My heart leaped at the sound of Jimmy’s voice, followed by a knock.
“Say one word,” Zach whispered, pressing the knife to my throat.
“Then you won’t get anything,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t see through my bluff.
“I’ve got nothing to lose,” he said, his nostrils flaring.
“I’m good, Jimmy,” I called through the door. “I need to come see you at the shop, but I can’t get out now.”
It was a feeble attempt at warning him in a code I prayed he’d pick up on.
“Okay, I’ll make sure I’m ready. See you later.”
I clenched my eyes shut, sending up a prayer he understood and was sending the cops here.
“How much do you owe?” I asked Zach, who was still leaning into me. He’d lowered the knife but continued to clutch it in his hand. Maybe if I could keep him talking, Icould give Jimmy some time to get help, if he’d understood what I’d been asking.
It was worth a try.
“Enough,” he said, huffing out a laugh.
“How many thousands?”
“About two hundred,” he said, running his hand through his filthy hair.
“Two hundred thousand? How long were you doing this?”
“I was making crazy money before I hit some bad luck. Fifty gets me back in the game, and then I can pay it all back.”
The detective had been right. Gamblers were dangerous and desperate, but I’d never taken Zach to be this dumb.
“Stealing from your job and probably everyone else you know didn’t make it up? How could you be this stupid?”
He grabbed me by the throat, squeezing hard enough to cut off my air supply.
“You don’t know anything. Fuck…”
I kneed him in the balls and reached for the empty vase on the coffee table, almost grasping the rim when he pulled me back by the waist and wrestled me to the ground. He dropped the knife and wrapped his hands around my throat. I sputtered out a cough, trying to gulp air while I attempted to push him off me.
It can’t end like this. Lee can’t find me like this.
I rolled back and forth, trying to get my hands between us and push against his chest, when Zach fell back.
I sat up, wheezing, as I heard Lee’s voice and a loud crash.
Zach groaned, holding his face as blood gushed over hishands. Lee stood over Zach, pushing against Jimmy as he tried to move Lee away.
“Go,” Jimmy said, motioning to where I was stuck on the floor. “I got him.”
“Lee, h-how?” My throat was still closed while I tried to stammer out words.
“It’s okay. I’m here,” Lee said, dropping to his knees, his eyes roaming my face while he clutched the back of my head. “Breathe, baby. You’re okay.” His hands shook against my jaw as he lifted my chin. “I was almost home when the alarm company called my cell. Jimmy ran to the car as soon as I parked. We came in through the basement.”
He lifted me into his lap, resting his forehead against mine.
“We’ll get you checked out, but you’re okay.” He took in shaky breaths, murmuring, “Thank God,” over and over into my hair as he rocked me back and forth.
“He’s got a knife,” I whispered, trying to take in enough air to make words. “Or he had one.”
