Fifteen

“Wait till you see me on TV!” Jessica crowed over the phone. “I was great! Even Jeremy said so.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Well, at least no one could accuse you of being modest.”

Jessica had telephoned the hospital to talk to her sister as soon as she had returned home from the taping session for her segment of “Frankly Speaking.” The show wouldn’t be televised for a few weeks, but in her own mind Jessica was already a celebrity.

Elizabeth was sorry she’d missed the taping, but she’d promised to fill in for one of the nurse’s aides who was on vacation. Anyway, she’d be seeing Jessica in all her televised glory soon enough.

“Aren’t you happy for me, Liz?” Jessica demanded. “After all, when I’m a big celebrity, you’ll probably have people asking for your autograph, too.” She giggled. “They’ll think you’re me.”

“I can hardly wait,” Elizabeth said. “Really, Jess, I am happy for you. You deserve it after all the trouble you went through to get Jeremy to notice you. Even though he should probably get the Purple Heart.”

“Very funny,” Jessica responded, but nothing could dampen her mood. She went on chattering about the taping for several more minutes before Elizabeth was able to get off the phone and back to work.

Elizabeth glanced at her watch. Four-thirty already. Tonight was the night of the big party Regina Morrow was throwing. The party wasn’t until eight, but she had to work until six, and then she had a tutoring session with Max Dellon right afterward. On top of everything else, she was supposed to drive to the party with Jessica, who wanted to get there early and be the first one to introduce herself to Nicholas Morrow, Regina’s brother. At this rate Elizabeth would be lucky if she had time to change out of her uniform!

*   *   *

It had rained that afternoon, and the sky was overcast when Elizabeth left the hospital. As she walked out to the parking lot, her thoughts turned to Steven and Tricia. She was happy about the way things had worked out with them. They were closer than ever now. They spent every free moment together, and Tricia had confided in Elizabeth just the day before that she felt stronger about their relationship than ever. With Steven’s love she could face anything, she said—even death.

Though Elizabeth knew it would be hard for Steven when Tricia was gone, she knew also that she’d done the right thing in breaking her promise. This way the loss, when it came, would be easier for him to bear.

Elizabeth was so absorbed in her thoughts she didn’t notice that someone was following her—a short, husky figure in a white orderly’s coat. His rubber-soled shoes made no sound as he tailed several yards behind Elizabeth. Carefully he skirted the puddles, prepared to duck behind one of the parked cars if Elizabeth should turn.

She angled toward the little red Fiat, parked beside a gunmetal-gray Chevy van she hadn’t seen before. She quickened her step, at the same time fumbling in her purse for her car keys. She heard a noise behind her, and a flicker of nervousness darted through her. Probably nothing, she told herself. Nevertheless, she cast a quick glance around, hoping to be reassured by the sight of other people—a nurse or doctor getting off the latest shift, a family on their way in to visit a sick relative. But the parking lot was deserted.

It had grown chilly. The wind was blowing, rushing noisily through the leaves of the laurel trees that bordered the lot. Elizabeth wrapped her scarf about her neck and reached for the handle of her car door.

She slipped in behind the wheel and was turning the key in the ignition when she heard someone tapping on the window. Startled, she looked up. Dark eyes peered in at her. Her heart jumped into her throat.

Then she saw it was only Carl.

Elizabeth rolled the window down a crack. “Hi,” she said, smiling to keep him from seeing how nervous she felt. “Did I forget something?”

“Uh … yeah.” He spoke with effort, in a voice so husky it sounded as if he hardly ever used it. “Mrs. Willoughby wants to see you. She—she said it was important.”

Elizabeth was confused. She’d spoken to Mrs. Willoughby just a few minutes earlier. Why hadn’t she said something then? Well, it must have just come up. She shrugged and got out of the car.

That was when Carl leaped at her and clamped his hand over her mouth to stifle her scream. A fountain of terror rose in her. She struggled fiercely, torso twisting, legs flailing. But it was no use. Carl’s grip was like iron, the pressure against her mouth unyielding. The only thing she managed to accomplish was to bite her own lip. Tears welled in her eyes as she tasted her own blood.

“I’m sorry, Elizabeth,” Carl’s gravelly voice whispered in her ear. “I promise I won’t hurt you. I just want to be with you. The two of us. Forever.”

Forever! What is he talking about?

Elizabeth gave a sharp yelp that was muffled by his hand. Bright dots of color swam before her eyes. Her struggles were growing weaker. He was too strong for her. She couldn’t fight him.

The arm that was pinned across her chest slid away as Carl reached into his pocket for something. Before Elizabeth could lash out, a soft, wet cloth was jammed against her nostrils. A sickish-sweet smell enveloped her. Chloroform! She tried not to breathe in, but she couldn’t help it. Waves of dizziness crashed over her. Her arms and legs felt very heavy.

A moment later Carl was dragging her toward the Chevy van. Through the haze that wrapped itself about her like layers of gauze, Elizabeth heard a click, then the back door opening. Carl lifted her sagging frame in his arms and placed her down gently on the mattress that was inside. He paused to smooth away a wisp of hair that was stuck to her cheek. Then the door slammed shut, and she could hear him walking around to the driver’s door.

Got to get up … got to get away, Elizabeth thought, her brain still sending out feeble panic signals.

But she was so tired. Her head was spinning. Her arms and legs wouldn’t budge when she tried to move them. When she opened her mouth to scream, only a tiny squeak emerged. It was like one of those nightmares where everything was in slow motion.

Where is he taking me? she wondered as the van’s engine came to life.

Then everything went black. Elizabeth’s last thought, as she slid into unconsciousness, was that this was no nightmare. This was real.