“And you… What should I call you? You go by so many different names.”
“You’re bluffing,” the masked man said.
I stood my ground, desperately hoping I wouldn’t piss myself. “You want to take that chance? They’ll be here before you can kill me and catch the guy in the basement. So go ahead. Shoot. Then you’ll be arrested for my murder as well as for all the other vile shit you’ve done.”
“Shit.” The man turned to Tom. “I’m out of here.”
Tom tried to stand but fell back onto the sofa. “You’re going to fucking leave me here? To get caught? After all these years? All I’ve done for you?”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” He yanked Tom off the sofa. “Hop out to the car, for God’s sake. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
They left quickly.
I gulped down relief as a blue car—a Mustang—skidded across the gravel, taking Tom and the masked man with it. Nausea swelled in my throat.
I had just bluffed my way out of being shot.
Damn, I had to take a shit.
But first, I had to call the cops. For real this time. I yanked my cell phone out of my back pocket, and then I heard some scratching behind me.
I turned.
The poor man had made his way up the stairs and was on his hands and knees, falling toward me.
I shoved my phone back in my pocket and ran to him. “My God. Here.” I picked him up—he weighed no more than Melanie—and laid him on the couch. “Let me get you a glass of water.”
I ran to the kitchen, found a cup, quickly filled it, and brought it back to him. I put a pillow under him to perch his head and shoulders up. I held the cup up to his lips. “Not too much at first. Your system needs to get used to it.”
After he had taken a couple of sips, I set the cup on an end table.
“Can you tell me who you are?”
“Kahh…” His voice cracked and turned to a whisper.
“It’s okay. You’ll get your strength back, and then you’ll be able to tell me.” I ran into the bedroom and found a pair of sweatpants. I brought them back out to the man and helped him struggle into them. Now at least he didn’t have to be ashamed of his nakedness.
Unfortunately, the odor of waste had ascended with the young man. He needed a shower badly, but right now, I wasn’t sure he had the strength. I could at least get a warm cloth and wipe his face and hands for him.
“Hold tight. I’ll be right back.” I went quickly into the kitchen and soaked a dishrag in warm water. I returned and rubbed it over his face and hands.
“Can you tell me anything?”
“Kahh…” he said again.
“Yes, I’m going to call the cops.” I reached to grab my phone out of my back pocket, but the man touched my forearm. I looked into his eyes. They were greenish brown.
“Kahh-lin.”
Chapter Five
Melanie
I had a million more questions for Ruby—starting with the other names her father used, everything that Gina had told her, how she had escaped—but I wasn’t sure where to begin.
Ruby picked up the bottle of wine sitting next to us on the floor and held it up. “You mind?”
“Please, help yourself.” I held up my glass so she could top it off as well.