AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 20
Jasmine was in thekitchen getting the food ready for the queen’s that her brother had recently brought in. She knew nothing about why he needed so many rare breeds of cats, but she knew she felt sorry for them.
Especially the one that had come in a few weeks ago. A beautiful white coated female that reminded her of a snow leopard. When she looked into the cats aqua coloured eyes, she knew the pain the poor thing felt by being locked up in a cage. She herself was never permitted to leave the grounds unless it was to babysit for Abbi and Ben, and even then, it was straight there and straight back.
The cat had disappeared for close to a week, her brother in a frenzy because of it. He had everyone out looking for her. Jasmine never did tell anyone that she ‘accidentally’ left her cage open one night and the cat followed her to the village. Her brother would have had a fit if he’d known she had done it and would likely lock her in her room.
“What’s taking you so long Jasmine?”
She turned at her brother’s voice as he walked into the room.
“I had to open more cans of food,” she lied.
“Well hurry up. Dan will be coming by soon and you need to be gone.”
“I’m done,” she said, as she loaded the trays of food onto the pushcart. She started to wheel it across the room to the back door when it burst open. It was Dan with a woman that looked vaguely familiar.
“Hi,” Jasmine said to her, as she wheeled the cart past them, watching the woman.
The woman ignored her, staring straight ahead at her brother.
“Get a move on Jasmine,” her brother barked.
She was no more than out the door when it slammed shut behind her, causing her to jump. It was then that she remembered where she’d seen the woman before. It was one day that Ben had driven her home after watching Annabelle. He’d stopped by the inn to drop something off to Kim, only it was her that came out to retrieve it from him. It was Destiny.
Wondering why she would be there to see her brother she went down the wheelchair ramp with the cart and walked over to the man that was standing at the entrance to the barn. “Hi Ike, can you unlock the hole for me please?”
“Sure thing Jasmine. Just give me a second, I need to lock this door first.” He took a ring of keys out of his jacket pocket and stuck a key into the lock, turning it. He took hold of the doorknob and shook it. Satisfied that it was locked, he said excitedly, “Come on. Let’s go feed the cats.”
Knowing he had to see the woman and Dan enter the back of the house, she looked at him and asked, “Do you know why that woman is here?”
“No idea. Maybe she’s interested in buying a cat? Women like cats, right?”
Jasmine smiled at him. She always liked Ike; with his childlike wonder he always came up with something that made her smile in her dismal world. “Yeah, they do.”
––––––––
AS THE TWO GOT FURTHERand further away, Ava hissed, “Did he say cats?”
Dean nodded. “Yup, that’s what he said alright.”
Now that the coast was clear, Ben looked at Luke and Ava, “You two watch them to see where they go. Dean, let’s get in that barn.”
Together they moved in the darkness and snuck around to the far side, bypassing the door that Ike had locked. Running to the cover of an apple orchard they slinked along until they were nearing the middle of the building. Spying a door behind a bush, they moved at the same time and flattened themselves against the building.
Looking around to make sure the coast was clear; Dean pulled his gun from the holster under his jacket. Looking at Ben, he said, “Open the door on the count of three.”
Ben nodded, grasping hold of the handle. “Should I do it fast or slow?”
“Fast. Ready?”
Ben nodded.
Dean held up three fingers... two... one...
Ben yanked on the door, but it barely would budge. “Sonofabitch,” he grunted. Bracing a foot against the building he pulled with all his might, the door slowly creaked open. When they heard nothing from within, Dean poked his head inside and whistled.
