Page 243 of It Happened on the Lake

He was behind her, marching her toward the end of the alley, where she saw a single weak security lamp.

She twisted and writhed, but he was stronger than he looked.

If only she could break away and run. Or better yet land a karate kick to his nose and lay him flat.

She bit at his hand, but the cloth was thick and she tasted the awful substance saturating the cotton. If only she could scream. If only someone could hear her as she thrashed.

She had to break free! Had to! In desperation, she threw her body weight against him.

For a second he lost his footing.

They tumbled into metal trash cans, the clang of lids echoing down the narrow alley.

His hand slipped.

The cloth fell away.

She sucked in fresh air.

And let out an ear-piercing cry.

“Shut up!”

He was on her again, wrestling the sickening rag over her nose and mouth. His body pressed against hers.

But surely someone heard.

Tons of people lived in her apartment building, and it was only half a block away.

She tried to roll away, making more noise as a can toppled over, clattering loudly.

He yanked her roughly to her feet, drug-soaked cloth firmly in place. “Move!” he growled into her ear, pointing her toward the far end of the alley where just out of the security lamp’s pool of light, a single vehicle was parked.

A black van.

No!

Whatever he was planning, it was not good. In fact, it would be deadly. Her insides turned to water, and for a second she couldn’t move.

He pushed her roughly forward.

She redoubled her efforts.

Help!she screamed but the word was shouted only in her mind. Her attempt at yelling was muffled. Her knees wobbled and she knew she needed air. The world was spinning, her body not responding.No one’s going to come for you. You have to do this on your own! Fight, Dawn! Damn it, fight!

Desperate, she threw her weight backward, against him, catching him off guard.

His grip broke.

The rag fell away from her face.

She screamed at the top of her lungs and started to run. If she could just get away—

He caught her by the arm. Spun her around.

Reached into his jacket.

And pulled out a gun.

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