More pieces fell into place. Now I understood why I only heard one voice in the hallway. Ben had been on the phone not arguing with someone in person.
"They're going to figure out he wasn't lying when they realize you kidnapped me."
"Who says I kidnapped you?" Ben shrugged like it was no big deal. "As far as anyone is concerned, you came with me willingly because you were sick of your husband. A little while locked in this room, and you'll see things my way."
Ben was delusional. There was no way anyone would believe that. Not to mention, Parker and Elle would turn the world upside down looking for me. The school had cameras. They would see Ben knocked me over the head. There was plenty of evidence to prove what Ben was saying wasn't the truth. I kept that to myself though. Let him live in his fantasy world for a little longer while I figured out what to do.
My vision was clear enough that I tried to push myself up to stand.
"What are you doing?" Ben scrambled to get to his feet. He held the knife out in front of him, poised to attack if needed.
"Relax." I held my hands out to the side and looked nonconfrontational while I regained my composure. My head swam a little, but it was much better than before. "I just want to look at the pictures you have of us. The life we created."
I fed into his fantasy. I stopped in front of a picture of us. Or at least what he made of us. I was on the playground watching the kids, and he photoshopped himself into the picture because I knew for a fact he wasn't out there that day with me.
"I remember that day well. You looked so pretty in that dress, and it was fun watching our students together."
"Recess is one of my favorite times of the day."
He looked over at me. "I thought it was science?" The knife in his hand lowered a little. I was hoping the longer I kept him talking, the more relaxed he would get, and I would have the opportunity to snatch the knife from him and escape.
"I love science because it allows the kids to be creative, but I love recess because it's the one time during the day the kids are truly themselves."
Ben nodded like he agreed with what I was saying.
"What about this one?" I moved closer to the door. This picture was one of me outside my house, cutting the lawn.
"I like to think it represents your ability to do things on your own. Although once we’re married, you won't have to. I'll take care of everything. You won't even have to work."
I tried not to gag at the picture he painted. There was no universe in which I would be caught dead marrying him.
Ben's hand was finally relaxed enough that the knife was pointing to the floor. I thought about all the ways I could disarm him. I’d taken a few self-defense classes over the years, but it was more of a chance to find guys than actually learn anything.
Big mistake.
If I made it out of here in one piece, I was going to have Parker teach me everything he knew. Never would I be defenseless again.
I made my way over to another picture and another. With each movement, I got closer to the door and watched from the corner of my eye as Ben became more and more relaxed. When I saw my opening, I jumped at it.
Unfortunately I wasn't nearly as stable as I thought, and we ended up fighting for the knife.
Rolling around on the floor, I wasn't sure who had the upper hand. Sometimes it was me. Other times it was Ben. The knife spent most of the time above our heads. Curse words flew from each of our mouths as each of us tried to win.
Then suddenly the blade sliced through the air and straight into human flesh.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
PARKER
A bloodcurdling scream ricocheted throughout the house.
"Second floor," I hollered to Rhett as I moved that way. I was running on adrenaline only and the need to get to my wife as fast as humanly possible.
My team and I cleared room after room. We came up empty until the last bedroom. There was a closed door––almost like a closet––across the room with a light peeking out from the bottom.
I motioned for Rhett to follow me. We approached the door. I took high as he went down low. I tried the doorknob and found it locked.
Counting down from three, I kicked the door in when I hit one.
