“Probably the same as it was for you, Isaac.” Pearl frowned. “I’m really worried about her.”
“I’ll share something in confidence with you. Addie’s brothers were in a prison outside of Vancouver for the last few years. I wrote to the man in charge of the prison to ask if they’d been released yet. I should hear something soon. When the letter comes, I’ll let you know.”
Pearl nodded, and a tear slipped down her cheek. “I’m so worried about her, Isaac.”
“I am too. I’ll go to the cottage and see if she’s returned.”
Addie was being held prisoner by her brothers, and try as she might, she found no hope of freedom. Twice she had tried to sneak off in the middle of the night, but that had only resulted in a sound beating and Hiram tying her up at night.
She was worn and hungry. They were starving her to get her to cooperate. Hiram and Shep had no considerationwhatsoever for her needs, and Addie was beginning to fear she very well might die.
Mary had been in to check on her, but the threesome had hidden in the bathroom and waited until she left. Thankfully she was never compelled to check the bathroom.
“Someone’s coming up the walk,” Shep said, getting to his feet. “It’s Hanson. No doubt he’s looking for Addie.”
“Really?” Hiram asked sarcastically. “Do you really suppose he is?” He cursed and grabbed Addie by the hair. “Get to the bathroom. Come on, Shep, let’s get ourselves hidden.” They followed Addie to the bathroom and closed the door.
“I do wish your friends would just leave well enough alone,” Hiram said, putting his hand over Addie’s mouth. “I’m getting tired of this. Can’t even have lights on at night.”
“We could just pack up and leave,” Shep declared. “I’m getting tired of this place.”
Addie prayed fervently that Isaac would just go. She feared what Hiram would do to him if Isaac somehow managed to make it inside.
Loud knocking echoed through the house followed by a muffled voice calling out to her. “Addie! Are you in there?”
The doorknob rattled as he sought to gain entrance. There was a long pause and then another knock.
Hiram tightened his hold on Addie. “Not a sound, or I’ll wring your neck.” As if to prove his point, Hiram wrapped his free hand around her throat.
Isaac could be heard circling the house and calling to Addie, but after a while, everything went quiet.
Addie couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. Isaac would remain safe so long as she served Hiram’s purpose. That was all that mattered. Addie knew the time had come to tellHiram about her gold and get him to leave Seattle. Even if it meant she’d have to leave too. She couldn’t risk Isaac and the others falling victim to her brothers. She just couldn’t let anyone else get hurt.
“She wasn’t there, Pearl,” Isaac said, having returned to the photography shop. “I looked in every window. There wasn’t any sign of anyone.”
“Where could she have gone?”
Isaac shook his head. “I don’t know, but I do intend to find out.”
He left the shop and walked along the avenue trying his best to figure out what to do next. It would probably be best to go to the police. Let them know that Addie was missing. Perhaps the police could even gain entry to her cottage and search for clues inside.
Isaac couldn’t fight off the sense of dread. Addie had to be in trouble. And if he couldn’t find her, he couldn’t help her.
But God can, a voice seemed to speak to his soul.
Isaac nodded and shoved his hands deep in his pockets. Yes, God could help her and would. She belonged to Him, and Isaac would pray and give it all over to God. Well, most of it. He was still going to speak with the police.
That evening Isaac related everything that had happened to Elizabeth after the girls had gone to bed. He didn’t want to worry them about Addie’s situation.
“She just disappeared. I wish I’d checked on her when she missed the first day of work, but I didn’t know. I was too busy working on that syllabus. Now who knows where she is and if she’s all right?”
“You can’t blame yourself, Isaac. She’s a grown woman who has been making her own choices for some time. I know you’re worried, but what if she just decided to leave? What if your pressure to marry was just too much? I don’t want to hurt you, but sometimes a person can only take so much.”
“But I apologized, and I don’t intend to pressure her anymore.” Isaac shook his head. “No, I’m telling you, Lizzy, something has happened to her. She’s in trouble. I just know it.”
19
The letter from the federal penitentiary arrived two days later. Hiram and Shepard Bryant had been released after helping to transport goods and displays to the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. They had received an early release for good behavior.
