by Peggy Slocum
“Thanks, but I have all the furniture I need.” Symphony is being escorted by Howard and Jerry, each holding an elbow.
“Sit,” Mrs. Freedman says, unamused.
Jerry pulls out a chair, but Symphony resists, causing Howard to force her to sit against her will.
* * *
“That’s my friend Symphony. We have to help her.” Sarah and Kelly return to their hiding places.
* * *
As Beth enters the cold, brick garage that contains Mrs. Freedman’s gray Cadillac, she closes and locks the door behind her. “Man, this has got to be the most organized garage I have ever seen.” She scans the room and notices the large tool cabinets lining the walls. Then, she spies a Yamaha Rhino, reminding her of the men that chased Elliot. “Hey, isn’t it odd that we haven’t heard those guys scrambling around for us in a while?”
“Yeah, unless …” Elliot says.
“They think they found us,” Beth says. “Symphony has my phone, Elliot. Call her and see what happens.”
“What’s your number?” Elliot asks. “I never dial it, I just press number one.”
Beth smiles as her body is warmed by the memory of, “Our phones have a lot in common.” She takes the phone and dials her number.
A boyish grin crosses Elliot’s face as though he read her mind. He raises his finger to his lips signaling Beth to be silent as the ringing ceases.
* * *
Feeling the phone vibrate, Symphony flips it open in one of her deep pockets without being noticed.
“Where is your boss, girl?” Mrs. Freedman questions impatiently.
“I already told Abbot and Costello, your fence crispy fried her, and she’s on her way to the hospital.”
“So, you are alone?”
“Do you see anyone else here?”
* * *
I like her more and more, Beth thinks.
* * *
Come on Symphony, give us a clue where you are, thinks Elliot.
* * *
“Why are you really here?” Mrs. Freedman questions.
“I’m here for Sarah. Let her go, and I’ll be on my way.”
“I’m afraid it’s not that easy.”
“Are there any cookies in that jar, or is it just kitchen décor?”
“You are an unusual girl.” The sound of metal grates against the porcelain cookie jar. “Help yourself.” Mrs. Freedman puts the lid on the table, causing a clatter.
“Thanks, but I don’t like to eat alone.” Symphony pushes the jar across the table.
“Worried they’re poisoned? Here, I’ll join you.”
* * *
Careful not to make any noise, Elliot closes the phone. “She’s being held in the kitchen. I can’t believe you only hired her to answer phones.” Elliot opens the door leading outside.
“I know. She’s capable of so much more. I plan on promoting her and giving her a raise when this is over.”
“Good idea.” Elliot agrees with Beth as they near the house. “It appears they only have one backup generator for the house.”
They creep along the side of the house.
“Yes, I’m glad. The darkness has been helpful.”
Elliot’s phone rings. He answers it.
Half guessing, Symphony remembers the correct button and presses Send. She waits long enough for the call to connect. “So where exactly are you taking me?”
“It is a surprise,” Mrs. Freedman says.
“Yeah, I should have told you, I don’t like surprises. So go ahead and spoil it for me,” Symphony says.
Beth reaches over and closes Elliot’s phone. “Elliot, they are going to take her to the dungeon.”
“It’s OK, I’ll go back to the basement,” Elliot says. “You go into the house. Find Kelly and Sarah.”
“OK, but be careful,” Beth says walking away.
“Uh, Beth,” Elliot says. “In case this ends bad, I want you to know that I love you. I have since the first time we met.” Elliot grabs Beth in his arms and kisses her.
Caught off guard and surprised by his reaction, Beth swings her arm to slap him across the face.
Elliot ducks his head just in time. “That’s not exactly the response I was looking for!”
“You wait until we are about to die to share that with me? What is wrong with you? Never mind, don’t answer that question. You go save Symphony, and I’ll go save Sarah and Kelly. We will meet back at the garage, steal a car, and get out of here.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Elliot smiles and disappears back into the dark garage. She loves me too.
Chapter 23: Everything Is OK, or Is It?
Beth puts her hands on the brick windowsill and pulls herself up, enabling her to peer through. This must be the kitchen. The room is empty. Now is my chance. Beth lets go of the sill, allowing herself to drop to the ground. She takes a deep breath, places her hand on the kitchen’s door handle, and forces herself to open it. It gives. So far, so good.
Bump. Bump. Bump … Slam! Crash!
Huh? What was that? Oh no, that door in the corner is opening. What should I do? Hey, the porcelain cookie jar on the table. Beth picks the jar up with both hands and raises it above her head.
“Don’t drop it,” a voice behind the door says in a loud whisper.
“Sarah?” Beth asks.
“Yes,” Sarah whispers as she backs out of the pantry, followed by Kelly. They close the door together and lock it. They look at each other with a sigh of relief and lean up against the door.
“Was that the charge nurse from the hospital?” Beth asks.
“Yeah. She was unconscious in the stairwell, and she woke up very angry, but praise be to God, she is out again.” Sarah moves away from the pantry. “Her real name is Louise, and she is involved with Mrs. Freedman.”
“Wow. I’m here to rescue you, but you’re doing all right without me,” Beth says.
“It’s not us,” Sarah says.
“It’s God,” Kelly says, finishing Sarah’s sentence.
“You know.” Beth carries a chair over to the pantry door. “I’m beginning to wonder if you’re right.” She props the top of the chair under the knob reinforcing the door. “Elliot said he put his trust in God today.”
“Praise God!” Sarah says with glee.
“Even before he said anything, I could tell he was different,” Beth says. “I want that peace you guys have. And when I die, I don’t want to be alone in hell forever. And, the truth is, it could be today. I mean Mrs. Freedman has no problem killing people.”
Tears stream down Sarah’s face.
“And,” Beth says, “I believe; I want God in my life like he’s in yours.”
“Praise God. Thank you, Jesus,” Sarah says. “You have no idea how long my parents and I have prayed for this moment.” Sarah wraps her arms around Beth with a tight embrace.
“I know. Thank you for not giving up on me.” Tears stream down her cheeks as well. “So what do I do?”
“Just tell God what you told me. Romans 10:9 tells us that “if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” And Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Beth falls to her knees and pours her heart out. “I believe, Jesus, I believe. Please forgive me for my sins and save me. I don’t want to go to hell and be alone. I want to be with my family when I die.” Beth’s sobs become heavy as a burdens of sorrow, loneliness, and fear that have weighed Beth down for so many years are lifted from within and taken away.
Peace showers upon her and flows throughout her entire body, giving her the joy she has always longed for but could not purchase with money or earn through good deeds. “Oh God, Thank you,” she says, weeping.
Beth stands to her feet and wraps her arms around Sarah. She starts laughing with joy. “I’ve been running around all day trying to protect you and …”
Sarah interrupts.
“There’s no safer place than in the arms of God.”
“Yeah, no more worries.” Beth wipes the tears from her eyes. “We better go. Elliot is going to meet us in the garage with Symphony, and we’re all leaving this place together.”
“Thank you, God. You are awesome.” Sarah closes the kitchen door and follows behind Beth and Kelly as they all run to the garage.
* * *
After scaling down the steep steps, Elliot races through the dark shadows of Mrs. Freedman’s playground of despair. Elliot hides in a dark corner next to the secret entrance only seconds before Mrs. Freedman pushes the door open.
“What is this place?” Symphony asks, still keeping her cool.
“This is a special, attitude-adjustment place for extraordinary people like you,” Mrs. Freedman replies.
“Yeah, I always figured my life would end like this.”
“It didn’t have to end like this, my dear. You could have been more compliant. I usually change people from their ill ways by tweaking their minds. But special stubborn cases like yours, never seem to work.”
“So you choose monologuing us to death instead?”
Mrs. Freedman turns a light on, revealing the medieval torture chamber. “I have come up with a way that you too can be beneficial to society.”
“By stretching me and putting me in a circus?” Symphony buys time. Come on, Elliot. Hurry up.
“No, I have even better plans for you.”
“Lady, you’re twisted.”
“No, girl. It is the world, not me.” Mrs. Freedman turns another light on, this time showing the cells. “I strive at living a perfect life, and I work hard to help others do the same. If people would read the Bible like they used too, and follow the rules, the world would not be so corrupt. And my job would be easier.”
“Huh, you actually read the Bible? That’s funny, I always thought that ‘Thou shalt not kill’ was a big one, and yet, I’ve heard about your handiwork all day.” Symphony stares directly into Mrs. Freedman’s cold, dark eyes. “Or, don’t you believe it counts if you’re not the one that gets your hands dirty? Well, I got news for ya, it does. And if your plans are to kill me, it won’t work. I died a long time ago,” Symphony says in a monotone, matter-of-fact voice.
“What a coincidence,” Mrs. Freedman says. “You say you are the walking dead, and it just so happens, I need a corpse. You see,” Mrs. Freedman begins as she pushes Symphony to the last cell, “helping the world doesn’t pay very well. People take, take, take only to drain my account and not replenish it.” Mrs. Freedman motions her complaints with her hands. “Because my late husband and father-in-law were very good scientists, I was able to embark on the human-body journey. Have you heard of body museums, dear?”
“Yes,” Symphony says.
“Good, then you know your death will be for a good cause.” Mrs. Freedman points into the cell window. “This will be your husband. I was going to be gracious and let his wife stand by his side forever, but she is missing, and my client needs a happy, healthy, couple by Tuesday. So—a little bleach here and a facial tweak there and you will be the perfect couple for my client overseas.”
“Overseas?”
“Yes, I met a man in need of a Romeo and Juliet. He was willing to pay handsomely for them. But that is neither here nor there. After I hook you up to my machines, this matter will no longer concern you.”
“You won’t be torturing me first?”
“Isn’t that odd? My late husband asked that same question. No, if there are signs of anything happening outside of a common misfortune, it will scare off my clients.”
“In other words, they don’t wanna get there hands dirty either.”
* * *
Elliot watches on from the corner. It looks like she’s taking Symphony to the operating room. I gotta act quick. While Mrs. Freedman and her men walk toward the operating room, Elliot hurries to the secret door. Once there, he opens it, allowing him to enter the room. Oh Lord. What should I do for a distraction?
A picture of a red button enters his mind.
Yes, Beth found an alarm underneath the desk. Elliot rushes to the desk, and after finding the button, he presses it quickly.
A loud horn sounds—Neet! Neet! Neet!—and echoes throughout the complex over and over again.
* * *
“Howard! Someone has triggered the alarm. Go check it out!” Mrs. Freedman commands.
Howard runs off.
That must be Elliot; I’ll have to stall her. “You should try showing love to your victims—I mean the people you want to help? That’s what my friend Sarah does. She says that Jesus didn’t come to point out how wicked we are, but to show us his love, that we might choose Him. She says that once you give yourself to him, he will let you know what needs to be changed. Sarah never judges me, and I know she doesn’t agree with all the stuff I do.”
“Your friend Sarah doesn’t get the results I do.”
“But you aren’t getting real results; you force people to change.”
“After I’m done with Sarah, I’ll have access to all kinds of hard cases. And I’ll fix everyone I can.”
“And the one’s you can’t?”
“Eliminate them from the gene pool, of course. Look at the bright side—you will end up having lots of company at the museum you are going to.”
“Your father-in-law really was involved with Hitler, wasn’t he?”
“My father-in-law was brainwashed. It took me years to deprogram him. But once I convinced him how barbaric a supreme race was, and how it went against the Bible, he decided to help me change the world my way, from within.” Mrs. Freedman glances back at the door and then down at her watch.
“Lady, you were duped. He got you to do the same thing he was doing. He let you believe what you wanted, but forcing people to change on the inside through hypnosis is only turning them into obedient robots. You’re just as bad as Hitler, you just hide behind the Bible.” Symphony raises her voice.
“How dare you disrespect me in that tone and accuse me of those lies.” Mrs. Freedman presses her hands on her outfit and slides them toward the bottom. She then glances at her watch again. “Howard! We haven’t got all day. I must get the girl started.”
* * *
Elliot steps back as he hears the door close.
“Who’s in here?” a gruff voice questions as he shines a light on the desk to walk over and turn off the alarm.
Elliot sneaks up behind Howard, putting one hand over his mouth while simultaneously knocking him out with a sleeper hold. Elliot reaches in his bag. Where’s my duct tape? Sweet. Now my handcuffs. There they are. Elliot pushes Howard under the desk and hides in the dark again.
* * *
“Howard!” Mrs. Freedman says again. “Something is wrong.” She runs to the wooden cabinet next to the cell that Jade’s deceased husband is in. Mrs. Freedman opens the door and retrieves a handgun. “You may let go of the girl, Jerry.” Mrs. Freedman points the gun at Symphony and closes in with confidence. “Go see what is taking Howard so long.”
“Yes ma’am.” Jerry runs off to help his friend.
* * *
Jerry holds his gun out in front of him as he opens the door and then gives it a kick to close it behind him. “Howard? Are ya in here? We gotta hurry; she’s gettin’ mad.” Jerry shines his flashlight around the room.
Elliot moves away from the corner he was hiding in to get closer to Jerry. The light shines off to his right. Elliot moves, but not quickly enough.
“Hey, you’re not supposed to be here. Where’s Howard?” Jerry points his gun at Elliot’s head. “Don’t move, I’ll shoot.”
“Howard’s fine. Give me the girl and I’ll let Howard go.”
“Ooh, Mrs. Freedman ain’t gonna like that,” Jerry says. “No sir.”
Elliot steps closer to Jerry. “You don’t want to shoot me. I can tell. Just hand over the gun.” Elliot takes another step.
“I mean it. Not another step,” Jerry says wi
th a nervous stutter. Jerry cocks the hammer preparing to shoot. The gun shakes as he trembles in fear, gazing up at the six-foot man towering over his five-foot-five stature.
“I’m not gonna hurt you.” Elliot takes one more step.
Jerry squeezes the gun tighter, and while doing so he bumps the trigger causing it to fire.
Bang! Bang!
Elliot jumps out of the way to escape the bullets and dives on top of Jerry, pushing him to the cement floor. “What’s wrong with you!?” Elliot asks. “If you don’t know how to use an automatic, you should at least make it so one bullet comes out at a time! You could’ve killed us both.”
“I’m sorry, I’m …”
Elliot duct tapes his mouth shut. “Save it for your lawyer.” He rises to his feet and rushes to Symphony’s rescue.
* * *
Fear and anger grip Symphony as the shots echo through the desolate basement. It’s time for this nightmare to end.
Mrs. Freedman faces the door. “Howard! Jerry! Clean up that mess and get in here.”
This is my chance. Symphony pushes Mrs. Freedman to the ground and runs for the door. “I’m coming, Elliot.”
Elliot opens the door, and to his horror spies Mrs. Freedman aiming a gun at Symphony’s back as she runs toward him.
“I’ve had enough of your disrespect, girl!” Mrs. Freedman pulls the trigger.
Bang!
Elliot leaps for Symphony, tackling her to the ground. The force is so strong it causes the back of her head to smash into the cement floor, knocking her unconscious.
Pleased with the results, Mrs. Freedman hurries to the back exit towards the garage.
“Symphony. Symphony. Wake up.” Elliot whispers. He reaches over and nudges her arm. “Symphony.”
“Elliot?” Symphony squints her eyes and grimaces. “Man. That was close. Where’s Mrs. Freedman?” She rises to her feet, holding the back of her head.