Footsteps

P am’s eyes were closed. Her hair fell in a tangled disarray beneath her head. Her skin was gray under the pale wash of light from the lights overhead in the trees.

“They killed her,” Reva murmured. She swallowed hard. Her throat suddenly felt dry. A chill ran down her back.

Glancing up, she saw a low, dark form racing across the frozen grass toward her. She jumped to her feet, then realized it was only King, her guard dog.

The big dog lowered its head and let out a soft, whimpering sound.

“It’s okay, King,” Reva said, her voice tiny and frightened. “It’s okay, fella. Get lost. Get lost, King.”

The dog stared at her for a moment, its eyes red in the eerie light. Then it sat on its haunches on the edge of the driveway.

Reva heard a low groan. She lowered her eyes to the driveway.

Pam blinked. Once. Twice. She groaned again. Her eyes opened. She stared up blankly at Reva.

“Pam!” Reva cried. She dropped back down beside her cousin. “Pam! You’re—alive!”

Pam struggled to raise her head. But the effort proved to be too much for her. Wincing in pain, she closed her eyes and lowered her head back to the driveway.

“You’re alive!” Reva repeated. She cradled Pam’s head in her hands. She stroked Pam’s damp, tangled hair.

“I’m not so sure,” Pam groaned.

“We’ve got to get you inside,” Reva said, shivering. “Do you think you can stand up?”

“Let’s give it a try,” Pam replied shakily. “I-I’ve been tied up. My legs, they were completely numb.”

Reva helped pull Pam slowly to her feet. Then, allowing Pam to lean on her, Reva slipped an arm around her cousin’s waist and guided her up the driveway to the house.

“They—they knocked me out. I was just coming to when they heaved me out of the car,” Pam said as Reva lowered her onto the dark leather couch in the den. “I hit my head on the pavement. I guess I blacked out again.”

“Lie down on the pillows,” Reva instructed Pam moving a soft satiny pillow behind Pam’s head. “That’s it. I’ll get you a glass of water.”

“Thanks,” Pam said, shutting her eyes. “I-I’m still a little dazed, I think. I’m very shaky. You know? Everything’s trembling. My heart is racing.”

“I’ll call Dr. Simms,” Reva said, heading toward the kitchen. “And your parents. They’ll be so happy!” And then she added, “I’ll call the FBI too. I have their number right by the phone. And the Shadyside police.”

Reva hurried to the kitchen. She filled a glass with cold water from the dispenser in the refrigerator door.

As she started to return to the den, she cried out, startled to find Pam right behind her. “Hey—you scared me!”

“Sorry,” Pam murmured, lowering her green eyes.

“You should lie down, Pam.”

“I don’t want to be alone,” Pam said fretfully. “I’m so... shaky. I’ll just sit down at the counter.” She pulled out a wooden kitchen stool and climbed onto it.

“What happened?” Reva asked, watching Pam gulp the water. “How did you get away?”

“They had a big fight over what to do with me,” Pam replied, working nervously at the tangles in her hair with one hand. “There were two of them.”

“Yeah? Did you get a good look at them?” Reva asked, leaning her hands on the white counter.

“No.” Pam shook her head solemnly. “They had me blindfolded the whole time. I only heard their voices.”

“Did you hear their names?” Reva asked eagerly.

Pam shook her head again. “No. They were careful.”

“Did they beat you up or anything?” Reva asked, her face tightening with concern as she studied Pam carefully.

“It—it was horrible!” Pam cried in a trembling voice. “I was so scared, Reva. They threw a coat over me and hit me hard on the head. In the stockroom. When I woke up I was in a bed somewhere. All tied up. Blindfolded and gagged. I—I thought they were going to kill me. I really did.”

“Take it easy, Pam,” Reva said softly.

Pam let out a sob, her skin pale in the kitchen light. “The man, he really wanted to kill me. He was very hotheaded, angry all the time. Really out of control. The girl sounded too frightened to kill me. She just wanted to get rid of me. They argued and argued.

“Finally they decided to dump me on your driveway and leave town as fast as possible,” Pam continued.

“They left town?” Reva’s expression was one of surprise mixed with relief.

“Yeah. They’re gone,” Pam said. “I heard them say they had a friend in Canada. They were going to go up there and lay low for a while.”

Pam smiled for the first time. “I’m so glad. I’m so glad they’re gone, Reva.” Her shoulders shook. She lowered her head into her hands and started to cry.

Reva hurried over and put a calming hand on her cousin’s trembling shoulder. “You’re okay now, Pam,” she whispered. “You’re okay. They’re gone. And you’re okay.”

Pam was still crying softly when Reva heard the footsteps.

Heavy footsteps in the front hall.

Oh, no! Reva thought, raising a hand to her mouth. I left the front door wide open!

The footsteps grew louder.

Pam heard them too.

She jerked her head up, her eyes wild with fear. “They came back!” she cried in a choked whisper.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20