Real Love
Copyright© 2025 by DB86
Chapter 3
A tall man of military aspect, but in civilian attire, approached Dylan with his hand outstretched.
“I was told you’re the one I must thank for saving my sister’s life. The doctors say if you hadn’t found her and acted so quickly, she would have died. I’m eternally grateful, Dylan.” Landon’s voice was thick with emotion. “The police and FBI already filled me in, but I’d love to hear it from you. By the way, I’m Landon Petersen, Callie’s brother”
Dylan dropped the empty coffee cup in the trashcan and shook the man’s hand. His grip was firm.
“I’m Dylan ... Dylan Thomas, no relationship with the writer. My parents are both English Literature teachers with a sense of humor, I guess. Nice to meet you, Mr. Petersen.”
Landon smiled. “Please, call me Landon. You have my eternal gratitude, Dylan. Can you tell me how you found her?” There was a time when driving was unthinkable, a consequence of a past he wasn’t ready to share.
Dylan had already told his story more than once, so it was easier this time.
“I was driving through some lonely back road. Back roads are my thing,” Dylan began. “Can’t stand aggressive highway drivers, the tailgaters, the people who seem to enjoy cutting you off.”
Landon chuckled, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. He felt the same way about highways. There was a time when he wasn’t even able to drive at all because he had suffered from PTSD.
“I was scouting the woods for a good night shot when your sister stumbled out of the trees and collapsed on the road. I thought at first, she was a deer, or some other small animal. But something made me check anyway. I found your sister bleeding from a wound in her back, barely conscious, and almost frozen to death. I couldn’t get a signal on my phone, so I got her to my RV. She mumbled her name and something about being kidnapped. I patched her up as best I could, warmed her up, and hightailed it here as soon as I could.”
“My sister owes you her life, literally, Dylan,” Landon said, gripping his hand again.
Dylan shrugged, a flush creeping up his neck. “Anyone would’ve done the same, Landon.”
“Maybe,” Landon replied, his gaze steady. “But most people wouldn’t have looked back.”
“I work as a travel photographer so I always pay attention to the landscape.”
Landon frowned. “A travel photographer?”
Dylan gave a shy smile, accustomed to the reaction. “It is a real profession, believe it or not. I capture landscapes, historical buildings, cultures, and people in a specific place and destination, selling the photos to travel magazine editors. It combines my love of travel with photography, a great way to see corners of America and make a living.”
“Sounds interesting,” Landon conceded.
“It is. I was actually heading to Middletown, a small town in Washington state.”
Landon’s eyes widened. “I know exactly where Middletown is. My wife and I live there.”
“Really? Maybe you can point me toward some good photo spots?”
“I can do better than that,” Landon offered. “Consider me your personal guide. You mentioned an RV?”
“Yeah, most of the places I visit don’t have lodging or everything’s booked solid.”
“You’ll be staying on my land then. I own a cabin in the woods. As soon as Callie is released, I’m taking her there to recover.”
Gratitude filled Dylan. “Thank you so much for your offer, Landon. I truly appreciate it.” They exchanged phone numbers, and Landon gave Dylan directions to the cabin.
A flicker of worry crossed Dylan’s face. “How is Callie? Is she awake? Will she be okay? I kept asking the nurses, but they wouldn’t tell me much since I’m not family.”
“Callie’s asleep for now,” Landon explained. “The doctors say she needs rest, but she’s out of danger and expected to recover fully. My wife is with her right now.”
Relief washed over Dylan. “That’s fantastic news.”
Landon’s expression darkened. “Dylan, did you notice a vehicle following you?”
“No, not at all. Once I got a signal, I found the nearest hospital and got here as fast as I could. Why?”
“The FBI informed me that hospital security cameras caught a black van arriving ten minutes after you did. Two men got out, checked your RV, and left when a police car showed up.”
Dread coiled in Dylan’s stomach. “They might have been after Callie.”
“It’s a possibility,” Landon said grimly. “I heard the recording of the nine-one-one call my sister made. She was...” Landon hesitated, his voice thick with emotion,” she was held captive in a basement, with other girls. Apparently, she was kidnapped by a human trafficking ring. The FBI had been searching for this group. They think this group is responsible for several kidnappings in the area.
“Human trafficking?” Dylan whispered, the words catching in his throat. “Really? I guess, the dark side of humanity is never far from view.”
Landon nodded; his jaw clenched. “They found seven cages in the basement: one empty, five holding women, and one with a dead woman.”
“Oh my God,” Dylan breathed.
“They also found a dead man upstairs,” Landon continued, his voice low. “Stabbed in the heart.”
Dylan’s eyes widened. “The nine-one-one call...”
A ghost of a smile touched Landon’s lips. “Callie made it. There were signs of a fight and a lot of blood in the master bedroom. The FBI think Callie was wounded when she fought back her captor.”
“She had a bad wound in her back when I found her,” Dylan said, his voice trembling slightly. “I did my best to stop the bleeding.”
“You did, you saved her life, Dylan,” Landon said, his voice filled with gratitude. “There was an open window on the second floor. They think Callie jumped down to escape. There was a trail of blood leading to the road where you found her.”
“Your sister is one tough woman,” Dylan said, with a newfound respect for Callie.
“Callie is the sweetest person I know,” Landon said with pride, “but she’s got guts. I taught her self-defense, and she has some military training under her belt, too. Army nurses receive military training as part of their commissioning process.”
A nurse hurried over to Landon. “Mr. Petersen, your sister is awake and asking for you.”
Landon shot Dylan a grateful look and practically ran towards his sister’s room. Dylan hesitated for a moment, then followed after him, his heart pounding in his chest.
Callie woke up feeling like a train-wreck victim. Every inch of her body seemed to be aching or sore. Her head was throbbing. It felt like someone was crushing her skull. But when she tried to shift to a more comfortable position, she thought her back right side was the worst. Moving had sent a shaft of pain shooting through her that made her suck in a sharp breath.
A groan started to slip from her lips, but the pain it caused in both her dry throat and her head made her abruptly cut it off. She tried to blink her eyes open, but the sudden assault from the light made the pain in her head roar and she quickly closed them again. After seven days spent mostly in utter darkness, it appeared her eyes were sensitive. But she had to know where she was and what the situation was.
Mentally bracing herself against the coming pain, Callie eased her eyes open, only to close them again as the pain in her head ratcheted up a notch.
Memory followed on the heels of the pain, crashing into her head like an angry bull. Callie was pretty sure she was no longer lying in the dirt outside the house of horrors, but where was she now? Had help come?
She looked around squinting her eyes. She was in what seemed to be a hospital room. The bright light. rather than the pitch black she was used to, suggest she was safe, but Callie had to know for sure.
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