Page 95 of D for Dead

She went back into the hallway, glanced through the window into the drive.

His car wasn’t there.

Realisation dawning, Nadine’s shoulders tensed.

Who had put the music on?

She glanced towards the bedroom and then back at the living room. Gingerly she took a step back into the room, eyes suspiciously on the CD player. The sound of the waves thrashing against the sand drew her attention to the open balcony door.

Oh jeez. Had someone come in while she was in the shower? Turned on the music?

It was a dumb idea, she scolded herself. Still, she quickly crossed to the patio door, closing and locking it, before going to the CD player and killing the song. She sucked in a breath

Pull yourself together, Nadine.

She was being an idiot. Okay, so there was no rational explanation for why the music had come on, but it was stupid thinking an intruder had broken in to use the CD player.

Calm down, get your cell phone and give Troy a call.

Glancing around for her cell phone she remembered she’d left it on the kitchen table and she padded back down the hallway to fetch it, warily passing the open dark doorways to the den and the spare bedroom.

Stop being paranoid.

Drawing a deep breath, she forced herself to go back and flick on the light for both rooms. No one was hiding inside. She turned off the lights and closed both doors.

Grabbing her cell phone from the kitchen table she speed-dialled Troy’s number. It went straight to voicemail.

Was he ignoring her?

She hung up, hesitated, then redialled, this time leaving a voicemail. ‘Hey baby, it’s me. I’m a little creeped out. Something happened. Will you give me a call? Or come home? Just come home please.’ Ending the call, she rubbed her goose-pimpled arms, feeling a little exposed in her negligee, again thinking about the CD player, not wanting to admit she was a little shaken up.

Perhaps she should call the police.

And tell them what, Nadine? Please come help me. Someone turned my CD player on while I was in the shower.

She cursed, disgusted with herself for playing into the paranoia, but nonetheless grabbed her largest knife before leaving the kitchen. She had barely stepped foot into the hall when the music started again.

I’ve been really trying baby…

Nadine froze; the knife gripped tightly in her hand.

What the fuck?

Someone was screwing with her.

Maybe it was Troy, trying to teach her a lesson. Or what if it was that bitch, Amy, or one of her friends? They knew where she lived and the open balcony door would have made it easy to slip inside. The idea was irrational, but then listening to a CD playing by itself in an empty house would do that to you.

Gripping the knife tightly in one hand, her cell phone in the other, she again made her way down the hallway to the living room, heart pounding, not sure if she was more scared or relieved when she saw the room was empty. Marvin was still wailing into the room.

Let’s get it on…

Let’s get it on…

Nadine drew a shaky breath.

Before she could release it, an arm caught her from behind, gripping tightly around her throat.

Surprised, she let her cell phone slip from her grasp, clattering against the wooden floor. As the arm tightened she struggled waving the kitchen knife frantically.