Threat of Darkness(53)

FOURTEEN

The next hour was spent in full crisis mode. John fielded questions from his chief and the sheriff while Samantha and Lindy sat together in the back of a patrol car and commiserated.

 He’d been so upset, so frustrated, he’d avoided contact with either of them until he had calmed down. Whatever they’d gotten mixed up in was a lot more complicated than anyone had imagined. And whoever was out to get Ben Southerland now had the upper hand. Big-time.

 Pausing beside the cruiser he rapped on the closed rear window and motioned for Samantha to come out and join him.

 There was so much sadness and suffering reflected in her gaze when it met his he was instantly contrite. Slipping an arm around her shoulders, he guided her a short distance from the car, then checked to be sure Lindy had not followed before he began to speak.

 “It doesn’t look good,” he confided. “There’s been no sign of the kidnappers or the boy.”

 “What about Ben? He’s the key to all this.”

 “We agree. If we could question him we might have more success. Until he either surfaces or acts on his own to rescue Danny, we’re stymied.”

 “Do you think he will? I mean, he was the one who abused the boy, so why would he stick out his neck to save him?”

 “I don’t know that he would. But he is Danny’s father. That has to count for something, even if he’s a rotten excuse for a dad.”

 “Hmm. Maybe. Makes me wonder if my dad would have come to my rescue in a similar situation. I doubt it. He was usually too drunk to do much except raise a ruckus and then pass out.”

 “Do you see him often?”

 “Almost never. He used to get stopped pretty regularly when he was making beer runs between home and the Missouri line. Then I’d get called to come and bail him out, particularly after Mom left. That hasn’t happened lately.”

 “Maybe he’s reformed.”

 She laughed cynically. “That’ll be the day.”

 “What do you want to do next?” John asked, purposely changing the subject and gesturing toward the patrol car where Lindy waited. “Shall I have you taken home when you and Mrs. Southerland are through looking at mug shots?”

 “I can drive myself.” Raising her face and looking into his eyes as if trying to read his thoughts, Sam asked, “What about the druggies who took Brutus? Have you had any leads?”

 “No. Sorry. I wish I had better news.”

 “And Danny comes first. That’s how it has to be. I understand. A missing person case takes precedence.”

 To his chagrin, a tear escaped and slid down her cheek. She turned to whisk it away. “It’s okay. Really it is. I just…”

 John pulled her closer for a supportive hug. “I know. You miss him. So do I.”

 “Do you think he’s still alive?”

 “If my prayers are being answered the way I hope they are, yes.”

 “Thank you,” Samantha whispered as she slipped her arms around his waist and laid her cheek on his chest. “I don’t know how I’d get through this if I didn’t have your moral support.”

 Embracing her in return, John wondered if she would have felt that way without the trials that they’d recently had to face. It was an interesting question. One that would bear more consideration. He wasn’t ready to assume that bad things had occurred for good reasons but he had no trouble believing that the Lord could use their troubles to bring good in the end.

 Those scriptures in the book of Romans had always confused him, yet there were many times when he had seen “all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”

 That was probably the key—the part about being called according to God’s purposes. As a human being it was difficult to differentiate between personal desires and what the Lord might want you to do for Him.

 In a way, Sam was following that edict when she volunteered to speak for children in court via CASA.

 He tightened his arms in a parting squeeze before setting her away and gazing into her eyes. “Don’t lose hope, honey. Everything will be okay.”

 Samantha took a step back before dropping her hands to her sides and smiling wistfully. “From your lips to God’s ears, as Elvina used to say.”

 “We’ll be done here soon. Why don’t you go keep Lindy company?”

 Taking her nod as one of agreement, John started back to speak with his chief where he became embroiled in heated speculation over whether or not Ben Southerland may have arranged the kidnapping and ordered his flunkies to lay down false clues to divert suspicion. That discussion was so absorbing, he failed to notice that Samantha’s car was gone until nearly half an hour later.