Chapter Thirty-Two
Cait’sentire body contracted in horror at the sight in front of her, not to mention the stench.
The fiend had horribly stained teeth, some missing, others blackened with decay, and pus-filled gums.
Meth mouth made the evil grin smell like a combination of sewage and dead meat.
“I wish I didn’t remember you.” She met Tommy Harper’s bloodshot gaze, ironically finding his blue eyes the most unchanged part of him. “Some advice. Keep the mask on.”
The years obviously hadn’t been kind to him, or more like he’d abused drugs and aged three times as fast as normal. His skin was mottled and wrinkled. His hairline was thinning, and bags sagged under his eyes. The mouth and bad breath, of course, was the worst.
Meanwhile, Glen sat on the couch and stared at his lockpicks while moving them, one by one, around the key ring.
“Still think you’re so smart?” Tommy sneered, exposing the decayed roots of his front teeth. “You look surprised, like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“A ghost would be better looking.” Cait twisted her face away from him. “I didn’t recognize your gravelly voice. You must have led a rough life to ruin those choirboy vocal cords.”
Now that Tommy had revealed himself, Cait was more annoyed than frightened. Her ex had never shown himself to be anything but a follower. She couldn’t see him as a caretaker here either. Most likely, he’d gotten information from the real caretaker and had the man tied up somewhere on the property.
“If you’d stop insulting me, maybe you’d realize who you’re dealing with.” Tommy stuck his beet red face so close to Cait, she almost fainted from the odor.
What had she ever seen in him back in high school? True, he’d been a choirboy at church and a boy scout as well as the drama king, but from the looks of it, he’d made bad choices ever since.
“I’m fully aware who you are, Tommy Harper.” Cait made her voice as icy as possible. “You seem to believe you’re taking Brian’s place right now, but all you’re going to be seeing is the inside of a jail. Kidnapping, assault, and beating a dog. You’d better let us go and plead for a lighter sentence.”
“You talk too much. Things are going to be real different from now on. You and Glen are mine, and we’re going on a long trip as soon as the snow melts.”
“The snow’s not going anywhere,” Cait said. “You’d better let us go before the police show up.”
“They don’t have a clue we’re up here. Your Wonder Boy’s in jail, Glen’s on the run, and no one knows where he is. You’re supposedly back at the cabin, sleeping.”
Cait wasn’t going to let him know that Brian had been released. She could only hope the sheriff had been able to get through the snow. There was no sense alerting Tommy, so she changed tactics.
She glanced at Glen, but the boy had run out of juice. He’d fallen asleep. He had to be utterly exhausted. Poor thing.
Yawning, she said. “I’m tired, and I bet you are, too. Why don’t we get a good night’s sleep and then decide what to do.”
“That’s exactly what I want to do. Sleep with you.” Tommy’s leer was so disgusting she wanted to puke. He grabbed her head with both his hands and moved in for a kiss.
Bile spurted up Cait’s throat, and she turned her face in the nick of time. “That’s not a good idea. I’m not sleeping with you, and that’s all I’m going to say about that.”
Inside, she was quaking with fear and disgust, but she had to maintain control and act as if she were the top dog in this “relationship.” She was well used to cowing her younger brothers and sisters with her air of authority. If she could start bossing Tommy around, she might be able to get both her and Glen out safely.
“I was going to offer you a nice, soft bed,” Tommy said, sticking his lower lip out like a petulant kid. “But if you’re not going to cooperate, then I’m locking you up in a closet.”
“Closet’s great. Untie me and let me go to the bathroom before I make a mess,” she ordered him. “I’ll need a nice pile of blankets and an air mattress if you can find one.”
Tommy had always been weak-willed in the past and relied more on his charm than leadership. Frankly, she was surprised he’d pulled off this heist. He had to be working for someone smarter.
“Fine, but I’m warning you. Any funny business, and you’re….” Tommy drew a line across his throat, as if he were so threatening.
Cait yawned again, even though it meant taking in more of the smelly air. “I’m so tired, I’m going to pass out like the kid. But first, I think I’m going to pee my pants, and I also need some special hygiene products. It’s that time of the month, you know.”
“Crap, why didn’t you say something?” Tommy had the gall to look disgusted.
He’d always been squeamish, and Cait knew all the buttons to push. “Sorry, women have these issues. Can’t help it.”
“Better get you to a bathroom. Maybe Mrs. Thornton left some of that stuff behind.” He bent down and untied Cait’s ankles, then untied her wrists. “No funny business, or the kid dies.”
