19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Z ara couldn't catch her breath. How was this happening again? What do I do? First, breathe.

She forced a deep breath in but was assaulted with the musty scent of old car mixed with intense body odor from the front seat. She needed to get out of here for more than one reason.

The handle of the door at her head was broken clean off. That door wasn't going to open from the inside at all.

Pushing herself up, she got a look at her kidnappers. Ernie and Rainie. She knew it.

They really didn't realize how much trouble they were going to be in now, did they?

Zara sat up. "You two are idiots."

Rainie flipped her hair. "I told you you'd pay, and here we are. I have the perfect plan. We'll never have to deal with you again. And no one will ever find you." Her head gave a snooty little wobble.

Zara needed to get out of here. Why had she left her purse and phone in the car? Of course, a dead phone wouldn't have helped either, but her gun would be super helpful right now.

She had to outwit these fools, and while that wouldn't be too much of a challenge, desperate criminals could be irrational and unpredictable.

The handle on the door to her right was intact, and as long as the child locks weren't engaged, she should be able to get out that way. But now she needed the right timing. At a stop sign or light, Ernie would be able to jump out a second behind her, and outrunning that man would probably be impossible. Will was faster than Zara, and Ernie had outrun Will.

Rainie jerked the steering wheel back and forth down the back road, sending Zara sliding across the back seat. Rainie laughed.

Ahead, the road curved in a sharp turn. Rainie was going to have to slow down, and the grass came right up to the asphalt. It was now or never.

But she had to time it perfectly. She had to be quick. She had to land right.

Jesus, I need Your supernatural help on this one. Catch me.

Rainie slowed the car.

Zara moved her left foot to the right side of the hump in the center of the floor.

Rainie slowed further and began to turn.

Zara opened the door, kicked off the floor, and flung herself out the door.

The ground rushed at her. She spun herself in the air and landed on the ground and rolled down the slight embankment. Grass and pebbles scraped her bare arms and legs.

Screamed cuss words echoed from the car.

As soon as Zara's momentum slowed, she jumped to her feet. She tried to memorize the make and model of the car. Old white boat of a Chevy. She couldn't make out the model and couldn't spot the license plate before Rainie whipped the car around.

Time to run. Hopefully Zara's lungs would cooperate. They were already tight.

She jumped the creek that ran parallel to the road. Where to go though?

She knew this road and was able to pull up a map in her mind, so she knew where she was, even if she wasn't sure where to go.

But was Ernie going to follow her?

Glancing over her shoulder, she spotted him jumping from the car and yelling.

She darted into the trees.

Will closed his Bible and set it on the coffee table in his living room. After a quick dinner of fried chicken that one of the guys had brought, the group of eight guys had studied the second chapter of the book of James. It was time to share prayer requests and pray for one another. It wasn't Will's favorite part of study. He loved praying, but out loud in front of the other guys wasn't his favorite method. He would spend time praying for each of these guys this week, but it always felt awkward to be put on the spot to pray for the guy next to you.

They went around one by one and shared updates about their lives. When it was Will's turn, he asked for prayer for Zara and that the detectives would be able to catch whoever was harassing and attacking her. He kept the details sketchy about the attack. The guys didn't need to know about the bathroom, only that someone had broken in and scared her.

Logan leaned back against the couch with his hands folded on his stomach. "And tell them how it's going with Zara."

Heat rushed to Will's face. His best friend was relentless. "Things are going well between us. Getting serious, even."

Logan laughed.

Before the other guys had arrived, Will had told Logan about the twisty-tie ring.

Will turned the attention from himself. "How about you, Logan? How can we pray for you?"

His friend stiffened. "Nothing really. Life is life."

Will had also told Logan that Zara was going to move in with AJ. That news hadn't been received as well. Logan had gotten quiet before asking in a tense voice, "Why would she do that?"

"Zara or AJ?"

"I don't know." Logan had then left the room without another word.

Will knew how to pray for Logan, even if Logan didn't know what he needed prayer for.

The leader of their group directed them to prayer.

When the second guy started praying, Will's phone vibrated where it sat on the table next to his Bible. He opened his eyes.

The police station?

Will whacked Logan's leg and pointed at the phone.

Logan mouthed, Answer it.

Will grabbed the phone and disappeared through the den and into the kitchen before answering.

"Will Cooper."

"Hey, Will. It's Keith. A call just came in for a kidnapping at the Walmart closest to your house." Keith paused.

"So why are you calling me?"

"Will, the plates of the kidnapped woman came back as Zara's. Description of the woman fits too."

Will caught himself on the counter as the room began to spin.

"I'm going to head over and personally oversee this one. I'll see you there."

"Thanks, Keith." He could barely get the words out.

They hung up, and Will looked up at Logan who had entered the room.

"Zara. She's been kidnapped." Will couldn't breathe.

Logan's fist clenched. "Where?"

"From Walmart."

Logan grabbed his helmet and keys from the little kitchen table. "I'll find her."

Before Will could say anything, Logan was out the front door. Will told the rest of the guys what was happening, and they all left, as did Will. He wasn't sure he could drive with how much his hands were shaking, but he had to get to where she'd been taken from.

God, help. Keep her safe.

He reached the Walmart in record time. The lot was swarming with police officers. Will found Zara's car, trunk open, bags half loaded from the cart. He hadn't wanted to believe it was true. But she was really gone.