Jim Taylor | COMPLETED

Chapter twenty-four - "The catch"

It was a beautiful morning. The layer of snow had covered all the land in Green Bay. The white snow was shining like a bunch of pearls.

The Taylors were sleeping peacefully. No nightmares, none of the dreams were disturbed. Rooms were still warm from a heated stove.

"Honey, it's already 10 o'clock..." Peter whispered, looking at the wife, caressing her cheeks.

"Already?" Sarah mumbled. "If the kids are still sleeping, I want to stay in bed,".

"I'll go and check it out!" the man said and rose from the bed. Children were sleeping in the living room, near the warm stove on folding gray couch.

Peter sneaked into the room but like in old houses - the floor creaked. Jim and Leslie, though, didn't let it disturb themselves.

So, he decided to make fire into the stove and to keep the rooms warm and comfortable. He put on waterproof rain boots, long sweatpants, a t-shirt and his father's old coat to go outside and brought firewood.

Placed every necessary to the stove and made sure it's on fire.

"Two missed calls..." he mumbled when he saw an unknown number on his phone screen. He decided to call back until a woman voice answered.

"You called,".

"Peter? Don't hang up!".

"Who is this?".

"Don't you recognize my voice?".

"Rachel?".

"Good answer, baby!".

"Shit! Bitch, what do you want?".

"I want to see you!".

"Rachel, you have to go to the station and give up!".

"I can't do this. I won't see you again then!".

"And you don't have to. Rachel, you need medicine. You are sick!".

"Sick? I'm totally fine, Peter,".

"Be honest, did you kidnap Jim?".

"There's more than just a kidnap...".

"Why? Tell me, why. Where are you?".

"By the lake. In Green Bay,".

"WHAT?".

Peter ran outside and started looking for Rachel near the house. Until he saw a woman figure standing by the lake. It did look like her.

"Rachel?" he yelled at the woman and ran towards her. He hung up the phone in his hand.

"Peter!" Rachel answered when Peter stopped few meters away from her.

"What are you doing here?" a man asked.

"I can't do this anymore. I have to be with you and only you!" Rachel responded and walked closer to Peter.

"Don't come any closer!" Peter said. "Tell me, why... I don't understand!".

"Don't you get it? You hurt my feelings. I did it because of you. I have always dreamt being with you. About happy ending with you but you ran away".

"Ran away?" his fingers moved slowly into the pocket to pick his phone.

"Please don't call the police. I just want to talk. Right here, right now!".

"Talk about what? You took Jim. Hurt him. What are you still want from me? You have done enough," Peter choose police's number with her fingers by groping.