Page 17 of Two Hearts' Accidental Heroes

“And you think that her father might have been involved somehow?”

Rick hesitated. “I’m just not sure. But when I saw Shanna earlier that day, she didn’t have any bruises before her father came to pick her up at the Crystal Rock High parking lot.”

“Okay,” Jake replied, reaching out and punching Rick lightly on the shoulder. “I’ll keep an eye on things.”

“Thanks,” Rick answered.

“Well, we’d better head to the house so I can fill you and Eric and your dad in on how you’re going to get away from Crystal Rock,” Jake said.

“Hold on a minute. I want to give you something, Mr. Loughlin,” Rick said, unzipping the bag attached to his bike. Pulling out the piece of notepaper, he handed over the license plate number for the car that had been parked at the intersection earlier.

“You can just call me Jake, Rick,” he said distractedly. “What’s this?”

“A license plate number for a black sedan with heavily tinted windows that I saw parked at the intersection when I left this morning. I avoided the road because something didn’t seem right. I figured that the guys in the other two cars near the driveway were men that worked for you.”

“And you’d be right about that.” Jake pursed his lips. “You seem to be pretty observant.”

Rick shrugged. “It’s just that there’ve been so many weird things happening that I figured it would be better not to take any chances.”

Jake held his gaze as if he was sizing him up. “You’re turning sixteen?”

“Yes.”

“We’d better stay in touch. I might have a job for you someday, depending on your career choice.”

“Okay,” Rick replied, surprising himself. “I’ll be sure to remember that.”

“Good,” Jake muttered. “Well, let’s get moving. Get your bike put away. I’ll make sure that it gets packed up and sent to you once you’re out of town.”

“Thank you, Jake. I’d really appreciate that.”

Chapter Seven

Ten Years Later

Crystal Rock, Wisconsin

As she rode along with him in his cruiser, Shanna Weldon glanced at the aged face of Wes Montgomery as he steered the vehicle through the murky shadows of dusk. Lately, he’d been deeply worried about something, and all his late nights of drinking were starting to catch up with him.

She’d settled into a strange sense of complacency about her life. If only she could run.

But Shanna had long ago given up on the idea of escape because of the price that would be paid if she did. Besides, where would she go?

And, for the most part, he was leaving her alone except for when he needed her help stocking and cleaning out cellars and warehouses. Occasionally, he hired a few extra men at his marina—she suspected that they were homeless—and since there were very few people he trusted, Wes had tried using a few of them as his assistants to help do his dirty work during the past several years.

After a certain amount of time, Shanna would never see any of those men again. She should feel lucky that Wes felt that she was valuable enough not to get rid of her.

After gradually allowing her some freedom after about five years in captivity, he’d moved her from the rooms where he’d kept her locked for most of her teenage years. She’d never been able to figure where those rooms were located while she’d been held captive, although she was sure it wasn’t close to where she was living now.

At least he expected nothing from her physically anymore, which was the best thing that could have happened.

Now she was simply his slave.

And more than likely some other poor young teenage girl had taken her place in those rooms.

She was allowed to paint because Wes had been easily able to sell her work on commission. Although she went along with him in disguise to push her artwork because of the detailed questions that were asked by shop owners about the types of materials and specific paints she used to achieve her unique effects.

And strangely, she was allowed to live here on her own in isolation, not far from her former hometown of Crystal Rock. Using her maiden name, Wes’s mother was listed as the owner of the property out here, which actually belonged to him. But he’d never applied for a title change, and the maintenance costs and property taxes were always paid with cash. He’d explained all of this to her five years ago when he’d moved her out here.

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