would probably be charged for conspiring with him. Mama would be devastated all over again—
Abby felt a hairy arm put her in a chokehold, a strong hand clamped tightly over her mouth. She struggled to free herself, to scream, to breathe …
“Girlie, you ain’t as smart as I thought you were.”
The man from the phone calls! His voice was unmistakable! Abby struggled in vain to break his hold on her, but he tightened his grip and held something sharp against her ribs.
“You just wouldn’t leave it alone.” Abby felt his breath in her ear. “Too bad. You shoulda done what I told you while you had the chance. I can’t have you lookin’ into things that are best left alone.”
Chapter 18
Abby was pushed and prodded along the muddy path by the man whose voice she knew but whose face she still had not seen. Was he the man she had glimpsed that day at Murchison’s? He had very convincingly threatened to butcher her and feed her to his pigs unless she did exactly as he told her.
“I seen that Oldham kid come up here,” the man said, “but I lost sight of him. What’s he want?”
“I’m not sure,” Abby said. “I hid in the bed of his truck when he drove up here. I was following him when you grabbed me.”
“How about you venture a guess?” He gave her a persuasive shove.
“I think he might be looking for you. He had some questions.” Did this guy know Jay had come for Ella?
“Little ol’ J.D. finally wants to talk, does he? Took him long enough.”
Abby wondered why he sounded amused, but she was afraid to ask. “Where are you taking me?”
“This is your own doin’. You and that Oldham kid shouldn’t have gone snoopin’ into things that ain’t your concern. I warned you what would happen if you kept it up.”
“I haven’t talked to anyone else about the girl—neither has Jay.”
“Don’t matter. You ain’t gonna stop till you git what you come for. And I ain’t lettin’ that happen.”
“Then you know Ella’s my sister.”
“Hogwash! She’s my kin. Born to my late wife, Ella Jane. I was right there when the kid took her first breath and started wailin’. I don’t know what you think you know, missy, but you’re way off.”
“Show me her birth certificate,” Abby said. “And I promise I’ll never bother you again.”
“Oh, you ain’t never gonna bother me again.” The man laughed. “She’s my kin, but I ain’t obliged to show you nothin’. Keep walkin’.”
“Why don’t you just call the sheriff and report me? Get a restraining order or something?” She knew why.
“The law don’t count for nothin’ out here. I make the rules. I already tried restrainin’ you. Now I’m shuttin’ you up my way.”
Abby’s gaze flitted around the woods. She wanted to flee, but to where? The woods were ominous and dense and unfamiliar. He had the advantage. If she tried to escape and failed, she might end up as pig feed.
“You have to know it’s not right to just take someone’s child,” Abby said softly, hoping not to provoke him. “If you give her back to us willingly, Mama would be so grateful that I’m sure the sheriff would go easy on you.”
There was that irritating laugh again.
Abby wanted to slap him. “You think this is funny? Do you have any idea how torn up my family’s been since my daddy and sister disappeared?”
“Don’t know what Jimmy Dale Oldham’s been fillin’ your head with,” said the gruff voice behind her, “but I didn’t take nobody’s kid. And he’s the one who shot and killed a man.”
“Well, that man was my daddy! And the little girl is my sister!” Abby started to cry. “You had no right to take her!”
“I told you, I seen Ella come into the world. And I don’t know nothin’ about your kin disappearin’.”
“Then why are you treating me like this? What are you afraid of?”
“I ain’t afraid.”
“You should be,” Abby said. “You can’t prove Ella is yours—because she isn’t. Jay told me about the accidental shooting that happened up here five years ago. The timing fits. You’re not her real—”
Abby felt a powerful blow on the back of her head that collapsed her knees and sent her falling … falling … falling … into a swirling gray vacuum. She was vaguely aware of her shoulder hitting something hard and the strong smell of wet earth … and then nothing.
Virgil sat at the desk in his office and glanced out the window,