by J. E. Taylor
“You know damn well.”
“Are you upset with me?”
“You were dreaming about him,” Tom said. “Again.”
Jessica looked back out the window and sighed. “I can’t help what I dream about, Tom.”
“I thought after five years you would have let him go.”
* * * *
Jessica watched the water as they drove over the bridge into Maine. The sign for York Harbor brought a wave of feelings she didn’t expect and every single one of them revolved around Chris Ryan. She looked back at Tom. “I’m sorry,” she said and looked back out the window.
“Stop apologizing, Jess, and start letting go.” He flipped on the blinker for their exit. Tom stopped at the light at the end of the exit ramp and the kids started to stir in the backseat. “Are we going to Dan’s first?”
Jessica looked at the clock. “Sure,” she answered and looked back at her children who were stretching and looking around.
“Are we going to tell him?”
Jessica looked back at Emily. “I wouldn’t know what to tell him.”
Tom was at a loss as well. “What about the mirror in her room?”
“There isn’t one in my room,” Emily said, overhearing the conversation.
Jessica nodded; there weren’t any in the kids’ rooms when she lived there either, just in the master bedroom and bathroom. “I think she’ll be safe there.” She smiled. “Did they replace the mirror in your bedroom at home?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Don’t let them until you hear from me,” Jessica said as they pulled into Daniel and LeAnn’s driveway.
“Don’t worry, Mom, we’ll be all right.”
They got out of the car as Daniel and LeAnn stepped out of the house. Hugs and kisses were exchanged and Tom grabbed their bags from the car, carrying them into the house.
“We had a great time,” Emily said to LeAnn.
“Will you stay for breakfast?” Daniel asked.
“Thanks, but I think we’ll pass.”
“Did the kids drive you nuts?”
Tom shook his head. “No, the kids were great. I just have a long week coming and I’d like to get a little rest before it begins. By the way, you may want to tape the show this week.” He smiled at Eric and Emily. “They both have cameo appearances.”
Daniel looked over at Jessica. “Really?”
“They were really good, Danny,” Jessica said. “So much so that the director wants them in his next project.”
Emily and Eric’s heads swiveled in the direction of their mother.
“I said no,” she answered their open mouths. “You can make that choice after college if you still want to go that route.” She walked over and gave each of them a hug. “I’ll see you next weekend.”
Daniel and LeAnn exchanged a look. “We made other plans next weekend,” Daniel said. “I hope that’s not a problem?”
“What plans?” Jessica asked.
“We’re going to see my parents and wanted to bring the children,” LeAnn said.
“That’s not a problem,” Jessica answered after a moment. It would give her some much needed time alone with Tom.
“’Bout ready, hon?” Tom asked.
“We’ll see you in a few weeks.” Jessica smiled and kissed Emily and Eric goodbye. “I love you.”
“Love you too,” both children said in unison.
* * * *
Emily yawned as she watched them drive away. “Mind if I go take a nap?” she asked her father and stepmother.
“Go ahead,” Daniel said.
Emily picked up her bag and went to her room, closing the door behind her and opened her closet to put the suitcase away. The mirror on the inside of her closet door caught her eye a little too late. She felt the ice cold hand cover her mouth before she could utter Ty’s name.
“I’ve missed you,” Frank’s ghost whispered in her ear and she shivered. “You were very bad the last time I saw you, calling on my brother for help.” He reached around with his other hand and unzipped her pants, pushing them down.
She tried ramming her elbow into him but while she felt him holding her, her elbow seemed to pass through the air behind her.
He laughed at her pathetic attempt to break his grip and the muffled cries of Ty’s name from underneath his hand. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
The blade of a knife dug into the skin on her neck, striking her silent with fear. The futile cry died in her throat, replaced by a dull throb as her heart pumped faster in her chest. Even with a knife to her throat and a hand over her mouth, he still was able to drop her pants.
“Now, if you call him when I take my hand off your mouth, I will slit your throat before he can help you. Understand?”
She nodded and only let out a small whine of protest, but she didn’t call out, not with the cold blade pressing on her skin. She cried silently and in her mind, she screamed for her brother to help her.
The doorknob to her room began to move.
“Emily?” Eric asked from the other side of the closed door.
“Make him go away,” Frank said, pulling her up against him, keeping the knife in place at her throat.
“Trying to get some sleep,” she called out, willing her voice not to shake.
Eric, call Ty, NOW.
* * * *
Eric heard her silent plea and without speaking he closed his eyes and screamed the name in his mind.
“All right, I’ll see you when you wake up,” he said and made shuffling noises with his feet as if he was walking away. He looked toward the living room where his folks were happily watching the morning news. Inhaling, he focused back at Emily’s room and charged, throwing all his weight through his shoulder and into the door.
Chapter 59
Chris sat on his couch watching the morning news when the volume and power of Eric’s scream barreled through his head making him wince. He flew into his bathroom and focused on the mirror and Emily’s bedroom at the cottage came into sharp focus.
Frank had her laid over the side of the dresser, pumping his hips into her relentlessly. Before he could say a word, the bedroom door came crashing in and with it came Eric.
“Let her go you son of a bitch,” Eric growled and the bedroom door slammed shut behind him as he caught his balance. Eric’s fierceness took all three of them by surprise.
Frank pointed the knife in his direction. “You’re next.”
“I don’t think so,” Chris said from the reflection in the mirror and Frank turned dragging Emily with him. The knife dug into the soft flesh of her throat.
“You can explain to her mother.”
The knife slowly moved away from her skin despite the muscles in Frank’s arm straining against the invisible hand. Chris wasn’t the one controlling the knife and his gaze swiveled to Eric. Eric had his hand close to his throat and was pushing his palm away. Sweat beaded on his forehead and blood dripped from the cut in his hand.
“Jesus,” Chris whispered and looked back at Frank sending his own signal to break the mirror.
* * * *
The mirror shattered and Frank disappeared. Emily quickly pulled on her pants and ran to Eric before her parent’s footsteps reached her bedroom.
“You stopped him from hurting me,” Emily said and looked at the deep gash in his hand.
Eric’s eyes rolled back in his head and he fainted. Emily caught his limp body just as her folks barged in.
“Dad, Eric cut his hand pretty bad,” Emily said.
“How the hell did that happen?” Daniel snapped, his gaze traveling to the broken mirror and back.
“We were roughhousing,” Eric said and blinked back into consciousness. “And I lost my balance and broke the mirror.”
Daniel looked from Eric to Emily and back. “You’re going to need stitches for that and then you two will spend the rest of the day in your rooms.”
Emily and Eric exchanged a glance and didn’t say anything.
&nbs
p; Daniel hauled Eric to the hospital, leaving LeAnn and Emily at the house to clean up the glass.
“We should let Mom know,” Emily said.
“She doesn’t need to be bothered with this,” LeAnn said.
“She needs to know.”
“Your father and I will make that call. You need to stay in this room and think about what happened.” She walked away, closing her bedroom door behind her, leaving Emily frustrated.
“The hell with that.” Emily walked out of her bedroom and picked up the phone, dialing as she looked defiantly at LeAnn. “Don’t even think about it,” Emily warned when LeAnn took a step in her direction. The endless rings of the house phone sparked panic in her and she slammed the phone down in the cradle staring at it like it was a king cobra ready to strike.
Oh shit—he’s there!
The frightened thought pushed her muscles into action and she spun toward the door, taking off and running at full tilt in the direction of the beach and her mother’s house.
Chapter 60
Jessica and Tom drove to their house in silence.
“I think I’m gonna go for a run.” Jessica walked inside and held the door open for Tom.
“Want company?” He carried their bags to the bedroom.
“I’d love some.” She went into the bathroom to put her hair up.
“I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend.” Tom sighed as he pulled on his running apparel and watched her do the same.
“Me too.” She grabbed her iPod out of her carry-on bag and they headed out, handing him the speaker and they began to jog side by side down the street and onto the beach as the music played. “I’m sorry if I upset you on the drive.”
“I really shouldn’t let it bother me as much as it does.”
Jessica looked over at him with a small smile. God help me if he ever finds out. She looked toward the road. Emily was running at top speed down the sidewalk, dodging the people walking in her path. Even from this distance, Jessica could see the panicked expression on her face. She stopped in her tracks, making the earphone yank out of Tom’s ear as he passed by.
“Now what?”
“Em!” she called at the top of her lungs.
Emily’s head whipped in the direction of the call and the panicked wild-eyed expression smoothed and she slowed, climbing down the next set of stairs onto the beach. Tears streaked her cheeks and Jessica jogged to her.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
Emily fought to catch her breath. “Eric, cut,” she gasped. “Frank.” Was all she was able to get out before she sat down hard on the sand.
Jessica’s heart went cold and she knelt in front of Emily. She tried not to let her daughter see the fear those words caused. “Does he need me?” she asked quickly, looking in the direction of the cottage.
“No, he’s okay. Just his hand is cut.” She began to get her breath back. “Dad took him to the hospital to get stitches.” Emily put her hands on her knees and her head on her arms for a second. “I forgot about the mirror in my closet and he stopped Frank from killing me,” she said to the sand.
“Ty?” Tom asked from behind them.
Emily shook her head. “Eric,” she said and looked at her mother. “Ty made Frank disappear by breaking the mirror, but Eric stopped Frank from slitting my throat.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure how, but the knife cut his hand instead of my throat.”
Jessica remembered another time that Eric had put himself behind the tip of Frank’s knife and shivered. “Did Frank...” She couldn’t bring herself to ask the question.
Emily nodded and the tears picked up.
Jessica wrapped her arms around Emily and looked up at Tom. His gaze hardened and he turned away.
LeAnn pulled up to the curb and got out of the car. “Young lady, you get in the car right now.”
Jessica stood, putting herself between Emily and LeAnn as Tom turned back around.
“Go home, LeAnn,” Jessica warned, causing LeAnn’s mouth to drop.
“I don’t know what she has told you, but she is grounded for the rest of the weekend because of what the kids did.”
Tom reached out and took Jessica’s arm as she went to step toward LeAnn.
Jessica snapped her head around and looked at him. “Let go,” she said, her teeth grinding together.
He shook his head a little and gave her a warning glance. She doesn’t know, he thought just for her benefit.
Jessica heard him and her eyes softened. “Thanks.” She turned back to LeAnn. “LeAnn, why doesn’t Emily stay with us for the night?”
“I don’t think that would be appropriate considering. Danny said she wasn’t to leave her room. Did she tell you he is at the hospital with your son?”
“Yes. She also told me what happened,” Jessica said. “And believe me LeAnn, you have no idea what is really going on. I’m not going to let Danny punish the kids for this. It wasn’t their fault.”
LeAnn looked at Jessica in shock. “How can you say that? They were roughhousing and Eric broke her mirror and cut his hand pretty badly. I’d say that is cause for punishment.”
“That isn’t what happened,” Jessica said.
“Then what did?”
“All you need to know is that I’m going to take care of it,” she said, her eyes flashing with determination. “And keep my kids away from mirrors,” she added. “I’ll talk with Danny.”
“Mirrors?” She looked at Jessica and then Emily. “Does this have to do with the mirrors breaking at the house when you were there?”
“Yes.”
Jessica knelt in front of Emily. “You go home with LeAnn. I promise I will make this go away.” She raised her gaze to LeAnn. “Take her home and take care of her,” she said, relinquishing her daughter into the care of her step-mother. Jessica turned and headed back to their house with Tom in tow.
Tom followed. “What are you going to do?” he asked when they entered their bedroom.
She glared at him. “Stay here,” she commanded and walked out of the bedroom and into the guest room where Emily slept before they left for California. Locking the door behind her, she walked into the center of the room, glaring at the mirror.
“I’m right here you son of a bitch. Come and get me!” she roared and he didn’t disappoint her. This time, Frank physically appeared in front of her and grabbed her by the throat, throwing her into the wall.
“I’ve waited a long time for this,” Frank snarled and he barreled down on her, yanking her from where she landed.
Tom started banging on the door and yelling her name.
Jessica spun out of Frank’s grasp. “You raped my little girl and I’m going to send you back down that hole you crawled out of.” She drop kicked him in the crotch and felt him actually lift off the ground when her foot connected.
Frank’s ghost recovered quickly from the blow and grabbed her by the hair, dragging her to the bed. “You are going to pay dearly for that,” he hissed, tossing her down and ripping her shirt in the process. He produced the knife out of thin air and started toward her. “I’m going to cut you to pieces.”
* * * *
Tom threw his shoulder against the door, but it wasn’t opening against his repeated attempts. The exchange in the room turned his blood to ice, and he leaned his back against the door and bellowed Ty’s name at the top of his lungs.
Chapter 61
Chris paced in his bedroom trying to figure out what happened. Eric had nearly blown his brains out when he screamed his name, a lot like Jessica had done in the complex. The pounding in his temples left a dull ache, remnants of the siren.
Chris continued the restless path back and forth between his bedroom window and the bathroom, turning over what happened in his head.
He needed to talk with Jessica and Monday seemed like an eternity.
He walked over to his bedroom window and looked out at the Manhattan skyline and sighed. They had to do something about Frank, regardless of the stakes; he had to send that
son of a bitch back down the hole he crawled out of. Chris shook his head as the end of that phrase passed through his mind in Jessica’s voice.
He looked curiously toward the bathroom until he heard Tom cry out his name, then he bolted.
* * * *
Jessica rolled away from the arc of the knife and onto the floor, her face a mask of fury that Chris didn’t recognize. She grabbed the lamp and pitched it at Frank and much to his surprise, the lamp broke on impact. Frank yelled with the same level of fury and launched at her. She spun out of the way again, but this time, the knife caught her in the side, drawing blood. Countering his move, she slammed her elbow into Frank’s face and twisted away. Frank went down.
She backed up against the far wall and her gaze locked on Chris’s for the first time, that connection knocked his senses into high gear and silently he sent the command that burst the mirror into a thousand tiny shards.
Chapter 62
This time when Tom threw himself at the door, it gave and flew open. Jessica stood on the opposite side of the room, hair in her face, shirt ripped, blood dripping from her side and her chest rising and falling. She roared in fury, tossing her head back with the force of it and stormed past Tom. He followed her into their bathroom.
“Why the hell did you do that?” she screamed at the mirror.
Tom’s blood ran cold when the image in the mirror changed. Instead of the furious reflection of his wife, Ty’s hard blue eyes stared at her.
“He would have killed you, Jess,” Chris said.
“Then I would have dragged him to hell with me,” she shot back, her entire frame shaking with the storm of anger raging inside her.
Jesus, this is fucked up. Tom thought.
Chris met Tom’s stare. “Yes, this truly is fucked up,” he answered Tom’s thoughts then looked back at Jessica.
“I want him dead!”
Tom heard the mirror in the other guest room shatter and his mouth dropped.
“Just so you don’t do something stupid like that again,” Chris snapped at her.
Jessica screamed and then spun, throwing a punch at the wall. She buried her fist in the drywall. Pulling her hand out, she cradled it against her chest, leaning against the wall with her forehead. “I want to kill him. He cannot EVER touch her again, even if it means I have to die to get it done.”