The knob felt like jello in her hand. She let it go. Abby leaned against the door casing and watched the door swing open in slow motion. She tried to calm herself, tried to remember her mother holding her, protecting her. Abby could stand no more. Not wanting to be contaminated further, she turned and ran the way she had come, but not before Stuart got a glimpse of her. The elevator door opened for Abby. She stepped in and pressed the Down button. Stuart caught up with her.
“Hey, what are you doing here? Abby?”
The doors began to close. Before they did, Abby stared at Stuart with a glare so full of loathing, so strong that it propelled him back as though he had been struck by a sledgehammer.
“Shit!” he spat as he slammed his fist into the elevator button. But, he knew it was pointless. City code required it to go all the way down before coming back again. He couldn’t stop it. He couldn’t stop her.
Stuart raced down the long hall to the guest room and slammed open the door.
“Zach. Your wife got away!”
“Jesus H. Christ! How the...? What the hell was she doin’ here? I’m sick of that frigid bitch. I don’t give a flyin’ crap if she knows or not.”
“Girls, freshen up. Take a break,” Stuart said, and he snapped his fingers again. They grabbed their robes and slid past him. He closed the door.
“Zach, she could cause us problems. You’ll have to make peace with her, or maybe we should set her up in a bad scene and take pictures, so she’s stuck, ya know? I have a few favors I could call in.”
“Ah, she’s a wimp. If I buy her something big, she’ll roll over. She’s not gonna say nothin’. Who’d believe her anyway? Trust me. I’ve known her too long. If I keep my business out of the house, she don’t care what I do. She’s probably glad I don’t bother with her anymore anyhow.”
“Yeah, well, she better not talk to my wife. That could cost me a bundle, and I like things just the way they are. You keep her quiet, Zach. I don’t want trouble in my house.”
“Don’t worry, man. I’ll take care of it. Let’s forget it, huh? Let’s get the girls back and finish what we started.”
“First, I have to fire a doorman. You can keep them entertained while I’m gone.”
Zach was insatiable. There was no tenderness, no caring, just raw sex. Even when he could do no more, Zach was unsatisfied. Like a glass with a hole in the bottom, the emptiness remained.
“Desi, Desi, Desi,” he called her.
“I am Maya, remember? Who she? Your wife?”
“No. Shut up. It doesn’t matter.” Zach rolled off her and fell asleep.
CHAPTER 36
Abby ducked into the Greek diner next to Stuart’s building. With frozen claws, she dialed the first limo service in the book. She needed to be alone, no airports, no trains or buses.
Vacantly, she stared out the window, oblivious to the passers-by, not hearing the noise of plates and silverware clinking together. Nor did she notice the foreign voices calling out orders to the kitchen. Abby chain-smoked, downed two cups of hot coffee and waited. Writhing naked bodies kept appearing before her numb eyes. She closed them and then opened her eyes to see blurry, faceless bodies in the street bumping into each other. Phlegm rose in her throat until even the coffee could not hide the bitter taste. New York felt like a cesspool, and she had to escape.
Abby stood up suddenly, spilling the remains of her coffee on the plastic place mat. She was fishing for another coin in her purse when the shimmering black stretch Cadillac pulled up to the curb. Abby looked up and raced out the door, leaving her coat behind.
“Are you the lady who called for a limo?” the uniformed chauffeur asked.
She nodded but didn’t meet his eyes.
“Well, ma’am, do you have any special requests? Music, beverages, anything?”
She shook her head and climbed in the open door. The driver closed it after her with a nod. He had seen a lot in his time, but this was his first rush job to Vermont. He thought she looked as if someone had died. He noticed that she had no coat, but the driver knew better than to ask a fare too many questions.
From time to time during the nearly four hour drive, he glanced in his mirror. Every time he looked, she was gazing out the window. Once he thought she had fallen asleep, only to see her eyes open, connect with his, and look away. She seemed so upset, a nice-looking woman, but agony was her most obvious feature. They rolled up Route 87 into mountain country.
Abby had to give him directions from Cross to her house. Other than that, they exchanged no words. As they pulled into the driveway, he was struck by the beauty of the cliffside setting and the magnificence of the house. It was a shame that the lady who lived here was so distraught. He stopped the car and got out to open her door.
“Well, we made it, safe and sound. I hate to drive back though. Snow’s starting to come down pretty bad.” Abby said nothing. The driver looked around. “Nice place, ma’am,” he said.
Abby stumbled as she got out of the car, and he caught her. She couldn’t avoid looking at him, a handsome and gentle black face. It was comforting. He smiled.
“Thank you. Mister... ah...”
“Stillman. Eric Stillman.”
“Thank you, Mr. Stillman.” She reached into her purse and handed him the agreed upon fare and an extra fifty-dollar bill.
“Thank you ma’am,” he said.
Abby headed for the house. Eric followed to make sure she made it inside.
“Well, goodbye then. I hope everything turns out okay,” he said.
She turned and looked at him for an instant. “Yes. Thank you. Goodbye,” she said.
Abby closed the heavy carved door and looked at her watch. She looked around, but touched nothing as she climbed the stairs to their bedroom.
A wave of nausea hit her the instant she placed her foot through the opening. Her skin tightened, and bumps rose to the surface. She shivered as she looked at the bed. Not wanting to linger, Abby packed an overnight bag with clean underwear and gown, one casual outfit and her makeup. She lifted the phone and dialed.
“Yes?”
“Claire, this is Abby,” she said, her voice weak and trembling.
“What’s wrong? Where are you?” Claire asked quickly.
“I can’t talk right now. Sorry for bothering you,and I know it’s late, but I need a safe place to stay tonight. Can I stay with you?”
“Of course you can, but where are you?”
“At the house, but I’m leaving as soon as I get off the phone.”
“All right, then. Abby, drive careful. Noah just got in, and he says the roads are real slick.”
“Yes, yes. Thank you so much. I’ll be right there.”
“Abby, you don’t ever have to thank me. I’ll see you soon.”
“Goodbye then.” Abby put the phone back in its cradle, grabbed her night bag and hurried down the stairs. She nearly tripped in the dark, knocked over a lamp, and fled to the garage. She slid into the seat of her car, hit the remote garage door button, and backed the Volvo out into the night air. She was annoyed with herself that she’d left the Jeep at the airport instead of having the limo driver take her there.
She wondered if Zach was on his way, if he had followed her. Afraid of passing Zach on the road, she turned left instead of right to get to town. It would take longer, but it was better than taking the risk.
The snow fell in thick, powdery gusts that blinded her. The wipers clunk-clunked in a hypnotic rhythm. After going a short distance, she was grateful to see the familiar cabin on the corner of the main road and the alternate route to town. The road had been narrowed to barely more than a one-way path. High frozen snowdrifts rose up on both sides. She couldn’t see anywhere but straight ahead and only in intermittent intervals between gusts of wind that blew snow in front of her lights and across the windshield. As Abby came around a hazardous hairpin turn, the rear end of the Volvo whipped around like a toy in a downward spin.
Abby hit the brakes. Her throat closed up whe
n she tried to scream. All she could squeak out was, “Oh my God!” She knew she would die, that Zach would get away with all his hideous acts, that David would die, that her children would be motherless. I love you, she screamed inside her head, remember me, she said to her children as tears streamed down her cheeks.
The car careened down, down the mountain road. Abby bounced around in her seat like one of those dummies in test commercials. She could not hold the spiraling steering wheel. It had a life of its own. The only thing that saved her from plunging through the windshield was the seat belt she hated so much. It cut into her neck and stomach like a knife. As if in a whirlpool, Abby and the car spun faster and faster as she helplessly headed toward oblivion.
A huge boulder was all that prevented the car and its contents from flying off the road and down the vast drop-off below. The force of the sudden stop slammed Abby’s head and body into the steering wheel and the silver chain that held her cross ripped off her neck, falling to the floor. The stalled car faced uphill on the wrong side of the road. It hung precariously off the edge of the boulder, dangling in the air as if it had been shot from a powerful cannon. The orange glow of the dashboard emitted the only light in the blizzardy night.
“Noah, it’s been an hour since she called,” Claire said as she paced back and forth to the front door. “Something’s wrong, I just know it. What did she mean she needed someplace safe? Why would she say that?” Claire said this more to herself than to Noah.
“You want me to get on my clothes and go out in this blizzard to look for her, right?” Noah asked, knowing as soon as he said it that it was a stupid question.
“I can’t believe you’d ask! Something’s happened, I tell you. And I need to wait in case she is ok and gets here.”
“Now don’t be gettin’ all riled up. I’m goin’. This better not be for nothin’. Call the house first and make sure she’s gone. You’re sure she said she was leaving right away?”
“Of course, I’m sure.” Claire dialed Abby’s number and held the ringing phone in the air. “See? Why would I be worried if she hadn’t said that? Would you get going?”
“I’m gone, but I tell you, it’s nasty out there.”
Claire tried to smile. “I’m sorry to make you do this, but I’m just so worried about her. She sounded bad when she called, and why’d she need to get out of her warm house and on these roads? Noah, I just know she’s in trouble.” She reached up and touched her husband’s face. He kissed her hand.
“I’ll find her, don’t worry,” Noah said.
Noah put on his boots, his heavy winter coat and gloves. He went outside and cleaned the new snow off his old Blazer and started it up. Even in the short time since he’d last turned it off, it was cold, as if the engine hadn’t been run all day. He dreaded going up Shay Mountain in this weather, but he knew his wife was right and he knew he’d never forgive himself if Abby was stuck somewhere freezing in this mess.
He made it to her house in just over twenty minutes. Except for a single overhead garage light, the house was dark. He thought it odd that Abby had left the garage door open. Claire’s fear began to infect him. Abby knew the way to their house. She should have been somewhere between her house and theirs. But she was not. Noah sat very still and tried to imagine what she could have done. He called Claire on the old CB.
“Breaker, breaker. Black Knight calling Lucky Lady, do you copy?” Noah said into the microphone he had lifted from the clip on his dash.
“Lucky Lady copies Black Knight. Where are you, over?”
“At the house. No sign of a lady in distress, over.”
“She’s got to be somewhere, over.”
“That’s a big ten-four, but I can’t figure out where just yet. I’m gonna hit the side roads now, over.”
“Okay, drive careful and keep in touch, over.”
“That’s a copy. Black Knight over and out.”
Noah hung up his coiled mike and backed out of the driveway. The lightweight snow had greased the road and was now coming down in sheets that coated his windshield between wipes. He said to himself, “God, I hope you’re payin’ attention. I need all the help I can get right now.”
The silver Blazer crawled down the road. Noah squinted to see between the waves of flakes, looking for an invisible white Volvo or lights or something, anything that would lead him to Abby.
The glow from the Cooper’s cabin caught his eyes. He stopped the Blazer and tried to decide whether to risk the hill. He wondered if that’s what Abby had done. Noah turned the heavy wheels and crept down the steep, narrow road. The new snow and wind had covered any tire signs. Noah’s stomach churned as he slid a little around the sudden sharp curve. He righted the wheels and stopped. His breathing was short now, and a fearful burning had risen in his throat; all muscles in his neck, arms and back were stiff and tight. Noah dropped his four-wheel drive into low for more traction and edged his way closer and closer to town, knowing for certain that Abby would be in trouble if she’d gone this way. He prayed for the CB to crackle and tell him she was safe. The silence was cold and made his hands feel clammy inside his gloves.
He nearly missed her. His headlights reflected off a piece of mangled metal; otherwise Abby’s car had melted into the snow, high off the ground and hidden from view. Noah swallowed hard and carefully slowed to a stop. He reached into the glove box for his flashlight and could feel his heart pounding under his coat, under his flannel shirt, under his skin. He picked up the CB and put it down again. No, he thought. First, I’d better see if she’s alive. Horrible images bombarded his mind.
Noah left the engine running, walked in front of his car and climbed the new drifts with care, slipping and falling as he dug his way through to Abby’s car. He realized how close Abby’s car was to the edge. With one finger, Noah flicked the flashlight on and shined it into the car. Abby was slumped over the wheel. The orange light on the dash shown on her face, and he could see blood.
“Jesus, God!” Noah said. “Abby! Can you hear me? Abby!” He tried the doors. The whole passenger side was smashed in and wouldn’t budge. He didn’t dare go around the other side for fear of rocking the boat or sliding off the steep embankment. Noah slid down the drift and raced to his car. He picked up the CB and moved to channel nine to call the police.
“BrrrBrrreaker,” Noah stuttered. “This is Noah Thompson. There’s been a serious accident about half way down Seely Hill up on Shay Mountain. We’re gonna need a tow and an ambulance immediately, over.”
“Mr. Thompson,” the man’s voice said, “this is the sheriff. We’re on our way. Do you know the victim?”
“It’s Abby Trudeau, and she’s not moving. I can’t get her out. We’ll need jaws of life or somethin’,” Noah said.
“Just stay there and stay available. We’ll get there as soon as we can.”
“Yeah, sure. Of course.”
Noah spun the dial to Channel 22. “Claire! Claire!” he screamed into the mike.
“Noah, I’m here. What is it?”
“I can’t get at her. She’s stuck in the car, and the car’s hanging from a huge boulder, and she’s hurt. I called the police and an ambulance.”
“Oh, my God! Noah, how bad? How bad?”
“Don’t know. But she’s been bleedin’ and I can’t get at her.” Hearing Claire’s voice calmed him some. “I just don’t know how bad, Claire, but you better call her kids. Tell ‘em to meet us at the hospital. I got to get back on the emergency channel.”
“Noah, save her, please.”
“Pray hard, that’s all we can do right now.”
Noah turned the dial again. He heard the sheriff talking alternately to the ambulance, fire squad, and the tow truck driver. They were half way up Shay Mountain. Noah sat back in his seat and stared out the window. The snow had stopped as suddenly as it began. He looked up. The hazy glare of the moon allowed a few icy stars, and he could see the rapidly moving clouds. He hoped that was a good omen for the woman who lay only yards away.
But, he thought, she might as well be on another planet for all the good he could do. He felt helpless and afraid, neither of which were familiar emotions. Noah Thompson prayed until he saw the lights in his rear view mirror.
“Jesus Christ! Another ten feet, and goodbye Charlie. Release the hook some more so I can get it under here,” a man in a neon orange cap said as he surveyed the situation.
“Okay, Ray, let ‘er rip, but do it slow, real slow.”
Noah stood out of the way as he watched the men slowly edge the Volvo inch by precarious inch onto the space they’d cleared on the road. When they had gotten it to the road, they began working the doors. Finally, they ripped it off its hinges, and the paramedics took over. They moved quickly.
“We’ve got a pulse, but it’s down to forty,” one of them said to the other. “Bad head injury and she’s hypothermic, prob’ly in shock. Wrap her up. Now!” They encased her in wool blankets as they lifted her to the stretcher and into the ambulance. The first paramedic asked Noah if he knew how long she’d been there.
“Nearly two hours, I think. She was on her way to visit my wife. She’s gonna make it, isn’t she?” Noah asked as they put a mask over Abby’s lifeless, bloody face and stuck a needle in her arm.
“Don’t know how bad yet. But she’s in trouble for sure. You can follow us to the hospital. We’ll know more by the time we get her there,” the second paramedic said.
Noah leaned over and touched Abby’s hand. Her limp fingers felt like icicles dripping from the tip of a dead branch. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. When Noah looked up, Abby’s body was inside the ambulance. Every monitor and machine seemed to be hooked up to the bundle inside.
While they tried to stabilize her, Noah went back to her car. He searched for Abby’s suitcase and purse. A gleam of metal caught his eye. Abby’s cross lay on the floor in a heap. He picked it up, put it in his pocket, and carried the rest of her belongings across the snowy road.
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