Page 9 of The Beachside Cafe 5
“So we are on the seventh floor?” Jaymee persisted.
“It’s kind of ironic, you know…” Cameron could hear her moving about, opening and closing drawers, clicking computer keys, walking around the room. Her voice sounded like she might as well have been talking to herself. “That all these experiments are being done on the seventh floor. You know why?”
Jaymee had no curiosity in her tone when she responded, “Why?”
“Because it’s God’s number, silly. Don’t you know that? Don’t you believe in God? You should. You’re going to be calling out to him eventually. And not in a good way.” Again, Amanda laughed her wicked laugh.
“Don’t do this. Please don’t do this.”
By that time, Cameron had slammed through to the staircase and was taking them up to the seventh floor two steps at a time. He prayed the door would be unlocked and was relieved when it was. He darted through to the hallway and looked to the left and right. Another hallway lined with doors that were indistinct from each other. The walls were gray with white trim, candle holder style lights hanging every ten or fifteen feet.
He listened closely as Jaymee started to whimper.
“Don’t worry,” Amanda said. “I’m not going to do anything until Jennifer gets back. This is her favorite part. I wouldn’t want her to miss it.”
“What are you doing with that needle?” Jaymee asked. “What’s inside it? Why are you doing this? You don’t have to do this.”
Amanda clucked her tongue. “Stop whining. You came willingly to my company. Now you will participate. That’s just the way it goes.”
The sound of a toilet flushing came through Cameron’s phone at the same time the plumbing to his right was activated. His eyes darted down the hallway and he began to run on quick, silent feet, listening at each door until he knew which room the sound had come from.
When he found the right door, he leaned close and listened to the mumbling voices. He heard someone come near to the door and he backed away, his heart pounding. When it didn’t open, he listened again and then slowly turned the knob, pushing the door open just a crack.
SEVEN
Jaymee didn’t want to see Jennifer come back in the room. Her eyes were on the needle in Amanda’s hand. Her heart was pounding so hard her chest hurt. She was barely able to breathe. The only thing she was happy about was that the women hadn’t even thought to search her for her cell phone.
After all that had happened, Jaymee was positive Cameron was already inside IDL, searching for her. She knew he had no idea where she was in the building, which was why she’d asked if they were on the seventh’s floor. She couldn’t ask much more without making it seem like she was trying to give someone directions to where she was at. That might make the ladies search her. Then they would find the phone and her only chance at being saved would be gone.
She tried to keep herself under control but it was not easy. She was shaking like a leaf, terrified that Cameron wouldn’t find her before Amanda poked her with that needle and injected its contents into her.
When Jennifer did come in the room, Jaymee tried to keep from crying. Amanda glanced at her sister with a smile.
“I waited,” she said graciously. “I know this is the part you like so much. You want to say something to her first? Warn her maybe? I know you like to do that, too, don’t you?”
Jennifer gave her sister a curious look. “You told me last time not to taunt them.”
“I want you to this time,” Amanda said, gesturing to Jaymee with the needle as casually as if it had been a pen. “Go ahead.”
Jennifer giggled as if she’d just been handed a big chocolate bar. She came over to stand next to Jaymee, who was strapped in a chair so much like the one she’d seen in the video, she was pretty sure it actually was the same one. Her wrists and ankles were strapped down, just like Jennifer’s had been.
“This chair looks familiar, doesn’t it?” Jennifer asked, an evil grin on her face. “It should. I know you watched that video or you wouldn’t be here right now. This is what being too curious can get you. Awful nice of you to try to come to my rescue. As you can see, I don’t need you or your help. Everything I need comes from Amanda.”
“You let your sister control that much of your life?” Jaymee asked, unable to resist the sarcasm. She was disgusted by the women in front of her and when she felt that way, she wasn’t likely to stay quiet about it. Even in the direst of circumstances, she was going to speak her mind. She had a feeling she wouldn’t be able to tell them what she thought for much longer.
At least she wouldn’t if Cameron didn’t come in time.
She closed her eyes for a moment and prayed for Cameron to get to her in time. Jennifer must have figured out what Jaymee was doing because she said in a harsh tone, “You better be praying that you can withstand some pain,AuntJaymee,” Jennifer said in a scornful voice. “You’re going to need all the help you can get.”
“I’m not the one who needs help,” Jaymee responded, narrowing her eyes at the younger woman. I think you need therapy. A lot of therapy. For years.”
Jennifer’s smug look slipped and she was momentarily angry. “I don’t need therapy!” she shrieked. “I am perfectly sane. There’s nothing wrong with my brain at all. Do you hear me?”
Jaymee forced herself to laugh. “You’re kidding me, right? This is the actions of a sane person? I don’t think so, Jennifer. I don’t think so.”
“Who are you anyway?” Jennifer asked.
Jaymee shrugged and did her best to look casual. “Apparently I’m worth enough for you to give up your freedom for. I mean, you don’t really think you’ll be able to get away with this, right? If you know about me, you know about Cameron and he’s a private investigator. You don’t think he’s going to come find me, that he won’t search for clues to my whereabouts?”
