Hold for Release, page 9
Putting his hand back on the bed, he wobbled around to the other side. His fingers bumped into the cell phone and knocked it to the floor. Jake picked it up and hit the power button. The display lit up, but the screen was damaged.
Now what? Would that guy…what was his name…call Carlotta and check on her? Bile rose in Jake’s throat. He clenched his fists.
Jake stumbled to the stairs and then tripped on his way down. Pain seared through his body. He was in no shape to drive to see his wife at the moment.
“Is this what you want, God? I’m her husband. I need to check on her. Do you hear me?” Jake shook his fist at the sky and then slumped back and rested on the floor. He’d run out of energy trying to rewrite this story.
~*~
After work, Carlotta entered the all-natural grocery store in Oakley close to the library.
She scanned her cart. Lactose free milk, veggies, and gluten-free bread. She headed for the self-checkout. Rosario’s doctor had limited her diet, so Carlotta had offered to pick up some things.
“Carlotta?” a man asked.
She looked up from her cart. A well-dressed man with a basket approached. “Oliver? What are you doing here?”
He smiled. “I’m in town on business.”
I don’t want to hold up the line. She glanced behind them. No one else was waiting. “Oh, I thought your park was in Dayton.” Ugh. Why’d I say that? Now he’d know she’d read about him. Might make him think she was interested in him.
“It is, but I’m consulting with other businesses that want to install zip lines. Plus, I’m thinking about expanding my operation to more than one location. Several eco parks throughout Ohio.” He lifted an eyebrow. “How did you know I was in Dayton?”
She scanned the milk. “I read an article about you in a magazine at the library. I work there, you know.”
“I’m surprised Jake didn’t have a fit.”
Carlotta averted her gaze.
Oliver stepped closer to grab her hand. “I see you’re not wearing a ring. Are you still with Jake?”
“We’re getting a divorce.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
She scanned the gluten-free bread. “No, you’re not. You were mad at Jake when he and I got engaged.”
Oliver scowled. Maybe she shouldn’t have said that.
Gritting his teeth, Oliver lowered his voice. “He wasn’t the only one I was mad at.”
As she scanned her veggies, she shivered. No, he couldn’t have been the one at the animal shelter. It had to be someone connected to Xavier.
Oliver flashed a smile. “But I couldn’t stay mad at you for long, right?”
She nodded. That was why she’d broken off things with him. He did have quite a temper. She bagged her groceries.
He scanned the two items he had. “It’s late. Why don’t I walk you to your car?”
She set her bags in the cart. “I’m fine.”
“Nonsense. It isn’t safe to walk alone at night. It’s not a problem.” Tossing his items into a sack, he followed her.
She was walking with him whether she liked it or not. Should I run or walk back to my car? Carlotta gripped her key fob in her hand. Hitting the panic button was always an option. Her heart sank. The batteries had gone dead on the fob. Jake was supposed to order her new ones but forgot. She clenched her keys. If things went sideways, she could use them as a weapon. Carlotta scanned the parking lot for other patrons, anyone who might hear a potential cry for help. One person was several car aisles away. But still someone. Better than no one. Stopping in front of her car, Carlotta whipped around to face Oliver.
He took a step backward. “G’night. It was nice seeing you.” He waved and strolled away. “You should come visit my park sometime. My parents still talk about you.”
After locking the door, she sat for a moment. A note was tucked in the windshield wiper. She darted outside, grabbed it, and got back inside.
You’re important to me.
You’re special.
I couldn’t do what I do without you.
Special? Her hands shook. Do what without her?
The animal shelter. Then Xavier in the elevator. Now these notes. She balled up the paper, rolled down the window, and tossed it into a trashcan next to the cart return.
Carlotta sped away even as she choked back a sob. Why fight it anymore? She’d had enough. A few minutes later, she pulled into Rosario’s driveway. The note? What if the police could have dusted it for fingerprints? Why hadn’t she thought of that before?
~*~
The long work week ended. Jake had signed up for that men’s retreat at church—only two hours away from home but in the great outdoors.
He drove home, captured Gracie with a handful of treats, and dropped her off at the kennel. Then he picked up a new cell phone and put it in the glove box. He clenched the steering wheel as he drove back to the house again.
At home he packed a suitcase and loaded it in the car. As he pulled out of the driveway, a black car followed. The car sped up, signaled, and then went around him.
Jake might enjoy some male bonding, reconnect with nature, and leave his woman troubles behind. Probably wiser than running off to the horse races or slot machines. It couldn’t be worse than infertility testing and treatments. Funny how Carlotta talked about it as if it would help their marriage.
The car in front weaved around the semaphores at the railroad crossing, and then stalled. At least there wasn’t a train coming.
Jake scanned his surroundings. No buildings for miles. Just trees and overgrown weeds. Good thing he was here. Not too many cars traveled this deserted, two-lane stretch. If he had to guess, it was probably a cell signal dead zone, too. Jake’s gaze sharpened. Was that the same car from earlier this evening?
Jake got out. Gravel crunched beneath his tennis shoes.
The driver, a man with a black hoodie, put down his car window.
“You look like you’re stuck, man,” Jake said. “How can I help?”
The man laughed.
Sudden pain on the back of his head, and then Jake sank into the darkness.
A whistle blared somewhere off in the distance.
Jake woke, groggy with confusion. The hard surface below him vibrated. His head ached, making it hard for him to open his eyes.
The blaring horn screeched with urgency.
Where was he?
Was that gravel and steel beneath him?
Jake pried open one eye.
A train went through a crossing.
He blinked. He’d been at that crossing. He blinked again. He was on the track. Jake scrambled to his feet and sprinted off the tracks.
The breeze of the train pushed Jake's hair and lifted his shirt. The conductor laid on the horn, almost as if admonishing Jake for the scare. Jake shook off his own fear. Adrenaline coursed through his body. He let out some deep breaths and then waited for the train to pass.
How had he gotten there? That motorist. Where was his car? The vehicle was parked off to the side of the road, nestled among overgrowth.
Jake patted his pockets. No car keys. His wallet was gone along with his credit cards, money, and license. He waded through tall weeds to get to the driver’s side of his vehicle. The car door was open. He reached for the glove box. At least he still had a phone. Jake stuffed the phone into his pocket, got his suitcase, and started walking. Only a few more miles to the retreat. Stopping, he closed his eyes and tried to recall the license number. Maybe B5 something. Eventually, he’d need to report the attack. Right now, he just wanted to get to his destination.
Minutes later, a car pulled next to him. A man lowered his window. “You need a ride?”
Another car in the middle of nowhere. He hesitated. “Yeah. I got robbed. My car keys, cash, license, and credit cards were taken.”
“Where are you headed?”
“To a men’s retreat. It’s near the old Boy Scout camp—”
“Then you’re very fortunate. God put me here in the right place at the right time. My name is Bill Emery. I work at the retreat. I’m very sorry to hear someone robbed you. Don’t worry about a thing. We’ll get you set up in your room, and you can call the authorities and report your missing valuables.”
“Thanks.” Jake nodded. “I’m Jake Hartman.”
“Good to meet you, despite the circumstances.” Bill grinned.
When they arrived at the retreat, a man sat behind the counter, phone to his ear. He waved at Bill.
Bill stepped behind the front counter, entered some information into the computer, and handed Jake a key card.
Jake clenched the card. “Key cards?”
“We’ve updated our cabins.”
Jake moved in the direction Bill indicated, strode into a bedroom, and slung his luggage onto the bed. He gazed at the nightstand. A sound machine sat next to it along with a charging port for electronic devices. A modern cabin. Not what he expected from a church camp.
He spent the next few minutes on the cell phone getting his credit cards cancelled.
As soon as he hung up, a knock sounded. Jake opened the door, and a portly man ducked inside.
“Jake Hartman?” he asked with a Boston accent. “How are ya’? Looks like we’ll be neighbors for the retreat. I’m Pastor Tom Clyde. Bob Hathaway asked me to come and speak to the group.”
Jake shook hands with the man. “Nice to meet you.” A chill in the air indicated the last occupant had left the air conditioning cranked up. He rubbed his arms.
“Do you know when we’re eating?” the pastor asked.
“Why don’t we head over to the supper hall right now?” Jake figured it couldn’t hurt to check.
The two of them grabbed dinner, buffet style, then sat down at a table together.
“So what is your talk about?” Jake asked.
“Leadership.”
Jake nodded blankly.
“Something else you’d rather talk about?”
“No, I’m good.”
An hour later, Pastor Clyde went to the front of the large group and began his first talk of the retreat. He introduced himself, told a corny joke, and talked about King David of the Old Testament. The Bible referred to King David as a man after God’s own heart. So pretty much nothing like Jake.
At the back of the room, Jake stood and eyed an exit. What was he doing here?
“And so David commits adultery with Bathsheba… Yep, the King sends out his men to war, and then he sees this woman bathing. He sleeps with her, and she sends word that she is pregnant.”
Jake squeezed his eyes shut and sat back down. Ugh. What if that had happened to Allison?
“So David sends Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, to war, on the front lines, and then withdraws support, so the man will be killed,” Pastor Clyde continued.
Yikes. Adultery and murder? Maybe not everyone in the Bible was a goody two-shoes after all.
“God sends the prophet Nathan, who tells David a story about a rich man who kills a poor man’s lamb for food. David gets angry at the rich man in the story. Nathan essentially tells David, ‘Hey, buddy, you’re like the guy in the story.’ Even great leaders make big mistakes, and if they repent, God can forgive. Tomorrow, we’ll discuss the consequences of David’s sin.”
Forgiveness. Yeah, but unlike Jake, David was a Bible guy. Even if God forgave him, Pastor Clyde mentioned consequences. What if Carlotta divorcing him was one of those? Not to mention, him losing his job over the sexual harassment claim trumped up by Allison. Or what if Allison got pregnant?
Jake hurried back to the room.
Someone knocked on the door.
He opened it.
Pastor Clyde stared back at him. “You left there in a hurry. Are you OK?”
Jake motioned for the man to come inside. The pastor sat on a chair. Jake sat on the edge of the bed. He buried his head in his hands and sighed. Then he looked up at the pastor. “My wife filed for divorce. It’s my fault. I was like David. I messed up. As my principal would say, I deserve what I get. You know, the consequences. I guess I’ve lost Carlotta for good.”
The pastor lowered his voice. “We all deserve hell, but God provided a way around that. Yeah, there will be consequences, but you and I don’t know what they are.”
Jake nodded politely. What was the pastor trying to communicate? How did this relate to his marriage?
“Don’t give up on your wife. If your divorce isn’t final, there’s still time for you to fight for your marriage. Go after her.”
Yeah. He’d win her back. As with King David, there would be consequences, repercussions. He might lose his job, not much he could do. But he had to try to fix his marriage, had to fight for Carlotta.
~*~
Carlotta joined her sister in the living room and rested a hand on her shoulder. “You’re doing the right thing.”
Rosario stared off into space. “Am I?”
Carlotta couldn’t fix her marriage, but maybe she could encourage her sister to repair hers. It was worth a shot. Plus, helping people always made her feel good. And certainly, that ought to please God, right? So maybe she didn’t always enjoy doing it, but she did it anyway. Mom would be drunk. Dad coped by seeing women from work. Rosario acted out. And Carlotta did good deeds. Yep, her worth came from doing. Was that all she had going for her? A bothersome feeling overcame her, but she pushed it aside. “You need a break, and Antonio needs some time with his father.”
A car pulled into the driveway.
Carlotta stood. “That’s him. Do you want to get the door, or should I?”
Rosario stared at nothing in particular.
She waved her hand in front of her sister’s face. “Hello? Rosario? Should I get that?”
Her sister flinched. “No, I will.” Rosario opened the door.
Pablo smiled. “Hi, Rosario, Carlotta.”
“Hi, Pablo.” Carlotta headed toward the bedrooms.
“Wait” Rosario pinched her chin. “Please stay.”
Carlotta glanced at her watch. She still needed to go to the bank and the post office. But her sister needed her. She sank into the couch, and Pablo joined her.
Rosario sat in a chair. “Can you watch Antonio for me?”
Carlotta could have watched him, too. But maybe Rosario preferred someone with more parenting experience. Not that Pablo had much of that. She bit her nail.
“Yeah, sure.” Pablo rubbed his lips. “Everything OK, Rosie?”
“I’ve been a little sick lately. No big deal. Can you watch him or not?”
“Yeah, sure. Let me know whenever you need my help. Just give me a heads up so I can ask off from work.”
“You’re working?” Rosario’s voice rose in pitch. “Like legit?”
“I told you. I’ve been clean from drugs for over a year.”
No more needle marks. Normal-looking pupils. Changed demeanor and apparel. While looks could deceive, if Pablo was aiming to defraud, he was doing a pretty good job. From all external appearances, Carlotta’s brother-in-law seemed as though he hadn’t been using for quite some time.
“I have a job,” Pablo continued. “I go to church. Got Jesus. Found my worth in Christ. The real deal, Rosie.”
Carlotta tilted her head. His worth in Christ? Oh, like helping at church and stuff. What else could he mean?
“OK. Thank you.” Rosario walked Pablo to the door.
Once Pablo left, Carlotta pressed a fist to her mouth. “I can’t believe how much he’s changed.”
Rosario shrugged. “A lot of ’em find God in prison, Carlotta. The question is, can they keep Him once they get out?”
~*~
Jake yawned as he followed Pastor Clyde outside.
“Ready to go on that zip line?” the man asked.
Just what he needed. The thrill, the rush, and a distraction from his separation from Carlotta and the accusations by Allison. “Uh. Yeah.”
Jake and Pastor Clyde approached the zip line tower and ascended the stairs.
Pastor Clyde huffed as they climbed. “A bit of a workout, eh?”
Jake chuckled.
As they stopped at the top, Jake surveyed the forest below. There was something about nature, like getting in touch with God. Maybe because out here, things were more still. More time for reflection on life. He stepped toward the attendant.
“Let me help you into the harness,” the attendant said. The man had an accent, but Jake couldn’t quite place it.
Jake stepped closer and followed the man’s directions.
“Here’s your helmet.”
Jake snatched it from the attendant and put it on. “Thanks.”
“You ready?”
“Sure.” Jake clenched his fists.
The attendant performed one last safety check and explained what would happen.
Jake flew from the platform and zipped along the line. What a rush. He took in the scenery. Trees. A creek. More trees. A deer? No, a person? Maybe a camper? Hard to tell. His gaze shifted to the tower at the end of the line. Over already? He’d have to ride again.
Several of the men had hurried over to the crossbow station, leaving the line short. Jake took another turn on the zip line. The object he’d seen before was no longer in sight. Just trees and open skies. He took in a deep breath. Once he reached the other tower, the operator on that side helped him out of the harness.
Jake jogged down the stairs of the platform and trekked toward the cafeteria. They’d be eating soon. He meandered along the wooded trail, closing the distance between himself and the camp buildings. The smell of grilled meat filled the air. He’d glanced at the menu earlier. Brats for dinner. He licked his lips.
The dinner bell clanged in the distance. He couldn’t see it, but he’d noticed it earlier that morning. It set outside the cafeteria, an older style, like the ones used years ago.
Several larger trees framed the path up ahead. As he walked through the tree grove, burning pain shot through his left calf.
The bell clanged again.
“Yeowch!” Jake stumbled and bent down on his hands and knees. His lower left leg flamed with burning pain. An arrow stuck out the back. “Stop! I’ve been hit!” he yelled.
