“Get out of here,” the man shouted. Just then a sudden volley of barks, yelps, and vicious snarls erupted from outside. Cursing, he dragged Vicky to the window as he strained to see what was happening. Robert ran forward, grabbing his uncle’s arm and shaking it.
“She’s just a girl Uncle Tom,” he cried out.
The uncle pushed him away savagely with his free hand and the boy stumbled and fell against the wall.
Vicky’s eyes went from the boy, who was now staring at his uncle with hatred in his eyes, to her parents sleeping soundly not half a meter away from her, and then to her mother’s bedside table. Sitting just out of reach was a silver broach. The pin had come undone and now lay open, the inch-long needle pointing towards her. Just then, more snarling erupted outside, above which came the heavy bark of the uncle’s dog.
“Damn foxes,” the man cried out. “They’ll tear him apart.”
Before she could think better of it, Vicky pulled herself forward, reaching out with her right hand to grab the broach.
“Be still,” the man began to shout down, his head turning towards her just in time to see the blur of silver as Vicky stabbed the pin as hard as she could into the side of his thigh.
He cried out in pain, his grip on Vicky’s arm lessoning for an instant.
“Run,” shouted Robert.
“The key,” she cried back at him as she pulled free. “It’s in the wardrobe.” Robert looked to the wardrobe, the door half open. The girl was nearly there but if she stopped rather than run out the room she would not make it, and that was exactly what was going to happen for, as his uncle recovered from the shock, he had already started to lunge forward.
Without thinking Robert put out his foot, catching his uncle’s back leg. The man tripped and fell forward, crashing against the side of the bed. Vicky jumped in fright at the noise as she dived into the wardrobe. Frantically she grabbed the key from behind the shoe where she had hidden it and then backed out again. The uncle was already pushing himself up, the full force of his fury evident in his eyes.
“You’ll pay for this,” his spat, his hand shooting out towards Vicky’s ankle as she tried to run away. She thought she had made it but then she felt something pull against her heel.
Vicky stumbled and fell forward. Instinctively she put her hands out to try and break the fall and as she tumbled to the ground the key slipped out of her hand and slid away from her across the floor. Robert had already jumped past her and now grabbed her hand, pulling her away from his uncle.
“Come on,” he shouted.
“No,” she cried. “I can’t leave it.” She pulled against him but it was already too late. Robert’s uncle was reaching forward, his outstretched hand closing around the chain. Within a second he had pulled the key back and was now staring at it in triumph.
“Let’s go,” shouted Robert desperately as he tugged at her arm.
Reluctantly Vicky pushed herself up but the uncle was already on his feet. He pushed past them without even looking, his footsteps thudding heavily on the stairs.
*****
Jason crossed the street quickly and slipped into the hotel entrance. The doorman looked up uneasily as Jason walked up to him and leaned ominously across the front desk. He tried not to stare at the dark bruises around Jason’s eyes.
“Good morning Michael.”
Michael coughed, clearing the sudden catch in his throat.
“Hi Jason,” he said nervously.
“Which room?”
Michael tried to backtrack, having spent most of the remaining time agonizing about his actions.
“Look, er, I think I made a mistake. It was dark. I saw her again this morning and she really doesn’t fit your description.”
Silence followed his statement. Jason simply stared at him, which unnerved him to such an extent he had to look away, his hands unnecessarily moving some tourism brochures on top of the desk.
“I don’t believe you,” responded Jason after a few seconds.
Michael began to squirm under Jason’s stare.
“Look, I can’t just give you a guest’s room number. If the manager finds out I’ll get fired.”
Jason pushed himself up and within a second had stepped around the desk. The doorman’s whimper was cut short as he was grabbed by the upper arms and hauled roughly to within an inch of Jason’s face.
“You will have a lot more to worry about than your manager if you screw