Every day Leanne watched the sun come up outside the window, bitterness washed over. This hellhole was sucking her optimism dry that a new day would bring positive change. They were prisoners of a madman trapped in his own mind, in the past.
Dinner had been roasted chicken last night, another of Cheryl’s favorites, but thankfully it was served with heaps of vegetables. Leanne wondered if the man had heard her, or whether it was still a preference of Cheryl’s. She didn’t miss that every time he looked at her or Gracie, his eyes glazed over, like he wasn’t truly present.
Yet so far, her ruse to play along seemed to be working. They were still alive. She supposed as long as they drew breath, there was room for hope.
Knocks sounded on the main door, and the dog started barking.
Leanne looked out the window. A man and woman were on the step. Given their posture, they were cops. Had to be. The car they drove was unmarked, but it could belong to detectives.
Oh, please, help us! She screamed those words in her head, terrified that if she did so out loud, he’d come and silence her forever. But she could crack open the window. It made some noise as it slid up in its frame that might alert the visitors. Nothing the man would hear. She could hope.
One deadbolt clunked.
Then the other two.
“Get away from that window. Now. Both of you in the bathroom, shut the door, and stay quiet. If you make one peep, you’re dead. Understand me?”
Leanne stood, paralyzed in place. Torn. Those people could be her and Gracie’s ticket out of here.
More knocks on the door downstairs.
“Move!” the man urged, waving his arms around wildly.
Gracie tucked into Leanne’s side, and they went into the bathroom.
“And stay perfectly still. I will hear you if you leave this room. If you talk or scream, I will kill the girl first, then you. Understood?”
Tears spilled down Gracie’s cheeks, and Leanne hugged her daughter tight. “You’re a freaking monster, asshole,” Leanne seethed.
He grimaced, the expression extinguishing all light from his eyes, as if he were the walking dead. He closed the door on them.
Three deadbolts thunked into place.
The man said he’d hear them if they moved or left the room. The house was older and had its inherent creaks and groans, and she’d become familiar with them during their days in captivity. She refused to let this opportunity pass. It might be the last chance they had to get out of here.
“Sweetie, don’t move, just like he said. But Mommy needs to do something.”
“No.” Gracie tugged on Leanne’s hand trying to hold her back.
Leanne took a few steadying breaths. She’d never forgive herself if she slipped up and this man killed her daughter. Never.
Something had brought the cops to the door, and she could only hope they were on to him. Didn’t police bring backup and move in heavily armed on a suspect in a case like this? But she’d only seen the two…
This acidic feeling bloomed in her chest telling her they were running out of time. She had to take a chance and try something.
“I shouldn’t be long.” She pried her hand free of her daughter’s.
Leanne slowly cracked open the bathroom door, and headed toward the window, creeping along methodically. She needed to avoid hitting any floorboards that would give her position away.
She stopped moving at the sound of the door downstairs opening and voices that filtered upstairs. They were asking cop-like questions. They’d arrest him and rescue her and Gracie.
We’re saved!
She wanted to scream to let them know they were there. But what if the cops didn’t respond fast enough, and the man killed them? She’d have signed her and Gracie’s death certificates.
Leanne resumed her path toward the window, figuring her best shot might be catching their attention somehow on their way out.
She hunkered down, her eyes and the top of her head all that would be visible from outside. She was ready when they were.
Minutes passed with nothing but more conversation, then the door opened.
She peeked out, and the man and woman got back into their car. Beneath the room, the man stood at the back door watching them. She couldn’t risk opening the window with him there.
Leanne stood to full height. Please look up here!
She waved her arms, hoping to catch the eyes of the female cop who was on the side facing the house. At one point, Leanne could swear she was looking right at her, but she turned away.
Leanne’s heart sank. The sun’s reflection on the glass could make seeing her impossible.
Their car started, but they didn’t move for a while.
Had the cop seen her after all? Just as hope was worming in, it was gone.
The car was in motion. The driver had pulled into a spot to turn around.
This is it. Gracie and I are dead.
But they weren’t moving. They were idling in place. Had they seen something that had them hesitating?
In her mind, Leanne followed what would be in their line of sight. She felt hoping rising back into her soul. They just might have seen the wooden crosses.
Please, get us out of here!