The Bone House - Brian Freeman [102]
Where was he?
Hoffman gripped the door frame and hung on as he cradled the shotgun under his other arm. He studied the forest, just as he'd done years earlier, through the misery of drowning rain and voracious insects. He didn't have to see anyone, or hear them, or smell them, to know he wasn't alone.
'I know you're here,' he called into the woods.
There was no answer. The wind roared. He tasted the damp mist on his lips.
'It's time to end this,' he shouted, but no one replied. The trees cackled as if they were taunting him. We know what scares you, old man. He should have listened to their warning.
Hoffman heard a noise inside the house. He'd forgotten the cardinal rule: always watch your back. The footsteps on the wooden floor were so close that he expected to feel breath on his neck. He tried to turn, to wheel the gun around, but he didn't have enough strength or time. Strong hands took hold of his shirt collar and yanked him backward into the foyer. He fell like a stone drops, his leg caving under him. As he collapsed, the shotgun was peeled from his hands. He hit his head on the floor. He squirmed like an insect on his back, unable to get up.
In every battle, there was a winner and a loser, and he had lost.
'Close your eyes,' the voice said above him.
Hoffman didn't. Not now, not ever. The twin barrels of his own gun dug into his forehead, and he left his eyes wide open to see the end when it came.
Hilary's car smelled of freshly ground coffee. She'd emptied their supply with the last pot of the morning, and so she decided to make a pilgrimage to the small shop by the harbor before Mark arrived home. As she drove back, she heard her phone ringing. She pulled off the road rather than navigate with her phone wedged at her shoulder.
'Is this Hilary Bradley?' It was an unfamiliar girl's voice.
'Yes, who is this?'
'My name is Katie Monroe. I think you know my roommate, Amy Leigh.'
Hilary heard Amy's name, and her stomach turned over with anxiety, is something wrong? Is Amy OK? I've been trying to reach her.'
'You have?'
'Yes, Amy called me last night. It was a strange call. I've called her several times since then, but she's not answering her phone. I'm worried.'
Hilary heard the girl breathing into the line.
'She didn't come back to our room last night.'
'Is that unlike her?'
'Some girls stay out all night, but not Ames.'
Hilary yanked off her glasses and closed her eyes as she thought about Amy's call. 'Listen, Katie, Amy mentioned the name of her coach when she called. Gary Jensen. Does that mean anything to you?'
The girl paused. 'Son of a bitch!' she exclaimed.
'Did she tell you anything about him?'
'Amy told me she was going to talk to Gary last night. She was meeting him at his house. I haven't been able to reach her since then.'
'Did you call the police?'
'I called campus security, but they blew me off. They all know Gary. They told me I was crazy. A college girl not coming home overnight isn't a big deal to them.'
'You should go to the police,' Hilary repeated.
'And tell them what? My roommate didn't sleep in the dorm last night? They'll pat me on the head and tell me to come back tomorrow. I can't do this alone.' Katie stopped and then spoke again in a rapid voice. 'Listen, you're just over in Door County, right? That's why I called. If you drove down here, we could talk to the police together.'
Hilary checked her watch and frowned. 'I'm on Washington Island. There's only one ferry left for the day. I'm not sure I can make it.'
'Please,' Katie insisted. 'If we do this together, they'll take us seriously. Otherwise, they won't start pushing papers around for a couple days, and I'm afraid that Amy is in trouble right now.'
Hilary