Page 2 of Witness To Murder
The scream deflated.
His upper body slid fully behind the table, out of her view, as if someone had grabbed him by the legs and pulled him away.
A smear of blood on the gray flooring was left in his wake.
Leah cupped her hand over her mouth to hold back the new scream that burgeoned.
Footsteps and another thump echoed.
Abject fear sent adrenaline rushing through her veins.
Run.
Leah turned around to run and stalled once more.
Don’t make a sound.
She forced herself to move more slowly and silently as she wove her way through the tables and toward the entrance. Her heart pounded harder with each step. Her body weak with relief, she pushed against the doors. They didn’t move.
The heavy wooden set of French doors were locked.
Ice formed inside her.What now? What now?
She eased away from the door and the hostess station. Head spinning, she hunkered down behind a table. There had to be an emergency exit somewhere…
Think!
In the corridor where the bathrooms were located, maybe.
Or was it?
She’d never been here before, but she had gone to the ladies’ room when she first arrived to check her hair and makeup. She closed her eyes and called to mind that short corridor. There had been an emergency exit there…right?Yes.
But that corridor was on the other side of the dining room. As she stared across the expanse now, it seemed miles away.
Another indistinct sound came from the kitchen.
Didn’t matter how far to the exit…she had to get out of here.
Heart thumping wildly, she got on all fours, tugged up the skirt of the black cocktail dress she’d chosen for this date and then crawled along the floor. She couldn’t risk standing upagain. If whoever was back there glanced through that kitchen-door window, he would see her. She remained on all fours, rushing around and between the tables as quickly as the building terror would allow. When she reached the corridor, she almost cried out with relief.
Once she was in the short hallway, she dared to stand.
Even before she reached the emergency exit she saw the sign. Opening the door would trigger an alarm, which the killer would hear. He would know someone was here…a potential witness.
Defeat sucked the wind out of her.
Desperate, she eased into the ladies’ room. She wished there was a lock on the main door, but there was not. She hurried into one of the stalls and locked the door, for all the good that would do if someone wanted to get in. It was meager protection, but it was the best she could do. Leah drew in a steadying breath and used her cell phone to call 9-1-1.
As soon as the dispatcher was done reciting her spiel, Leah whispered, “My name is Leah Gerard. I’m at the Chop House on La Salle Drive. Someone murdered Raymond Douglas. Whoever killed him is still in the restaurant. Please…help me.” A keening sound rose from the depths of her soul.
“Are you safe?” the dispatcher asked calmly.
Leah forced her mind to focus. “I… I don’t know. I’m in the ladies’ room, locked in a stall. I don’t think he knows I’m here.” She listened intently for sound beyond the room. Nothing. “Please hurry.”
“Did you see or hear a weapon?”
“No,” Leah murmured.
