“Danny told me.”
My mouth dropped open and all my words dried up.
She looked sheepish. “He comes to me sometimes. Just before I fall asleep. He tells me things. He told me to trust you.”
Another agonized cry erupted from her body.
“Tell me you’ll do it.” She squeezed my hand so hard I thought the bones would break.
“You’re asking me to let you lock me up in here?”
She nodded. “And then I’ll let you out, after he leaves.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then Dickie will hunt you down and kill you. You know he will.”
The accuracy of her prediction sank into my skull. She was right. He couldn’t get remarried if I was still alive and well and living in Florida. He couldn’t claim this baby as his own, marry Peggy, pursue his political ambitions, or continue with his life as Daddy’s son-in-law. None of this worked with me alive.
But if Peggy and I left together, we could go to the police. It wouldn’t be just my word against his. Peggy could prove he’d been unfaithful. I could divorce him. And they could arrest him for attempted murder.
“Does that car of yours actually run?” she asked.
I smiled. “It does now.”
She squeezed her eyes shut and grimaced. “The minute he leaves ...” she panted out the words. “We take the baby and go.”
“We could go now—”
“This baby ...” She let out a low moan as her gaunt face twisted in pain. “This baby is coming ... and I can’t give birth alone ... in the back seat of a car ... while you drive.”
My mind rushed ahead, sprinting through my options. I could push her away, run up the stairs, jump in the car, and leave.
But what would Dickie do to her when he realized I got away?
I shuddered as the truth washed over me.
Dickie will kill her. And he’ll kill the baby too. He’ll cover the whole thing up. Pretend Peggy and the baby never existed. And then he’ll hunt me down. His story only works if he has my dead bodyandher live baby.
I can’t leave them here to die at the hands of Dickie. Her plan is the only way to save all three of us and send Dickie to jail for the rest of his life.
Did I trust her?
I looked into her eyes and saw my own fear of Dickie reflected back.
I nodded. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
“Pack a bag. For us both. Don’t take too much from the closet, or he’ll notice.”
“He’ll be home in an hour.”
“I know. We don’t have much time.”
“I’ll put the bag in the trunk of the car. Then you lock me in.”
“Okay,” she grunted through gritted teeth. “I’m gonna stay here a minute. Catch my breath. Do you trust me?”
“Strangely, I do.”
