You Can't Hide by Theresa Sneed (uplifting novels TXT) 📕

you both to a safe place. The helicopter is on its way.”

Trembling, Nancy took Winnie’s arm and followed the agents out the door.

Thirty-Three

Ghost

Keep moving, Elle, she thought to herself. Just keep moving. Whatever it was that made that rustling, she must have spooked it, because it stopped, and the woodland sounds resumed.

As she got closer to the falls, the rhythmic sound of water swirling and splashing over the large boulders met her ears, but there was something else, too. Someone was talking—no, whispering. She strained her neck to listen.

“Do you believe in spirits, Mom?”

“Spirits, you mean ghosts?”

Elle’s eyes widened. She recognized those voices.

“Yeah, I guess they’re called that, too.”

“Sure, I do. Seriously, Jack, what’s this all about? And why are you whispering?”

“Mom, I swear I saw Elle just a few minutes ago.”

“Uh, Jack, I’m sure it’s because of the, um, events of the day.”

“No, Mom, seriously, I saw her, in full color, down the path.”

Elle held back a laugh. Did they think I’d be in black and white? She could hardly contain herself, as she neared the bend in the path that would bring her to the falls. Instinct told her to approach with caution. The falls had a sixty foot drop straight down, tumbling over huge boulders into a rocky pool below. She crept carefully around the bend.

Sure enough, her brother Jack had his legs dangling over a large boulder, and her mom sat by him, looking down over the falls. She knew it was Jack, even though he was no longer a kid. And her mom took her breath away. It was everlastingly hard not to rush to their side, but she’d wait. They’ll have to move from the falls sometime, she thought, as she hid behind a tree.

She didn’t have to wonder what they were looking at. Her father loved rappelling, and he was no doubt, doing just that.

Jack pointed over the falls. “No sign of him.” He glanced at his watch. “I think he did this on purpose, Mom—making us miss the execution.”

She nodded. “Yeah, and I’m kind of glad he did. He’s probably in that cave again.”

“Yep. It’s probably exactly where he is.” Putting his hands behind him, he leaned back on the boulder. “I really miss her, Mom.”

“Yes. Me, too. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about her.”

Elle put her head against the rough bark of the tree, tears streaming down her face. “Ditto,” she whispered into the gentle breeze.

Sally pulled away. “Let me at least get my bag.” She pointed to the bathroom.

“Be quick about it,” Agent Thompson barked, resuming his conversation with Sally’s grandfather. “No, Mr. Hancock, of course, we have no idea how something like this could happen.”

Sally slipped into the bathroom and shut the door. She leaned against the wall. Why is this happening again? Her thoughts came quick, jumbled with fear mixed with determination. Within seconds, she climbed out the window and onto the back porch. Her mom and dad were on that path and there was no way she was leaving them to the hands of that monster. If he was out there, she’d sneak up on him and—“and what then, Sally?” she asked, dismayed.

She dashed to the shed and then tore down an axe hanging on a peg. She scrambled toward the path, but, didn’t stay on it. Nights of dreaming about trying to escape from Merrick had created scenarios in her troubled mind. This is just like in my dream, she thought. She knew better than to stay on the path, but followed it closely, out of view.

Louise tapped her knuckles against the bathroom door. “Sally? Are you ready?” She fought the quiver in her voice. “We have to go.” She turned the knob, but finding it locked, knocked harder. “Sally?”

Sam Sr. rushed beside her. “Sally!” He pounded on the door, and when there wasn’t an answer, he kicked it hard, popping it open. A breeze blew the curtains into the room from the opened window, and Louise screamed.

Sam hurried down the path, the heavy phone knocking against his leg. It crackled, and then came on.

“Sam? Sam, do you have a copy?”

“Copy that,” he said. “I haven’t found them yet. They must have gone all the way to the falls.” He released the button.

“Listen carefully. Merrick might be near.”

Huh? Pressing the button, he said, “I must have heard you wrong. Come back?”

“It wasn’t him, Sam. It wasn’t Merrick about to be executed. Nancy and Winifred Snyder both confirmed it.”

Sam looked nervously into the thick trees that surrounded him.

“We’ll have to maintain silence from here on out. We’re on our way.”

Suddenly, another voice came over the air. “Sam!” He recognized his mother’s voice, before the phone went dead. Glancing around, he slipped into the trees, out of sight.

Furious, Louise’s mouth fell open. She grabbed the dead radio and shook it. “Why didn’t you let me tell him about Sally? You know that’s where she’s going.”

“Exactly, ma’am.” Agent Sanderson took the phone from her. “If Merrick overhears it, he’ll know Sally’s out there, too.”

Her heart beat fast. “You’re right,” she whispered.

Agent Sanderson pressed a button on the phone and relayed the new information to their headquarters. “How long before backup arrives?”

“From Augusta, about two hours.” He turned to the other agent. “Stay with them. I’m going in.” Sanderson opened the door and then looked back at them. “Lock this—”A shot rang out, and Sanderson fell forward into the room. He rolled over on his side, getting out of the way of the door. He kicked it shut.

He lay flat, knees up, blood seeping from his wound.

“Shots have been fired!” Thompson yelled into his phone. “Sanderson’s down. Get a medic here, now.”

Louise made her way to the cabinet under the sink, where she kept the emergency medical kit. Another shot rang through the air, and glass exploded into the room.

“Get down!” Agent Thompson yelled. His gun