Chapter Sixteen
For the first time in years, Charles was dreading what he might find when he did get to the caves, a place he once enjoyed. One, Katherine might not even be there. He knew the one young man was upset at losing his girl, although Charles was just as certain no girl meant anything to either of them. The drugs were all that counted in their young lives. He, himself would never know the feeling of addiction, although he had seen so many. Young girls who would give anything, including selling their bodies, and did to get that momentary fix. Prostitution was a serious by product of these drugs. Then there was theft. Nothing was safe among the young druggies. They stole from their family and friends. No one was safe from them. They often didn't even recall what they stole or from whom as long as the end result was drugs.
Now his Katherine was in danger. Suppose the boys lied and he would only find an empty cave? Perhaps she had not been allowed to stay alive. After all, if she were, her testimony would only accuse them of kidnapping, a death sentence in California. And... He caught his breath; it could be that he would only find her lifeless body in the cave, drowned by the rising tide. She would have suffered needlessly because of him. What could he say to her daughters? These young women had just recently lost their father. How could he tell her that he was the cause of their mother's premature death? Tears were rolling down his cheeks. A man shouldn't cry, but he couldn't help it. All he could envision was the thought of her body either in the cave or lost to him forever. He might catch the boys, but nothing he could do would ever bring her back.
Roughly he used his hand to wipe away the offensive tears. "No,” he shouted. "No!" I won't believe that my Katherine is gone. Not now. Not after all these years. No! I've got to stay calm and think and believe, believe she is alive and I will rescue her. I will." Charles almost breathed a sigh of relief as the car turned off the freeway toward the Dinosaur Caves. Time to call the police for help when he should find her. Why hadn't he thought of that sooner? How stupid. He was so upset it didn't even cross his mind. The cell phone quickly reached the close police station and he was on the phone with them as he drove down the side street.
"Yes, I need your help and now. I may need an ambulance. There is a woman supposed to be tied up in the caves. I don't know for sure and I don't know in what condition. Do you happen to know the time of high tide? OK. Check it out, but get here in a hurry." He flipped the phone shut and threw it on the seat. He had done all he could to get help. His police friends would cover all bases.
"She has to be there and alive." Within moments, he was parked close to the cave. "Kathy, Kathy," he called out toward the caves.
No answer. Charles didn't really expect one, just hoped. It was as if by shouting her name, he was in contact with Katherine. Fortunately, he knew the only way to get down without a rope ladder was by climbing down the rocks to the right. Charles scrambled down the large rocks trying to see his way in the fortunately, bright moonlight. At least that was on his side. Another mound of rocks separated him from the entrance to the cave. Without hesitation, he climbed up and over these barriers. "Kathy, Kathy," he called out. No answer soothed his heart. Finally he reached the place where the opening of the cave had been. The tide had risen high enough to cover the small entrance. "Kathy, you can't be gone from me. You have to be alive."
It would be difficult to swim against the tide, but he would do it. He had to.... It was Kathy's life. Without hesitation, he forced his way through the heavy surf and into the opening of the Cave, only taking a few seconds to push off his shoes. The water was cold, but that didn't matter. He swam under the water for a few minutes, then pushed himself to the surface. It was so dark; he couldn't see much except the moonlight coming in from the other back entrance of the cave.
"Charles, you rotten son of a ........" No words were as welcome as the sound of Katherine cussing him out. She couldn't even know he was there, but she was certainly angry with him and justifiably so.
"Kathy, Kathy," he called out swimming toward the ledge he knew to be there.
"Charles, is that you?" As if it would be someone else calling her name. If he hurried up, he could rescue her. The water was already up over the edge of the ledge.
"I'm soaking wet and this water is climbing fast."
Charles reached the ledge and attempted to climb up, his feet constantly slipping. "Hold on."
"What else do you expect me to do?"
Good, she was angry enough to fight her way out with him when he freed her from her bonds. He put his arms around her holding her close. She was alive, angry, but alive. He reached into his pocket for his knife.
"Stop," she shouted. "Get your hands off me and get me out of here."
"I'm trying. Let me get your hands free. What else is secured?"
"I am tied to this rock, but my feet are already free."
"Wish I had a flashlight."
"Didn't you think to bring one?"
"No, I just rushed out to get here. I did call the police, but they will take a few minutes to get here. We'll be out of here by then." He kept cutting at the rope around her hands. Finally her hands were free. Charles then started on the rope that was holding her to the large rock. The water kept rising.
"Much longer and I'll be drowning while you are still cutting that thick rope."
"As soon as I get a few strands cut, it will be easier. Don't worry. I'll get you out of here."
"I want you to know I will probably kill you when you do. How could you put me in so much danger? What is this all about?"
"Kathy, love, please. I'll tell you everything, but first let me get us out of here before it's too late."
"Fine." she was so upset with him. Her voice showed it. "When we get out of here, we'll talk. Boy, will we talk and then I never want to see you or hear from you again. Ever!"
"Kathy, you can't mean that."
"I do and I mean it. Hurry up or we won't be able to talk about anything."
The tide seemed to be coming in more quickly. Charles kept moving his knife back and forth. It didn't seem to be working. The water was up past the rope at her waist and still rising. He wasn't going to make it in time. She knew she was going to die.
"Charles," her voice softened, “get yourself out of here. It's not working. We can't both ...die. Just promise me that you'll take care of my daughters. Promise."
"No, I will get you out or we'll both go. I'm not giving up."
"Please. I can't leave Beth and Jesey alone without any help. They’re too young and Beth, she’s, she’s…..”
The shouting of another voice stopped her from telling him her secret.
"Hey, Charles,” the voice was coming from the opening at the back of the cave. "Need some help?"
"Yes," he called out toward the light. "We're on the ledge. I can't get this rope cut. Do you have something?"
"Be right there." the voice behind the light came closer.
Charles didn't stop. "Hurry up." A small boat pulled up alongside the ledge.
A man in a black wet suit pulled himself up with a large bolt cutter in his hand. "Brought this, just in case,” he shone his flashlight on us. "Move aside, Charles and let me get this."
In a few moments, Kathy was finally freed. The wet suited man helped her into the small boat. "Come on, Charles. Let's get you two to safe and dry ground."
"Do you want to tell me what happened? He asked Katherine.
"Can't that wait?" Charles asked. "She's cold, wet and just been through so much."
"Sorry, you’re right. I'll get you back and we can talk later." He headed toward the moonlit opening of the cave. "We can't get out through the front, so we'll go this way. I'm not sure either of you have the strength to swim through that opening."
Katherine said no more. Too many thoughts were going through her mind and she was shivering with the chill night air. How could he have put her life in danger? She was so glad the policeman arrived in time. In a few minutes more, she would have told
him all about his daughter. That was one secret he wasn't entitled to know, not after all this. She had meant what she said in the cave. Katherine never wanted to see or hear from him again, ever. All these wasted years, loving him the way she had done, remembering that single year of love. He was a stranger. In essence, she felt she did deserve what she had endured. She had almost cheated on Frank. Her husband was gone, but she had never given him the love she had given the memory of Charles. It didn't matter now that Frank had not wanted her love, just a companion. They had agreed to that early in their relationship and kept it up during the marriage. The memory of Charles had kept her going many a lonely night, but this..? How could he?
She wasn't going to cry, not now. Kathy was so cold with pent up emotions that were choking her.
Charles was slumped in his seat in the small boat as it headed toward shore. In a few minutes he would have to answer to Katherine for all he had done. Those boys couldn't have hurt him more. If Katherine stuck to what she said, she never wanted to see him again and he couldn't blame her. If he hadn't gotten there in time...if his friend hadn't helped...the thought was too terrible. How could he blame her? He should have told her the truth long before. He should have quit before he even came to see her at the hotel. The thought of losing her forever wasn't as bad as her losing her life, but it hurt. If only there were some way to change her mind....
"I'll take her back to the hotel in my car so she can take a warm shower and get dressed in dry clothes. We'll come back to press charges as soon as we can."
"Okay, man, don't worry about it. You can come in tomorrow. What about her car?"
"Don't talk about me as if I were not here." Kathy was still angry as she headed toward Charles's car. "I'll be in tomorrow and I'll see to my own car in my own time."
"Sorry, mam, I deserve that. If we can help you with your vehicle, let us know."
"Oh, yes, thank you for saving us. I will be in tomorrow some time." She sat down on the passenger side of Charles's car. If she had her keys, she would have driven her own, but she would have to get a locksmith. At least she had put her purse in the trunk and only had to worry about keys for the car. It was too late. Tomorrow would be fine.
"I'm afraid I am getting your car seat wet." her voice was colder than she felt.
"It doesn't matter." he didn't know what to say.
"You know, no matter what, no matter what our future relationship will be or not be, you still owe me an explanation, a long detailed explanation."
"Yes, I know. That I can handle, but I keep thinking about how close...." his voice choked.
Kathy felt the urge to hold him close to her, but resisted. He sounded so broken while her anger was keeping her going. Charles didn't have that luxury.