“Hello?” I croaked out. Dust coated my throat, making it as dry as my eyes.
“Oh goody. You’re awake.”
I recognize the feminine voice, but couldn’t assign a name to it. It didn’t matter; her depraved glee made my blood run cold.
“Where am I? Why am I here?”
She kept to the shadows as she paced in a small circle.
“For payback.”
Payback? For what?
Just as I opened my mouth to ask who she was, she stepped into the light.
“Pamela?”
Why had Paul’s sister tied me up in what appeared to be an abandoned building?
“So you do recognize me.” Pamela stepped closer.
“Is Paul here?”
I craned my neck trying to see, but the mostly dark room made it difficult.
“No.” She stalked closer, the knife in her hand reflecting the moonbeams as she swung her arm recklessly.
“Does he know you’re doing this?”
“No, you silly goose. It’s a surprise.”
I’d known something was off with Pamela when I met her at the office, but I had no clue just how batshit crazy she was.
If Paul didn’t know, was it possible Pamela was responsible for the fires?
And why? It wasn’t like I was mean to him. Sure, I turned down his advances, but I was polite about it.
“Maybe you should call him so he can be here for…” my voice faltered. I had no idea what she had planned for me. Though I guessed it would be painful.
“Oh, no. I can’t do that. Paul is a good guy. Too good for you, if you ask me.” She pointed the knife at me. “Bitches like you are always taking advantage of him, hurting him.”
Hoping the adrenaline pumping through my system would boost my strength, I tested the ropes again. The rough threads scratched my wrists, but didn’t budge.
“You’re going to pay for hurting him.”
“Are you sure Paul wants this?” I had a feeling the only way I’d reach her was through her psychotic sense of loyalty to her brother.
“Of course he wants this. Everyone wants revenge, even if they won’t admit it.”
My overtired brain wanted to argue that I hadn’t done anything, but couldn’t think of an effective way to reach her.
Pamela had closed the distance and now hovered over me. The dim moonlight created deep shadows on her face, making her look even more sinister.
“I don’t know what he sees in you.” She walked around the chair, tapping the flat edge of the knife on my sore head.
When Pamela stood in front of me again, she bent over, leaning close to my face.
“You. Don’t. Deserve. Him.”
