Innocence Taken (8 page)

The door opened and Westerly entered. He was a striking figure with his hat, boots, and muscular body. Brad's clothes looked good on him. Two teen girls sitting in a booth watched as he walked over to Nature. They leaned close and whispered, glancing in his direction several times. He was oblivious. He was looking at the menu.

"You ordered yet?"

"No, I was waiting for you."

Nature smiled. She watched the girls fan themselves as if hot before breaking down into giggles. They continued to watch as he walked across to the counter. He ordered his food, waited for Nature to order hers, then paid for everything. Chivalry was in action again.

While they waited for the food to be delivered, Nature thought about where they were going and what awaited their arrival. The girls, with their innocence, reminded her of Rew. She couldn't help it, they were so like her. A rush of sadness flooded her heart. She had to get outside, she had to get away from the girls; she had to get away from everything.

"I'll be outside."

"You okay?” There was concern in his eyes.

Nature ignored the question. She had to get out now, before she lost control. The gloves on her hands protected her from the feelings of others, but they did not help against what was within herself. She shoved the door open and practically ran to the camper. Getting into the passenger side, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Her heart was racing, her breath matching its speed.

Westerly opened his door and got in. He set the food down between them, the drink carrying tray next to it. He looked at Nature. She refused to look at him. She had to get herself under control before she did that. If she looked now, she would lose what little grasp she had.

"You going to be okay?” His voice was gentle, soothing.

She nodded her head yes, her eyes remained closed.

He continued to look at her, one arm thrown over the steering wheel. He knew so little about the woman sitting next to him. He knew only about her ability because she had used it to help solve many of his cases. As if sensing his eyes upon her, she opened hers and looked at him. She quickly looked at the floorboard, unable to maintain contact.

"It there anything I can do to help?"

"Nothing."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Nature ... I want to help. The one thing I have discovered over the years is that it helps to talk it out."

"Web ... please ... let it alone for now. I need time."

"Would it help if you called Sandy?"

Nature was forever grateful for those words. They showed that he understood, that he would not demand she talk to him. “No, that's not necessary. I'll be fine.” She opened the bag, grabbed one of the French fries and popped it into her mouth, allowing the end to stick out like an antenna.

The girls were leaving as Westerly backed the camper out of the parking space. They smiled at him before they turned toward the local town. Nature watched them disappear down the sidewalk. She hoped that they would remain safe, that they would grow up to be wonderful mothers and wives, that they would not be another statistic—like Rew.

The miles flew past as they made their way to Florida. Westerly hung his arm out the open window after his meal was finished. Nature wasn't hungry anymore, but ate to keep Web off her back. He was so much like Sandy. Maybe that was why she was drawn to him. Maybe that was the reason she insisted on his being here, instead of Sandy.

"Web, why did you agree to come with me?"

"Because you asked me to."

"Web ... really, why?"

He didn't answer immediately. He stared at the road ahead."

"Web?"

"Because I want to see that bastard caught as much as you do. I want to see that son of a bitch castrated and hung for what he did.” He looked at Nature. She saw the fire in his eyes. “I want other families to not have to go through what the Mosby's had to go through."

"What if this girl is dead?"

"Then we work harder. We find him before he kills again."

Nature saw him return his gaze to the road ahead. She turned hers forward also. A sign for Savannah showed they were about two hours away from the city. She looked back at Westerly. He was bleary from driving for so long with only short rest breaks in between.. She watched as he shook his head to clear it.

"Web, you've been driving for almost 18 hours. Pull over and let me drive. You need to get some sleep."

"I can make it."

"To what? An early death?” She was angry at his stubbornness.

"We have to get there. We have to save the missing girl from that monster."

Everything fell into place. She understood what drove him to get there in such a reckless manner. “Web, pull over. I'll make sure we get there quickly.” She reached over, resting her gloved hand on his shoulder.

He flinched at the touch. He knew she was right, though. He was exhausted. The camper slowed. It pulled off onto the grass. He put it into park once it stopped, got out, and walked to the passenger side. His legs were wobbly. Nature slid across the seat to the driver's side. Westerly got in, crossed his arms and waited.

"Well ... we're not going to get there quickly unless you start moving,” he snarled.

Nature ignored the harsh words. She knew why they were there. She felt the same way. Checking the side mirrors to make sure it was safe; she put the camper in gear and pulled back onto the highway. They had almost eleven hours before they reached their destination. It would be too late to check in with the police when they arrived. Nature wanted to get there, but, then again, she didn't. She never looked forward to the sessions. They caused her to die a little bit each time, just like the victims. She hoped this time would be different. This time, she hoped the outcome was good. This time, she hoped the girl was found alive and returned to her loving family. Snoring was her only companion during the long hours that followed.

The holly bush came into view. It was just before sunset. The man was tired. He had driven throughout the day, stopping only to sample the girl when his need overwhelmed him. He pulled the van off the blacktop and onto the overgrown drive. He parked it behind the vines, as he had before with the other girls. He got out and went to the back, opening the doors.

The girl lay on her back, legs hanging spread apart, arms tied behind her back, naked.. She glared at him with hatred. He reveled in the look. It made him want her now. He knew he had to wait. He had to get to the cabin. A sense of urgency filled him. He did not know where it came from, or why. All he knew was he had to move.

He crawled in beside her. She moved as far away as her restraints allowed. He reached up and unbuckled one of the restraints, letting the freed leg fall. It landed with a resounding thud. He turned his attention to the other leg. It also fell with a thud. The girl winched with pain. He smiled. He held a finger up, wagging it, indicating she'd better behave when he moved her. She nodded her head slightly.

The man shifted to the back of the van, helped the girl into a sitting position and jumped out. He grabbed her arms and pulled her backwards. When she reached the edge, he lifted her to her feet. Her legs buckled from long periods of inactivity. He held her until he was certain she could stand on her own. She shivered when the cold air hit her bare skin. He wrapped a light blanket over her shoulders. He slammed the doors to the van shut and pulled the girl to the trail leading up into the mountains. He allowed her to walk in front of him because he was too tired to carry her.

The trail lay invisible in the growing darkness. The girl stumbled several times, forcing him to take the lead after she scraped her leg on a branch. He knew the way. He knew what was in the way. He groped her breasts and crotch before he untied her arms from behind and retied them in front. He wanted her badly. His penis was as hard as the nearby trees. He had to wait. He had to get her to the cabin first, where he could make her his without the chance of interruption.

Three hours into the walk, he decided he couldn't wait any longer. He had to have her. He tugged on her arms, causing her to fall on her hands and knees. Unzipping his jeans, his penis leaped to freedom. He did not wear underwear. Kneeling behind her, he grabbed her hips and shoved his penis deep into her anus. He liked the anus best. It was tight and rubbed him better than the vagina ever could. He pumped and pumped. Mindy cried out. He didn't care. No one was close; no one would hear her. He lifted her hips higher and pushed as hard as he could. It wasn't enough; his need filled him too much. He couldn't ejaculate. He had waited too long.

In frustration, he withdrew. He looked around in the darkness for something, anything he could use to excite himself further. While he was distracted, Mindy rose to her feet. His back faced her. She moved quietly away from him, her eyes glued on his shadowy form.

She stepped on a twig. It snapped. The man spun around, seeing her. He became enraged. He charged at her. She fell to one knee, making it seem as if she was giving up. He hesitated, almost on top of her. She planted the heel of her foot firmly into his groin. His penis felt hard under her foot. The man fell over, his hands clutching his wounded part.. She leaped to her feet and ran, ran as if her life depended on it, because it did.

Mindy crashed through the undergrowth. The darkness of night made it difficult to see beyond arms length. Leaves covered the ground, hiding tree roots and other obstacles. She fell down many times. Her hands remained tied; she did not have time to free them. The ground started to slope downward. She flew with it. Her breath was ragged. She had not exerted herself this much in a long time. She ripped the tape off and stopped to catch her breath. A crashing noise sounded behind her, deep in the shadows. She ran on.

She thought several times about stopping and hiding. Each time, the thought was dashed by the sounds of close pursuit. The man after her wasn't trying to be quiet. He wanted her to know he was there. He was probably going to use her in even more horrible ways before he killed her. She wasn't going to let that happen. She had to get away, to warn the police. She had to stop the maniac from hurting another girl.

Mindy had her head down, trying to put distance between her and the man chasing her. When the trees cleared before her, she was in a full out run and could not stop. She flew over the edge. Her screams echoed throughout the valley below. It bounced in tempo each time she hit an outcrop of rock or tree. It stopped when she did, at the bottom of the cliff.

The man leaned over the edge. He had heard the screams and slowed his forward progress, thus preventing himself from following her. He couldn't see anything. The dark covered everything, including the girl. The thought of her twisted dead body lying speared by a tree or bloody across the ground excited him. His penis grew. He gripped himself and began to pump. He jerked harder and harder, faster and faster, until he finally found the release he sought. With a moan of pleasure, he ejaculated over the edge, hoping it hit the body of the girl below.

Anger replaced the joy caused by his release when he thought about the loss of the girl and the pleasure associated with her. A frown formed as he put his limp penis back inside his jeans. Now he would have to hunt again, hunt for The One. He would have to return to Florida, where it was still warm. Maybe he would go to the Keys, or maybe Miami. He would make up his mind along the way. Still angry about the loss, he stormed back the way he came until he reached the trail leading to the van.

He had calmed down completely by the time he pulled onto the road, heading south with the hopes of finally locating the one he sought. He hoped to find her and bring her back to the cabin before the winter snows set in. A smile creased his face. The fact that he had not rested was forgotten. He was on the hunt again.

The tires sang on the road as the miles passes. Nature hummed to herself, harmonizing with their music. She kicked herself for not bringing some of her favorites CD's. She'd forgotten them in the rush to pack and get moving. She thought about turning the radio on, but vetoed it. Web needed sleep, not heavy metal with a twist of orchestra, or the twang of country, or anything else for that matter. The snoring beside her had gone on for close to nine hours.

"Nice singing, ever consider it full time?” The words came out from under the tilted hat.

"No. Too much work and travel. I like quiet in between blasts of loud."

Web straightened up. He yawned and stretched his tall frame as far as it could in the cab.

"Feel better? Not quite so grouchy?"

"Sorry about that. I guess I didn't realize how tired I was.” He looked out the window. He didn't like to admit when he was wrong. It made him feel inadequate, less of a man.

"I made you a ham and cheese sandwich. I had to stop to go to the bathroom and decided to eat too. It's beside you in the plastic bag. A bottle of water is in the holder."

Westerly looked beside him. As promised, the sandwich sat next to him. “Wheat bread huh. I prefer white.” He took it out of the bag and bit a large chunk off, chewing it slowly.

Nature glanced at him and started to laugh. He looked like a chipmunk with a huge stash in his cheek. He was oblivious to his appearance.

"Whut?” His word was muffled by the food.

Nature only laughed harder. Tears flowed from her eyes, making it difficult to see in the dark. She finally gave in and pulled to the side of the road. She let go of the wheel and held her belly instead. The tears of laughter running down her face changed to tears of sorrow. The transition was so subtle; Westerly did not notice it at first. When she rocked back and forth, sobbing, he spit the food out the window. He moved over next to her and hugged her close.

"Shhh, it's okay, it's okay. Let it out,” he said softly as he smoothed her hair.

Westerly began to see what he thought was a cold hard woman in another light. She was wonderful, she was caring, and she was vulnerable. He had to protect her. He held her close, feeling the sobs wrack her body. When they subsided, he continued to hold her.