as long as he believes he killed your daddy. That’ll give me time to round him up so I can git rid o’ the both o’ you.”
Abby stood just as the man started to walk away. “What do you mean as long as he believes he killed Daddy? Jay shot him by accident. He told me all about it.”
The man laughed and opened a door. “No one’s ever gonna know nothin’ about it once the two o’ you up and vanish—like your daddy and sis.”
Chapter 19
Kate called Abby’s cell phone as she’d been doing every five minutes for the past hour. It rang and rang. She hung up, torn between irritation and concern. Why would Abby turn off her phone? Why wouldn’t she call if she was going to be late for dinner?
Kate sent a text to Abby’s phone. Call home NOW! I’m worried about you.
“Did you get through to her?” Dad said.
Kate jumped, her hand over her heart. “I didn’t hear you come in. No. Her phone just rings off the hook. I sent another text.”
“Maybe she’s out of cell range up there.”
Kate glanced at the clock. “She knows what time we have dinner. She’s never late.”
“Are you sure Savannah didn’t schedule her to work?”
“Positive.”
“Well”—Dad laid his hand on her back—“Abby’s on edge like the rest of us over the remains that were found. Maybe she’s not thinkin’ clearly. My granddaughter’s a very responsible young lady. I’m sure she’ll be home soon.”
“Dad, she knows not to worry me this way. I need to know where she is all the time. We look out for each other. All of us! That’s the commitment we made after—”
“I’m sure she’s fine, honey.”
Kate chewed her lip. “I don’t even know exactly where the slope is. Somewhere off Summit Road. If I knew where, I’d drive up there myself and look for her.”
Buck scratched his chin. “Did you try callin’ Jay?”
“I don’t have his cell number.”
“You know where he works. Doesn’t he go in at four and work till ten?”
Kate nodded. “That’s right, he does. Thanks, Dad.”
Kate flipped through the phone book until she found a listing for Tutty’s, then keyed in the numbers.
“Good evenin’, Tutty’s Barbecue. Randy speakin’.”
“Yes, this is Kate Cummings. May I please speak to Jay Rogers?”
“Ma’am, Jay’s not workin’ tonight. He called in sick.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize that. I thought my daughter, Abby, might be with him. Sorry to have bothered you.”
Kate disconnected the call. “Jay called in sick. So where’s Abby?”
“Maybe she went to his place to sit a spell,” Dad said. “To keep him company, since he’s feeling bad.”
“That’s a thought. Abby told me Jay and his mother live at the Sycamore Apartments. But I don’t know his mother’s name. She’s been remarried a few times, and her last name is different.”
“I know where those apartments are,” Dad said. “If it’d make you feel better, I could drive down there right now and look for the Odyssey—or Jay’s truck.”
Kate shook her head. “I don’t want to overreact and embarrass her. Let’s go ahead and eat dinner. If Abby’s not here when we finish, we’ll drive down to Foggy Ridge and check the apartment complex and see if my Odyssey is parked outside.”
“Don’t worry, honey,” her dad said. “I’m sure she’s fine.”
No, you’re not, Kate thought. You’re as uneasy as I am.
Abby stood on her tiptoes and pushed and pulled on the iron grate that allowed her a glimpse of the room above. The grate wouldn’t budge. Not even slightly.
She was stuck in some dank, dark hole, and not a soul knew where she was.
Lord, I don’t want to die! Mama can’t handle it. Please … I know You hear me. Help me!
She yanked the grate one more time and then pulled herself up by her arms, her feet dangling. It was no use. She let go and dropped to the ground, brushing her hands together.
Abby sat on the earthen floor, her back against the wall that felt as if it was made of sod and held together with some sort of metal mesh. What possible reason would anyone have for digging out a room like this?
She ran her fingers across the dirt floor, thinking about her father lying there lifeless and without dignity. Her captor said Jay shot him but then implied he hadn’t. Jay could not have faked that gut-wrenching confession.
Abby thought back to the last time she had been alone with her father—the day before he disappeared …