Searching for Secrets by Elaine Orr Read Free Book Online Page B

the door and walked away. Christa pulled the car back into traffic with his words ringing in her ears. She told herself that he wasn't so much concerned about her well-being as getting Amy back. If anything were to happen to Christa, it wouldn't bode well for the little girl's safety.
    She concentrated on her surroundings as she pulled into the small parking lot. There was no one there but the Frisbee players. Should she wait in the car? Probably not, she thought, and got out and walked over to the picnic table farthest away from the telephone. Christa glanced at the couple throwing a Frisbee in the open area about one hundred yards away. She looked away quickly, not wanting to call attention to Kirk's undercover officers.
    The phone startled her. She forced herself to relax. Probably a teenager looking for his buddies. The incessant ringing broke the calm of the cool fall day. That was it! She ran over to the phone and picked it up.
    "Drive to the City Park. People are watching you. Talk to no one. Go to the far end of the park, near the tennis courts. You'll see the maintenance shed just to the left of the courts. Go behind it. You have seven minutes." The caller hung up.
    Christa stared at the phone for a moment, then replaced the receiver and ran to her car. She backed out of the parking space and turned right onto Rocky Shore Drive. Seven minutes was just barely enough time.
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    KIRK COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. What in blazes was she doing driving away and where could she be going? "Follow her," he shouted to Mark Hadley, the van's driver.
    "If I do, they'll mark us," he said.
    "If we don't, we'll lose her," Kirk responded, frustration and fear mounting. He should have thought of this. He was so busy organizing the surreptitious group of officers that it hadn't occurred to him that the kidnappers would instruct Christa to go elsewhere.
    Silently he prayed. Dear God, let her be okay. Amy's face flashed in front of him as the van followed Christa as she turned left onto Route 6. Involuntarily his thoughts shifted to Christa. His lack of preparedness could get her and Amy killed. Just like Timmy.
    She made another left onto Riverside Drive and sped north. He hoped there were no other police in the area. She'd get pulled over for sure.
    "Where do you suppose she's going?" Hadley asked as he rounded a curve.
    "City Park," he heard himself say, calmly. It made sense. The large park had the river on three sides and, though still fairly open, had lots more secluded sections than the smaller Crandic Park.
    "You think so? I thought maybe she was heading toward Hancher Auditorium," Hadley said.
    Kirk thought about that for a moment. The arts center with its large auditorium and nearby additional theater would also be a good site. The parking lot was huge and while there were large open spaces around the complex, it would be just as easy to slip inside the auditorium and make the switch. If they intended to let her go.
    "Stay in the middle lane. Could be either place." Or any number of places. Why didn't Christa try to give them some kind of signal?
    IF ONLY SHE COULD THINK OF A WAY to tell them where she was going. Christa looked in her rear view mirror. The van remained several car lengths away. All she had to do was make sure she used her blinker well in advance and they could stay with her. Could the kidnappers be following her as well? She dared not try to make contact with Kirk.
    She was going to turn left on Park Road, just after she passed the Hancher Auditorium. She stayed in the middle lane, glancing often in her rear view mirror. Her thoughts went briefly to Frances, sitting in her apartment, waiting for a call. It was past the rendezvous time. She must be frantic.
    Behind her, she saw the van get in the right lane as if it were going to Hancher Auditorium. Why would they do that? She put on her left blinker and prepared to get on Park Road. Abruptly the van tried to merge left, but there was too much traffic.