Destiny Calling Read online

  “Don’t follow me. I’m going to the police,” I said as I grabbed the doorknob.

  Chance touched my arm, and I gasped. My skin tingled with warmth and pleasure spread through me. I clasped my hand over his, binding it. Relief filled me, soothing the balm of my pain, and I gave my agony to Chance.

  He stared at me with his mouth agape, his shocked expression turning to horror. “Hope, don’t.” Chance staggered and yanked his hand back, shaking it and looking at me with a tinge of trepidation. His eyes widened as he shook his head. “No. You have a choice. You know the right choice.”

  When he let go, reality filled me, along with the pain rushing back into my head, and the shame of how I’d taken from him as many had from me. I hadn’t even realized I could, or how good taking could feel. Chance appeared crestfallen and studied me with disappointment. He should get used to it. I have.

  I let the door slam behind me. Staggering down the porch steps, bile rose in my throat from the pain and the cinnamon smell surrounding me. I couldn’t tell if either of them followed me, but considering the state I was in, a herd of elephants could sneak up on me.

  It sounded as if a million people were talking in my head. Maybe this was what dying felt like. It’d be a blessing to die now, to stop the agony in my head and the pain in my heart. I staggered down the dirt road leading away from the house, took a few steps, and fell to my knees to wait for death. Surely, the end would come now, and I wouldn’t resist.

  The cinnamon smell intensified. The voices blended to become a dull roar in my head. My eyes watered and I bit my lip. As the pain reached its maximum intensity, it was as if a door opened, and the roar flowed out of my head through my pores, my ears, and every orifice of my body. I may have screamed from the pain, or perhaps the screaming only filled my head. I didn’t know, nor did I care.

  Then it became painfully quiet. Following the silence, I heard one word clearly in my head.

  “Hope.” It was Tessa’s voice.

  My mind quieted then the world went black.

  ****

  Dirt tasted terrible. The granules shifted between my teeth as I regained consciousness. I opened my eyes expecting Yolanda, the one girl in the orphanage who hadn’t been afraid of me, to be serving a mud pie. Yolanda had no reason to fear me; she’d been dying already.

  Instead, the budding trees across the road and two squirrels studying me filled my vision. I blinked and the squirrels scampered back into the woods. Pushing up to a kneeling position, I tentatively touched my head, amazed it was intact and the migraine had dissipated without any intervention.

  “Are you okay?”

  I jumped. Chance stood a few feet back, looking on with apprehension and concern.

  “I’m fine.” Weakness hampered me as I struggled to stand upright, and then I swayed to the side. I tried to disguise the dizziness filling me, although his furrowed brow indicated he’d noticed. I dusted off the layer of dirt I’d accumulated from my unanticipated nap.

  “Like I said, I’m going to the police.” Even though I wasn’t sure how long ago I’d said that or how long I’d been lying in the dirt.

  “At least let me give you a ride. It’s miles to the station.”

  I opened my mouth to refuse, but overwhelming weariness weighed on my shoulders. Once a migraine completed its reign of terror, I was left exhausted. Plus this was the second time I’d passed out from one. I didn’t want to be found later by who knows what in a ditch along the road anywhere near the woods. Putting my hands on my hips, I studied the thick pines lining the road away from the house.

  The creature I’d encountered in the woods felt more threatening than Chance.

  “Fine, but directly to the police station.” I pointed my finger, and he stepped back, eyeing my hand with unease. “You try anything, and I’ll make you sorry you were ever born.” I winced, realizing he believed we’d shared the same womb and been born at the same time. Not that I believed him, nor did I care. I’d never needed siblings before and apparently, they’d not needed me. Until now. But now it was too late.

  He held up his hands in surrender. “I promise, Sis.”

  “Don’t call me that.”

  “Fine, get in the car. I’m guessing you’re feeling better since you’re yelling at me again.” He rubbed at his arm.

  I studied my hand, remembering how good it felt to draw from him. All these years I guess the nuns had been right about me.

  Chance observed me. “It’s not too late, you have a choice.”

  “Shut up.” I didn’t want to talk about it, or even think about what I did or what doing that to him might make me.

  Chance opened the passenger door. I crossed my arms over my chest and remained planted where I stood. There was no way I was getting in with him waiting at that door, giving him a second chance to knock me out. He shook his head in resignation and walked around to the driver’s side.

  I slid into the passenger side and pressed my back against the door, grabbing an umbrella from the floor to aim it at him.

  “One false move.” Of course, the umbrella would have one of those ball tops instead of a nice pointy one that might appear a bit more threatening.

  Chance didn’t appear intimidated. “I’m not going to do anything. I told you. I had no choice last night. It was for your own safety, the Oppressors—”

  “Stop. I’ve heard enough, just drive.” I’d heard enough crazy talk. Even if the word was the same as the one I’d seen in the book I’d, umm, borrowed. I rubbed my aching head. I was just tired. So tired.

  We drove the rest of the way in silence and parked in front of a tiny building with a sign identifying it as the police station. Without the sign, I might’ve thought we’d arrived at someone’s house.

  Chance stepped out of the car as I did, but I made him walk ahead of me to the front desk, not wanting to put my back to him. I stood at the counter, studying the graying bun that adorned the woman’s head as I waited for her to acknowledge me. She was bent over paperwork so close that her nose skimmed the page.

  “I want to report a kidnapping.” Bun-head either ignored me or didn’t hear me, for she continued her scrutiny of the paperwork.

  “She’s not wearing her hearing aid,” Chance piped up behind me. “Mrs. Dwight,” he bellowed over my shoulder.

  Mrs. Dwight’s face emerged, squinting up at us. “What?” She reached into her pocket to put on glasses. “Darn bifocals, I hate wearing these things.” She looked past me to Chance. “Well hello, Chance. What a nice surprise to see you here. Did you enjoy the blueberry pie I made you last week?”

  “Hello, Mrs. Dwight.” His smile traveled up to spark a twinkle in his eye.

  I scowled at him.

  “Yes, it was as delicious as everything you make.”

  Mrs. Dwight fluttered her heavily lined lashes and giggled like a young girl. “I think I might need to order more things. Would you be the one who’d deliver them or one of the other fellows from Package Express?”

  I rolled my eyes. Mrs. Dwight mooned over him like a schoolgirl. I’d bet Chance had women lining up with his trim athletic build, laughing eyes, and boatload of charm, but she had to be three times his age. I’m sure the town felt secure having a half-blind, hard of hearing cradle-robbing grandmother holding down the fort at the police station.

  “No problem, Mrs. Dwight. Once your packages come in, I’m sure I’ll be assigned to deliver them, since it’s my route.”

  “Wonderful. When do you fellows have to change into the shorts uniform from those long pants? I’m sure those get too warm when the weather starts getting nice.” She folded her arms and rested them on the counter.

  I cleared my throat, earning a glare from her before she returned her attention to Chance.

  “What can I do for you?” Mrs. Dwight looked over my shoulder, as if I wasn’t even there. It couldn’t be more obvious who she had eyes for here.

  “Oh no, nothing for me.” Chance took this opportunity to show off his pear
ly whites once again. “I just brought my sis—”

  My glare cut him short.

  “Umm…Hope, here.”

  “You can leave now, Chance.” I stood with one hand on my hip, unintentionally reminding me of the birthmark we shared, and waited until he backed away to the door.

  “If that’s what you want. You know where to find me. Goodbye, Mrs. Dwight.” He closed the door behind him and left Mrs. Dwight staring at it, as if willing him to return.

  “Mrs. Dwight.” The old biddy remained fixated on the door. I raised my voice. “Mrs. Dwight.”

  “What?” Scrutinizing me, as if she’d just noticed I was there. “Oh yes, what is it I can do for you…err, Hope?”

  “I’m here to report a kidnapping.” I bent down to level my eyes with hers to emphasize the seriousness of the matter.

  “A what?” Her eyes boggled behind the glasses. “A kidnapping? Who? When? Ain’t anything like that ever happen round these parts. Sure crimes like that happen every day in the city, but not here.” She grabbed a notepad.

  “Me. I was kidnapped by the man who just left.”

  She stared at me with her pen poised, and her mouth agape just enough for the light to catch on her silver fillings, then roared with laughter. Not a chuckle like I’d expect from a woman as vertically challenged as she, but a belly shaking laugh more like Santa than any I’d ever seen. She didn’t even bother to wipe the tears rolling down her cheeks. Instead, she dropped her pen to grab her belly with both hands as if to stop its quaking.

  “Oh my, that’s a good one.” She panted, hiccupping. Her laughing fit seemed to be more exercise than her body was able to withstand. “It’s not April Fool’s Day today is it? He set me up, didn’t he? That Chance has such an endearing sense of humor. He’s quite the fellow, isn’t he?” She frowned and lost some of her amusement. “You…you aren’t his girlfriend are you?”

  “No.” Rolling my eyes at her obvious relief that I wasn’t in competition for his attention.

  “Okay.” She took a couple deep breaths and held up her hand. “I’m okay.” She nodded, as if reassuring herself. “Really, what can I do for you?”

  “I’m serious.” I pointed toward the door Chance had vacated. “That man gave me a drug and kidnapped me last night when I was leaving the Last Call.”

  Mrs. Dwight grabbed a tissue and dabbed her face, continuing to chuckle. “Are you serious?”

  I nodded, crossing my arms over my chest to prevent myself from reaching across to shake her.

  She quieted and looked at me with pity. “Oh, of course. I’m sorry.” Reaching over she patted my arm, as if comforting a small child. “I’ll let you talk to Officer McCrory. Just wait here while I see if he’s available.”

  Maybe I’d have better luck with the officer. Straightening my shoulders, I knew I must sound foolish. But there was no way I was leaving the station now that I’d come this far.

  The door cracked open. Her bun came through first and she tilted her head up, gesturing for me to come back. “Officer McCrory will see you now.”

  “Thank you.” As I squeezed past, she continued to quake from repressed laughter. I threw her an annoyed look, but since I stood inches above her head, it was unlikely she even caught it.

  There were two desks in the back office. One was empty and the other had a lanky, sandy-haired man with his legs propped up and hands laced over a large belt buckle. I took a seat in the chair in front of his desk.

  “Mrs. Dwight says you want to report being kidnapped?” Officer McCrory was as thin as a toothpick, so his deep voice came as a surprise. He pushed off the desk with his feet and dropped them to the ground, resting his arms over the blotter. “By the very man who gave you a ride to the station today?”

  I fidgeted in the hard, wooden chair. Feeling as if I’d been called to the head nun’s office in the orphanage. “I know it sounds odd, officer, but I woke up today duct taped in the home of that man and his sister with no recollection of getting there.”

  “Duct taped, you say?” He raised an eyebrow as he scribbled into his tablet.

  I cringed. He didn’t look any more concerned than Mrs. Dwight.

  “Hope, is your name, you say?”

  I nodded.

  “You’re not from around here.” He said it like a fact, not a question. “You do look familiar, though.” He squinted. “I can’t quite place what it is about you, but you remind me of someone.”

  He must’ve been thinking of Destiny. I wasn’t about to confirm she and Chance might be my siblings. Besides, kidnapping was kidnapping. It may not be the vengeance I came here seeking, but it was a start. Somebody was going to pay.

  “You from Pittsburgh?”

  I nodded. It was where I’d started at the orphanage, so technically I was.

  “Figured.” He said it as if he’d come to his own conclusion. “We’re a small town. Many people pass through here from the city. Sometimes to pass through and other times to make trouble along the way.” He paused. “Seems many just like to make trouble, too many for a town the size of ours.” He looked at me pointedly. “That’s why we look out for each other, take care of our own. We notice if someone’s new. Just the way some fellas noticed you leaving the Last Call last night with Chance. Said you two were locked in a passionate embrace in the parking lot and then got into his vehicle.”

  “That’s ridiculous.” I smacked my thigh in irritation, gasping when a glittering cloud formed around my hand.

  What the hell is happening to me?

  The officer didn’t appear to notice anything unusual as the glitter crawled over me, flickering from gray to black. I took a deep breath, willing myself to relax. As the tension in my muscles diminished, so did the unsettling glitter.

  Officer McCrory held up his palm. “You told Mrs. Dwight you were drugged. I’m assuming you mean one of those date rape pills they stick in your drink? But you tell me how that could be done if you’re the bartender there?”

  “It wasn’t passion, for goodness’ sake.” I sighed. “He claims to be my brother.”

  “So you do have family from around here? You’re saying this is a family dispute, then?” He tilted back in his chair, tapping the end of his pen on his chin.

  “No.”

  “Exactly where are you from?”

  I hung my head. “Everywhere…you know what, just forget it.”

  “Hope, try to look at this with the information I have. The supposed kidnapper delivers their victim to the station.” He gestured toward me. “Walking in together, with no apparent injury.” He put his elbows on the desk and rested his hands in front of him.

  Mrs. Dwight leaned in the door. “Excuse me, but can I let Bob go?”

  Officer McCrory swiveled his chair to face her. “Sure, I’d say he’s sobered up by now. Have him pay the fine for his truck and tell him to give us time to miss him before next time.”

  I stood. “I’m sorry for taking up your time, Officer. I think I’ll go now, if you don’t mind.”

  “You don’t have to apologize. We’re here to help.” He tapped the badge clipped on his belt. “To protect and serve. Just like my father and my grandfather before me. It’s in our blood. It’s what we do.” His proud smile floundered when he noted the distress that must’ve been apparent on my face. “Please, don’t leave upset. I can recommend someone to talk to, if you’d like. The state psychiatric hospital is nearby.”

  My mouth dropped open. “What?” Even in a town of misfits, I didn’t fit in.

  “Oh, no.” He held up his palms. “I didn’t mean you needed to go there, not that there’s anything wrong with that. I meant we’re close to the city and have a large pool of experts nearby. Err, that is, if you wanted someone to talk to, about. You know…your troubles.”

  “No, I’m fine.” I forced a wide smile. “It was a misunderstanding.”

  He nodded. “That’s kinda what I reckoned.” He smiled. “No harm done. I was having a slow morning anyway.”

  I
rushed past the front desk to avoid Mrs. Dwight, but she called after me. “Take care, Hope. Tell Chance I’ll be baking more pies this weekend if he wants to come by.”

  I stopped once I was outside, hugging myself from the chill and cursing Chance for forcing me to abandon my car at the bar. The skyline of Pittsburgh, visible from where I stood, close, but still so far away from this town tucked into a crevice in the world.

  I could get into my car and leave, forget about all of this. If I had my car, and if a crap load of guilt for not doing anything to avenge Tessa wouldn’t weigh on me for the rest of my life.

  I wondered how far the walk to Ruthie’s house was while I rubbed my forehead. It’d begun to hum again. Keeling over in front of the police station wouldn’t be a good idea. After this encounter, I’d probably wake up committed to the mental hospital. All I wanted to do was lie down and nap. Now that I’d found family, all I wanted to do was get the hell away from them.

  Bob, the former bartender, was making his way to his beaten looking truck. He wouldn’t be my first choice for a ride, but beggars can’t be choosers. I hoped he didn’t hold a grudge about me taking his job.

  “Bob.” I hurried down the steps.

  He stopped and glanced at me without any apparent recognition. His face was scrubby and unshaven and the aroma of alcohol surrounded him like a mist even after a night at the station.

  “Hey, Bob, how are you? I met you at the Last Call.” I hoped my smile didn’t look more like a grimace, with the achiness in my head becoming difficult to ignore.

  Bob pulled down his brows, looking like he was struggling to remember me. I took advantage of his befuddled state, knowing most likely his memory of the entire evening was a blur.

  I shrugged. “That’s okay if you don’t remember. I had a lot to drink that night, too.” A little white lie. Better to say that than my brother kidnapped me. “I wonder if you’d mind giving me a ride to Ruthie’s?” I looked at the ground, feigning embarrassment. “I left my car at the bar.” I didn’t want to ask him to take me that far out of his way. I’d get it later.

  “You’re the one who gave me money for a cab,” Bob said.