“Good morning, Mr. Taylor,” she returned, using the name Tony had learned from his friend Cliff.
The albino’s eyes flickered in surprise at the sound of his own name. “Ah, it seems perhaps we have underestimated your knowledge. Unfortunately, we’ve underestimated several things, which has made us lose valuable time. But, I think all that can be rectified right now.”
Libby’s head spun and she swallowed hard, hoping to swallow back the frantic panic that made her knees weaken and her blood roar in her ears. She had to keep her wits about her. If only she could stall him until Tony came back. “What…what do you want?” she asked, glad that her voice betrayed none of the abject terror that twisted her stomach and produced a cold sweat to break out on her upper lip.
The man smiled. Again, it was a cold death mask kind of grimace. “I think you know what we want.”
She reached up to her neck, startled when her hand encountered nothing. Where was the necklace? When had she last had it? Her mind raced, then she remembered. She had laid it down in the bathroom the night before when she had showered. It must still be in there on the sink. God, where was Tony? How long could it take him to choke down breakfast?
She gasped as Mr. Taylor pulled a knife from his pocket and with a barely perceptible click, a long, evil-looking blade popped out. “I grow impatient, Mrs. Weatherby. You and your friend have made us lose precious time. We’re tired of the game. Where is the necklace?”
Libby licked her lip, surprised to taste the salt of perspiration. “If I give it to you, what’s in it for me?” she asked, wanting to keep him talking until Tony returned. “I think a little negotiation is in order.” She eyed him boldly, trying not to focus on the glitter of the wicked-looking knife.
“Sure, we can negotiate.” The albino laughed, an unpleasant rumble that made chills dance up and down Libby’s spine. “You give me the necklace without any problems or hassles, and I’ll make sure your death is as painless as possible.” His eyes narrowed. “However, if you make it difficult on me, I will see to it that your death is long in coming and your suffering enormous.” He laughed again. It was the glee of a man who enjoyed instilling fear and causing infinite pain. “And before I kill you, I will possess your body in ways you never dreamed possible.”
Cold-fingered fear grasped Libby’s heart and squeezed with viselike strength. The thought of death was pleasant compared to the thought of his hands on her, touching her. A shiver of revulsion waved through her at the very thought. Dear God, what was she going to do? Her gaze darted around the room, looking for something, anything that could be used as a weapon.
“Don’t go getting any ideas, little lady,” he breathed softly, his eyes narrowing in warning once again as the knife in his hand twitched noticeably. “I can throw this knife in the blink of an eye and if I must, I’ll pleasure myself with you after you’re dead.”
“Okay,” Libby breathed slowly, her brain whirling desperately. “I’ll…I’ll get you the necklace….” She moved over to the small chest of drawers next to the bed. Pretending to open the drawer, in one swift, fluid movement, she picked up the Bible lying on the top and threw it with all her force at the albino.
She didn’t wait to see whether she hit her mark or not. Instead, she stumbled into the bathroom and slammed and locked the door behind her. She panted, hysteria a whisper away.
The door was hit with a loud bang, and for the first time since she’d walked out of the bathroom and encountered the albino sitting at the table, she screamed. She screamed again as the door was hit another time with enough force to make it tremble in the wooden frame.
She could hear his muttered, vicious curses and knew that should he finally break into the bathroom, he wouldn’t hesitate to use the knife on her. And she knew it wouldn’t be a swift and painless death. He would torture her, and he would like it.
Another explosion against the door followed by a loud splintering sound let Libby know she had only seconds before the door gave way beneath the man’s awesome rage.
I’ve got to get out of here,she thought frantically, eyeing the small window that was above the sink. The thick woods were right beyond the window. If she could manage to get out, she’d stand a better chance of getting away if she could hide in the woods.
She crawled up on the sink and strained to open the window, trying to ignore the loud, splintering noises that accompanied each bang on the bathroom door. She gasped in relief as the window finally slid open.
It was going to be a tight squeeze—the window was narrow and small. But she had to fit through. Shehadto. Without another conscious thought, she dove out the window, moaning impotently as she stopped halfway through, her hips wedged tightly in the frame of the window.
Panic clawed at her and she sobbed in desperation. She twisted and pulled, feeling the flesh of her hips skinning off in her frantic efforts. Tears streamed down her face as she heard the door behind her giving way.
Oh, God, how long did it take to die if you were stabbed repeatedly in the buttocks? she thought wildly. Her mind rebelled at the thought of this indignant death.
She renewed her efforts, death surrounding her. She would never get a chance to see Vinnie again. She would never have a chance to have children. She would never get the opportunity to tell Tony that she loved him.
With a desperate sob, she twisted her hips, stifling a squeal as she suddenly came loose and fell to the ground beneath the window. Without pausing, she ran for the cover of the woods, never stopping to wonder if Tony would be able to find her, never doubting that he would.
* * *
Tony kicked at a rock in the road and sighed with contentment as he walked slowly back toward the cabin. He’d had a delicious breakfast and was now anxious to get on the road. He looked at his watch, pleased to see that it was just a few minutes after six o’clock. With any luck they could be on the road within a half an hour and at the lab by seven.
As their cabin came into view, he tensed…spotting the dark sports car that was pulled up near the door. Libby! Her name echoed in his mind as he realized the danger that suddenly made his nose twitch nervously.
He pulled his gun from his boot and advanced slowly. His mind was suddenly blank, refusing to contemplate what had happened to Libby. He couldn’t allow any emotions to thwart him. He needed to be clearheaded in order to help her…if she was still in a position to need his help. He gulped back a wave of nausea at this thought.
He dropped almost to the ground and advanced on the sports car, his gun ready to fire, his hand cool and steady from his years on the police force. The car was empty.
He eyed the cabin. The door stood ajar. He advanced cautiously, his ears finely tuned to any perceptible movement that would indicate somebody inside.
He moved the door completely open with his foot, keeping his gun ready in front of him. It took him only a second to see that nobody was in the room.
He relaxed his grip on the gun only slightly, sweat beading up on his forehead. He could still smell the evil of the man who’d been here. It lingered in the room like noxious fumes.
