CHAPTER 25
Josh
“Where the hell is she?” I yell. I’m at my wits end and ready to kill somebody. How could Ash just up and vanish without anybody seeing something?
“Bro, I know things are looking bleak right now, but you have to hold it together. You know we’ll get your girls back.”
I go and sit down on the bed. I’ve been cooped up in this hotel room for way longer than I’d have liked and I’m about to lose it. Maybe taking a walk and clearing my head will give me a new perspective.
“I’ll be back.” I walk out the door ignoring Zander and Savvy as they call my name.
It’s been four days since Ashlyn was taken. Anything could have happened to her at this point and the what ifs are slowly driving me out of my mind. Zander has his private investigators on it, but they know jack shit. What the hell is he paying them for? Aren’t they supposed to be the best that money can buy? Yet here I am, no closer to finding Ashlyn than I was five minutes ago.
My phone chimes with a message from Jay. He’s holding down the fort at home in case Ashlyn shows up. Still nothing. I release a frustrated sigh and run my fingers through my hair.
And there’s still the question of Jack. Nobody’s seen or heard from him since Savvy talked to him. If he went to get my girl, why wouldn’t he have asked me and Zander for help? There are just so many unanswered questions right now.
We’re currently in a little town in Tennessee. There was a lead that led us here after we landed. A horrible lead, but a lead no less. One of the PI’s contacts said they saw a woman fitting Ashlyn’s description pulled off to the side of the road with two other women. They didn’t get a clear view, but said she appeared to be pregnant and matched the brown hair and short stature description. I know we’re close to her, I can feel it.
Help me out here dad. I’ll do anything. I pray.
I hear heavy footsteps and turn around to see Zander sprinting towards me.
“Josh get your ass back here. They got a tip to where Ashlyn’s being kept.
For the first time in days, I hear something that doesn’t make me wanna punch something. As I’m running Zander’s way, my phone rings and I fish it out of my pocket. I look at the screen and see Jacks name. Finally.
“Jack? Jack, where are you? We think we have a lead on where they took Ashlyn.”
“Josh.”
I stop dead in my tracks. It can’t be. “Ash?”
“You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice.” She sounds tired and on the verge of tears.
“Are you alright? Where are you?”
“Yeah, I’m with Mr. J. I’m on my way home.” I hear her voice break on the last word.
“We’re in Tennessee. Did you leave the state already?” Getting to her is the only thought on my mind right now as I run back towards the hotel with Zander on my heels.
“No, we literally just busted out of that hell hole. Where are you? I’ll come to you.”
I tell her the name and address of the hotel and it turns out she’s not too far away, maybe a 30-minute drive.
“Josh, I can’t wait to see you.” She sobs.
“Hellcat, I’m never letting you go again.”
We hang up as I begin to pace the parking lot unable to calm my nerves. I can’t relax until I see Ash with my own two eyes.
“Dude what’s going on?” Zander finally questions.
“She’s on her way here man. Jack found her.” I stop walking and look down at the pavement.
I see Zander’s feet come into my vision before he pulls me into a hug. “She’s safe. Jack has her, take a breath bro.”
I take a deep breath and it feels like the first one I’ve taken in days. I’m still restless as hell but I know that won’t go away until she’s here. Hell, I don’t know if it will ever go away again.
Savvy exits the hotel room and meets us in the parking lot. Zander runs up to her and bends down speaking quietly in her ear. She falls into Zander’s arms as she begins crying. I continue walking the length of the parking lot looking over towards any and every noise I hear. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, a little car pulls into the parking lot and there’s no mistaking my girl’s in the passenger seat.
The car stops near me and I run for her. I whip open the door, reach in to unbuckle her, and pull her out and into my arms. Right where she belongs.
“Fuck.” I whisper in her ear.
“Josh.” I can feel her tears soaking my neck and I hold her trembling body. When I look over towards Jack, I meet his eyes and nod my head. I owe this man everything right now.
“Let’s get you inside.” She buries her head in my neck as I carry her back towards the room. We have a lot to go over and we need to call the police so the correct steps are taken. I don’t even know who took her right now.
I place her on the bed and check her over to make sure she wasn’t physically harmed. I notice a cut under her eye and a shiner on her cheek.
“Did someone put their hands on you?” I roar throughout the room.
Zander comes over and places his hand on my shoulder trying to calm me down. Savvy sits next to Ash and wraps her arms around her shoulders. I turn around quickly and try to reel in my temper. She doesn’t need me acting hostile right now, god knows what she just came from. At that thought, there’s a knock at the door.
Zander walks over and opens it, escorting two police officers into the room. I look over to Zander and he must know there’s question written all over my face.
“I called them when Jack and Ash pulled into the parking lot.” I nod my head in understanding.
An hour later, after hearing Ashlyn recount everything that happened, I can barely control my rage. Who the hell hits a pregnant woman? And that bastard that put his hands and lips on her is a dead man. I want nothing more than to head to that freak show of a community and kick all of their asses. The cops assure us action will be taken. That’s the only thing keeping me at bay.
Jack walks up to the officers and shakes their hands before walking them outside. He told them he’d come down to the station to give his statement. Ashlyn will have to go down there to officially give her statement after I take her to get checked out at the hospital.
Everyone leaves the room except Ashlyn, Savvy and myself. Zander left to make phone calls to everyone at home.
“Okay I don’t really want to say it but I can’t bite my tongue anymore. What the hell are you wearing?” Savvy looks appalled.
Ashlyn looks down at herself and bursts out laughing. “Please tell me you have extra clothes. I’m sweating so bad I feel like I could roast a turkey between my thighs.”
That’s my girl. I feel the corners of my mouth tip up and I can’t hold back the laughter.
“Of course, and lucky for you I have maternity clothes!” Savvy jumps up and exits the room. Her and Zander were staying in the room next door.
“Ever have an Amish fantasy?” Ash waggles her brows up and down. I can tell it’s all a front, but I’ll let her crack her jokes to make her feel better about the situation.
I sit next to her on the bed and pull her tightly into my side. She grabs ahold of my waist and sighs as she places her head on my chest.
“Where I go, you go. This will never happen again.” I vow.
“How were we supposed to know my parents were keeping tabs on me? Hopefully they all get locked away for a long ass time.”
We sit there on the bed until Savvy knocks and peeks her head in the room. She throws her clothes on the floor near the door knowing she’s intruding and exits. I don’t ever want to let her go. But I have to get her to the hospital for peace of mind. I need to know for certain that my girls are okay.
After I get up and offer her my hand, she looks up at me with tears in her eyes. I can’t deal with her tears, they cut me to the core.
“I love you.” She whispers.
“I love you too, you’re my everything.” I pull her up off the bed and help her get dressed. She tells me she wants to burn the clothes which makes me laugh.
“Let’s get my girls checked out.”
She groans, but doesn’t argue anymore. As we head out the door, the love of my life cuddled under my arm, I can’t help but feel thankful she came back to me. I look upwards, thanks dad.
*****
Waking up the next morning is brutal. After finally falling asleep with Ashlyn in my arms last night my mind kept me awake. It kept playing every scenario through my head about what could have happened, how much worse it could’ve been. Not to mention the nightmares Ash had throughout the night. A few times I had to wake her up because she was crying and whimpering in her sleep.
When I look over to the clock I realize we have two hours before we’re expected at the police station. I got the okay yesterday to bring her back to the hotel and let her rest as long as I brought her in first thing.
I push a strand of hair off of Ash’s face tucking it behind her ear. Her eyes shoot open giving me a view into her startled, gorgeously blue eyes. It kills me she’s living in fear right now. I don’t think she’ll find peace until we know what action the police took.
“Good morning Hellcat.” I place a kiss to her forehead.
“Good morning.” She whispers.
“Let’s get ready so we can get some breakfast.”
She groans, but lets me pull her out of bed. We’re at 36 weeks and moving around is getting difficult for her. It wouldn’t be a problem if she didn’t have to sprint through the fucking woods.
“God my back hurts. I want her to come out today, is that too much to ask?”
“Yes, considering we’re not at home.” I laugh and steer her for the bathroom. We undress and jump in the shower together. She’s been through so much in the past few days we just wash each other and enjoy the little touches. My hands keep seeking her out, needing to touch her and know she’s really here.
When we’re done, we get dressed and search for food. Zander and Savvy headed back home last night. They had a doctor’s appointment this afternoon that I convinced them they should go back for.
“I’m stuffed. I shouldn’t have eaten so much.” Ash laughs.
I open the door to the police station and place my hand at the small of her back as I follow her inside.
“If you ask me, you didn’t eat enough.”
She smacks my shoulder as we approach the first person we see. He ushers us to a room I never thought I’d find myself in. An interview room just like you see on Chicago PD. We take our seats and wait.
“Good morning guys, sorry to keep you waiting.” The officer we saw yesterday says.
“No problem, we’re a little antsy to get this all over with. I’m sure you can understand.”
“Of course, how are you feeling Ashlyn?” He seems genuinely interested in her well-being.
“I’m doing okay. But I really want to know what happened yesterday after you left.” She places her elbows on the table and clasps her hands together.
“Let’s take your statement first then I’ll fill you in.”
Ash recounts everything that happened over the last four days all over again. It pisses me off as if I’m hearing it all for the first time. How can people like this remain under the radar and not get caught?
“Thank you so much Ashlyn, I know that wasn’t easy for you.” He sighs.
“Late last night we raided the compound as they call it. Many were taken into custody including your parents and Gwendolyn McNamara. They’re all being held without bail and won’t be seeing the outside world for a quite some time.”
“Thank god.” Ash sighs.
I see the look on his face and know he isn’t done. “There’s more.” I state as Ashlyn furrows her brow.
“I’m afraid so. When we searched their house, we found a hidden room in the basement. It was made into a nursery. It would have been fine until we found pictures of you everywhere and several journals. It seems Mrs. McNamara has been stalking you for quite some time. Your parents admitted to keeping tabs on you after all these years, but she took it to the extreme. According to your mom, she had no clue that Gwendolyn planned to kidnap your child. She appears to be unstable, and the fact that she’s unable to have children pushed her over the edge when she found out you were expecting. It’s all in the journals. She first found out when she saw a picture of the two of you from Las Vegas a few months back that outted you as pregnant. I can’t go into too much detail, but she’s a very sick woman who will no doubt be going away for quite some time.”
“Jesus Christ.” I breathe out and grab Ashlyn’s shaking hand.
“Can I take her home now?” I need to get her back home where she’ll feel safe.
“Yeah. I appreciate your time and I’ll be in touch if we get any more developments in the case.”
We shake his hand and go to exit the room. Before we head for the door Ashlyn turns back towards the officer.
“What about Georgette?” I can hear the sadness in her voice.
“I’m afraid I have no news about her at the moment, I’m sorry Ashlyn. We went through everyone there and nobody by that name or description matched anyone.”
She hangs her head but nods in understanding. I know it’s killing her not knowing where her baby sister ended up after all of this. When we get outside she stops again.
“She wanted our baby?” Ash questions with tears in her eyes.
“That, will never happen.” I wrap my arms around her lower back and pull her towards me.
“I need to find my sister.” She sobs.
“I’ll do everything in my power to track her down, I promise.”
She nods her head. “Take me home Josh.”