The Life of Jacob Track (Book Two of the 33X Series)

Chapter Twenty Five

           

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

March 11, 2015

It was the longest 40 minutes of Patty's life. Each minute felt like an eternity. There was so much she had left undone, and there was no time to fix it.  Her life was ticking away with the miles of the road.  She prayed that April and Tim would be safe and live long, happy lives.  However, her soul didn't think it would come true.  There was something ominous about the situation, even despite the kidnapping.  Patty felt like there was someone behind the scenes that had a plan, probably that Magnus, or whatever the men had called him.  She couldn't even fathom a plan that would reason for her death or their kidnapping.  She held on tight to April's hand as the minutes ticked away.

After what seemed like a lifetime, the car stopped.  Patty wished she wasn't blinded by the bag over her head, but was too afraid to remove it. The front doors of the car opened and the men exited the car.

"Stay here," Fred ordered.

"We could run for it," April said quietly after the men were gone.

"No. I'm sure they have guns," Tim replied.

"It's better than being a victim and sent, who knows where! Better than ..." April cried, tears dripping down her cheeks.

"Sweetie, if this is our car, we won't get out. Most cars have child locks anyway. They are easy to turn off, but we'll never get to the front seat without getting caught," Patty sighed.

"We have to try, don't we?" April begged.

Patty listened intently, trying to see if the men were anywhere near the car.  They seemed to be a few feet away, talking in rushed, quiet voices. She reached for the door handle. Locked. She felt for the locking mechanism, but was correct. The child locks were on.

"Child locks are on ..." Patty answered.

"Then one of us can sneak up to the front and turn them off. I know where the button is," April said.

"If we're seen taking these hoods off, or SEEN at all, we're dead," Tim shook his head anxiously.

"So, what? You just want to roll over and die?" April asked furiously.

"Of course not! But we should be sensible! Being reckless won't save us!" Tim snapped.

"Hush you two! I can't hear the men's voices," Patty demanded.

"I'm sneaking a look," April whispered as she slowly lifted her hood. She blinked furiously, adjusting to the night. She could see the men at another vehicle, parked a few feet in front of the car they were in. They were carrying a very large bag.

"They're coming back," April whispered, letting her hood fall back down. "Carrying something."

The front car door opened again. "We don't need to sit these in any particular spot, do we?" Craig asked.

"Nah, it's all gonna burn up anyway," Fred answered nonchalantly.

April squeezed Tim's hand in fear. They were going to burn the car.

"Let's grab the other bag before we move on with the plan," Craig suggested.

"Yep. You three are doing so good trying not to escape. It was pointless anyway. We'd shoot you, of course," Fred replied, then slammed the car door.

"I've never felt so helpless in my entire life," April sighed. "We're not even restrained! It's stupid. Stupid! Those damn assholes!"

"We can only pray for peace, sweetie. Or a miracle," Patty squeezed April's hand.

"Mom, if we are to die in a few minutes ... " April choked back tears.

"You don't have to say anything, April. I love you. I know you love me."

"Oh, Mommy!" April cried, hugging Patty tightly. "I can't do this! Not with you."

"April, you're strong and brave. I love you more than you'll ever know.  The best thing that ever happened to me was becoming your mom," Patty cried into April's arms, completely unaware that the men were back with another bag.

"Sorry to break up this party, but it's time to go," Fred said. He opened the car door, grabbing Patty's arm firmly, dragging her out of the car.

"Ow! There's no need to drag me!" Patty grumbled.

"Just come on!" Fred ordered.

Craig had gotten Tim and April out of the car, holding a gun to the back of Tim's head. "Run and your boyfriend is dead."

"Husband, you asshole," April corrected him. Still with the hood on, they were escorted over to the other vehicle.  It took a lot of effort to not fall on their faces, not being able to see. Both were thrown in the backseat, the doors locked.

Patty was still with Fred. He forcefully held onto her arm, making sure she couldn't escape.

"There's really no need for all of this," Patty said hopefully.

"But there is a need for it. Magnus ordered, I follow.  Now, I'm afraid it's bad timing for you lady. We only needed the kids. But we can't have any witnesses, obviously."

"Need them for what?"

"Hmm, I guess you wouldn't know. I'm not supposed to know myself, but I overhead," Fred whispered. "Apparently that crazy doctor killed your kid and her boyfriend."

"You're insane."

"It's true! He brought them back from the dead," Fred's voice was barely audible even in the stillness of the night.

"That's not possible and we both know it."

"It is.  It's probably why that fucker killed your husband. He's always covering his tracks, covering them with even more blood, man."

"I was hoping my death would mean something. But if you can't even tell me the truth! Honestly," Patty rolled her eyes.

"I swear it's true. But you're dying for nothing anyway, lady. Your kid can't be saved this time. She's already dead," Fred said flatly.

Patty never felt the bullet, never heard its quick silenced escape from the gun. She fell to the ground, dead.