'Your James Quinlan isn't going to catch a cold. He won't have time before he's sent six feet under.'
She felt such rage she couldn't stop herself. She heaved up, hitting him in the face with her bound fists.
Hard. He cursed, shoving her back, his own fist raised. She heard Amabel yell, 'Don't, Amory!' But that fist just kept coming down, not toward her face but toward her ribs.
31
'WELL, HELL,' QUINLAN said. 'Sorry, guys, but the old codgers were thorough. My army knife is gone. I always taped it to my ankle. Damn.'
Thomas said, “Damn is right. Corey, what are you doing? Why are you heaving around like a gutted fish?
Why are you making those weird groaning sounds?'
She was breathing hard. 'You'll see. I didn't count on Quinlan finding that knife. Just wait a moment, I've nearly made it through.'
'Made what through?' Quinlan said, desperately straining to see her in the darkness.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
'I was a gymnast. I have the dubious honor of being the most flexible agent to go through the program at Quantico. I'm getting my arms beneath my butt and pushing on through and in just a minute-Jesus, this is tougher than it used to be when I was younger and skinnier-' She stopped, breathing hard, straining.
'There.'
She was panting, laughing. 'I did it!'
'What, Corey? For God's sake, what did you do?'
'My hands are now tied in front of me, Thomas. Thank heaven they left enough leeway between me and the wall. The rope around my waist was higher than the rope tying my wrists together. Now, I'm going to turn around and untie the rope around my waist. When I'm free, I can do my feet and then get to you guys.'
'Corey,' Quinlan said, 'if you get us out of this, both Thomas and I will recommend that you become the special agent in charge of the Portland field office. Right, Thomas?'
'If she gets out us out of this, I'll beg her to marry me and be the SAC.'
'Thomas, you're a sexist. I won't ever marry a sexist.'
'Corey, how are you doing?' Quinlan said.
'It's coming. The knot at my waist is pretty easy.'
'Good. Just hurry.'
But how much time did they have left before the old folk came for them? Where was Sally? Quinlan hadn't prayed much in his life, but he was praying now. Did Amabel have her?
'Got it! Now let me get my feet.'
'Oh, shit, I hear something,' Thomas said. 'Hurry, Corey, hurry!'
'Don't hit her, Amory!'
Amabel grabbed his arm, jerking it away. It slammed against the bed just an inch from Sally's ribs.
He was panting. He wheeled about, his fist raised. 'You shouldn't have done that, Ammie. You shouldn't have done it.'
Sally reared up, yelling, 'Don't you dare hit her, you fucking cretin!'
But he did, his fist hard against Amabel's jaw, knocking her against the wall. She slid down to the floor.
Sally didn't say a word. She was staring at her aunt, praying she wasn't dead.
'How could you?' She stared up at the man who had to be mad. 'You're lovers. She called to tell you I was here so you could come and get me. You hit her just like you hit Noelle.'
'Actually,' he said, rubbing his knuckles, 'it's the first time I've ever had to discipline her. She won't go Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
against me in the future now. I wonder how her skin will bruise.'
No blinding light came through the door as it creaked open-just a tiny bit, then wider until all hree of them could see the stars and the half moon.
'You awake in here?' It was an old man's voice. Which one of them? Quinlan wondered. Was there just one of them come to check on their prisoners, or more? God, he prayed it was just the one old man.
'It ain't quite morning yet, but you should be awake.' 'Yeah,' Thomas said, 'we're awake. What? You hoped you'd killed us?'
'Nah, there weren't enough of that stuff Doc had on hand to put your lights out. It would have been easier that way, though. Now, well, it ain't going to be any fun.'
Quinlan nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Corey whimper. 'Oh, please, I don't feel well.
Please take me to a bathroom. Please.' She was moaning quietly, very effectively.
'Oh, shit,' the old man said. 'It's just you, little gal?' 'Yes,' Corey managed to choke out. 'Please, hurry.' 'All right. Damn, I didn't expect any of you to be sick. Nobody was ever sick before.'
Corey was slumped over, straight ahead of the old guy, against the back wall. The old man opened the door wider as he came into the shed. Quinlan recognized Purn Davies, the old coot who owned the general store. He saw
