Under her fingers ancient paint flaked away from horizontal logs. Underfoot the old floor creaked and moved with each step. Sheer panic had her by the throat as she edged her way along the wall. She found the familiar shape of a window but something had obscured the glass and, after feeling all around, she found no catch to open it. She moved on, step by step, deeper into darkness. The next moment, cobwebs tangled around her face and, gasping, she clawed them away. Convinced a spider had crawled into her hair, she shook her head, smacking at her hair and sobbing. I have to find a door. She reached out again but something big and scratchy ran over her hand. She gasped, pulling it away, too terrified to move another step.
The next moment a tiny red light high on the wall cut through the darkness like a laser beam. She turned in shivery apprehension to stare at it, mesmerized; then she heard a voice, soft and menacing. It came out of the air around her, bodiless and creepy.
“Do you know the story of this house, Amanda?”
Icy fingers of fear walked up her spine and she swallowed the scream threatening to explode from her mouth. “No, ’cause I don’t know where I am.”
“I’ve heard so many stories about this house. The floorboards carry bloodstains of murder victims and nobody comes here anymore, because they believe it’s haunted. Even on Halloween, the kids are too chicken to face the evil spirits lurking here. Murders, suicides going back decades and the list is no way near finished yet. Two men tortured then cut a young girl, just like you, to pieces in the root cellar, and a man murdered his wife in this very room. He cut her throat from ear to ear and then hanged himself in the barn. People have heard the creak of the rope as he swings back and forth from the rafters, and seen his shadow on the floor. They say the ghosts of the dead are trapped inside this house, forever.”
Swallowing her fear, Amanda kept her head still and moved her eyes to survey the room. The tiny red light had offered a modicum of illumination and she made out a door and another window. She dashed to the door and pulled on the handle but the door didn’t move. Desperate to escape, she rammed her shoulder against it. Tears wet her cheeks. I’m trapped. “Let me out of here. I want to go home.”
“There’s no way out and you’re never going home.” His voice sounded amused. “This is your home now.”
Shaking with terror, Amanda turned and stared into the light. “I’m not staying here – you can’t make me.”
“Oh, but I can. Nobody is going to find you, Amanda.” Spine-chilling laughter echoed around the room and bounced off the walls. “I just wanted you to know that when I kill you, you won’t be alone.”
Twenty-Eight
Jenna didn’t waste time going to the office at Miller’s Garage. She ignored the no customers past this point sign and marched straight into the service bay with Kane at her side. Three young men wearing coveralls and steel-toe boots lifted their heads from under the hoods of vehicles to peer at her. “I’m looking for Matt.”
“I’m Matt.” A tall, ruggedly handsome young man, not at all like his five-five rotund father, walked toward her, wiping his hands on a rag. “Did Dad send you back here?” His enquiring gaze moved to Kane then back to her.
“No.” Jenna led him outside. “I wanted to ask you a few questions.”
“Am I in trouble?” Matt wiped the end of his nose with the back of his hand in a nervous gesture.
“Why do you figure you’re in trouble?” Kane leaned toward him. “Did you do something last night you need to get off your chest?’
“No! Luke called me about Amanda going missing. I swear I’d nothing to do with that – heck, I only met the girl once or twice.” Matt gave Jenna a pleading look. “I’m not interested in her, she’s just a kid. I only agreed to go to the dance because Lucy’s mother was making noises about her going alone and Luke didn’t want Amanda hanging around like a third wheel.”
Jenna wrinkled her nose. The idea that Luke had called him to give him the heads-up annoyed her. If he was involved, he’d had time to have gotten his story straight and figured out an alibi for last night. “Do you have anyone to verify your whereabouts last night?”
“I was home with my folks.” Matt cleared his throat. “Watched a movie, and then went out to Aunt Betty’s for a burger.”
“What time was that?” Jenna took out her notebook and made some notes without looking at him. She had no need; Kane would be watching his body language like a hawk. “Do you remember who served you or did you see anyone?”
“It was after the movie, ten-thirty maybe.” Matt shuffled his feet, then leaned casually against the wall in a pretense of calm. “I can’t remember who served me but I did see Jake Rowley. He was sitting with three people, like on a double date or something.”
Jenna looked at him. “Then where did you go?”
“I ate my burger and went home.” Matt moved around nervously, avoiding Jenna’s eyes. “Is that all? I gotta finish Mrs. Rushton’s vehicle or Dad’ll have my hide.”
“Did you drive into Glacial Heights?” Jenna lifted her pen. “A pickup was seen leaving there around midnight.”
“Nope.” Matt took a few steps back. “Is that all? I’ve really gotta get back to work now.”
“What vehicle do you drive?” Kane indicated to a silver Chevy Silverado pickup with the Miller’s Garage decal on the door. “Is that your truck?’
“Yeah. Why?” A flash of worry crossed Matt’s face.
“The GPS in the vehicle or your cellphone will confirm you went straight home after you left Aunt Betty’s.” Kane indicated over his shoulder with his thumb. “Mind if I call someone out to confirm that?”
“There’s no way I’m letting you near my pickup or cellphone – not without a search warrant.” Matt scowled. “I know my rights.”
Jenna closed her notebook with a snap. “That can be arranged. We’ve probable cause.” She glanced at Kane. “I want his vehicle searched as well. I’ll wait here.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Kane turned away and strode to his truck.