Home to Stay (The Long Road Home #2) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,75
the wall toward the boxes, and she clapped her hand over her mouth to still the squeal that threatened to erupt at the sight of a mouse.
Voices were heard from above but she had no idea who was there or what was being said. Christ, what have I stumbled into? She considered going back up the stairs to listen at the door but quickly dismissed that notion. If the door opens, I have no chance of getting away.
Tiptoeing over to the windows, she looked to see if there was an escape route through them. They were small, the townhouse built before the regulations that determined the size of windows for a basement. She was sure she was petite enough to make it through if she could get them open, but there was nothing available for her to stand on other than the boxes that she knew were hiding mice.
Shoving her fears of rodents to the side, she pushed the box toward the back wall, wincing at the scraping sound it made on the concrete. Finally, standing on the box, she could just barely reach the window latch. She pushed and shoved but it wouldn’t budge. Blowing out a breath, she jumped as a shadow passed the window. Crouching down, she peered through the grime and thought it was the man that Paula had talked to from the storage facility. Moving down off the box very slowly, she moved into the shadows, out of sight.
Blowing out a long breath, she wondered what to try next. Hopefully, Griz will just leave, and Paula will let me know the coast is clear.
She tiptoed away from the window, creeping toward the bottom of the stairs. Indecision flooded her as the voices from upstairs grew louder. The memory of her purse dropping to the floor by the front door hit her, and she snapped her hand to her pocket, breathing a sigh of relief at the feel of her phone.
Pulling it out, she saw she’d missed five calls, all from John. Just then, a message came in.
Paula’s house under surveillance. On our way.
Sucking in a hasty breath, she glanced back up the stairs as though someone was going to catch her on the phone before she typed out a return message.
Griz upstairs with Paula. I’m hiding in basement. Man outside in back.
Another message came in.
Stay where you are. Police on their way. Love you… stay safe. Almost there.
She blinked at the words, her heart pounding, not sure what was hitting her the hardest—that he was almost here or that he loved her. Clutching the phone in her hands and pressing it tightly to her chest, she knew. He loves me. Any other man, that might be a throwaway phrase, but not John.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, bitch? You think you can just walk away from me? You fuckin’ owe me the rest of the money!”
“I gave it to him. I gave everything that’s been deposited to me. I swear, Griz, I can show you my bank statement. Two thousand dollars was put in, and that’s what I just gave him.”
“Five fuckin’ thousand dollars was supposed to been put in your account.”
“It wasn’t,” Paula cried.
Lucy winced at the sound of something crashing above her. Praying it was just a chair and not Paula herself, she tiptoed halfway up the stairs, not knowing how to help. John had said the police were on their way and she squeezed her eyes shut. Please, God, let them get here fast!
“No!” Paula screamed, and the sound of scuffling was heard, then all went quiet.
Her heart dropped to her stomach and Lucy raced up the stairs. It was rash to hurl toward a dangerous unknown, but she couldn’t stay in hiding while someone was being hurt. With her ear pressed to the door, she sucked in a breath as her hand landed on the knob.
It didn’t turn. I’m locked in? Jiggling the door, she felt it move then catch again. Dammit! Continuing to jerk the stuck door knob back and forth, it finally turned, and she flung the door open. Bolting from the basement, she screamed, seeing Paula on the floor, eyes closed and blood running from her nose. Dropping next to Paula, the air rushed out as she spied Paula’s eyes fluttering open.
“I’ll call an ambulance.” She jerked her phone from her pocket again, but the front and back doors were flung open at the same time, several uniformed police officers entering, weapons drawn.