Page 126 of Betrayed

Chapter Forty-Six

AJ wriggled her body up, and as soon as her face broke the surface, she sucked in a giant breath before the current dragged her under again. She couldn’t keep this up much longer.

She hoped and prayed the fact Miles hadn’t pushed the button again meant Logan had bested him, but that also meant she was probably going to drown.

Just like Bree.

At least she’d get to be with Bree at last. The two of them could curl up with Jesus and talk for hours.

But Logan.

She was sure she added to the river, probably enough to make the water brackish. But she couldn’t sob, or she’d drown that much faster.

Keep it together, AJ. God, help me.

The rope let out more.

She tried to float. But without her arms and legs free, she couldn’t get her body at the right angle to lay near the surface. Plus her work boots were too heavy. Again she tried to kick them off, but they were laced too well, and the rope around her ankles was too tight.

Propelling herself upward, she took a breath.

A dog barked in the distance.

But she sank back into the water before she could yell for help.

God, am I going to die now? I’m Yours. If this is my time, so be it. Help Logan. Tell Bree I can’t wait to see her.

Logan sat at the front of the boat with Wesson, who continually sniffed the air and barked upstream. A bridge came into view. Was that the bridge Amelia had seen? He probably should have taken a minute to look at it.

But his sense of urgency was growing exponentially by the moment.

“God, help us find her!”

The wind blew through his hair as Megan sped the boat forward. She slowed as they approached the bridge spanning the river, which was nearly a quarter of a mile wide. Where was she?

What if this wasn’t the right bridge? There weren’t too many that crossed this river, so there weren’t many to choose from, but it made logical sense that Miles would use the closest one.

Did Miles know they’d lost their daughter in this river? Is that why he chose it? To be as cruel as possible?

What if they didn’t make it in time? What if she was already gone?

He braced against the boat, willing himself to stay positive. Silently he begged God to keep her alive.

Sweeping the flashlight beam under the bridge, he looked for any clue.

A line coming down from the bridge caught his eye. A black rope.

“There!”

“I see it.” Megan directed the boat that way.

The rope was attached to an elaborate pulley system.

“Logan!” Megan yelled.

He followed the rope down. “I don’t see anything.”

“She’s under the water. I saw her bob up for a second.”