Bred in the Bone (Widow's Island #4)(15)

“Is there something dangerous in there?” Cate asked quickly, another explosion coming to mind.

“No. They just shouldn’t. I’ll get in trouble.” He shifted his weight from foot to foot, and the dog pressed against Mickey’s leg, sensing his anxiety.

“Trouble from the commander?”

The boy nodded, his gaze locked on the outbuilding.

“Well, he’s not here, is he?” Cate asked. “He won’t know, and obviously you’re not going in the shed.”

“He’ll know. He always knows.”

“We’ll talk to him and let him know you said for us not to do that. Where can I find him?” asked Tessa.

“Dunno.”

The deputies left the shed and headed for the last outbuilding as Cate watched. Whatever Mickey had been worried about in the shed hadn’t concerned them.

“They need to stop.” Mickey’s voice shook. “I’ll be punished.” He tried to leave, pulling Bishy’s rope, but Henry firmly held the dog’s collar.

“It’s okay, Mickey,” Henry said calmly. “We won’t let you be punished. We’re here to protect you.”

Cate’s heart broke at the terror in the boy’s voice. He was petrified of the commander.

Is Travis the commander?

“No! You’re strangers! I’m not supposed to talk to strangers!” He tugged harder on the dog’s rope, his gaze bouncing between the deputies entering the shed and Henry.

“Mickey, is your commander’s name Travis?” asked Cate.

Confusion scrunched up the little face. “What?”

Maybe not.

“Hey! Doc!” Gunderson shouted from the door of the last building. “We need you over here!”

“No!” cried Mickey. “You can’t go in there! He’ll hurt me.”

Tessa replaced Henry’s grip on Bishy’s collar. After exchanging a quick glance, he and Cate jogged to the outbuilding, and Mickey wailed behind them.

“What is going on?” mumbled Cate. “Why isn’t there an adult here with Mickey?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. All I know is that kid needs a lot of calories and balanced nutrition.”

“And to lose the fear of his ‘commander.’”

“Damn right.”

They followed Gunderson into the shed. The smell made Cate slap a hand over her nose and mouth.

What in the hell?

Light from two barred windows showed a room with a twin bed, worn rugs, a chair, and stacks and stacks of books.

A woman cowered on the bed, trying to get as far away as possible from the intruders, a long chain leading from her ankle to a bolt in the concrete floor. The room was barely warmer than the outdoors, and she was wrapped in several quilts. Her face was painfully thin, and she held up a hand to stop them from coming closer.

“Get out,” came her loud whisper. “Go away!”

Cate stared, and her knees weakened.

She grabbed Henry’s arm, suddenly dizzy and straining to see in the poor light.

It can’t be.

“Go away!”

That voice.

“Samantha?” Cate’s voice cracked, and Henry sucked in a sharp breath.

The woman’s face was partially hidden, her hair pulled back in a long loose braid. But Cate knew. She knew with every cell of her body that this was Samantha.

She’s not dead. Why . . . ?

“Sam. It’s Cate. Honey . . . look at me,” she whispered, wanting to cry at Sam’s crushing fear.

My God. I don’t understand . . .

“Samantha . . . we’re here to take you home . . . your mother is waiting for you.” Cate took two steps closer, her knees threatening to give way, but she craved eye contact. The woman curled tighter into herself, shaking her head.

How did this happen?

The deputies and Henry stayed silent, letting Cate attempt to calm the woman.

“Samantha.” Cate reached the bed and knelt on the cold concrete floor, never taking her gaze from the woman. In the dim light she saw the braid was red, darker than when Sam was a teenager. But the profile resonated with Cate’s memories.

It’s her.

She put a shaking hand on Sam’s leg, horrified by the chain and heavy cuff. “It’s Cate. Tessa is here too.” She raised her voice. “Get Tessa.” Footsteps receded out the door. “You’re safe, Sam. We’re going to get you out of here, and you will never be chained again.”

Cate sniffled and wiped her nose with her sleeve, realizing her face was wet. She’s chained up like a dog . . . for how long?

Samantha lowered the hand she’d rigidly held out to stave off the invaders. Her eyes met Cate’s, but there was no recognition in their depths.

“Samantha Eloise Bishop,” Cate whispered, hoping her words would reach the woman hiding inside this pitiful figure. “You are going back to Widow’s. You are going back to your mother, who’s been waiting years for you. Tessa and I—”

“Samantha?” Tessa burst into the shed.

Samantha threw both arms over her face.

“Oh, my god!” Tessa dropped to her knees beside Cate, who put a staying hand on her shoulder to keep her from lunging at Samantha.

“She’s terrified, Tessa. I don’t think she knows it’s us.”