Seeking Safety (6 page)

Barry draws his weapon and looks through the
frosted panes of the front door seeing four shadowy figures
standing on the porch. He flips on the porch light and slowly opens
the front door and is surprised to see his former Marine buddies
dressed in fatigues standing on the porch armed to the hilt.

"Hey Farrie, don't shoot!" teases the tall
one called Scoot. He raises his arms and a broad grin slides across
his face. "You look surprised to see us," he adds sounding a little
confused.

A relieved smile slides across Barry's face,
"It is so great to see you guys! I just wasn't expecting you this
early! Come in!" After a round of back slaps and manly hugs the
group walks into the great room. "You'll find coffee and cinnamon
rolls in the kitchen if you're hungry."

"Nice digs, Farrie, it looks like the movie
star thing sits well on you," says the short one they call Stump.
The rest of the group is composed of a tall, skinny guy they call
Goose, and a redhead called Pinky. Barry was a sniper along with
Pinky back when the five of them served together in the Marine
Corp. Goose served as their medic and Stump was the muscle. Scoot
is their team leader.

Barry blushes, nods in agreement, smiles, and
says, "You guys get comfortable while I go fetch my guests."

About that time Barry's Mom, Virginia comes
down the stairs with a surprised smile on her face. "Oh my
goodness, look who is here! I haven't seen you boys in ages!" She
makes the rounds speaking to each of the men and giving them a warm
hug. "I was just telling Barrett last night how I wished you were
still part of his life and now you're here! It is so good to see
you!"

Barry re-enters the room with the woman and
her son in tow. He explains, "Ma'am, these guys are my friends. We
all served together in the Marine Corp. We call the tall one Scoot,
the short one is Stump, Pinky is the redhead, and Goose is the
skinny one. We want to help you. Please tell us how we can
help."

I am terrified as I survey the group of men
dressed in fatigues and armed to the hilt, and I mumble without
thinking, "Oh God, what have I done? I have gone from one group of
madmen into the clutches of another!" I clasp Eric to my side
shaking in fear.

Eric calmly says, "I don't think so Mom.
These guys are real Marines. Look at their insignias. I think they
really want to help us. Please Mom, at least listen to them."

Scoot speaks up, "Yes, Ma'am. We are the real
thing and we're sworn to serve and protect. If you are in danger,
we will protect you with our lives. We're very good at what we do.
The four of us make up Drake Security and we do intelligence work
and special operations for the government and the military. Now,
can you tell us which militia group Eric's father is associated
with?"

Overwhelmed by what the men are saying, I
shake my head, "I don't know." My heart is pounding with fear. Can
I trust these men or are they just like those men at the compound?
Oh God, help us!

Barry touches my shoulder and I jump, "You
can't keep running forever. You'll never be free if you do and you
can't handle this by yourself. My friends deal with these
quasi-military groups all the time. They know what they are up
against and how to handle them. Trust us, please."

Eric pleads, "Please Mom, trust them!"

I look down at my son and see his pleading
face and take a deep calming breath. "Well, all right," I say
shakily as I look around the group of armed men. Finally, I sit on
the edge of the sofa, careful to keep from hurting my ribs.
Please God, I pray this is the right decision
and that you will protect Eric and me.

I brush my hair back from my face and
cautiously take another deep breath before I begin my story, "When
I was fifteen I ran away from home, from Seattle. A decision I
sorely regret. I was picked up while I was hitchhiking by a man
that drugged me and took me to the compound in Idaho. I have been
held prisoner at the compound ever since. My name is Melanie
Brentwood. I had Eric when I was sixteen. I'm twenty-five now. The
man that picked me up along the highway that day and Eric's father
is named Darren Calloway. He is one of the leaders of the militia
group. I'm not sure what they are called."

Scoot interrupts, "Yeah, we are familiar with
Calloway."

Barry looks at his Mom, "Would you take Eric
out to the kitchen and feed him some breakfast Mom?"

"Sure, come on Eric," says Virginia as she
leads Eric into the kitchen. Poor Melanie! She has read about those
quasi military groups. Those men are crazy! How did she survive
being kidnapped by such a cruel man? From what she has read life in
one of those places if very primitive, usually without electricity
or running water. How did she stand living in such primitive
conditions? This poor child, how sad it must be to be raised in one
of those horrible places by a bunch of crazy men.

After they have left the room, I continue my
story. "Four days ago I got the opportunity to escape from the
compound with Eric and I took it. Darren is going to be furious
with me. If he catches us, he will kill me. I understand that, but
I want Eric to have an opportunity to live a normal life," Tears
fill my eyes.

"Can you tell us what happened that made you
decide to risk leaving?" asks Scoot.

Nodding my head, I continue, "Darren was
drinking heavily that night. When he came back to our cabin he was
roaring drunk and furious about something. I don't know what made
him mad. As usual, he started knocking me around, hitting and
kicking me. I'm sure you can still see the bruises." I wave my hand
in front of my face and neck. "Eric tried to step between us and
Darren turned on him. It's the first time he ever hit Eric in
anger. He socked him in the nose then beat him with a belt. I
couldn't stop him!" Tears are streaming down my face and I brush
them off my cheeks. Barry hands me a clean handkerchief and I nod
my thanks. "He kept hitting Eric over and over with a belt across
his back. Oh God, I couldn't stop him." I am sobbing openly
now.

Barry understands now why Eric pulled away
from his touch last night. The boy probably has bruises on his
back.

Pinky says, "Melanie, since you have lived
with those guys at the compound for all these years, you can be a
great resource to us, if you're willing. We have been trying to
break up this particular group for years. Will you help us?"

"I don't know what I can do. I was never
involved in any of the meetings or anything. They are very careful
to make sure the women don't know anything."

"You know things like the layout of the
compound and where everyone lives, what times they eat, change
guards, where they shower and when. You know all types of regular
routines that they practice. Information like that will be a
tremendous help to us," adds Pinky. "And once all this is over,
we'll make sure you have a new identity and a new home where you
will be safe."

I nod, "I don't think I have any choice now.
I'll help if I can."
Please God, don't let
this be a mistake. Please God, keep Eric safe!

Scoot says, "All right, guys, let's get busy.
We have a job to do."

The four members of the Drake Security team
leave to check out the security weaknesses in and around the house
and to make plans for the coming confrontation with Darren
Calloway.

After the men leave, Virginia and Eric come
back to the great room where Barry and I are sitting on the sofa
quietly talking. Barry is assuring me that I made the right
decision in trusting the members of the Drake Security team. Eric
sits down on the sofa next to me and places his arms around my
waist.

"You did the right thing Mom. These men are
right. We can't keep running. I want someone to fight for you,
Mom." He wipes tears from his eyes. "I don't want him to hurt you
anymore," he says as tears stream down his face.

With tears in my eyes, I enclose my son in my
arms. "Oh Baby, I'm so sorry you had to witness all that. I pray
that you come out of all of this safe." I look over at Barry and
plead, "Will you promise me that no matter what happens to me, you
won't let him go back to that horrible place with Darren?"

"I promise, Melanie. I will do everything in
my power to protect him and you." I nod my head and take comfort in
his words.
Please God, keep us all
safe.

******

Darren Calloway trudges through the deep snow
along the old logging road. It is barely daylight. He is smiling
with anticipation because Melanie is within his reach now. When he
checked the GPS this morning it showed the car hasn't moved since
last night. It's still sitting about three miles down this old
logging road. He decided to walk to their location because he
doesn't want to get his truck stuck in the deep snow on this
unplowed road. Something obviously caused Melanie to have to stop.
Besides, it is probably impassable by vehicle with all of the deep
ruts and holes he keeps stepping in.

He can't wait to get his hands on Melanie. He
is going to kill the bitch for taking his son and leaving him. He
can't imagine what made her think she would get away with it. She
has to know that he is going to find them. She knows him well
enough to realize she won't go unpunished. Yep, he is definitely
going to kill her.

First though, he is going to make her pay. He
is going to rape her just like he did when he first brought her to
the compound. He remembers what an adrenaline rush that was. It has
been a long time since he has felt that awesome feeling. He is
going to tie her to the bed just like he did that time. Then he is
going to rape her over and over right in front of Eric. He needs to
show the boy how a man is supposed to treat a woman. Then when he
has his fill of her, he is going to strangle the life right out of
her. He's going to make Eric watch every minute of it. He is much
too soft. He is going to have to toughen up to make it in his
world. He won't have a sissy for a son!

He finally spots the car that is almost
completely buried in a snow drift. His heart is pounding with
anticipation. Grinning now, he quietly approaches the car and
brushes away the loose snow peering through the windows. What?
Where is the bitch? Where could they have gone? He jerks open the
driver's door. She's not here! Looking around the area he doesn't
see any tracks other than his own in the new snow. Damn! That means
they left the area before the snow fell last night. Surely he
hasn't come all this way to lose them now. Where could they be?

Then he sees smoke rising from a house in the
distance beyond the horizon. She must be over at the house across
the pasture. Yeah, that's it. She saw the smoke and walked over to
that house. That is the only logical explanation.

He will wait until dark and then go collect
what's his. He'll get one of the members from the area to help him,
just in case whoever lives in the house is watching for him.
Heading back toward his truck he lines out his plan in his
head.

******

Later that same morning Barry calls the
Murray's to update them on the situation. He asks them to pick up
some warm clothes for Melanie and Eric at the mercantile in town.
He tells them to call when they get back from town and he will pick
up their purchases.

When he goes to the Rocking J to pick up the
clothes, he takes Virginia with him to stay until the danger is
over. Scoot accompanies them and briefs all of the men at the
Rocking J Ranch on the situation and their plans. Scoot and the
other members of the Drake Security team helped Jacob Murray
uncover evidence for Barry's murder trial so they are well
acquainted.

Scoot tells the Murrays they are hoping to
capture or kill Darren Calloway. Information from their sources
within the organization indicates he is traveling alone. He warns
the Murrays to stay on their toes and be aware of anything unusual
on their property.

While Scoot and Barry are at the Rocking J
Ranch, Pinky and Goose head out across the pasture to where
Melanie's car was abandoned. Stump stays at the house to protect
Melanie and Eric. When Pinky and Goose see the new footprints in
the snow they know Calloway is in the area. They didn't find any
tracks from any type of vehicle or prints leading back toward the
house. All they can do is wait and watch. Covering their own tracks
they make their way back to Barry's house to inform the others.

******

While he is waiting for darkness to arrive,
Darren Calloway scouts the area around his target. When he locates
the front gate of the ranch that is his target, he is shocked at
the number of cars parked along the road and the number men with
cameras standing around talking to each other. Hmmmm, ever who
lives in that house must be famous. Oh well, too bad for them. They
shouldn't have interfered in his business! He takes care not to
draw attention to himself as he passes by the group of
reporters.

The presence of the reporters at the front
gate means he and the guys will have to approach the house from
across the pasture where Melanie left the car. He certainly doesn't
want their pictures showing up in any of those tabloid magazines.
He seriously doubts he'll be able get Melanie and Eric back without
killing somebody.

******

After Barry returns from the Rocking J Ranch
with the new clothes, I take Eric into the bathroom where I plan to
give him a good scrubbing in the huge marble bathtub. I can't help
but smile when I watch Eric's amazement at the water pouring into
the tub. I keep forgetting that this is all new to him. He has
never seen electric lights, or running water. He is shocked at how
warm the water is without heating it on the stove.

"Mom, how did you do that? How did you make
the water hot without heating it on a stove?"