Coveting Love (Jessica Crawford)

by Schwimley, Victoria

  “Why are you telling all this to me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell someone?”

  He looked sharply at her. “I know you wouldn’t do that; you love me. I wanted you to know all of this because I don’t want there to be any secrets between us. We can’t start our new life together if we have secrets.”

  His horrifying revelation staggered Jessica and left her feeling like a stupid fool. Then suddenly it all made sense to her. He had brought her here because he honestly felt she had fallen in love with him. She had to tell him the truth.

  “Phillip, have you forgotten that I’m going to marry Brandon?” She tried to smile. “I can’t marry both of you.”

  He snapped at her. “I know that.” Then he softened. “You’ll get over him in time. I know you truly love me. He is only a distraction. You have brought so much joy into my life. I can’t wait to start our life together.” He caressed her cheek. “You remind me so much of Grandmother. She made me happy, too. Then she had to go away from me. But now I have you, and we can spend our whole lives together.”

  He smoothed back her hair from her face and tried to kiss her on the lips. She pulled back.

  “I can’t. I have to marry Brandon. I promised him I would. And besides, I really love him.”

  She was unprepared for the rage that ignited inside him as he grabbed her roughly by the wrists. “You don’t understand. I need you here with me. You are not going to leave me like Grandmother did.”

  He looked around in desperation, striking Jessica with terror. Suddenly, a horrifying realization struck her. He means to keep me here, just like Elizabeth. Then I, too, will die of some horrid disease, locked away in this tiny room, and no one will ever know. When I die, he will bury me in the garden—just like his aunt.

  She sought desperately for a way out. “You’re right,” she pleaded. “I do love you, and I want to be with you. But first, I have to tell Brandon I can’t marry him. He will be angry, but I think I can make him understand.” She tried not to let the fear show in her eyes, but deep inside it cut through her, causing pain in her head and behind her ears.

  “No!” he bellowed. “I can’t let you do that. You betrayed me already. I won’t risk it again.”

  “But surely you realize people will miss me. Remember, I didn’t come here alone. What will John think when I don’t come to dinner.”

  “I admit, they will miss you for a while, but after some time passes, they will come to accept your disappearance and give up searching for you.” He swept the room with his hands. “So you see my love, this unsightly room will only be your home for a short time. As soon as your friends realize that finding you is hopeless, they will go home, and we can be free to start our life together.”

  She groped maddeningly for words, but found none. The horror of the situation began to creep in. She tried to plead with Phillip some more, but no words came out. She watched in desperation as the door opened and Phillip walked through, leaving her alone in the dark, dank room. She ran to the door, pounding on it, repeatedly screaming his name.

  “Phillip! Phillip! Phillip! Please let me out! I demand you let me out!” But it did no good. She couldn’t even hear the echo of his footsteps. The room must be soundproof.

  In hopeless abandon, her eyes scanned the room for a way out. There was a window high on one wall, which let a scant amount of sunlight through. It was much too high to reach, she admitted, as she stared dismally at it. It was cool in the room, despite the hot sun that shone through the window. She feared what the room would be like once the sun went down. She shivered at the thought of it, rubbing her hands up and down her arms.

  She looked around in shocked amusement, thinking, this is something out of a horror movie. Surely, Phillip couldn’t be serious about leaving me in here.

  She began to slowly circle the room, running her hands against the paneled walls, hoping to find another exit from the room. The walls were cool to the touch. She circled the room twice but found nothing remotely resembling a way out.

  Her foot touched a board and sank. She pulled back quickly, realizing she had stepped on one of the boards of which Phillip had warned her. So, he wasn’t lying about everything.

  She crossed carefully to the bed on the far side of the room and sat down cautiously on it. She looked up at the window. The sun had begun to cross over the house. The shadows took over where the sun had once been on the wall.

  She thought of the note she had intended to send to Brandon. It conveyed her assurance that she was all right and would be returning at the end of the week. If only she had been able to get that letter to him.

  She thought about the note she had slipped under John’s door. She had told him she was going into town. She had told Mrs. Grayson she was leaving, as well. Phillip had been out at the time. No one would even suspect she had not left the house. They weren’t likely to suspect Phillip. She watched the sun disappear from the room and wept with dismay.

  **********

  CHAPTER 17

  Mrs. Grayson sobbed hysterically into her handkerchief. Her husband stood behind her, soothing her. “It’s my fault,” she moaned, “I never should have let her leave the house alone. Lord only knows what trouble she has gotten into.”

  “Mrs. Grayson, please tell us exactly what Jessica said, and where she was going,” John said.

  “She said she had a letter to mail, and she would be back momentarily. She was in quite a hurry to get back before Mr. Stewart. I begged her to let Mr. Grayson accompany her, but she wouldn’t hear of it. Oh, I feel just awful.” She began sobbing again.

  John rose from the sofa and paced the floor. “I think it’s time we call the police.” He hesitated at the surprised look on Phillip’s face. “Phillip, it’s been hours since she left. No one has heard from her. I’m worried sick.”

  Phillip relaxed. “Yes, of course, you’re right. It’s just that by calling the police, we’re admitting something has happened to her. I just can’t bear that thought.” He crossed to the phone, lifted the receiver, and dialed the police station. After informing the officer on the other end of the situation, he came back to sit opposite Mrs. Grayson. He mustered up his most concerned expression.

  “Now, Mrs. Grayson, are you sure she didn’t mention anything about having any other errands to run? Perhaps something that might have taken some time.”

  “No sir, I’m sure. She was just going to mail the letter and come right back. I wanted Mr. Grayson to go with her so she wouldn’t get lost, but she wouldn’t hear of it.”

  Phillip held his hands out in front of him. “That’s it then. She must have gotten lost, in which case we should probably hear from her any time now. Perhaps she feels foolish for not having taken Mrs. Grayson’s advice and is too embarrassed to face us.”

  “I can’t believe you’re taking this so lightly,” John protested. “Jessica has been gone over eight hours. Christ, she didn’t even come home for dinner.”

  Phillip lowered his head. “I am only trying to hold on to hope, John. I would much prefer to think she will walk through that door at any moment, than to think something has happened to her.” He snapped his fingers. “That’s it. Why didn’t I think of it before? What if she’s hurt and lying in some hospital and they don’t know who she is. Mrs. Grayson, do you know if Jessica took her pocketbook with her?”

  “I don’t know, sir. She didn’t have it with her when she left the kitchen, but I didn’t actually see her leave the house.”

  He rose and crossed to the phone again. “I’m going to call a few of the hospitals and see if they’ve admitted anyone matching her description.”

  “Good idea,” John said. “I’ll go upstairs and see if she left her pocketbook behind.”

  Phillip picked up the phone and began dialing. Relief flooded over him when John reemerged with Jessica’s pocketbook. He frowned, showing his concern.

  After several attempts to locate Jessica through the hospitals, Phillip gave up trying. Mrs. Grayson had left the room and ree
ntered with Lieutenant Marks from the police department.

  “Can someone tell me what has happened here?” he asked as he entered the room.

  Phillip extended his hand in greeting. “Good evening, Lieutenant Marks. I’m afraid it appears as if one of my house guests has vanished.”

  “What do you mean by vanished?” he asked with a look of puzzlement on his face.

  He proceeded to fill him in on the details of Jessica’s disappearance. “So you see, she left on what was assumed to be a quick errand to mail a letter, but without her pocketbook,” he added.

  “And you say she has been gone for over eight hours.” Phillip nodded. “I see why you’re so concerned.” He tapped his lip with his index finger, thoughtful. “Well, normally, this wouldn’t classify as a missing persons incident since eight hours really isn’t that long. However, I think that given the circumstances, and the fact that she is a guest, and not familiar with our country, we might need to look into this. Now, is there somebody she might have tried to get in touch with if she were in some kind of trouble?”

  Phillip shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not. As I explained earlier, Miss Crawford is a guest in my home. She and her friend here are from the States. They are doing some work with me.”

  He wrote down a description. “Okay, Mr. Stewart. I think I have enough information for now. I’ll get right on trying to find her. If she should happen to check in with you, please let me know right away. Oh, it would be of some help if anyone has a picture of her.”

  They all looked at each other, and then shook their heads. “I’m afraid once again we have to say, ‘no,’ Lieutenant.”

  “Well, it would have been nice, but it isn’t vital.” He turned to leave. “I can see myself out. My advice to all of you is, stay here in case she tries to call, and try to get some sleep. I’ll check in with you in the morning.”

  “He’s right,” Phillip said after the lieutenant had left. “There’s nothing else we can do tonight. Why don’t we all get some sleep? Tomorrow we can take turns searching for her.”

  He started to leave the room, but noticed John wasn’t following. Instead, he was standing off in the corner dialing on his cell phone. He ran and grabbed it from him.

  “What are you doing, John?” he snapped.

  John attempted to retrieve the cell phone, but Phillip held it away from him. “Hey, man, what’s up? Give me back that cell phone.”

  “Whom are you calling?”

  “I’m calling Brandon. He’ll want to know about this.”

  “I don’t think that is wise; you’ll worry him sick. It’s too early yet to be calling her family. I’m confident she’ll come walking in that door any minute.”

  “I don’t think so. I have a bad feeling about this. Something has happened to Jessica, and Brandon would want to know.”

  “And just what do you think he is going to do from New York? Why don’t you just sleep on it, and if she still isn’t back in the morning, you can call him then.” He handed the phone back to him. “What do you say, John. You’re a sensible man; surely you can see that I’m right.”

  John hesitated for a moment, and then conceded. “I guess you’re right, but I’m calling first thing in the morning.”

  Phillip slapped him on the back. “That’s right. You can start calling first thing in the morning. Now, why don’t you turn in? Tomorrow is going to be a long day. We’ll need all our strength if we’re going to help the police look for Jessica.”

  “I just feel as though I should be doing something tonight.”

  “We are doing something. We’re letting the police do their job. Believe me, they have more contacts, and know more places to look than we can possibly imagine. What good does it do Jessica if you go out searching and get lost as well?”

  “I see your point, but I still don’t feel right. And I know I won’t be able to sleep.”

  “Then just rest.”

  John said good night and then climbed the stairs to his room, defeated.

  After he left, Phillip sneaked into the kitchen to prepare a basket for Jessica. He mounted the stairs as if going to his room. Then, using the secret panel, he slipped quietly into the locked room across from Jessica’s room.

  Jessica heard the sliding of the panel. It was dark in the room so she couldn’t see it open. A light passed through the door. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the sudden light. Her visitor held it high against his face. Even though she knew it would be Phillip, her heart sank.

  “What’s the matter? Surely, you didn’t expect someone else. I assure you no one knows you’re here. They all think some dreadful accident has happened. I even managed to convince them I was worried about you. It wasn’t too difficult, because I really am worried about you shut up in here. I only wish things had turned out differently for us. Then none of this would have been necessary.

  He sniffed the air. I’m sorry it smells so awful in here. Unfortunately, I can’t do anything about that.

  “You can let me out.”

  He ignored her reply. “Here, I brought you something to eat, and some blankets to keep you warm. I’m sorry I couldn’t get away any sooner.”

  She watched him set the basket down on the table beside her. She was hungry, but she wasn’t going to admit it to him. She looked at him crossly. “You don’t honestly think you’re going to pull this off. Do you?”

  He smiled. “I had my doubts at first, but you played right along. You really helped me out.”

  “How?” she asked.

  “First, you did me a great service by having the consideration to advise Mrs. Grayson of your departure, and by rejecting her offer of providing you with an escort. Then you slipped John a note telling him where you were going, and finally, you left without your pocketbook.”

  Her shoulders slumped in depression, aware of what her actions had left the others believing. “I can understand the first two errors, but I really don’t see what leaving my pocketbook behind has to do with this.”

  “Ah, but don’t you? By leaving your pocketbook behind, you have given everyone the impression that you left this house without any identification. So, if you had become injured, or worse, then no one would know how to identify you. Australia is a large place. So you see, everyone thinks you’re either lost or hurt. I have them convinced you’re lying in a hospital somewhere, with no means of identification.”

  He smiled reassuringly at her gaping face. “Don’t worry, dear. You’re in loving hands. I assure you, no harm is going to come to you.” He moved toward the door, picking up the light as he did.

  “Wait,” she called after him. He turned to face her. “Please let me go. I can’t bear it in here. I am so lonely, and it smells so bad.” She wrinkled her nose to show her distaste.

  He looked sadly down on her. “I am sorry. If you only had loved me, then I would never have had to do this to you. Now, just go lie down and get some sleep. Tomorrow you will feel much better.”

  “Phillip,” she called, as he turned to leave again. He turned to look at her. “Will you at least leave the light? I’m frightened in the dark.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t do that. The boards in here are very old; it would be dangerous. It wouldn’t take much to start this place on fire. I couldn’t bear anything happening to you.” He reached up and caressed her cheek, then bent down and kissed her gently where his fingers had touched. “Perhaps tomorrow I could bring you a flashlight, but for now, we must both try to get some sleep. I must be bright and fresh to join in the search for you tomorrow morning.”

  He turned to leave again. This time she did not stop him. Fumbling in the dark, she managed to find her way back to the bed and flung herself down on top of it. Despite the darkness, and with the help of the slight hint of the moon streaming through the window, her eyes began to adjust. She could just see the outline of the basket on the table next to her. Her stomach began to rumble at the thought of food; she hadn’t eaten all day.

  She reached up and
pulled the basket close to her. She had missed a good dinner, she noted, as she savored the roasted chicken and bread slices that Phillip had packed for her. She was amazed to find that she was able to eat all the food and drink half the bottle of wine.

  With a satisfied stomach, she was able to lie back and think calmly. She thought of Brandon, wondering what he was doing right then. She had not been able to make contact with him since her departure from New York. She longed to hear the sound of his voice. How would he take the news of her supposed demise? Would he just merely accept the fact that she was lost, or was their love strong enough to bring him searching for her? She didn’t doubt their love, but she had to be honest and admit that what Phillip was suggesting could easily have happened. Oh, why had she been so stupid?

  She thought of her mother. She was never going to see her happy. Would she accept Phillip’s story? She had fought hard to hide her fear of Phillip from her. She hadn’t wanted her to worry.

  She could never love Phillip. What would he do to her when he finally realized that? She was terribly frightened. She felt tears slide down her cheek, rolling into her hair. She reached up and wiped them away. She wept for herself, and for the people she loved. She felt hopeless, drained of all energy and will to go on. This room was her prison, one she would probably remain in for the rest of her short life.

  This feeling was to be even stronger two days later, when she still was confined to her prison. Phillip visited her every day, bringing more food, and the flashlight he had promised. Time slipped into a week, and she finally began to have hope.

  She was lying on the bed, singing every song for which she could remember the lyrics, trying to pass time, or hold on to her sanity. It was late in the afternoon. She could tell this because of the way the shadows did their daily dance on the wall. It had become a game to her, trying to guess what time it was. She kept track of the days on the paper and pencil she had begged from Phillip. One day he brought her a diary. “So you can write in it, like my grandmother.” She threw it at him. He picked it up and tossed it on the bed. “You might change your mind about it, eventually.”