Progressive Properties is aggressively taking over where small neighborhoods once flourished. Now Angelique's Shelter, St. Gabriel's, is under attack. Who shows up at her door to deliver the news? John McDougal, now a prominent property attorney, an...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
John knew he was close. The way to St. Joe's etched forever in his brain. Although he was breaking the speed limits, the road to the church seemed torturously slow.
"Stay focused, damn it," he berated himself as he turned on the winding path he knew led directly to the church. "Hold on, Angel," he silently prayed, "I'm coming!"
_________
Officer Ryan tried to get her Sargent on the ban. "Sargent Reid, this is Officer Ryan. Please respond." She was nervous about telling him she was disobeying his direct order.
"Sargent Reid," came the authoritative voice over the ban. "Where the HELL are you Officer Ryan?"
"We are heading towards St. Joseph the Worker Church and I am requesting backup."
"I thought I told you to stay put!" Sargent Reid barked.
Michael grabbed the handheld from Mary.
"Look Sargent, Angelique is in trouble. She went after Danny on her own. My brother is only about twenty to twenty-five minutes ahead of us in travel time. I will still have to wait for your backup to reach the church, as I am the only one who knows where Danny has lured Angelique to, in the woods. We don't have time to waste here. Meet us outside of the rectory!"
"Understood," Sargent Reid said, "Over and out."
_______________
John pulled up to the Rectory. It was still shocking to see the church in ruin. His thoughts turned bitter. If only he had been more alert to what Danny was planning, he could have stopped it. Instead, his fears lead him astray. He feared for Angelique's life. He should have known she wasn't Danny's target. Danny used her to keep him out of his business. How many times can I fail the same woman?
He parked next to her Beetle. One thing he knew for certain, he would not fail her now. John jumped out of the car and began the hike to the glade. When Danny said the place where they all met, John knew exactly where he meant. He could picture that day with such clarity.
Considering the events that took place, it amazed John how calm he felt that day. The day they found Angelique, the day Danny shot her. It was something about the nearness of her.
He knew it wasn't a normal reaction, but he felt completely at peace the moment he held her in his arms. It was the way he had always felt whenever he held her. She was his haven. With her, he felt at home. As John negotiated his way through the woods, he heard a shot ring out. Sudden terror gripped his heart. He began running blindly towards the sound.
Angelique flinched as she heard a bullet ricochet off of the tree behind her. She yelled out, "You know... you shot at me blind the first time we met. You were a boy then. I had hoped you would have matured."
She heard the menacing sound of laughter somewhere, but she couldn't place where.
"Well played," he said, and he took a step into the open.
