Chapter Five

The days of minimal food and water were beginning to catch up with Jordan. She was often dizzy, incredibly thirsty, and what she ate often didn't stay down very well. She continued to grow weaker, but her spirit to fight against her captors remained strong. And while she continued to hope and pray that Woody had not forgotten about her…that he did care enough at least to be looking for her, Jordan was constantly looking for ways to escape John and his "family."

The wait and watch wasn't easy. As long as Jordan was inside the house, she was never quite certain if it was day or night and she had no real idea of exactly how long she had been gone. Outside, however, was a different story.

She wasn't allowed to go outdoors often, and when she was, it was always under the watchful eye of Sarah. And when this happened, Jordan tried to be keenly aware of her surroundings…sounds…smells…anything that would tell her exactly where she was at. She didn't hear planes landing and taking off, so it was evidently some miles away from Logan Airport, although she did occasionally see a plane in the sky. She couldn't make out hardly any traffic noises at all … so evidently they were some distance from a main road, too. She heard birds…and saw trees. The house's backyard was edged by a wooded area, and if she wasn't mistaken, what little traffic noises she heard came from behind those trees.

So Jordan waited until she had a chance to run from the house and "John" and the "sisters" to the sounds of the road behind the woods. She was determined to at least try, even though in her weakened condition she wasn't sure just how far she would make it. And she had a longer wait than she wanted….several weeks, as a matter of fact….until finally it simply…happened. She was out with Sarah in the back, doing some yard work that John had mandated when one of the other "sisters" called for Sarah from inside the house. Sarah turned to Jordan with a sigh and said, "Stay right here. Don't move. I'll be right back." Then the woman turned and went back in the house.

That was all it took for Jordan. Slowly and stealthily, she edged towards the back of the property…until she reached the tree line. Then just as quietly as she could, she slipped into the wooded area.

"What does it tell you?" Woody asked Nigel, impatience lacing his voice and actions. After Nigel had gotten the phone call from the owner of the Purple Pawn, Woody had immediately left to pick it up. It had been dusted for prints and several had been lifted. Nigel was now in the process of turning the laptop on, opening Jordan's files, including her e-mail, to see if the device could tell them anything.

"Well, the laptop itself tells us nothing. It hasn't been opened or used since the first day of Jordan's vacation. From what I can tell, she accessed her personal e-mail account, deleted some junk mails, answered one from her friend Kim, and had a confirmation on her e-tickets waiting at Logan. Other than that, there was no activity in any of the programs and the computer hasn't been used since. However, all of her personal files have been deleted…probably in order to pawn the laptop," Nigel said, rubbing a hand down his tired face. He had been working with Jordan's lap top for hours, hoping to find a clue…any clue as to where she might be. "And," he said as an added afterthought, "as best I can tell, she went on-line at her Pearl Street apartment…so that tells us nothing."

Woody made a frustrated noise. "Damn it," he swore. Then turned apologetically to Nigel. "I know you're doing all you can…and the office is running the prints now. So far our data base has nothing….it's just that this is not moving fast enough for me. Jordan would have never allowed her laptop to just be taken without reporting it stolen. The only reason the guy at the pawn shop called us is because we put out an alert on it…"

Nigel nodded and wearily stared at his computer screen again. Despite whatever feelings Woody may now have for Jordan, he was obviously hell bent on getting her back home again safe and sound. They all were. It was a pity that the one time Jordan was taking some time for herself…some time to heal emotionally and rest physically, this had to happen to her.

"Is there anything at all, Nige?" Woody's voice sounded pleading, nearly desperate.

"I wish there was, mate…but…"

They were interrupted by Woody's cell phone. Nigel watched as the detective flipped it open. "Hoyt…Really? You're sure? Holy shit….yeah, thanks….put out an APB and let's move. Do you hear me? Move…" The phone flipped shut with a snap. Nigel raised an eyebrow at him.

"The lab was able to run one of the prints through the FBI data bases. It belongs to a Paul Thomas Mickleson, aka as Father John Curtis…."

"The same father John that was arrested out in Michigan for leading that cult of women?" Nigel asked, fear and incredulousness filling his voice.

"The same one," Woody said, setting his mouth grimly. "Seems the good father got out of prison early for good behavior…and is back to his old habits. Only this time, it appears he has upped the ante…"

Nigel nodded. He remembered the news stories from nearly twelve years earlier. "Father John" had been charged with leading a group of women, some minors, in some off-beat religious cult that revolved around him. If the women didn't obey him…if they put up any resistance, they were beaten, starved…and worse. "So, he's up to his old tricks?" Nigel quietly asked, but Woody noted the thin layer of perspiration forming on the tall man's forehead.

"Yeah. Only this time, he's worse…he's murdering the women that try to run rather than 'just' beating them. And knowing Jordan…."

"If this man's got her, she'll try to run….it's only a matter of time."

Woody nodded, "We've got an APB out on the guy…but we need to find her….fast."

"I hope this teaches you a lesson." Jordan heard John snarl from behind her. She swallowed down the pain and refused to answer. As soon as Sarah's back was turned, she had silently slipped into the woods, but she didn't get far. Sarah had returned, found her gone, and raised the alarm. Jordan was dragged back to the porch, tied, and beaten…repeatedly…until she knew she what she felt was blood running down her back.

"Answer him, Jordan," Sarah whispered to her.

She couldn't….the pain was too much…and she knew she was nearly ready to black out. Sarah saw this, too, and made a move towards her.

"Leave her alone," John snarled again. "Don't touch her…or feed her…or give her water…"

"But John," Sarah protested. "She's a mess…and weak. If I don't do something…"

"She needs the evil driven out her. Just like you did."

Sarah barely concealed a shudder at the measures John went through to drive the "evil" out of her. Her back still had the scars…her soul had never recovered. "But…." she continued to protest. Jordan couldn't be left like this…if she was…

"Leave her," John commanded.

"Here? Outside?" In the past, she had at least been able to bring Jordan back into the house after she had been beaten.

"Yes. Here. All night. Maybe she will have learned her lesson by in the morning…" John turned and walked back inside.

Sarah watched until he was back inside the kitchen with the other women. Tearfully she looked at Jordan, barely conscious now. "Hang in there," Sarah whispered. "I'll be out first thing in the morning to get you. I promise…."

"Sarah! Now!" John's voice boomed from the inside. With one more glance at Jordan, the woman stepped inside, shutting and bolting the door behind her.