Page 55 of Stone
She hurried into the bedroom to pull on a pairof jeans, and slipped on a bra under the oversized t-shirt. A quick brush through her hair, and she hurried to the front door to grab her purse, shoving her feet into a worn pair of loafers she kept in the entryway. Tossing him a smile, she left the apartment to walk the four blocks to the thrift store.
It took no more than half an hour to get a couple pairs of jeans, two pullovershirts, plus a pair of sneakers and a pair of sandals that looked approximately his size. On her way back to the building, she stopped at a corner bistro for a coffee and a large slice of pound cake that they could share on their ride to the museum.
The sky was growing cloudy when she exited the store. It looked like a front might be rolling in, a harbinger of fall. A chilly windblew around her, making her shiver. “Damn, I should have picked up a windbreaker for him.” She debated whether to go back to the shop, but she needed to get back to the apartment. “We’ll pick him something up on the way home from the museum,” she decided. Or, if need be, the museum gift shops always carried outerwear during the colder months.
She subconsciously noted the guy in thenavy blue hoodie leaning against the Metro pole when she turned the corner. The man was thumbing through his phone, apparently checking to see when the next bus would arrive at the stop. At the sight of him, she considered taking the bus to the museum, rather than hop on the subway. It took the about the same amount of time, either way, but she figuredGarenthmight like to take in a view of thecity from ground level.
She reached her building and hurried up the short flight of steps. Setting her bags on the stoop, she reached inside her purse for her keys, when a presence came up behind her. A body pressed against her back, and something hard was shoved under her ribs.
“Nice and easy. Act as if nothing’s wrong,” a male voice whispered in her ear. “Now openthe door and let’s go upstairs.”
“Go ahead and take my money. Here.” She started to reach back into her purse for her wallet, but the guy jammed his weapon harder into her.
“Shut up and let’s get inside. Try to cry out or scream, and I won’t hesitate to shoot.”
A coldness went through her. What did this guy want? What did he plan to do?
Her thoughts went toGarenth. If she was forced to take this guy up to her apartment, she knewGarenthwouldn’t hesitate to defend her. But without his stone exterior, he could be fatally shot, and there was no way she could warn him.
Should she say something to the man? Should she tell him she had someone waiting for her upstairs?
“Please, tell me what you want.”
The guy answered with a push. “Inside. Now, bitch.”
Not seeing any other option, Brielle unlocked the door, grabbed her bags, and went inside with the man sticking to her like glue.
