Can Cathy and Alice escape or is Peckham going to catch them? Day 11 today and almost at the end of this story.

Grisham House Part 11

I tried all the doors as we rushed along. I had to hide Alice if nothing else, keep her alive until I could get help. The back staircase. We could use it to get to the ground floor and avoid being seen. “Come on, Alice,” I said pulling at the door.

“It’s too dark,” she whined, but I shoved her in front of me. No time to waste.

We reached the ground floor and I paused to listen. No shouting, a good sign. They hadn’t noticed Alice was missing yet. Duffy’s gruff voice let me know they were all still in the front living room.

“I don’t like this game anymore,” Alice whimpered behind me.

“Shush, you’ll be fine. It’s nearly over now. All we have to do is find a way out.” I gripped her hand and squeezed reassuringly as we edged our way along the wall. The slightest noise and it was all over.

“It’s time,” Melissa squealed, and my heart sank.

“Quickly,” I whispered to Alice and pulled her down behind the antique sideboard. The tang of citrus polish stuck in my throat. My hands tingled at the memory of buffing it for hours that first week. Alice trembled beside me. The sets of feet pounded up the stairs. A minute at most is all we had.

“Stay right beside me,” I said, pulling Alice down the hallway. We couldn’t risk trying to get to the front door, they’d see us, so the only other option was Eric’s office.

The door opened without a squeak or groan – well-oiled from constant use. The embers in the fireplace glowed and the room was inviting and warm.

Alice gripped my hand. “I don’t feel so good.”

Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, her body shaking. It must be the drugs. “You’ll be okay. Come, let’s get out of here.”

The patio faced onto the back garden and the surrounding woods. If we could get to them, we could hide and make our way to the village. From there I could call Mom. She’d help, wouldn’t she? She couldn’t have known about this place when she sent me here.

The high-pitched scream that left Melissa’s mouth shook the very walls of Eric’s office. “Quick,” I said, shoving Alice through the patio door. I practically fell on top of her when she stopped abruptly.

“Sir,” she said and bowed.

My world crumbled.

“Alice and Cathy, how nice to see you both.” Eric stood holding a glass of whiskey, his shoulder propped against the wall. “Looks like my night’s getting better after all.” He smiled as he licked his lips.

“Run!” I pushed Alice forward and darted towards the grass. I didn’t get far. Drunk as he seemed, Eric was quick, and his fingers wound their way around my arm and ground me to a halt.

“I don’t think so,” he whispered against my neck. The sour whiskey breath caused my nose to twitch. “Do as I say, and you’ll be okay.”

Peckham, Duffy and Melissa piled into the office and Eric’s grip on my arm tightened.

“What’s she doing here?” Melissa turned her nose up at me. I don’t know why. She had nothing to be proud of. A child murderer, that’s what she was, and I wanted to scream it in her face.

I tugged my arm, but Eric’s hold didn’t falter. “Alice has escaped. Go after her. I’ll keep Cathy company.”

Duffy dipped his head and made for the patio. Peckham glared at me. “I knew you were trouble from the first moment I laid eyes on you.” She followed Duffy.

“You too,” Eric said.

Melissa stood, mouth hanging open. “But…”

“Go, now.” Eric released me as soon as they’d gone. “Sorry about that. Appearances, you know.”

I didn’t know. I’d no idea what was going on.

“You have questions. I understand, but there’s not a lot of time. Do you trust me, Cathy?”

And there is was, the question I’d been asking myself all evening. I met his gaze, the soft brown eyes of the Eric I’d spent so many evenings with. The Eric whose lips had almost caressed mine. I did trust him, didn’t I?

“I’m not like them, but I don’t have a choice. This home, my name, all handed down to me by monsters.” He reached for the whiskey decanter on the sideboard, his other hand raking through his messed hair. “I never asked for it, you know.” He filled the glass and emptied it in one mouthful.

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. His words sounded truthful. Maybe he was trapped like me. Trapped doesn’t mean you kill people though.

“I don’t have time to explain it all. We need to get you to safety. They’ll be back and I won’t be able to do anything.”

He took my hands in his, soft smooth skin against my rough callouses. It should be the other way around.

“I won’t let them hurt you.”

I gazed up into his eyes. Was he telling the truth? “What about Alice?” I asked.

“I can’t help, Alice, but I can help you if you’ll let me.”

The soft tone of this voice soothed, and I let my guard down. “Okay.”

“Good, follow me and don’t say a word. If I say anything, know it’s an act, one I must perform if I am to get you to safety.” He squeezed my hand and bent his head ever so slightly. I watched mesmerized as his lips inched closer to mine. The kiss was gentle, intimate. He couldn’t be a monster.

#

Below are the links to the previous instalments and if you don’t want to wait until tomorrow, you can pop over to Amazon where you can purchase the complete story on Kindle for 99c/77p.

Grisham House Part 1
Grisham House Part 2
Grisham House Part 3
Grisham House Part 4
Grisham House Part 5
Grisham House Part 6
Grisham House Part 7
Grisham House Part 8
Grisham House Part 9
Grisham House Part 10

Buy Grisham House on Kindle:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QFVJC1S
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08QFVJC1S

Until next time,

Keep reading and writing,

Amanda