“WAIT FOR ME!” I shouted.
As I walked on, I was still worn out and sweaty and breathing hard, but now I had fear mixed in.
By yelling, I’d probably improved my chances of meeting up with Steve—but I’d lost any chance of taking him by surprise. From now on, the element of surprise would be on his side.
“Idiot,” I muttered.
Just keep quiet and maybe he won’t find me.
And I for damn sure won’t find him, either. Or Elroy’s key.
The key isn’t worth dying for.
So why am I doing this?
I realized that I could turn around right now and hurry silently away, find my way back to the house and not have to deal with Steve tonight—or maybe ever again. I could take a bath and go to bed. Tomorrow, clean the house. If I couldn’t get the blood off the carpet, I’d cut myself and make up a story for Serena and Charlie. They would probably believe whatever I decided to tell them. After dark, I’d tow away Elroy’s car with his body in the trunk and his head in the back seat and be done with all this.
I could do that.
But even as it went through my mind, I kept on walking deeper into the woods.
I’m not sure why.
Maybe it was something inside me that didn’t like to quit, that needed to see it through to the end, no matter what.
Something that needed to cut the last wires.
Not only did I keep walking, but I started shouting again. This time, I used his name.
“STEVE! HEY, STEVE! WHERE ARE YOU? CAN YOU HEAR ME? I DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE! COME AND GET ME!”
Even if Steve wanted to keep clear of me, I figured he might be tempted to come looking—to stop me from shouting his name through the woods.
No telling how far my voice might be carrying.
Or who might be listening.
More than likely, we weren’t the only two people within the sound of my voice. There might be a couple of campers, or someone out for a jog or stroll, maybe some lovebirds or a dog walker or a wino, maybe even a criminal or two using the forest as a place to hide from the authorities or hunt for victims.
Or there might be only the two of us.
I didn’t know, and neither did Steve.
“WHERE ARE YOU, STEVE?” I called out. “COME AND FIND ME! DON’T YOU DARE LEAVE ME BEHIND! I’M NOT GONNA LET THEM NAIL ME FOR THIS. IF THE COPS GET ME, I’LL TELL EVERYTHING! I’M NOT GONNA TAKE THE FALL FOR YOU, STEVE! YOU’RE THE ONE WHO MURDERED HIM, NOT ME! I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. YOU DID IT ALL, AND I’LL TELL THE COPS THAT.”
I knocked off the yelling for a while, and just walked along and listened. I heard nothing except the usual sounds you hear on a hot summer night in a forest, such as birds and bugs and frogs and the breeze creeping through the trees and bushes.
“I SWEAR TO GOD, STEVE, YOU’D BETTER NOT LEAVE ME HERE! I’LL SPILL MY GUTS! I’LL TELL THEM ALL ABOUT HOW YOU CUT OFF ELROY’S HEAD! I’LL TELL THEM ABOUT YOU AND MILO, TOO! THE FBI WILL LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT YOU GUYS!”
I had a sudden inspiration.
Just in case a stranger might actually be listening to me and paying attention—
“I’LL TELL ABOUT HOW YOU CHOPPED UP TONY ROMANO, TOO! AND HOW YOU SNATCHED AND RAPED JUDY! AND MURDERED HER! I’LL TELL THEM EVERYTHING I KNOW IF YOU DON’T GET ME OUT OF HERE!”
I wondered if I should throw in Murphy for good measure.
No. Why drag poor Murphy into this? He was my own business, my own private loss.
Anyway, I was tired of yelling. I was out of breath and my throat hurt.
And I’d already shouted more than enough to draw Steve’s attention—and wrath.
If he’d heard me, he would probably be on his way.
In a rage.
56
I FALL FOR STEVE
A few minutes later, as I went rushing down a dip in the trail, something tripped me. It caught me across the front of my right ankle, then my left. It felt like a taut rope or cord.
With both feet snagged, I plunged headlong.
I flung out my hands, hoping to break the fall. They probably helped a little. But the ground bashed them out of the way and I slammed down hard. By the time my body struck the trail, my feet were free from whatever had snagged them. I skidded down the sloping earth.
The moment I came to a stop, someone rushed out of the darkness beside the trail. A bare foot stomped down on my right wrist, pinning the saber to the ground. I figured it must be Steve’s foot. Before I could do anything, he dropped a knee down, punching me between the shoulder blades. Then he clobbered me in the head. I felt an explosion of pain, glimpsed a bright flash, and then I was out.
But not for long.
At least, I don’t think so.
While I was knocked out, Steve dismantled his boobytrap, brought it down to where I was sprawled on the trail, rolled me onto my back, removed my bra, and bound my hands together in front of me with the same length of electrical cord I’d used on him.
I woke up to find him standing in front of me. He held the saber in his right hand, an end of the cord in his left. Tugging the cord, he tried to pull me into a sitting position.
“Okay, okay,” I said.
“Ah, Sleeping Beauty wakes up.”
It sounded like something poor Murphy might’ve said. For a moment, I thought I was back in his bed…but then I remembered he’d fallen into the bathtub…with me on him. Fallen and broken his head open.
This wasn’t Murphy, this was Steve.
I suddenly felt lost and sick.
“Go to hell,” I muttered.
“You don’t sound very perky,” Steve said. “Hope I didn’t break you.”
“Fuck you,” I said.
Steve hauled away at the cord. It tightened around my wrists and stretched my arms. Leaning forward, I struggled to stand up. It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t successful, either. When I got to my knees, he jerked the cord and I flew forward and landed hard.
“You must try to be less clumsy,” he said.
I wanted to make another crack, but I couldn’t because I’d started to cry and didn’t want him to find out.
He gave the cord a couple of tugs. “Up we go,” he said.
I shoved at the ground with my elbows and knees. I thought he’d probably try to pull me down again, but this time he let me stand up.
“Very good,” he said. “Now, let’s see. How’ll we do this? I don’t want to have you behind me, so…You take the lead.” He stepped to the left side of the trail and pointed the way with the saber. “Ladies first,” he said.
As I walked by, he swatted me across the ass with the blade. I flinched and gasped. Then he came in behind me, holding the cord low. It dangled from my wrists and hung against the side of my left leg.
“We’ll just stick to the trail for a while,” he said. “I’ll tell you where to go.”
Pretty soon, he asked, “You weren’t satisfied with getting out alive?”
“I…want to go away with you.”
“So I heard. So everyone must’ve heard in ten counties. But I figure you were lying about that. Just like you were lying when you said I killed Tony. I didn’t rape or kill Judy, either. Bad enough you were yelling your head off like a lunatic and accusing me of all kinds of shit, but making false accusations…That really takes the cake. How could you do that to me?”
“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I just figured…I don’t know…I thought if I said enough really awful things about you, you’d have to come and get me.”
“It worked,” he said, and laughed.
“I was telling the truth, though, about going away with you. I want to be your partner.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You said you wanted me.”
“Still do, hon. And I aim to have you. But maybe not for my partner. I happen to think you’re playing games about that. You’ll be all nice and chummy till you get the upper hand, then you’ll nail me.”
“No, I won’t. We’ll hit
the road together. I’ll help you…”
“No, you won’t.”
“I will! I want to!”
“You’re just saying this to save your sweet rear end. That’s about all you’re interested in. You don’t want to be my partner. You hate me.”
“I do not.”
“I’ve got a nasty wound on my head that says otherwise.”
“I only did that because you were hurting me. You bit me!”
“Ah, yes. I was enjoying a taste of tit teryaki.”
Real cute.
“We could be great together,” I told him. “You know damn well how tough I am.”
“Tough? Not at all. I’ve rarely put my lips around such nice, tender tits. Love ’em.”
“They go where I go,” I told him. “Take me on as your partner, and we’ll all be together.”
“Or I could take them without you.”
Don’t let him get to you!
“I won’t be much good to you dead.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.”
“I mean as a partner.”
“Oh, that. True.”
“You’re going to need a partner.”
“Now that you’ve killed Milo?” he asked.
“Right. Exactly. And you owe me for that, don’t you?”
“Owe you how?”
“No more sloppy seconds.”
“True, true,” he said. “I thank you.”
“And now you need a new partner, and I’ll be it. I can drive for you. I can do all sorts of stuff. Like help you get girls. I can even…you know…help do stuff to them.”
“Do stuff?” he asked.
“Like tie them up, help you kill them or whatever, help you dispose of their bodies. Whatever you want.” I looked over my shoulder at him. “You know I can do that sort of stuff.”
“Yeah, you’re a bad cat.”
“Bad enough.”
“Not nearly bad enough, honey.”
“I am, too.”
“You’re a pussy.”
“Tough enough to kill Milo and Tony and knock your brains half out of your head.”
Again, I couldn’t bring myself to mention Murphy. I didn’t want him to be part of this.
“If you had what it takes,” Steve said, “you would’ve taken care of Judy. You left a living witness.”
“She didn’t know enough to get me in trouble.”
“Bullshit. She knew plenty. You didn’t kill her because you’re not as tough as you think you are. You liked her, so you let her live.”
“No.”
“You had the hots for her.”
“Did not.”
“You fell for her, so you didn’t have the heart to take her down.”
“You’re nuts.”
“That so?”
“Yeah. So maybe I didn’t kill her, I beat the crap out of her and left her for dead. I figured she’d never get out of the woods alive.”
“Who are you trying to kid?” Steve said.
“Nobody.”
“She’s probably the real reason you came out here tonight. You never had any intention of hitting the road with me, you came out here to save that girl’s ass.”
“You’re nuts.”
“Or maybe whip it,” he added, and laughed softly.
“Judy had nothing to do with this,” I insisted. “I came because I want to go away with you. That’s the only reason. After you got away…never mind.”
“No, no. Please, don’t stop now. I can’t wait to hear it.”
“Why should I waste my breath? You won’t believe me, anyway.”
“Oh, try me.”
Looking over my shoulder again, I said, “I missed you.”
“How sweet.”
“I figured we’d probably never see each other again, and I suddenly realized how much I…I wanted to be with you. I know it sounds crazy. And you probably don’t believe me, anyway. But there’s something about you. I can’t explain it. All I know is that I suddenly felt this horrible emptiness inside after you were gone. And I knew that the emptiness was because…I was afraid I might not be able to find you, that I might have to go the rest of my life without you.”
“I’m deeply moved,” he said. “You loved me so much that you came after me with a sword.”
“It wasn’t meant for you.”
“But I’ve got it, and I thank you.”
“That isn’t what I…I only brought the saber along for protection. I never intended to use it against you.”
“And you never will.”
“That’s fine. I would’ve handed it to you, if you’d asked. You didn’t have to ambush me for it.”
“You know something, Alice?”
“Plenty.”
“You are marvelous. I’ve mentioned that before. But the more we’re together, the more I discover. Now I find that you’re not only sexy and stacked and gutsy and witty and tough—but you’re a quite a fine liar, too.”
“I don’t lie.”
A laugh burst out of him. “You could be President!”
“I just want to be your partner.”
“There you go again. But you know what? Considering your many wonderful attributes, I might just be willing to let you have a go at it.”
“At being your partner?”
“Exactly.”
This was pretty much what I’d been hoping to hear, but I sensed trouble. “What’s the catch?” I asked.
“No catch. There will be an audition, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t know what an audition is?”
“Of course I do. But I don’t see the point. I mean, you’ve already seen me in action.”
“My dear, I’ve felt you in action.”
“So why do I have to prove myself?”
“It’s simple. You’re not the only sweet young thing interested in the role.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Judy.”
“Judy?”
He laughed. “Of course! Who else would it be? Marilyn? Marilyn’s a looker, but she’s much too stiff for the part. Of course it’s Judy.”
“She really is alive?”
Steve had claimed, before, that he hadn’t killed her. But I’d figured he must be lying. Now I believed him. Now that I’d have to be going up against her for the “role” of Steve’s partner.
It made me feel strange, somehow, to find out she wasn’t dead. Relieved, I guess. Nervous. Excited.
I felt dread, too.
Because I would probably have to kill her, this time.
“What makes you think Judy wants to be your partner?” I asked.
“Told me so, herself. Fact is, until you came along shouting all that shit for the whole world to hear, I’d say that Judy pretty much had it in the bag. I don’t think she’ll be very pleased to find out she has competition.”
“She’d make a lousy partner for you,” I said.
“Oh, I’m not so sure of that. I happen to think she’ll make a spectacular partner. Better than you, in some ways. She’s younger than you, certainly more beautiful. Though she’s lacking your magnificent figure, she has a certain innocence that I find very appealing, tremendously sexy.”
“Yeah, well, that’s her problem. She can’t be partners with a thrill-killer. She’s a fuckin’ goody-two-shoes.”
“Which is why we need the audition,” Steve said. “She’ll have to prove that she has what it takes.”
57
SEARCHING THE DARK
“Let’s head over in that direction,” Steve said. Stepping up close behind me, he pointed to the right with the saber. “We don’t have much farther to go.”
I could see nothing over there except more dark forest. I stepped off the trail, though, and started hiking through the undergrowth. The ground was rougher, littered with rocks and fallen limbs. There were also plenty of unexpected dips and rises. I walked very carefully. I’d already had too many falls, and sure didn’t want to go down with
my hands tied together.
As I made my way along, low bushes clawed at my skirt and pushed at my legs as if trying to keep me back. Higher limbs slid their moist leaves against my bare arms and breasts and face. Some limbs scraped across my skin like dull claws. Others poked and scratched me, drawing blood. I couldn’t see the blood, but felt it dribbling down my skin, here and there.
Every so often, Steve gave me instructions about which way to turn. I tried to do what he said. Sometimes, though, I displeased him. Either I didn’t move fast enough, or my turn wasn’t exactly what he wanted. He’d jerk the cord, hurting my wrists and twisting me around. Or he’d smack me with the flat of the saber blade. Once, he even jabbed me in the right buttock hard enough to make me bleed. The seat of my skirt got so wet that it stuck to my rump, and I felt blood trickling down the back of my leg.
After he did that, I said, “I’ll make you a better partner if you don’t wreck me.”
“But I enjoy wrecking you. Anyway, I need to soften you up a little for Judy.”
“What do you mean, soften me up?”
“You’re bigger and stronger than she is.”
“So?”
“We need a level playing-field.”
“What for?”
“The audition, of course.”
“What’re you gonna do, have us fight?”
“Among other things,” he said, sounding very chipper. “Winner becomes my partner. Loser loses.”
“But I’ve got to be ‘softened up’?”
“Exactly.”
“That’s not fair.”
“We’ve got to be fair to Judy, don’t we? You have all the natural advantages. Besides, she’s been through a lot.”
“I’ve been through a lot.”
“Not as much as Judy. She was rather roughly used by Milo, myself and you. In her present condition, she wouldn’t stand much of a chance.”
“Then let’s just skip this ‘audition’ crap, and you can declare me winner by default.”
“Not a chance. I think you’d better hang a left about now.”
“If I’m so much better than she is…”
He jabbed my other buttock.
“OW!”
I turned left and kept on walking.
He kept giving directions.
After a while, he kicked one of my feet sideways, tripping me. As I stumbled forward out of control, he said, “Oops!” Then I fell. With my hands bound together, I couldn’t catch myself. I struck the ground hard.