|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He shook his head. 'Three or four, maybe.' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Does that mean somebody's coming here?' Kara asked. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'We don't know,' Denise said. 'Let's be real quiet. If they think no one's home . . .' Her voice trailed off. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kara snuggled up against her. Tom put a hand on her back. The three sat motionless on the sofa, gazing at the door. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They all flinched when the bell rang. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denise glanced at the table beyond her knees. The fireplace poker was there, along with the hammer and butcher knife. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Should we see who it is?' Kara whispered. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Someone pounded on the door. Each blow shook it. Each blow felt to Denise like a punch in the stomach. She struggled to breathe. Her cheeks tickled. She rubbed them with one hand, and found the skin pebbled with goosebumps. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Lisa!' a voice called through the door. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Lisa?' Kara whispered, frowning up at Denise. 'She was supposed to be sitting for me tonight.' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'It's Buddy,' the voice called. 'Come on, open up.' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Buddy Gilbert,' Denise muttered. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Oh, great,' Tom said. 'And he thinks Lisa's here.' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'They go together,' Denise said. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'They did till she started running around with Max.' |
|
|
|
|
|