Page 84 of Cold Vengeance

For just a moment, Prescott stared at her with an expression that even she couldn’t read. Was it remorse? Surprise? But in only seconds, it became clear that whatever thoughts had occurred to him in that moment, they quickly turned into rage. He walked up next to her and kicked her hard, several times. River cried out in pain. She wasn’t certain he was going to stop, nor was she sure shewanted him to. Maybe it would be better if she died before she went into the water. She considered pushing him harder, causing his anger to flare up so he would end her life now. Yet she was surprised to discover a small flame of hope still burning inside her. And there was nothing David Prescott could do to quench it.

Prescott leaned down and put his hands under her armpits. Then he dragged her over to the chest. River wanted to fight back. Kick him away, but the pain in her body was too much. She felt the darkness approaching again, encouraging her to pass out, but she couldn’t let that happen. She fought to stay conscious. No matter what, she wasn’t going to give up. River wanted a chance to live for God. To reach others with His love. She wanted to make things right with her earthly father, spend time with her mother, and tell Tony that she loved him. “I need more time,” she whispered. “Please, give me more time.”

Would He answer her prayer, or was she getting ready to meet the God she’d grown to love with everything inside her?

TONY’S PRAYERS WERE FERVENT,almost violent. It was all he had left. There was no path that could lead them to River in time unless police officers searching near the river found them before it was too late. The search area was so large, it would take a miracle. But God did miracles. Why wouldn’t He do one for River?

He jumped when Arnie walked up next to him and said, “Don’t give up. God is watching out for her.”

Tony stared at him in surprise. “Don’t think I’ve heard you say anything like that before.”

Arnie shrugged. “Maybe you’re rubbing off on me.”

Tony kept looking at him but didn’t say anything. Finally, Arnie sighed.

“Okay, maybe I started going to church. People in our job either lose faith or gain it. Some of the things we see defy explanation. Either evil is real—and God is too—or nothing makes sense.”

Tony blinked away an unexpected rush of tears. Maybe it was the stress of the moment, but there was something about seeing the change in his friend’s life when another friend’s life was on the line that simply overwhelmed him. This was God. Able to bring good out of devastation. It didn’t make sense to the mind, but it made a lot of sense in his spirit.

“Don’t get emotional on me,” Arnie said, his voice getting husky. He started to say something else when his phone suddenly rang. He held his breath while Arnie listened silently. Finally, he said, “Okay. Keep looking.” As he hung up the phone, Tony’s heart fell.

“Not yet, but they’re still searching. All we need is to spot the car. Remember that people aren’t out tonight because of the weather. His vehicle will stand out. We’ll find them.”

Tony didn’t respond. It wasn’t that the car couldn’t be found. The question was whether or not it could be located in time. Prescott wasn’t stupid. He knew he needed to move quickly. River understood his narcissism. She’d stroke his ego. Try to get him to reveal his brilliance as a delaying tactic. But he wouldn’t allow her to keep him occupied too long. Not if he wanted to get away, which Tony was certain he did.

“There’s still time,” Arnie said, confirming Tony’s thoughts.

“He’ll take some time preening before he kills her, but not so long that he puts himself in danger.”

“Let’s stay positive.” Arnie sighed. “If only she had her phone, we could have tracked her.”

It was then that Tony felt Someone whisper to him. It was so clear he turned to his right to see who was standing next to him. No one was there.

Tears filled his eyes again and this time he didn’t blink them away. He grabbed Arnie’s arm.

PRESCOTT OPENEDTHE LIDto the chest. “Get in,” he ordered.

River shook her head. “I’m not going to do it. If you want to kill me, do it now. I won’t die that way. I just won’t.”

He grabbed her and turned her around, then he shoved her toward the trunk. It was old and smelled musty. It reminded her of the other one, and she was determined not to get inside.

“This is your last chance,” he said, pointing his gun at her. “Get in!”

River stood her ground. She wasn’t going inside that trunk. Not for any reason.

Get inside. Trust Me.

She started to tell Prescott to go ahead and shoot her when she realized he hadn’t said the words she’d just heard. She took a quick involuntary breath. Every fiber of her being screamed that she shouldn’t obey, but she’d heard a soft whisper that was stronger and more forceful than her fear of dying in the water. A deep sob ripped through her as she pushed herself to her feet, sat on the edge of the trunk, and swung her legs inside the old chest. It was difficult with her ankles bound.

“All the way,” Prescott ordered.

River forced her muscles to move, and she knelt down. Then she put her head down, her chin resting on her bent legs. It made it hard to breathe.

“I win,” Prescott said loudly. His laugh was obscene. “I beat you and your partner. He may not be dying tonight, but he’ll die inside when he pulls your body out of the river.”

“You’ve won nothing,” River said, her words muffled by her positionand the knowledge that Tony would be crushed if Prescott succeeded.

“If I die here, God will take me home to be with Him. So you lose, David. No matter what you do, you still lose.”

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