Page 32 of I'll Be There
“Ivy, it’s me. I need a favor...just a second, the reception in here is terrible.” She pointed to the box of twinkly lights, then walked out the door.
Ivy. Of course. If anyone could help her get a license on short notice, it was the assistant county attorney.
Liza grabbed the door to get up and walked into the room.
She must have jostled the door stop because the door closed behind her with a soft click.
A cold trickle slivered through her as she tried the door. Not a push door, this door had a handle, a latch. And didn’t budge. Nice. Now she was locked in.
Grace would be back any minute, however, so Liza began to unpack another box, pulling out the lights, lining them up below the beams, then finally draping three strands on the platform.
Noelle Hueston owned enough twinkly lights to light the new Vikings stadium.
Liza picked up the longest strand, found it hooked together with five others, and dragged it over to the nearest socket.
“Twinkle, twinkle.” She plugged it in.
A crackle, buzz.
The entire room plunged into darkness.
Oh!Liza’s breath huffed out, and she pressed her hand to her chest.
Pitch black, no windows in the entire arena.
Breathe. Just breathe.
She touched the wall. Sank down, pulled her knees up to her chest.
Just stay calm.
Her breathing came fast, one over the next. She pressed her back to the wall, cool fingers tickling down her spine.
Grace would be back any moment.
Any. Moment.
The darkness seeped into her eyes, her pores, no hint of light. She focused on her heartbeat, trying to make it slow.
She willed her brain not to feel the cool breath of the air in the domed room spiriting over her forearms, lifting the fine skin on the back of her neck. She forced herself to listen to her breathing, not the echo of silence rebounding through the room.
She would not be a victim, would not release herself to the tumult of panic taking possession, wrenching her back—
Please, Grace, where are you?
No light, no voice sliding over her—Hey, Liza, what are you doing sitting here in the dark?
Oh, God, please don’t abandon me now. Please—
She felt her core begin to soften, her resilience breaking off in tiny pieces, that tight little ball she’d cocooned herself inside cracking open. No—no—
She lowered herself to the ground, brought her knees up, and tucked her head between them, her hands over her head. Then, with everything inside her, she fought the breaking of everything she’d worked so hard to regain.
I am not a victim.
CHAPTER FIVE
His pocket vibrated for the third time, but Conner couldn’t move to answer his cell. Not with his hands cuffed behind his back, with Big Man seated next to him on the golf cart he’d used to transport Conner through the back gate and around the property.
