Hide & Seek - James Patterson [72]
Halfway up, I saw something standing against the wall. My heart almost stopped. My legs nearly went out from under me.
It was the rifle! I’d finally found it. In the middle of the stairway, where Will had left it!
My head was filled with loud noise. Chaos and confusion. None of this made sense to me.
What was going on?
Was Will upstairs again? What was he planning to do with the rifle? Where had it come from?
I started to run up the stairs. I reached the top step and stopped. At the far end of the corridor a line of light showed from beneath a door.
It was Jennie’s door. The light hadn’t been on just a few minutes before.
I was suddenly terrified that Will was in there. He’s taking the children, I thought.
I ran to get the rifle, then I hurried back. At least I had the gun now, not Will.
Had he planned to murder us all? Disturbed men did things like that. It wouldn’t be the first time, would it?
I had a flashback. Phillip!
I ran down the corridor and yanked open Jennie’s door. The rifle was ready, at least I thought it was. I really didn’t know very much about guns. Next to nothing, actually.
What I saw inside the bedroom drove me absolutely out of my mind.
CHAPTER 85
THIS IS THE day! Oh, Jesus God, Will!
Don’t shoot him. Don’t do it. Maggie, don’t! a voice inside my head screamed at a deafening level.
Jennie was on the bed, wearing short, white pajamas. Her long, bare legs were exposed. Her eyes were closed; she seemed to be breathing normally. There was a glass of milk on the night table, half-finished.
I took in every tiny detail, understanding nothing yet.
This was so bad. This was so bad.
Will stood at the foot of her bed. He was dressed in khakis and a sport shirt. What he’d worn for his business meeting in New York? He looked too casual for business. What was Will doing in Jennie’s bedroom?
“Maggie!” he said, as cool as could be. His film star persona. “I thought you were asleep. Were you trying to fool me?”
My heart was pounding so hard and fast it was difficult for me to breathe. “What are you doing in here?” I gasped out the words. “What is going on?”
Jennie suddenly sat up, and rubbed her eyes. She looked frightened. “Mom? Will? What’s the matter? What’s happening? Is that a gun? Mom?”
Will smiled at the horrifying scene. It was the most scary and evil expression I had ever seen. I didn’t know the person I was looking at. What was he doing in Jennie’s bedroom? I thought that I knew.
“Jennie and I were just getting ready for some fun,” he said. “Care to join us in bed? Ménage à trois?”
Ménage à trois? I was too scared and stunned to speak. For a moment my body was paralyzed. My pulse was racing crazily. I felt my mind implode. Will and Jennie? Oh, my God, no!
I raised the gun and aimed it at Will. I didn’t care about the consequences.
I couldn’t pull the trigger though. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t.
“Get out of this house, and don’t you ever come back,” I said in a steady voice.
Will pushed past me and with his great speed rushed down the corridor. I could tell by the sound that he took the steps two at a time. He was laughing in a loud, braying voice, the kind you heard in horror movies.
I went after him, hampered by the unwieldy gun. I didn’t want to shoot him, just make sure he was gone—forever. Gone from all of our lives.
He went out the front door, and I ran after him. I could see little at first except the outline of overhanging trees, but I heard his footsteps retreating toward the back of the house.
I pitched forward. Hit my knee. Caught myself with one hand.
Suddenly I couldn’t hear steps anymore!
I pushed myself up. I listened intently, as I have never listened before.
I was frightened. I thought I might be going into shock. I felt cold all over. I was freezing cold. I couldn’t forget seeing Will in Jennie’s bedroom. The look in her eyes.
It was too quiet. I couldn’t hear Will, or see him either. What was he doing out here?
The moon had disappeared behind a cover of clouds. It was nearly pitch dark. I couldn’t stay outside. I knew I should