After Midnight

“I’ll get it.”

“What if he comes out?”

“Just give me a warning. I’ll take care of him.”

“But he has a gun.”

“He does?” I asked, forgetting.

Judy hesitated a moment. Then she said, “He must have one. He shot me, didn’t he?”

“Yeah. I forgot about that for a second. My God, if he comes out with a gun, we’ve had it.”

“Maybe you oughta run and try to get help.”

“And leave you here? No way. We’re in this together. You and me, honey.”

Murmuring, “Thanks,” she eased her head forward. Her cheek brushed against my jaw. Then she rested her face against the side of my neck. “You’re risking your life for me,” she whispered.

“I’m a hell of a gal,” I told her.

“Yeah,” she said. “You are.”

A few moments later, I told her, “This knot’s really giving me trouble. I can hardly hold my arms up.” With that, I lowered them and put them around her. “Don’t worry, I’m not quitting. I just need to rest for a minute.” I gave her a gentle hug. She winced and stiffened. “Sorry. Did that hurt?”

“Yeah, a little.”

“He must’ve really done a number on you.”

“I guess so. I don’t even know what he did. But I’m…awfully sore. All over. Inside, too.”

“The dirty bastard.”

“He’d better not’ve made me pregnant.”

“Don’t worry about it. If we don’t get you out of here, it won’t matter.”

“Trying to cheer me up?”

“How am I doing?” I asked.

“A lousy job.”

I gave her rump a pat, then said, “I’d better get back to work.” Reaching high again, I started to fool with the knot.

“If you get me out of this,” she whispered, “I’ll owe you my life.”

“Forget about it,” I said.

“I’ll do anything for you.”

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

22

HERE COMES TROUBLE

“Okay,” I said. But was she serious? She sure sounded serious, all right. Not only about doing “anything” for me, but about her memories of what had happened to her.

Her lack of memories.

But what if she was lying?

What if she remembered everything?

“What’s wrong?” Judy whispered.

“Huh?”

“You’re suddenly…all tense. I can feel it.”

“It’s the knot,” I said. “It’s too tight.” Shaking my head, I let go of the rope. I put my arms around her.

“Are you quitting?” she asked. She sounded scared like a little kid in the dark.

“No. No way. I’ll never quit on you. I just have to figure out another way.”

“What about the other end of the rope?” she asked. “He tied it to a tree behind me.” She went rigid. I suddenly knew exactly what she’d meant about me going all tense. She felt as if a live current had zipped through her body. But hardly missing a beat, she said, “Maybe it’ll be easier. Why don’t you go over and give it a try?”

“You did see him,” I said, letting go of her and taking a step backward.

She shook her head. “I didn’t see anyone. All I know is that it’s tied to a tree back there. I didn’t see who did it, or when, or anything. I turned around and saw it there, that’s all.”

“What are you so nervous about?”

“What do you think? Jeez, Alice. If we don’t get out of here, that guy’s gonna come out of his tent and kill both of us.”

“Is he?”

“Yes! What do you think is going on?”

I put my hands on her sides and said, “Why don’t you tell me?”

She stared into my eyes. She was breathing hard again, her ribs rising and falling under my open hands. I could feel tremors running through her.

“Do you think I did this to myself?” she whispered.

“No, of course not. But I think you know more than you’re telling me.”

“Look, just get me down. Please. I don’t care about anything else. I don’t care what you did. I just want down from here before he…”

“Tell me the truth,” I said. “The truth shall set thee free.”

“You shot me. Okay? Then you put me up on the picnic table and…I don’t know what. You were doing stuff to me. And then you went at me with a stick or something. I think you knocked me out with it. When I woke up, you were gone. So I climbed off the table and hid in the bushes. And then later I ran for my life. I kept running till he caught me. Now will you get me down from here? Please? I don’t know why you did any of that stuff, and I don’t care. I’ll never tell anyone. I promise. It’s just between you and me, okay? Just get me out of here.”

“You lied about everything,” I muttered. My fingers ached from digging into her ribcage, but I didn’t let go.

“I meant it about owing you,” she said. “I meant that. Get me out of here and I’ll do anything for you. I’ll give you all my money, everything I own. I’ll go with you. I’ll live with you. I’ll be your slave. I’ll be your lover. Whatever you want. Anything. Just get me out of here.”

“What makes you think I want any of that?” I asked.

“Don’t you?” It sounded more like a challenge than a question.

“I’d like to have the truth,” I said. “How’s that? How about the truth right now?”

“Like what?”

“What about this guy?” I asked. “Who is he?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to know. He’s horrible.”

“More horrible than me?”

“You’re not so bad. When you’re not trying to kill me.”

“Haven’t lost your sense of humor.”

“Just get me away from him. Please. I’ll never tell on you. I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“Nobody keeps their word anymore.”

“I do.”

“That’s a good one, coming from a liar.”

“I’m telling the truth now,” she said. “If you get me away from this guy, you’ll never regret it. I’ll never do anything to hurt you. Never. I’ll never say a word against you. I’ll lie for you. I’ll take blame. I’ll do whatever it takes. I swear to God.”