* * *
It had rained that afternoon, and the sky was overcast when Elizabeth left the hospital. As she walked out to the parking lot, her thoughts turned to Steven and Tricia. She was happy about the way things had worked out with them. They were closer than ever now. They spent every free moment together, and Tricia had confided in Elizabeth just the day before that she felt stronger about their relationship than ever. With Steven’s love she could face anything, she said—even death.
Though Elizabeth knew it would be hard for Steven when Tricia was gone, she knew also that she’d done the right thing in breaking her promise. This way the loss, when it came, would be easier for him to bear.
Elizabeth was so absorbed in her thoughts she didn’t notice that someone was following her—a short, husky figure in a white orderly’s coat. His rubber-soled shoes made no sound as he tailed several yards behind Elizabeth. Carefully he skirted the puddles, prepared to duck behind one of the parked cars if Elizabeth should turn.
She angled toward the little red Fiat, parked beside a gunmetal-gray Chevy van she hadn’t seen before. She quickened her step, at the same time fumbling in her purse for her car keys. She heard a noise behind her, and a flicker of nervousness darted through her. Probably nothing, she told herself. Nevertheless, she cast a quick glance around, hoping to be reassured by the sight of other people—a nurse or doctor getting off the latest shift, a family on their way in to visit a sick relative. But the parking lot was deserted.
It had grown chilly. The wind was blowing, rushing noisily through the leaves of the laurel trees that bordered the lot. Elizabeth wrapped her scarf about her neck and reached for the handle of her car door.
She slipped in behind the wheel and was turning the key in the ignition when she heard someone tapping on the window. Startled, she looked up. Dark eyes peered in at her. Her heart jumped into her throat.
Then she saw it was only Carl.
Elizabeth rolled the window down a crack. “Hi,” she said, smiling to keep him from seeing how nervous she felt. “Did I forget something?”
“Uh … yeah.” He spoke with effort, in a voice so husky it sounded as if he hardly ever used it. “Mrs. Willoughby wants to see you. She—she said it was important.”
Elizabeth was confused. She’d spoken to Mrs. Willoughby just a few minutes earlier. Why hadn’t she said something then? Well, it must have just come up. She shrugged and got out of the car.
That was when Carl leaped at her and clamped his hand over her mouth to stifle her scream. A fountain of terror rose in her. She struggled fiercely, torso twisting, legs flailing. But it was no use. Carl’s grip was like iron, the pressure against her mouth unyielding. The only thing she managed to accomplish was to bite her own lip. Tears welled in her eyes as she tasted her own blood.
“I’m sorry, Elizabeth,” Carl’s gravelly voice whispered in her ear. “I promise I won’t hurt you. I just want to be with you. The two of us. Forever.”
Forever! What is he talking about?
Elizabeth gave a sharp yelp that was muffled by his hand. Bright dots of color swam before her eyes. Her struggles were growing weaker. He was too strong for her. She couldn’t fight him.
The arm that was pinned across her chest slid away as Carl reached into his pocket for something. Before Elizabeth could lash out, a soft, wet cloth was jammed against her nostrils. A sickish-sweet smell enveloped her. Chloroform! She tried not to breathe in, but she couldn’t help it. Waves of dizziness crashed over her. Her arms and legs felt very heavy.
A moment later Carl was dragging her toward the Chevy van. Through the haze that wrapped itself about her like layers of gauze, Elizabeth heard a click, then the back door opening. Carl lifted her sagging frame in his arms and placed her down gently on the mattress that was inside. He paused to smooth away a wisp of hair that was stuck to her cheek. Then the door slammed shut, and she could hear him walking around to the driver’s door.
Got to get up … got to get away, Elizabeth thought, her brain still sending out feeble panic signals.
But she was so tired. Her head was spinning. Her arms and legs wouldn’t budge when she tried to move them. When she opened her mouth to scream, only a tiny squeak emerged. It was like one of those nightmares where everything was in slow motion.
Where is he taking me? she wondered as the van’s engine came to life.
Then everything went black. Elizabeth’s last thought, as she slid into unconsciousness, was that this was no nightmare. This was real.
Also by Francine Pascal
SERIES
Sweet Valley High
Sweet Valley Twins
Sweet Valley Kids
Fearless
NOVELS
Save Johanna
If Wishes Were Horses (La Villa)
My First Love and Other Disasters
Hanging Out with Cici
NON-FICTION
The Strange Case of Patty Hearst
WHEN LOVE DIES. Copyright 1984 by Francine Pascal. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Sweet Valley ® is a registered trademark of Francine Pascal
ISBN 1-250-03057-9
EAN 978-1-250-03057-3
First published in the United States by Bantam Books.
First U.S. Edition: September 1984
eISBN 9781250030580
First eBook edition: November 2012
When Love Dies Page 9