Page 80 of The Chain

“Call them up.”

“I’ve called them! They’re not answering. Aren’t you listening?”

“Who doesn’t leave the phone on when their daughter’s been kidnapped?” Pete wonders.

“Maybe they’re already dead. Maybe the blowback has killed them and we’re going to be next,” Rachel says.

“They might be coming for us right now.”

“We’ll bring Kylie to the Appenzellers’ house. Nobody knows about that place except us,” Rachel says.

“I’ll get things ready.”

Rachel goes to Kylie’s room. She’s still awake and on her iPad. “I’m sorry, honey, but it’s not safe for you to be here tonight. Something’s happening with The Chain.”

Kylie is terrified. “What? Are they coming for us?”

“No. Not yet. I have to sort something out. I’m going to take you over to the Appenzellers’. You’ll be safe there.”

“They’re coming back for me, aren’t they?”

“No. It’s not that. You’re safe. It’s fine. It’s just a precaution. Your uncle Pete and I are going to take care of everything. Come on, pack a bag.”

Rachel and Kylie drive over to the Appenzellers’ and slip in the back. Pete is waiting in the kitchen with his .45 and Rachel’s shotgun.

Kylie looks at the weapons, swallows, then gives Pete a hug.

“Is the little girl here?” Kylie asks.

Rachel nods.

“Where is she?”

“Basement. Asleep,” Pete says.

“Pete and I have to go out. Amelia probably won’t wake up, but if you need to go down there, put this on,” Rachel says, giving her a black ski mask.

“So she can’t identify me,” Kylie says, fascinated and appalled.

“I was praying you wouldn’t get further involved, but if Amelia starts to cry, I guess you’ll have to go down there and comfort her,” Rachel says. “We can’t have her making too much noise.”

“I think she’ll sleep until morning, though. I had her skipping rope for an hour,” Pete says.

“Where are you guys going to be?” Kylie asks her mom.

“Pete and I have to go deal with an emergency.”

“What sort of emergency?”

“It’s OK, honey, it’s not bad, but both of us have to go and you’ll have to stay here with Amelia.”

“You need to tell me what’s happening!”

Rachel nods. She deservedthat. “One of the families farther down The Chain is thinking about going to the police. We have to stop them. If they go to the police, we could all be in danger.”

“So where are you going?”

“Providence.”