by Vella Day
“No. You can’t leave here.”
As if she’d jumped out of a plane with no parachute, her stomach roiled and bile shot to her mouth.
“Why not? Surely you don’t plan to keep me here forever.”
The glazed look in his eyes told her he had no intention of ever letting her go. “What are you going to do with me?” There. She’d finally asked.
“Take you with me when I go to Audrey Mae and the baby.”
“But I thought you said they were dead.” Or had she misunderstood?
“She is.”
His jaw tightened, and she recognized that if she didn’t get out of his trailer tonight, she would soon die. She had no idea how she’d escape or which direction to take, but somehow she’d get free.
A car rumbled outside the trailer and headlights shot through the window. Hope surged. Was it Dominic? Could it be him?
In a flash, Charley placed his hand over her mouth as he lifted her up. “Say one word and I’ll kill you right here.”
Tessa’s heart beat so fast, she couldn’t scream even if she’d tried. He dragged her to the bedroom and threw her on the bed. Grabbing a roll of duct tape, he slapped the tape over her mouth before she had the chance to protest.
A loud rapping on the front door gave her hope. Charley grabbed both of her wrists and tied them to the bedpost in less than five seconds. Then he wrapped her legs together and tied them to the other bedpost. Tessa didn’t try to struggle, wanting to appear cooperative.
“Don’t make a sound,” he warned.
She nodded. She closed her eyes, praying Dominic was at the front door.
“I’m comin’,” Charley shouted, acting bored.
Did he have neighbors who visited him? He claimed he didn’t come to the trailer often.
Tessa strained to hear the conversation through the closed bedroom door.
“Howdy, Officer. What can I do for you?” Charley said in a tone more friendly than she’d ever heard.
An officer? As in the police? Had Dom contacted the locals to check the area? The newcomer’s boots sounded on the floor as he headed toward the back of the trailer. He must be checking out the living room. Would he think all the lighted candles an odd touch for a rundown trailer and a bald, taciturn man?
“Is Carmen around?”
Carmen?
“He’s in Ohio visiting his nephew,” Charley answered.
“That so? Did he say how long he was going to be gone?”
Tessa couldn’t detect any suspicion in the man’s voice.
“For another few weeks, I think. I promised I’d stay here and keep the vandals away.”
The man chuckled. “Yeah, the four legged type.”
For the next minute, neither man spoke.
“Who do these belong to?” the officer asked.
What had she left out there? Her shoes! She’d slipped them off when Charley had placed her on the sofa.
Tessa banged her feet on the mattress, but she was unable to produce enough sound to be heard through the closed door.
“My girl friend,” Charley announced with enough pride one would have thought he’d won the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Where is she?”
“Gone.”
No I’m not. I’m in here. Look in here, she screamed in her head.
“She left without her shoes?”
Good, the ranger was sharp.
“She wore her boots out. She always keeps a pair here in case it gets muddy. Guess she forgot to take the sandals with her this time.”
The officer laughed. “Yeah, the Green Swamp is no place for a woman in sandals. Didn’t you tell her about the snakes?”
“I will when she stops by tomorrow. Say, when Carmen comes back, you want me to tell him to give you a ring?”
“Sure, that would be great.”
Tessa held her breath, waiting for the Deputy to see through Charley’s lies. A moment later, the front door slammed shut, and she sagged into the mattress, letting the tears stream down her cheeks. Her one hope of being saved was gone.
She believed the officer’s car or truck turned right after he drove down the drive, but Charley took that moment to burst into the room, interfering with her listening.
“Damn nosey ranger. He’d come looking for Van Witt.”
Tessa moaned in an attempt to convince Charley to untie her, or at the very least, take the suffocating tape from her mouth. She needed to be able to reason with him, assuming one could reason with the insane.
“Stay here. I don’t trust that guy. He might be back.”
Like she had a choice? Surely, he wouldn’t leave her there all night.
Charley had taken his sweet time before he took off her duct tape gag and untied her.
“Thank you.”
Her lack of negative response seemed to surprise him. One thing she had learned after working with him for a month was that he didn’t take criticism well. Once she learned his father had abused him, she could understand his poor self-esteem.
After he cut off the tape, her arms ached when she lowered them. Her hands had fallen asleep, and painful pinpricks of blood pulsated down her arms.
Charley was none too careful when he ripped the tape off her ankles, but at least she was free. Red welts marred both her legs and arms, but Tessa didn’t dare complain.
“You want to use the outhouse before you go to bed?” he asked.
“I’d like that. Thank you for being so considerate.”
“Consideration has nothing to do with it. I don’t need you peeing in my bed.”
Oh God. Did he expect her to sleep in the same bed as him? If he touched her, she didn’t know if she’d survive. She needed to take one minute at a time. She would get through this, just as long as she thought about being in Dominic’s arms.
Once more, Charley followed her out to the outhouse. The sliver of moonlight lit the path, and the chill in the air bit into her skin. Her teeth chattered even though she doubted the temperature was much below sixty degrees. Perhaps it was the humidity and brisk wind that made the air feel colder.
The small wooden structure gave her a few minutes peace away from the monster. How could she not have seen his demented personality? Hadn’t Judd done a background check on him? Maybe her brother had been as desperate as she when she’d hired Mick. For all she knew, her short order cook killed and maimed too.
Tessa rubbed her raw wrists as she took care of business. Charley pounded on the door what seemed like seconds after she’d entered.
“Your time’s up.”
“Coming.”
Fearing he’d bust down the door, Tessa dressed and stepped outside. Her eyes had grown more accustomed to the dark, but the overhanging trees added to the ominous atmosphere. They had to walk around the trailer to get to the front entrance.
Even though the inside smelled musty, its walls protected her from the elements.
Tessa flapped her arms around her shoulders. “It’s cold out, and I didn’t bring a sweater,” she said. “Do you have something I could borrow?” The thought of putting on something Charley owned grossed her out, but she had to concentrate on getting out of this hellhole.
Charley grumbled and muttered something about women and their delicateness.
She wasn’t cold inside the trailer, but if she had any hope of escaping, she’d need warmer clothes. Thank goodness she’d worn jeans. Her sandals weren’t ideal, but they were better than nothing.
Charley huffed off into the bedroom. For a split second, Tessa contemplated sprinting out the door, but she knew she wouldn’t get far. Instead, she took a different plan. She removed the nickel ring her mother had given her and placed it on the small wooden table next to the sofa.
Tessa rubbed away the green deposit around her finger.
Charley held out a ratty sweatshirt. “Here. It’s the best I could do.”
She tried to smile, but her lips quivered. “Thanks, you’re very kind.”
“You better believe it
.”
What did that mean? Tessa didn’t dare ask.
“Are you hungry?” Charley asked.
“A little.”
“I got some eggs. You could make us an omelet.”
“Sure.”
Moving about and doing something would help reduce her anxiety and give her time to think. If she could convince him she wasn’t an escape threat, he might let down his guard.
Tessa spent the next fifteen minutes searching through the drawers as she prepared the food, pretending she was trying to find a spatula or some spice. She made a note where he kept his knives. No other kitchen appliance appeared to be weapon grade. Even the frying pan was made out of lightweight aluminum and wouldn’t hurt Charley even if she managed to smash him in the face. The matches to light the propane stove might come in handy if she ever got out of there.
She placed the meal on the small table. “You want a beer,” she asked. His mostly empty fridge did contain that staple.
“Why not.”
Tessa didn’t know if Charley would be easier to handle if he drank, or if it would make her plight worse.
“If you don’t have electricity, how do you power the refrigerator?”
“Propane. The whole house is on it.”
“Oh.”
Charley scarfed down his meal and chugged his drink in record time. He burped, pushed back his chair and grabbed his plate.
“Oh, I’ll get that,” Tessa offered. “Why don’t you relax, and I’ll clean up.”
He stopped in mid stride. “You trying to soften me up or something, Audrey Mae?”
Her correction to the misnomer was on the tip of her tongue, but she decided to let the slip pass. If he confused her with the woman he loved, perhaps he wouldn’t harm her. Maybe he had brought her to his place to keep her from Ralph, even though her ex-husband was dead. Charley did seem to confuse the two states of existence.
If only she could contact Dominic. Once again she scoured the trailer, hoping there’d be a phone. Even though there wasn’t electricity, she thought the phone company might have hooked up a line, but he had nothing.
“Answer me.” Charley’s sharp comment made her jump.
“Ah, no. I’m trying to be helpful. In all the time we’ve worked together was I ever anything but honest and helpful?”
He scrubbed a hand over his chin. “I guess not.” He extinguished one of the two lamps in the main room. “Leave the dishes until morning. I’m beat. Let’s go to bed.”
He acted like they were some old married couple. Did he truly believe she was his wife? Her heart sped up thinking maybe he wouldn’t tie her up.
“Coming.”
Charley picked up her discarded sandals and disappeared into the bedroom. Tessa followed behind. He pulled back the shabby comforter on the double bed and shoved the shoes under the mattress. Her heart sank. She swallowed hard, not wanting to crawl into bed with him. Images of bedbugs surfaced, and her muscles froze.
He stepped over to the small dresser and picked up the duct tape. Her first instinct was to beg him not to tie her up, but she couldn’t think of a good reason to give him.
“You know it’s for your own good.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t chance you’ll leave me again.” Again? “And there’s no telling what’s outside. We got black bears and panthers roaming around ready to pounce. A hungry mama bear might do unspeakable things to you.”
If his intent was to scare her, he’d succeeded, but Charley posed a bigger threat than any animal.
“I’m afraid of the dark. I’d never leave at night.”
“Still, I gotta do it.”
Tessa sat down on the bed and held out her hands. She’d never free herself if he tied her hands behind her back. Charley didn’t blink as he wrapped her hands together. He taped her ankles together under her jeans. Damn.
“I’m a real light sleeper, so don’t try anything,” he warned. “If you really gotta go, let me know.”
Charley blew out the lamp and crawled into bed. How was she ever going to escape?
20
Tessa listened to every one of Charley’s breaths until they evened out. Convinced he was finally asleep, she eased back the covers. Shoes or no shoes, she had to escape. Now.
Ripping the duct tape from her ankles would wake him, which meant she needed to get outside before she could fully free herself. Tessa slithered out of the bed, letting her feet drop to the cold floor. Unable to take a step with her ankles bound, she lowered herself to her knees, and then onto her stomach. Face down, she crawled toward his dresser propelling herself with her toes and elbows, stopping every few inches to check the rhythm of his breaths. If there’d been more room, she would have rolled to a stand.
Even though she’d memorized the position of the dresser, she was thankful the slivers of moonlight lit the way. She didn’t need to bump into the bed and wake him. That would suck big time.
Once she reached her destination, she rose to her knees and grabbed the prized duct tape—her secret weapon.
As silent as a snake through grass, she crawled back to the door that he’d left open a crack. Maybe her luck was changing. His over confidence in believing he’d secured her would be his last big mistake. She’d make sure of it.
Carrying the duct tape with her teeth, Tessa managed to leave the bedroom without disturbing him, and then nudged close the door, but the exertion threatened to undermine her attempt. Man, or rather woman, was not meant to slither. Oh how she appreciated propulsion by foot.
Her rapid heartbeat forced her to breathe quickly, and the duct tape made it impossible to open her mouth.
Don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t rest. Go.
She was thankful the generous moon helped guide her toward the kitchen. Every few seconds, she stilled to listen for Charley. If he awoke, she didn’t know what she’d do other than beg forgiveness.
Enough resting. Get going.
Once in the kitchen area, she rolled onto her butt and sat up. Inch by inch, she peeled off the tape around her ankles, careful not to make noise.
Now free, she stood and stepped to the cabinets that lined one wall. She slid her hands along the row of knobs, stopping at the third drawer on the right—the silverware and knife drawer.
After an agonizingly slow pull, she extracted a knife and began to saw her way through the duct tape around her wrists by holding the knife between her knees.
Tessa sucked in a breath, when the knife nicked the side of her off hand and warm blood trickled down her palm. She raised her hand to prevent the blood from landing on the floor and creating a blood trail. Pain shot up her arm when she touched the sensitive spot again. Suck it up, Tessa.
A few seconds later, the tape split open, and her heart beat faster. Freedom was near. Not wasting any time, she grabbed the duct tape, along with the knife and let herself out, praying Charley wouldn’t hear the latch on the door open or close.
Her first step landed on a sharp-edged rock.
“Shit,” she said, and immediately clasped a hand over her mouth. She couldn’t worry about the pain on her feet until she was far away from the trailer. She blew out a breath to test the coldness of the air. The overhanging trees blocked the moon, preventing her from seeing the frosted air, but she could tell it was frigging cold. She never remembered November being this frosty before. Then again, she didn’t make a habit of being barefoot outside in the middle of the night either. At least she had on Charley’s ratty sweatshirt.
On tiptoe, she scurried behind his van. She didn’t dare open the driver side door as she remembered it squeaked. Damn, she should have thought to notice where he’d placed his keys. Knowing Charley, his set was safely by his side.
She tore off a long piece of duct tape and wrapped it around her tender feet. One strip at a time, she made duct tape boots. She tested her handiwork and smiled.
One last glance at the trailer convinced her Charley hadn’t noticed her defection. Treading softly, she
hurried to the end of the drive, wearing the roll of duct tape as a bracelet in case she needed more later.
If the sound of the officer’s tires could be trusted, he’d gone right. Was he going back to the road or did he live in that direction?
Not having any idea of the correct direction, Tessa chanced the right. If only she’d found a flashlight, she could make better time but having the light might guide Charley to her when he woke and found her gone. A light in the dark woods would travel far, she bet.
Tessa kept on the road, what there was of it. Large puddles periodically swamped the path and mud oozed in between her toes. She’d forgotten to cover them when she’d taped her heels and soles.
Tessa bent on one knee, ripped off another piece of tape and attempted to cover the rest of her foot, but the tape wouldn’t stick to the old, wet tape. Aargh. She wanted to yell and scream her frustration, but she didn’t dare. She tried again, but the tape ran out.
Not wanting to leave anything behind for Charley to find, she hurled the cardboard center into the woods. A noise sounded off to her left, and she stilled. From the soft rustling, she could tell it wasn’t human. A bear would make more noise. Was it a squirrel perhaps? Or an alligator? She shivered. Oh, how she did not like the dark, especially the swampy dark with unknown creatures, like spiders and snakes crawling about.
Tessa stomped her feet hoping to scare off the animal. Her plan worked. The retreating footsteps, or paws, raced away from her.
She'd rested enough. She had to keep going, if for no other reason than to keep warm. After a half hour, exhaustion set in. Her legs turned heavier with each step. As much as she wanted to rest she didn’t dare. Charley could be right behind her. Her only hope was to find the officer.
Tessa repeated her goal over and over again as she plodded forward on the muddy road. She rarely looked up, careful to watch her footing in an attempt to avoid the large holes and high branches that crossed the roadway. For the times the moon dipped behind the clouds or was obscured by the trees, she slowed and shuffled her feet, making her progress was painstakingly slow.
When she did rush, she often slipped on the wet ground. She only landed on her tush once. While she wanted to cut through the swampy woods to make it harder for Charley to find her, the dense trees and vines made it impossible to go more than a foot in either direction.