Page 45 of Two Favors Repaid

“Oh, but she will,” Ford assured, bringing his face close to Rob’s. “Just watch this.”

Ford pulled Rob up like a ragdoll and pushed him down onto a chair. The sudden movement made Rob want to puke. He felt Ford tug on his legs and knew he had to fight now, before it was too late. He kicked out, but Ford caught his leg easily and slammed the handle of his knife against Rob’s head in response. Rob felt the lights go out inside his brain, focusing on one last thought.

Please don’t open the door, Emma.

#

Emma

Inside the bedroom, Emma cowered on the ground beside the bed. She’d unplugged one of Rob’s bedside table lamps and held it in front of her as a weapon. It was reassuringly heavy in her hands, though it probably wouldn’t do her much good in a fight.

She hadn’t been able to call anyone. Neither her phone nor Rob’s phone, sitting on the bedside table next to her, had any reception. She’d restarted her own phone but still got nothing.

She heard Ford’s voice outside. She’d heard it so often in her nightmares during the last year that for a moment she thought the sound might just be in her mind, but then she heard it again.

He’s here.

She listened to the sounds of fighting going on right outside the door. The smell of fire was less intense now, so Emma figured the fire had just been a distraction.

And then she heard the monster’s voice, clear as anything, reaching out to her from the other side of the door.

“Open the door, Emma.”

“I’m not going to open the door,” she croaked. Her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.

“If you don’t, I’m going to slice your boyfriend’s throat.”

Emma shivered. She waited for Rob to say something, but there was no sound other than Ford’s voice.

“How do I know you haven’t killed him already?” she whispered, standing behind the door. She restarted her phone again, listening to the phone company’s little jingle.

“You’ll just have to trust me on that. What’s that I hear? Are you trying to call someone, angel?” Ford laughed. “Unfortunately, I’m holding this little device between my fingers, about the size of a matchbox, called a cell phone jammer. Until I press this little blue button here, nobody on this boat is going to be making any calls.”

Emma noticed the wetness on her cheeks and rubbed them impatiently. This wasn’t a time to cry. It was a time to think. She wondered if she might be able to fit through the porthole.

Fat chance.

And even if I managed, what would happen to Rob?

She heard a heavy thump, followed by a pained groan. “Come on out, Emma. Not that I’m not enjoying beating the shit out of your boyfriend, but there might not be much of him left if you don’t come out soon.”

It sounded like Rob, but she couldn’t actually be sure. Emma went quietly to her handbag and picked up the small pepper spray keychain inside. She stuffed it in the pocket of her jean shorts. When she stood up, her top covered the small bulge.

Another smack sounded from the other room.

“Emma … don’t listen…” Emma’s heart soared. That was Rob’s voice.

Another thump quietened him.

“I’m done playing, Emma. Come on out where I can see you, or I will slice his throat.”

And Emma found herself clutching the lamp again and opening the door. Because a life where she was responsible for Rob’s death wasn’t a life worth contemplating. She saw Rob, tied to a chair in the middle of the kitchen area, before she saw Ford. His head and shoulders slumped forward. He was unconscious.

Then Ford reached out from behind her and grabbed her, squeezing her hand until she whimpered and dropped the lamp.

“What exactly were you hoping to do with this, Emma?” he said, smiling. Emma was amazed at how normal he still looked, much like the doctor she’d known. Then she looked into his deep, blue eyes and saw the darkness there.

A wave of despair the likes of which she’d never known enveloped her. She felt herself go weak at the knees and only barely resisted the urge to scream her panic, knowing it would only serve to excite Ford more.