Chapter Twenty Four

Finding herself running away from the hotel again, Jayme only wanted to get away from the hotel, away from anywhere Jim may be. He must have woke up just as she was running away. Jayme had no money, no ID, no change to make a phone call. She knew going to the police wouldn’t do any good. Walking into an all night convenience store, Jayme asked to use their phone. The young man working was reluctant but Jayme coaxed him into it.
Dialing Rex’s cell phone number, Jayme waited for an answer. Being a number he didn’t recognize, Rex almost didn’t answer it, but considering the situation and the fact that it was after three in the morning, Rex eagerly answered. “Hello?” He asked in an excited voice.
“Rex…”
“Jayme, oh thank God. Where are you?”
“I don’t know, hold on…” Jayme said and asked the young man what town they were in.
“This is Spring Valley.” He answered.
“Spring Valley.” Jayme answered. “I’m at an all night gas station. I’m staying here until you get here.”
“Ok, I’ll be there in half an hour.” Rex said. “Good girl, I’m coming to get you right now. Stay put.” He said and hung up the phone.
After hearing her conversation, the young man realized her situation and offered her something to eat or drink. Jayme only asked for a cup of water and the young man obliged. She asked if she could hide somewhere with her child and the man let her sit in the office until Rex arrived.
Sitting in the office, she finished with Bella as she was interrupted while eating. Dimming the lights, Jayme sat in the office chair, holding her sleeping daughter until she heard Rex’s voice asking about her. Jayme came from the office and directly to Rex, putting her arm around him. “I’m so glad to see you.” Jayme said.
As Jayme and Rex headed for the door, Jayme turned to the boy working and thanked him for his help and hospitality. While driving back to Hillman, Rex and Jayme discussed the situation, knowing she was no longer safe at Rex’s house. She would have to either go to work with him, which is impossible, or get a job to be around others and more safe. But then she would have to leave her child with vulnerable strangers.
Jayme knew it was time she begin to carry a gun. She would have to go through training and classes to legally carry it but it must be done to keep her, and Bella, safe. It was nearly five by the time they arrived back at the apartment. Rex knew he couldn’t go to sleep, he had to be to work in two hours. But Jayme couldn’t keep her eyes open.
Laying down on the couch, Jayme caught an hour of sleep before she had to leave the apartment with Rex. Changing Bella one last time before leaving, Jayme carried her out to his truck and climbed in. For today, her only options would be to either ride with Rex in his patrol car, which is against protocol, or to sit in the police station, or somewhere they would be safe.
Rex took Jayme to a room where she could hang out with Bella until his twelve hour shift was over. But after just a few hours, Jayme was bored and ready to seek out another safe place. Although it was against everyone’s wishes, Jayme left the sheriff’s department and walked towards downtown. She knew she would be safe in public, or so she thought.
Little did Jayme know that Jim’s eyes were on her. As soon as she walked out of the sheriff’s department, Jim saw her and followed her on foot. He was well disguised with black hair, black facial hair, and black sunglasses. For now, he just followed her, trying not to look suspicious.
It wasn’t until Jayme walked into the park that Jim made his move. With Bella beginning to fuss, Jayme knew it was feeding time. Still wanting to be safe, she stayed in plain view, just inside the park, sitting on a wooden bench. Preparing to feed Bella, Jayme unfolded and shook a blanket that she draped over her as she exposed her breast for Bella to feed.
Jayme heard nothing as Jim came up behind her. Without a word, he wrapped one arm around her neck and his other hand covered her mouth. Putting extreme pressure on her neck, Jayme quickly passed out. Catching Bella before she hit the ground, Jim carried her as he quickly dragged Jayme toward his car.
But before he could get her into his trunk, Jayme began to wake up. Although dazed and confused, she realized what was happening and struggled against Jim to free herself. Suddenly she felt the blow from Jim’s fist that threw her into a stupor. Shoving her inside, Jim slammed the trunk.
Scared and angered, Jayme started to cry as she reached her hand to her face to touch the point of impact. It was already sore and swollen and she knew it was starting to bruise. Jayme could hear Bella crying and it infuriated her even more.
Pushing on the trunk lid, she knew it wouldn’t open. Then she directed her aggression towards the back of the back seat. That was when she realized the seat folded forward. It gave her the opportunity to climb into the back seat. Quietly, she laid across the back seat, staying hidden from Jim. She could see Bella laying across the front, passengers seat.
By now, Bella was merely screaming, but Jim continued to drive. Peeking out the windows, Jayme could see they had left the city limits and were headed north. It was the second week of November and the weather was cold and snowy, which was normal for this time of the year.
Feeling the car slow down, Jayme peeked out the window. She assumed he had been driving for nearly an hour as he turned down a dirt road that looked like a seasonal road. Approximately two miles back in the woods, they came to a small rickety cabin where Jim parked fifty yards from the cabin and shut off the car.
Jim got out and walked toward the cabin. Jayme knew she had to act fast to get away with Bella. Grabbing her from the passenger, front seat, Jayme held the child against her breast. She knew feeding her would keep her quiet so she could get away. Slowly and quietly, Jayme opened the back door, opposite of him, and left it open as she ran towards the woods.
He didn’t see her, only the open door, when he turned back around. “Dammit.” Jim muttered as he went towards the car. Looking around, the snow was coming down thick but he could still see a faint footprint in the snow. And Bella was gone from the front seat.
Following the footprints with his eyes, he looked up at the woods but didn’t see her. In a dead run, he took off for the woods, running and looking for footprints. After a few hundred feet in the woods, Jim stopped and listened. He couldn’t hear anything except the wind whistling through the trees.
Then he heard the snap of a branch in a direction opposite of her footprints. Still, he became still and listened. He could almost hear the sound of the snowflakes hitting the ground as they were wet and heavy. But there was no other sound. Disgruntled, Jim turned and walked back toward the cabin.
Merely fifty yards away, Jayme held still, with Bella, hiding behind a large oak tree. Her heart was beating wildly and she could feel the tension from her fear beating in her fingertips and lips. Turning around, she leaned her back against a tree and let a few tears escape. Controlling her breathing, she tried to calm herself before walking in a direction opposite of Jim.
She had no idea where she was but she knew this area was known for vast forest. She knew it could be hours before she finds any houses, or roads, or even buildings. But she kept walking as she cared for Bella, feeding and burping her appropriately. As Jayme kept walking, the sun began to set and she wondered if she would make it out of the forest before night fall.