Inevitable Sentences (22 page)

The women stared, wide-eyed, at Adrian’s outburst. Someone was still sobbing. But who could blame them? Soon they quieted and began to comfort the children.

“It’s okay. We’re all right,” Lorraine said to her two.

Tomika and Marcy rocked their babies. Tomika shook uncontrollably.

Adrian checked her three children. “Are you okay?”

McKenna answered in a weak voice, “Yes.” A tear slid from her eye. Adrian knew how hard her daughter always tried to be brave and act like an adult. Her heart broke to see how scared she was.

Adrian smiled. “You’re a brave one, McKenna.” She turned away and back to the task that awaited her. “Lorraine and Marcy, come with me.” Adrian jumped from the van.

Marcy laid Matthew against Tomika. “Watch him for me.”

Tomika nodded.

By the time Marcy and Lorraine got out, Adrian had retrieved a shovel from the rear and was digging snow away. “Once I get enough snow cleared from the tire, I’ll get back behind the wheel and you two are going to have to push with everything you have. Got it?”

“Yes,” Marcy answered somberly.

“I don’t think we can do this,” Lorraine whined.

“Would you rather sit here and freeze to death?” Adrian said as she lifted a last shovelful of snow and heaved it to the side. “Go to the back and get ready to push.” She got into the van and started the engine. As she rocked it, gently pressing the accelerator, then reverse over and over, Lorraine and Marcy pushed.

The van didn’t budge. Adrian got out and shoveled some more, then turned to the other two women. “Let’s try again, harder.” Maybe she should get the older kids to help. No. They might get hurt. She decided not to risk it.

“Tomika,” Adrian yelled. “We need you to help us.”

Still traumatized, Tomika stared at Adrian as though she didn’t recognize her.

Adrian touched Tomika’s arm. “Give Gemma to McKenna.”

Tomika looked at McKenna, but didn’t move.

“We can’t get back on the road without your help. Once we do, we’ll be safe,” Adrian gently prodded Tomika.

Tomika finally handed Gemma to McKenna and kissed her daughter’s forehead. She eased out of the van and joined Marcy and Lorraine.

“About time you helped,” Lorraine snapped.

“We don’t have time for that kind of nonsense, Lorraine,” Adrian said sharply.

With all three women in place, Adrian again rocked the van as the women pushed. After several tries the vehicle lurched forward and onto the road. They all yelled “Yahoo!” Marcy and Lorraine gave each other a high five and climbed back into their seats. Tomika followed without saying a word.

“Good job, ladies,” Adrian praised as she tightened her hands around the steering wheel to stop them from shaking, and drove slowly on down the road.

How far had they traveled? They had been on the road for twenty minutes. They had to be close to Big Bay by now. Adrian inched the van along, never taking her eyes off the road, and stared with such intensity her eyes burned. The snow swirling in the headlights nearly hypnotized her and she shook her head and rubbed the sting out of her eyes.

The bright lights made the snow into a solid curtain. Everything was white and had no definition. If Adrian couldn’t see the road, how could she find the inn?

Finally, lights off in the distance. Close enough, though, to lift Adrian’s spirits. Within a few minutes she drove into Big Bay, a town of about three hundred sleeping people.

The Thunder Bay Inn was dark except for a few outside lights. Instead of the warm, two-story clapboard mansion inviting her to stay, the inn on this night looked more like an old house in a horror movie. No matter, hopefully Joan and Ned were there to help them and get help to Celeste.

Adrian struggled to get the van over the mound of snow a plow had piled up at the driveway entrance. With one final press against the gas pedal, the vehicle lurched forward and over the hump with a hard thud, causing everyone to bounce high in their seats. They all screamed. Adrian eased as close to the front door as possible.

“Stay put until I tell you to get out,” Adrian told the group as she unbuckled her belt. She had to fight the wind to get the door open and finally shoved it far enough to be able to hop out into the snow that had become deeper even in the short time they had traveled. The door slammed shut behind her and leaned into the wind that blasted her like sand in a desert storm. With her head bent and chin tucked deep into her collar, she made her way to the entrance, slipping several times.

Adrian turned the door handle, but the inn was locked. She pounded and yelled, “Hello. Is anyone here? Joan, it’s Adrian. We need help.” She pounded again. Suddenly lights went on throughout the inn and Adrian heard footsteps scurrying toward the door. Locks were released and shortly the door opened. A sleepy-eyed woman in her mid-fifties wearing a red-plaid bathrobe yawned a greeting, “Adrian? What’s happening?” Joan asked. Her husband, Ned, a brawny man, stood behind her.

Adrian narrated the night’s events so quickly she had to stop to catch her breath and as she spoke, she pointed to the van. The women and children had their noses pressed against the windows, their breath making misty circles in the glass. When the glass fogged over, someone rubbed an area to look out, and they eagerly pushed their faces close to see what was happening.

“Bring them in,” Joan said, peering around Adrian and eyeing the group.

“Thank you.” Adrian dashed to the van. “We’re going to stay at the inn for a while. Pile out.” She lifted her own children out and into the snow, then took Matthew and carried him to the inn. Everyone followed.

Adrian introduced Joan to the others who looked bedraggled, confused, and exhausted.

“You’re lucky that this is our off-season. We have several vacant rooms,” Joan said. “Let’s get these tired children in bed. Then I’ll make tea for anyone who wants it.”

“Thank you for your help.” Adrian nearly cried out the words. “But I need to call the sheriff’s department before I do anything to let them know about the intruder and where we are. I hope you have phone service.”

“Yes. You can use the one on the desk.” Joan pointed to the phone.

Adrian dialed 911 but was so excited when a dispatcher answered she could hardly get her words out. When she hung up, she told the others, “The deputy will immediately send a car to the lighthouse. Lucky for us it’s in the area. God willing, the weather won’t slow it down too much.” All of a sudden it hit her that Celeste couldn’t have gotten through to the sheriff since the dispatcher hadn’t been contacted before now. The intruder must have cut the phone line.

“Okay. Let’s get them upstairs.” Joan motioned to the group. They followed her up the stairs to the bedrooms. Once all the children were calmed and snug in a bed, Adrian and Lorraine went back down for some tea. Tomika and Marcy, still stunned and nearly catatonic, stayed with the children.

Adrian and Lorraine finally took off their coats and laid them over a chair.

“I’m surprised you have power,” Adrian said. “The lighthouse doesn’t.”

“We have a generator. It’s a must, especially when threatened with frequent power outages. Our guests get upset.” Joan carried a tea service and cups on a tray and ushered the women into a plush, comfortable sitting room decorated in shades of blue and mauve. As Joan served the tea she said, “From what you’ve told me up to this point”—she looked at Adrian—“you haven’t heard about the escape from Hawk Haven Prison, have you?”

Adrian nearly dropped her cup. “No. When? Do you know who it is?”

Lorraine’s eyes became huge circles as she turned to Adrian. “Do you think that’s who’s at the lighthouse? That’s a maximum-security prison. Those guys are dangerous.”

Joan sat across from Adrian at Lorraine’s side. “A guard found the prisoner missing during a count around five o’clock. The radio announcement said his name is Chad Wilbanks.”

Adrian did drop the cup. “I’m sorry,” she said as she abruptly stood up. “I’ve got to call the sheriff again.” She raced to the phone and grabbed the receiver with such force she knocked the phone to the floor, too. She picked it up and dialed. When she got the dispatcher, she said, “I need to talk with the sheriff. It’s truly important.”

“You can tell me what’s happening and I’ll get the information to a deputy,” the dispatcher said in a calm voice. “I’m here to help you.”

“I think I know where the escapee, Chad Wilbanks is,” Adrian screamed. “We need to get the sheriff out there pronto.”

“One moment, ma’am,” the dispatcher said. “I’ll get him.”

“This is Sheriff Hunter. What is this about Chad Wilbanks?”

“You’ve got to get to the lighthouse as fast as you can,” Adrian blurted. “Can you use a helicopter?” Adrian had been used to such emergency rescues as an ER nurse. Several patients had to be airlifted from Monroe Hospital where she had worked to Ann Arbor hospitals.

“First tell me what you know.” Duke Hunter settled Adrian down with his businesslike tone.

Adrian told him everything she knew about Celeste’s connection to Chad, as well as about the women at the inn with her. She also told him about the SUV stuck on the side of the road and gave him the license plate number. “How fast can you get there?”

“I already have one car on its way. I’ll get the task force ready, too. However, the helicopter is out of the question in this wind.”

“Yes, of course. The weather.” She paused for a moment and then continued, clearly enunciating each word, “I think Chad will try to harm Celeste because she once told me he blames her for not helping him after her daughter was murdered. That may sound stupid and irrational. But he’s a serial killer after all. He’s got to be insane.”

“We’ll do everything we can,” Hunter soothed.

“I’m on my way.”

“Good. I understand.” Adrian said with little conviction. “However, that may not be enough.”

“You stay right where you are, you hear?” Hunter ordered.

Did he sense she might do something to try and help Celeste? “Sure. Get there as fast as you can.” Adrian hung up.

“How did you know about Chad Wilbanks?” Lorraine asked.

“Celeste told me shortly after I got to the lighthouse. I’m not sure why she trusted me with the information. Maybe she needed someone to talk to.” Adrian stopped and stared off into the distance. “Oh, my God. There’s no way the sheriff will get there in time.” She collapsed against the desk.

“Are you okay?” Joan and Lorraine asked simultaneously.

“No. Not really. I think Celeste is in real danger.” Adrian snatched her coat, hat and gloves. “I’ve got to go back and try to help her.”

Joan stood. “I’ve already seen a police car heading toward the lighthouse. Certainly the deputy can do more than you.”

“You can’t go.” Lorraine jumped up and grabbed her arm. “It makes no sense to put both you and Celeste at risk.”

“What makes less sense is for me not to do anything. I’m not sitting in this comfy inn and sipping tea while Celeste is in trouble.” Adrian headed for the door. “Before I go, I have to make one more call.” She dialed Marquette General Hospital and spoke in a low tone so the other women couldn’t hear. When she hung up she opened the front door, and a blast of air sent papers flying off the lobby desk.

“Please think about what the rest of us will do if both you and Celeste are hurt,” Lorraine begged as tears streamed down her cheeks. “We need you. Your children need you.”

Adrian spun around and grabbed Lorraine’s shoulders. “Get a hold of yourself. Neither you nor I could live with ourselves if we left Celeste alone to fight off Chad.”

“If it is Chad,” Lorraine huffed.

“What difference does it make who it is? Celeste needs help. I’m leaving you in charge here and I’m wasting time.” Although Lorraine was the next oldest, Adrian doubted she could handle the task. Fortunately, Joan and Ned could. Adrian stormed from the inn and ran to the van.

“I have a real bad feeling about this,” Lorraine called out after her, and then said to herself, Please, please, please, let the sheriff get there soon.

Adrian quickly started the van. She could see Lorraine and Joan still standing in the doorway shivering. They’d be okay. “Damn.” She remembered that Lorraine had never given her the cell phone back, but it didn’t matter. There was no reception anyway.

Adrian sped over the snow mound across the drive, wheels spinning for a moment. When the vehicle was righted, she drove off in the direction of the lighthouse. Snow swirled in a frenzied plume behind her.

“T
HANK YOU FOR PHONING
to let me know what’s happening,” Max told Duke Hunter. His tone was both anxious and sad. “There’s something else you should know.”

“What is that?” Hunter sounded apprehensive.

“Adrian already called me, and I’m worried about what foolish thing she might try to do to help Celeste.”

“Yeah. I thought that, too, when I talked with her,” Hunter said. “Max, I’m speaking to you as both your friend and the sheriff. Don’t you do anything stupid, either. You better stay put like the doctor ordered. Remember, you have had a serious operation.” Hunter sounded more disquieted than usual. He had obviously heard the trepidation in Max’s voice.

Max and Hunter had been through other harrowing nights when they had faced problems at the prison, like the hostage situation a few years ago. Tonight was different however. This was about Celeste and a serial killer, and not just any serial killer. Hunter didn’t know the whole story about Chad—the one Max should have told Celeste. Now it could be too late to tell anyone.

“Thanks for caring. I won’t do anything I shouldn’t.” Max tried to sound as convincing as he could, given the circumstances. But he had already made up his mind after he had talked with Adrian about what he had to do.

“Good,” Hunter said. “I’m headed out to the lighthouse now. In fact, I’m talking with you as I drive. Two other squad cars that were in the vicinity are already en route. They should be close to the lighthouse, if they’re not there already. The Emergency Support Team is also on its way. They should be on the scene shortly, too. I promise I’ll keep you posted on what’s going down.”