Because he was a sadistic fucking asshole, that’s why.
And yet . . . she still found herself getting dressed. Pulling on shoes and a jacket. Grabbing Wally, her whale, from his hiding spot.
This might be her only chance at freedom. Her other plan hadn’t worked, so this was it.
She crept out into the hallway. It was silent. Too silent.
What time was it?
She had no clue. But it was still dark outside. Instead of heading to the main stairs, she moved toward the staff ones at the back of the mansion. This was an old house, built a long time ago when people wanted the staff to have a separate entrance and stairwell.
To be neither seen nor heard.
As she moved down the stairs and toward the back door, she expected someone to grab her at any moment, to drag her toward the basement.
No one here would care.
No one would help her.
She knew that for sure. As she reached the back door she heard voices approaching. She probably could have made it out in time, but what if she didn’t?
Instead, she crept into a small cloak room and held the door slightly open so she could see who it was.
“Oh my God! Can you believe that he’s actually dead?” a woman’s voice asked.
“No! Apparently he was found shot dead. No one knows who did it,” her companion replied.
“Well, not to speak ill of the dead . . .”
“Shh,” the second woman snapped. “You can’t say anything like that around here. You never know who will be listening in.”
They walked past and she took her chance.
This was it.
She was free.
Angie knew it was going to be hard to get off the grounds undetected. She just had to hope that everyone was so preoccupied with Fergus’s death that they weren’t at their posts.
Or that whoever helped her ran interference.
However, she knew that she couldn’t rely on that.
From now on, she was on her own.
Wait. Where was she? She stopped and spun around. Was she even going the right way?
She had the worst sense of direction.
Loud shouts that sounded like they were getting closer had her jumping in fright. She took off, but Wally got snagged by something as she moved and flew out of her hand.
Pausing, she looked around for him.
Oh no.
Oh no.
Those voices grew closer.
