In the Blink of An Eye by Jerry Baggett (ebook reader for surface pro TXT) 📕

over the years. It was not a recent burial, too small for an adult, perhaps a child. He motioned for Grant to come around to where the closet had been, in one corner of the kitchen.

“What the hell,” Grant said. “Is that a casket? It must have been there a darn long time.”

“That may be where someone buried a small child,” Dick said. “But why underneath the floor?” He straightened up and looked at Samantha. “Maybe.” He turned back to Grant. “I’ve been thinking. I might have an idea of what we have here. One of Dad’s stories. It’s a long, tall tale. If it’s what I believe it is, we’ll celebrate.” He called Samantha around, for a look. “Some of the houses in the community still have shovels and other old tools inside. I think we should make sure of what’s in that box before we leave here.” Dick picked up a half-burned board and raked some more dirt off the top.

Samantha said, “It’s an old trunk. I can’t wait for a good look inside. Let’s go for the tools. It doesn’t look like a casket.”

Dick dragged a piece of the tin roof over the box before leaving. He asked Grant to drive. “Stop at the first cross street in the community. There’s an old barn behind one of the small houses that should have a variety of tools stored there. Workers use them to maintain the village.”

Grant stopped suddenly and backed up a few yards. “Look! There’s a Jeep parked underneath the trees behind that huge, partially burned main house. What do you make of it?”

“Damned if I know. We’d better be careful. Back the car out of sight, and call the county sheriff’s office, Grant.” He opened the car door. “We need a better look at what’s going on here. Stay with the car until I return. I don’t believe that Jeep was there when we came in. one of us would have noticed it.”

Dick walked around to where Samantha was taking a picture from the Jeep. He removed the Glock from a behind-the-belt holster and handed it to her. “Since you insist on going with me, you’ll be my back-up. Here’s what we’re going to do. I want you behind one of those big trees, near where I plan to enter the side door. Just stand there and wait, with the Glock ready. I believe that’s where the activity’s taking place. If you hear gunfire from inside, approach carefully with the weapon ready and shoot anyone holding a gun. Do not hesitate, just shoot, whether I’m down or not. If everything is safe, I’ll call you to come forward. Do you understand what to do?”

“I can do this, but, Dick! Please don’t go inside unless you’re sure it’s safe.”

He eased close to the doorway, took a quick peek inside and stepped back. There wasn’t enough light inside to be sure of what was going on. Two people, in some kind of struggle. He closed his eyes and covered them with his hand while counting, to improve night vision.

He heard a weak feminine voice. “You don’t have to hurt me. I’ll do what you want. Please don’t take me back.”

A man said, “We ain’t taking you back. We got a better idea than that for you.”

Dick stepped inside the dark room. The man had the woman on the floor, with a knee on her stomach. Her hands were bound. She struggled for breath. Dick kicked the man in the temple, quickly followed with a kick to the butt, sending him against the wall. He reached out toward the girl, didn’t make it. Strong arms grabbed him from behind. He hadn’t suspected another man to be there. He straightened up quickly, twisted around to find himself, stomach to stomach, with a giant of a man.

He’s going to break my back, he thought. He circled his left arm around the thick neck. Can’t play around with this guy. He’s reaching for something underneath his arm. Dick took advantage of the move and jammed his thumb into the man’s left eye, curled his middle finger into the ear canal and squeezed hard. Blood and gore squirted across his face, momentarily blurring his vision. He shoved the heavy man hard, sending him stumbling through the open door. A fisherman’s knife fell away into the grass. The thin man he’d kicked off the girl sprang to his feet, facing Dick. He put his weight behind a kick to the kneecap. He felt it give. He grabbed an arm and dragged the man outside, dropping him near the other one.

Samantha stepped out from behind a tree with the Glock in her hand. She pointed it directly at the men on the ground. Dick nodded at Samantha and ran back inside to help the injured girl. She struggled to breathe. She’d rolled over and attempted to sit up straight. He looked at the bindings on her wrist. “Are you OK?” He hurried back to Samantha. “Give me the gun and help the girl. She’s badly hurt.”

Samantha guided the girl to a seat in the doorway. “You’ll be OK now. We’re going to help you.” He picked up the fisherman’s knife from the yard and passed it to Samantha. “Cut those bindings away from her wrist.”

“No, Dick. She’s bound with a small chain.”

 

Chapter 37

Grant ran straight to the injured girl. He reached out with open arms, pulling her close. “It’s over now. Thank God you’re safe, Maria.”

“I don’t want to die here, Grant. Please take me home to my son and let me die there.” Maria released a flood of tears, and collapsed against him.

He passed the phone to Samantha and pulled her in close. “I can only imagine what you’ve been through.”

Samantha dropped the phone in her pocket and attempted to ease Grant aside. She held out a bottle of water.