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February 2024
Monday — 1:49 am
Every nerve in Brook’s body screamed with searing pain. Her muscles clenched and sweat formed on her brow as she fought against the involuntary scream. She was unsuccessful, but at least she had diminished the sound enough to upset her tormentor.
“I can do this all night. It’s not like we’re going anywhere,” Lorena said as she motioned toward the front door with the knife. Each one of her syllables dripped with sadistic delight. Unfortunately, Brook would be signing her own death warrant if she revealed that Sarah Evanston had reentered the witness protection program. “Which means no one is coming to save you, either.”
By the third puncture wound, Brook had noticed Lorena’s routine.
She would use words to taunt Brook into answering questions about Sarah Evanston’s whereabouts, and then go off on a tangent about how everyone had underestimated her. Those brief departures of the script gave Brook time to absorb some of the inflicted pain by leveling out her breathing and forcing her leg muscles to relax. The jabs hadn’t been too deep, but they had been profound enough to send waves of agony coursing through her body.
“Tell me, Lorena,” Brook urged now that she was able to unclench her jaw. “How do you plan to give Jacob information? He’s rotting away behind bars in a federal prison. He has no contact with the outside world. I was the one who personally made sure he was cut off from everyone.”
Lorena had stood as she had done numerous times since the start of her so-called interrogation to walk over to the window. The question had brought her up short, though. It had prevented her from pulling the blind back to peer outside to toss a sneer in Brook’s direction.
“You really think your brother is so helpless behind bars? I don’t think so,” Lorena said as she shrugged off such an inconvenience. “Jacob has ways out of that prison. It’s just a matter of time.”
The sharp pains in Brook’s thighs had diminished into numerous dull burns. She made sure to remain still enough not to set off the aggravated nerves. As she searched Lorena’s brown eyes for any sign of deceit, she displayed only unwavering confidence.
Brook lifted the corner of her lip in satisfaction.
“I do know my brother, Lorena. Very well,” Brook stated as she had finally discovered the means to make a dent in the woman’s confidence. “I’ve spent most of my life studying his methodical behavior, his mindful choices, and his calculated actions. I know of his network of loyal followers, and you’re naïve if you believe that you’re the only one willing to go to such extremes on his behalf. He moves people around like they are pawns on a chessboard, and all of you are disposable. You might believe that Jacob told you of his plans, but you’d be wrong.”
Lorena advanced toward Brook so quickly that she couldn’t help but tense in anticipation, causing her leg muscles to contract. She purposefully pushed against the zip ties so that her mind would focus on the sharp edges cutting into her flesh instead of the open wounds on her legs. Both were painful, but the redirect had given her a chance to catch her breath.
The plastic knife was still underneath Brook’s boot where she had been able to keep it hidden from Lorena’s view. There hadn’t been a good moment to try and retrieve it.
“Jacob taught me to stay under the radar. He helped me survive, so I will return the favor,” Lorena explained as she stood over Brook. For a brief moment, her facial features softened as she inadvertently provided details of her time with Jacob. “I gave him my word that I wouldn’t stop until I had information on Sarah Evanston. Again, we have all night to—”
A faint thud came from somewhere in the back of the house. Lorena tensed as her gaze darted in that direction. It had been so distant that Brook figured the noise could have only come from the garage.
Had Bit finally managed to follow Lorena’s trail to Erin Smith’s residence?
“You make one sound, and it will be your last,” Lorena whispered forcefully as she began to walk out of the living room.
The second that Lorena disappeared from sight, Brook began to drag her boots over the carpet. The pain was intense, but the alternative was worse. Inch by painful inch, she continued to bring the knife closer until she was able to shift herself forward so that her fingers could grab the plastic utensil. Not knowing how long Lorena would be gone, Brook didn’t want to take the chance that the woman would suddenly appear. It took longer than Brook had wanted to get back into the same position against the couch.
It was difficult to keep ahold of the knife.
Some of the blood that had slid down her hands was still fresh, and the smooth plastic handle wasn’t easy to hold. The synthetic serration was brittle. Too brittle, but Brook was going to have to make the most of it. With somewhat choppy movements, she began to try and slice a large enough chunk out of the zip tie to snap it in half.
Every second that Lorena didn’t materialize from the back of the house felt like an eternity. Brook dared not stop, but it was a struggle to focus on freeing herself when the pain was becoming more intense with every movement. Perspiration beaded down the right side of her cheek, but she didn’t pause to wipe it on the shoulder of her suit jacket. Lorena’s footsteps could finally be heard echoing off the hallway.
“Get up.”
The left zip tie gave way with an inaudible snap.
“Why?” Brook asked as she forced herself to remain still. She needed to buy herself some more time. Her ankles were still bound, and she wouldn’t take any unnecessary risks where she could potentially find herself with the blade of a knife sticking out of her chest. “You can’t think driving in this weather is a good idea. You and I both know the neighborhood, no matter how large, is being searched by police officers and federal agents with a fine-tooth comb.”
“Which is why we’re leaving,” Lorena said as she quickly walked over to the window. She parted the blind, standing there for a while as she monitored the front yard. Brook glanced at the zip ties around her ankle. Lorena had wrapped each ankle tightly, using a third tie to secure Brook’s legs close together. “I don’t believe that they would think to check this place, but now I’m not sure.”
“There it is again.” Brook had managed to chastise Lorena over another round of intense and agonizing pain as she pulled her knees up until her winter boots were flat on the ground. She had been formulating details in her mind on how she could gain the advantage. Such a plan needed to be executed with precision and without hesitation. Her best chance of survival was taking Lorena by surprise, but that meant continuously provoking her into another outburst. “That reckless behavior you exhibit when cornered, Lorena. You don’t think. If one of the officers or agents is in the vicinity, they’ll think it’s odd that a vehicle is out in this weather. Don’t get me wrong. The coast could be clear, but one of them will happen upon the tire tracks. The second you hit a major highway, they’ll zero in on you through the traffic cameras. Considering there won’t be that many vehicles on the road due to the weather advisory and time of night, it won’t be too difficult to—”
“Shut up!” Lorena screamed as she lifted a hand to her head. “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”
Brook had hoped that Lorena would turn back around for another look at the front yard, but she didn’t make a move to shift the window blind to the side. She began to chew on her thumbnail as she paced back and forth. Her internal struggle between her need for control and the growing panic of being found was threatening to consume her.
Fortunately, another distant thud made itself known.
