty. He joined them just as Hank began explaining.
"Lou, I swear to you I thought he was going to say something eventually. He told me when I found out that he was going to come clean and so I didn't want to say anything to ruin things for him," he admitted with shame.
"Hank, honey, I told you that David needed help. Not saying anything about his cheating on the books was wrong and now he has Miss Julie and Miss Melissa and may even hurt them," Hannah said gently. "You need to tell Lieutenant Rafferty everything you know Hank, their lives may depend on it."
"Hank, you need to tell me what ever David said to you. Now when did you talk to him last?" Lou inquired.
Hank looked around the room. Lou was stern and waiting, Linc was intense and grim, but Pete's emotions were broadcast in his eyes. They burned with murderous blue fury, dark as sapphires.. He looked even more uncomfortable.
"He told me that if I said anything that I'd end up like Dan," Hank said miserably. "And he pointed his gun at me as I confronted him about Miss Julie and Melissa. Then he took the broken ladder."
"Wait a second, did you say he took the broken ladder?" Pete demanded, raising his voice.
Hank looked at him and nodded brokenly.
Pete's eyes bore into Hank's, "Didn't you wonder why he took the ladder?" he asked sharply.
"He told me that he was going to get rid of it and get a new one. Why?"
Pete sighed trying not to lose his temper, "Hank, those broken rungs were sabotaged, cut almost completely through so that any excessive weight put on them would cause them to give way. Where were you at the time of Dan's accident? Were you on the roof with Dan and David?"
"No, I was getting the shingles to do the repair on the roof. Dan had thought that Dave had brought them up when he climbed up there and Dave asked me to get them out of the shed," Hank recalled.
Pete looked at Lou significantly. Lou moved toward Hank and asked carefully, "Hank, why did you corroborate David's story when we came to investigate right after Dan's accident?"
Hank hung his head, "Because that's what Dave told me happened. When Dan fell, he yelled for me and he was frantic so I figured when he told me what happened that's what happened," he finished helplessly. Hannah gently messaged her husband's slumped shoulders to comfort him.
Pete looked at Lou. "Well?" he demanded, "Sounds like Slade arranged for Dan to die in an accident and now he's doing goodness knows what to his widow and child. What in hell are we waiting for?"
Linc stepped forward and questioned Lou, "Did you get anything from the APBs you sent out?"
Lou shook his head, "Nothing. We have to look at other options." He examined Hank, "How long ago did you talk to Slade?"
"About twelve thirty. Then he left," Hank said
"Do you know where he could have gone?" Lou pressed.
Hank shook his head. Pete pursed his lips grimly as his ire grew to epic proportions, yet he remained silent.
Lou took a deep breath, "All right we have to assume that Slade's taken them, but where? And what does he plan to do with them?"
Pete lost his patience. "Look, we can spend the next hour playing damned guessing games while Julie and Melissa are at the hands of an armed maniac or we can check this out," he snapped as he brought the map out and pointed at the old scout's cabin.
Lou recognized the document, "You took that from Slade's, huh?"
Pete nodded as he, Linc, and Lou studied the map again.
Pete pointed to the building nestled in the mountain range, "I don't know why but I got a hunch he's got them stashed here."
Lou nodded, "That's a good place to start looking. We have to assume that he hasn't had time to take 'em anywhere else. And we should take a look before sundown 'cause those roads can get rough to travel and it's supposed to rain. Let's take that along."
He took the map from Pete and the three of them headed out, slamming the door. Hank and Hannah were still sitting on the sofa in the parlor.
Hannah spoke gently, "Hank, you did the right thing. David threatened you, he needs help and when they catch him, he'll get it."
Hank looked at her dubiously, "If he doesn't get himself killed first. With the gun he's carrying and the way he's acting, I'm afraid he might end up getting shot. He's really got me scared for him."
2:45 PM
Julie listened in morbid fascination as David laid out the entire plan he had for the ranch and she found herself feeling a mixture of fear and anger. He went on about the offer for the ranch and continued to weave a brainsick scenario that had her and Melissa as his family. She decided to just let him go on, since he seemed intent as he revealed his elaborate plan while her mind devised a way to turn the tables. She spied his gun, shoved into the waistband of his jeans and was trying to figure a way to get the gun. Julie then came up with a plan of action that made her both terrified and hopeful. She smiled tremulously at David as he continued his soliloquy.
"It sounds wonderful, David," Julie said with pseudo admiration.
David perked up with a light in his gray eyes as he sat beside her on the trundle bed. He put an arm around her shoulders.
"It will be, honey. You'll see, I'll take good care of you and our little girl. And maybe we can think of having another," he breathed as he drew her into both arms.
David began planting small kisses on Julie's neck, toward her ear. She squelched an overwhelming feeling of revulsion as she allowed him to get closer while she reached her arms around his waist and stealthily tried to remove the gun. But David felt the attempt to disarm him so his tender mood instantly disappeared and was replaced by a cold anger. He jumped to his feet and pulled the gun out to aim at her. He laughed humorlessly.
"Nice try Julie, but I didn't fall for it. There's more chance of a snowball in hell then of you getting the best of me. No, honey, I planned this too long and I'm not about to let anyone, even you ruin it for me." He replaced the gun back in his waistband as he looked scornfully down at her.
Julie laughed nervously. "I wasn't trying anything like that," she tried to convince him but his anger was kindled and he drew his hand back and viciously slapped her across the mouth, drawing blood and sending her into a prone position on the bed.
He then jumped onto the bed and held her arms at the wrists as he straddled her with his legs, pinning her down and looking into her tearful frightened eyes.
"You know," he suggested. "I still remember the last time you knocked me on my ass, that night in your kitchen." He leaned his face inches from her. "You were lucky baby, because I've beaten up guys for less, so I may decide right now for some payback... have my fun and a little revenge. So don't tempt me."
"I-I'm s-sorry David," she whimpered, terrified.
"No you're not Julie, so stop lying," David snarled. "I told you that you won't be the fine lady for long. You're just a lying slut, just like all women eventually become. You pretend to show love and care but you're all alike, out for what you can get from any poor slob who's dumb enough to fall for you. Just like my mother was and just like your mother. Dan told me all about your mama...a slut just like you."
Julie's eyes widened with the viciousness of the words, "David, why do you hate me so much?" she whispered, astonished. "What did I ever do to you to make you feel this way."
David laughed bitterly, "You married Dan and like him you're cheating me out of my birthright. And like him, you're not gonna get away with it."
He continued in a conversational tone, still holding her captive. "You know, you really are a frail little thing, and you've gotten scrawny since Dan died. It would take no effort on my part to break that pretty neck of yours." He laughed even harder as she struggled against his weight on her.
Suddenly there was a squeal behind them as Melissa, awakened from her nap came scurrying out and viewed her mother, helpless beneath David Slade.
"Uncle Dave, get off my mommy, you're hurting her!" she screamed as she came to the bed to try to pull him off.
Her first efforts were ignored and then she leaped up on the bed and began pummeling David's back with her tiny fists. David became enraged by Melissa's interference and swung his arm at her, sending her flying and causing her to land on her back.
Upon seeing her only child treated with such violence, Julie became absolutely livid and forgetting her own terror like an infuriated mother bear, she attacked. In the split second it took to swipe at Melissa, David loosed his hold on Julie and she brought her knees up to her chest and kicked both legs out with all the force she could muster. David was propelled back by the force of her kick and was sent sprawling over the foot of the bed, becoming momentarily stunned.
Melissa sprung to her feet and ran for the door, which she wrenched open and ran out screaming just as Lou Rafferty's car and the squad car he called to meet them both screeched to a halt in a cloud of dust. Two uniformed officers jumped from their car, drawing their guns as Lou, Pete and Linc jumped out and ran to the sobbing child. Pete gently took her arm and pushed her into the back seat of the Chevy ahead of him.
"Wait here, sweetheart...keep down and don't move or say anything," he told her as he exited the car from the opposite door...
As Melissa was running out, Julie tried to follow after her but David, who had gotten to his feet in a rage, grabbed her from behind. He slung his arm around her neck and held her in a half Nelson, with the muzzle of the .357 Magnum pointed at her temple. He pushed her through the door and addressed the visitors.
"Not one move or I'll kill her!" David roared at them.
Lou and Linc froze in fear for Julie's safety and the two uniformed police ducked behind the hood of Lou's car with their guns aimed.
David glared at them, "I swear I'll waste her if any of you try anything!"
"Take it easy Slade, you don't want to do anything rash. Do you really want more innocent blood on your hands?" Lou called out, drawing his gun.
David clicked the safety off and pressed the muzzle to Julie's head. The color drained out of Julie's face as she was held around her neck and rendered nearly unconscious.
"I tell you, Rafferty, you'd better throw that gun away or I'll blow her away! If you think I won't you're a fool. And that goes for the other cops too!"
Lou and Linc exchanged looks. He ordered the other officers to step back and tossed his gun to the ground while he tried to reason with him, "Slade, aren't you in enough trouble? We know that Dan Bennett's death wasn't an accident and that you rigged the ladder to break so Dan would fall and break his neck. If you give up, it'll go easier on you."
"Yeah right. Don't make me laugh, as soon as I do, you'll lock me up and throw away the key." David continued to have Julie in his death grip as the standoff went on.
Meanwhile, as Lou tried to reason with Slade, Pete was crouched low on the ground out of David's range of view, having put Melissa in the car. He scanned the surrounding area for camouflage so he could unobtrusively make his way to try to rescue Julie. Filled with a determination made stronger by his smoldering fury, he began crawling behind the Chevy and made his way toward the cabin.
He saw that Slade's view of the path was obscured by a group of deciduous overgrown bushes that lay in a line just to the left of the cabin door. He crept over stealthily, staying low to the ground until he was adjacent with the side of the cabin. With steady movement while Lou tried negotiating to distract him, Pete was about thirteen feet from Slade and Julie. His heart pounding, he made his way slowly and silently over to where they were and tried to choose the best angle for an ambush. Linc spied Pete creeping over to the cabin and he remained motionless but ready to join in the inevitable struggle.
"I'm not giving up but I tell you what. You're gonna let us get into my truck and not follow us 'cause if you do, I'll shoot Julie and her blood will be on your hands. So back off," David snarled, brandishing the gun and momentarily loosening his hold on Julie.
That was the chance Pete was waiting for to make his move. He sprung out and sprinted, launching his body weight full into David like he was a tackling dummy, knocking him off balance and causing him to send the gun and Julie flying.
Lou and Linc simultaneously came forward as the force of Pete's blow caused David to release Julie who scurried to the side. Pete grappled with David, using his legs to straddle his body and prevent him from getting up. Pete then leaped up and grabbed David by the shirt collar, burying his right fist into David's solar plexus, causing him to double over and then smashed his nose with a vicious left cross. Taken completely by surprise, David went flying onto the ground but recovering immediately he sprung to his feet to ram into Pete with a flying tackle, knocking him back against the side of the cabin.
But Pete, made even more dangerous by the black rage he was consumed by, recovered quickly and drove his right knee sharply into David's groin causing him to double over then kicked David's chin, causing him to be sprawled on his back. He wasn't moving but Pete wasn't finished. He jumped over and straddled David's prone form and began squeezing his windpipe, choking him. David's eyelids were flickering as he fought to stay conscious. Realizing Pete's murderous intent Linc raced over to bodily pull Pete off David.
"Hey Pete, you're gonna kill him, man! Come on, buddy you're gonna kill him!" Linc shouted as he tried to pull Pete off the now helpless David Slade.
"C'mon man...he's not worth it." Linc exerted all his strength and yanked Pete off only for him to slip from his grip and resume squeezing David's throat. It took three attempts but he finally relented, letting go of Slade, exhausted.
After the life-and-death struggle with Pete, Lou stepped forward and checked David Slade to see if he was breathing, handcuffed him, then helped him to his feet and over to the waiting officers and their squad car. Breathing heavily from the previous activity, Pete spotted Julie sitting on the ground sobbing and he wrenched himself free from Linc to go to her. He knelt beside her and gently cradled her head in his hands, pressing his cheek against hers.
"No, don't cry, angel, it's over. It's all over, he won't hurt you or Melissa ever again." he said soothingly as he lifted her chin and examined the dried blood on her lip. "Did he do that to you, angel?" he pressed, getting angry again.
Julie nodded, numbly and she asked softly, "Where's Melissa?"
"Don't worry Julie, she's safe in the back seat of Lou's car," Linc said reassuringly as he knelt on the other side of Julie. He and Pete each grasped an elbow and helped her to her feet then they walked her over to the Chevy and Linc opened the back door. With a glad cry, Melissa skittered out and flew at Julie who squatted down to receive her daughter's embrace.
"Oh Mommy, I was so scared!" Melissa sobbed.
"I know, baby, I was too," Julie said gently, hugging Melissa tightly. Melissa peeked over Julie's shoulder as Pete and Linc grinned widely at her. She pulled away from Julie and she piped up, "They did it again, Mommy, didn't they? Only this time they saved us both!"
Julie turned and gazed fondly at her two best friends, "They sure did, honey. They sure did!" she agreed with a grateful smile. Linc kept grinning and Pete's eyes glowed affectionately.
Lou Rafferty came over as the squad car turned and headed down the dirt road. He came up to the happy group, eyeing them with a grin. "Well, is everyone ready to go home?"
"Uh-huh," Linc replied.
Pete helped Julie to her feet, led her and Melissa into the back seat of Lou's car and climbed in back with them. Lou got in behind the wheel and Linc on the passenger side for the ride home.
NEXT…THANKSGIVING