Chapter 6
Cindy was worried. Now, as she tried to do the shopping, she found herself picking up the wrong item, or she would pass right by something on her list. She should have let Linda do it; she just wasn't in the mood today.
It was Paul she was worried about. Where was he? Why had he just disappeared? She was afraid he was in some kind of trouble.
Of course, she thought bitterly, he had no intention of telling her if anything was wrong. He never told her anything until he was good and ready. Angrily she grabbed at a package and threw it into the cart. He hadn't said anything...he hadn't even left her a note. Why didn't he ever tell her anything? Why did he leave her in the dark to worry?
She was almost in tears now, but she was determined to finish the shopping. And so, trying not to think of Paul, she walked up and down the aisles, selecting the things they needed for dinner.
Walking back to the apartment where Linda and Katie were waiting for her, she suddenly felt completely exhausted, as if the only thing she wanted to do was to go to bed and stay there for several days. But that was silly, she told herself. After all, maybe it wasn't as serious as she imagined; and if it wasn't, then all this worry and strain that she was going through was for nothing. Maybe...but she still wasn't sure. She sighed as she turned the corner.
Now that's funny, she thought to herself. She stopped, taking a long look at the blue sedan parked about a half a block away from the apartment. That car had been there all morning. Yes, she was sure it was the same one. And something else, too: last time there had been three men in it, now she saw that it was empty. Suddenly, although she could not explain it, she was afraid; she wished Paul was there. She took a deep breath, telling herself that there was really nothing suspicious about a car being parked for half a day in the same spot...there she was, working herself up again. Pretty soon she wouldn't be able to go out of the house without imagining all sorts of things. But still she had a funny feeling as she walked past the car; she kept her eyes straight ahead, although she very much wanted to stop and look.
As she hurried up the steps she felt goose-bumps at the back of her neck, as if someone...they...were watching. She couldn't wait to get inside but in her anxiety she couldn't find the right key. Finally she rang the buzzer, hoping one of the girls would answer quickly. She breathed a sigh of relief as Katie's pretty face peeked around the corner of the door.
"Forgot my key," Cindy laughed, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Oh, Cindy," Katie wailed, "I have to go home tonight. My stupid mother called while you were out; they're worried about me or something. And I was having such fun with you and Linda. Can't you do something, Cindy?" Katie screwed up her face at the thought of having to go back home. "Besides," she continued in a sly voice, "I still haven't met Paul. Or maybe you're afraid he'll like me," she added, looking up coyly through her long lashes.
The sound of Paul's name sent a little shiver down Cindy's back; she was afraid again. But it passed quickly. Anyhow, she had to laugh at the expression on Katie's face. It reminded her again of how good it was to have Katie staying at the apartment...she was so pretty and vivacious and so cheerful.
"Well, after I put these groceries away, I'll call your mother; I guess I can persuade her to let you stay for a few more days," Cindy answered.
"Oh, here, I'll put them away for you," Katie answered quickly. "You go ahead and sit down and rest and...then you can call...oh please, Cindy, I really don't want to leave."
"O.K., I promise I'll call. Just as soon as I have a drink."
"Let me fix it for you," Katie said as she struggled with the large bag of groceries.
"O.K., " Cindy answered. "Say, where's Linda and Raymond?"
"Oh, they're in the bedroom, I guess. You know, they're always in the bedroom," she giggled as she went into the kitchen to put away the groceries.
Cindy laughed, but as the kitchen door closed behind Katie she became nervous again. She paced up and down the room. Finally she stopped by one of the big picture windows and pulled the curtain aside. Now it was gone! The blue sedan was gone! She looked again, up and down the street, but the car was nowhere in sight. She didn't know whether that made her feel better or not. Just as she was about to take another look, she heard Linda and her boyfriend come out of the bedroom.
"Whatcha looking at?" asked Linda.
"Nothing, I guess." Cindy took another look, then turned around to face them. "Have either of you noticed a blue car parked up the street?"
"Blue car?"
"Oh well, it doesn't really matter," Cindy said quickly. "You two going out?"
"Yes, Ray and I are going out for dinner. Won't be back till late." Linda noticed the frown on Cindy's face. "Is there something wrong, Cindy? Want me to stay? Is that O.K. with you, Ray? Let's stay here tonight."
"No, no, don't be silly, Linda, nothing is wrong," Cindy answered hurriedly. "It's just...well, I guess I miss Paul, that's all. And I get worried about him sometimes."
"Worried about Paul? He's the last person you have to worry about; he can take care of himself. Anyway, if you're sure you don't want us to stay . . . , " she began.
"Yes, yes, I'm sure. You two go ahead. And have fun."
Cindy walked out into the street with them and watched them drive away. Then, just to satisfy her own curiosity, she walked around the block; but the blue car was nowhere in sight. There, she thought to herself as she walked back to the apartment, that should settle it. She was determined not to worry about anything else for the rest of the night. Maybe she and Katie could go to the movies, after she had called Katie's parents.
She stopped dead in her tracks as she opened the door and took in the scene before her: there was Katie, her slim hands tied behind her back, her eyes enormous with terror. A gag was shoved in her mouth, against which she struggled in vain, shaking her head violently from side to side, as if trying to warn Cindy to run. But it was too late, for she felt a pair of strong hands pulling her inside and then slamming the door; then a hand was clamped over her mouth to keep her from screaming. Without thinking, she bit down hard, tasting blood, hearing the man cry out in pain. The next thing she knew she was on the floor, the whole left side of her face numb from the blow she had received; she looked up at the man standing above her, the blood dripping from his hand.
"O.K., we'll forget about this one," he growled, holding up his injured hand, "but if you try anything like that again, you're going to get hurt...and I do mean hurt.
"Now, where's Mason?" he asked in a soft evil voice that sent shivers of fear through her body.
Cindy looked up at him as he towered above her and she shuddered as she saw the huge purple scar that ran the length of his cheek; it was an ugly, evil-looking scar and it seemed to pulse with a life of its own. She looked at Katie, still struggling to free herself; and then she saw the other two men, off in a corner. One was tall and swarthy with nervous fingers, the other, also tall but with a powerful body, was smiling at her while opening and closing a long knife.
"Come on, come on, we ain't got all day, sister," repeated the man with the scar.
As she listened to his insistent, demanding voice, she knew she would have to give him an answer; she would have to tell him something. But what? She didn't know where Paul was and even if she did she wouldn't have told them; she would have lied, told them anything to protect him. Oh, Paul! Paul! She felt sick.
So he really was in trouble. These men, whatever they wanted, meant business...and now she and Katie were in danger...if she didn't tell them something...or if they didn't believe her when she said she didn't know. She wanted to get up, she wanted to stand up and face them, but she hadn't the strength in her legs.
"We already asked your little friend over there, but she didn't know anything; so now we're asking you," he said in the same evil voice.
Oh God, she thought to herself, they haven't hurt Katie have they? But a quick glance in Katie's direction assured her that Katie had not been harmed. They had probably figured that she really didn't know and so they had just tied her up and waited. But now they thought she knew!
"I...." she began, but the words wouldn't come. Her mouth felt dry; she swallowed hard and started again: "Paul didn't say where he was going...or when he was coming back...he just didn't tell me," she answered, her voice shaking.
"Come on, sister, you gotta know; you're fucking him, ain't you. Huh?" he said, kneeling front of her. "Yeah, and I'll bet you're a pretty good lay. Now, where's Mason?"
"But I don't know where he is, really I...."
He leaned over and struck her hard on the cheek, bringing tears to her eyes. His face was close to hers and it seemed that her whole field of vision was taken up by his ugly purple scar. She was afraid now that they might be killed. But what could she do? Nothing really. If Katie wasn't here, she might have a chance...she might be able to get to the door before they caught her. But she couldn't do it, knowing that even if she did escape, Katie would be at their mercy. Maybe there was another way. But before she had time to think, one of the other men, the one who had been playing with the knife, walked over and joined them.
"Hey, Al, let's forget about Mason," he said.
"What do you mean, forget about Mason? Listen, Tony, that son of a bitch killed my sister. He's going to pay for that."
"But Al, I thought you said...."
"Listen, you creep. I spent a year in that nut house...and all that time I was thinking of how to get even...and now I'm gonna get even! That's why I broke outa there, and that's why I helped you guys break out...or have you forgotten that already?"
"Naw, Al, I ain't forgotten, but you said Tony looked at the other man for support-"
"You said we'd get some money out of Mason first...for the girl. Remember, Al, you said he'd pay $50,000 to get her back. We had it all set up, to use my cabin...."
Oh God, now Cindy knew who these men were; she remembered Paul saying something about Al and his sister...that she had killed herself and that Al had threatened to get even. And now these three men were here...they had broken out of an insane asylum!
"Why are you trying to back out?" Al snapped.
"Cut it out, Al, you're confusing me...you know I get confused easy," Tony said. He put his hands to his head as if trying to clear his mind. Keeping his hands pressed to his temples, he began to walk around the room.
"No, Al, I won't do it. You promised we'd get some money. Didn't he, Petey?" Tony looked at the other man.
"Yeah, Al, you promised," Pete answered.
"O.K., O.K., you creeps, we'll take them to the cabin and wait for Mason," Al growled. "When he comes, we grab some cash...and we can have some fun while we're waiting...."
Pete walked over to Katie and began to untie her.
"O.K., sister, you and your little friend are going to take a little trip," Al said to Cindy. "Come on, let's go." He reached down and roughly pulled her to her feet. "And look, don't try nothing! Cause if you do, Tony here will cut you up into little pieces."
"You don't need her, do you?" Cindy asked, looking over at Katie. "She won't do you any good. I'll go with you and I won't make any trouble...but can't you leave her here?"
"Are you crazy?" said Al. "Leave her to blab to the cops? You think I want to go back to that place? Anyhow," he continued, looking at Katie, a leer distorting his face, "she looks kinda nice...wouldn't mind fucking her myself."
Cindy realized suddenly that it was no use trying to reason with these men...they were really crazy enough to kill them right there in the apartment.
"All right, let's go. And remember, no funny business."
They walked slowly down the stairs, the two girls in front. Cindy smiled at Katie, trying to cheer her up. But it was no use; they both knew there was nothing they could do...they were at the .mercy of three animals.
As they drove out of the city, Cindy looked blankly out of the window, trying not to think of what might happen to them. But Tony, who was sitting next to her, was a constant reminder. He had put his knife away, but just one look into his eyes made her feel weak and frightened. His eyes! Crazy, laughing eyes that seemed to say: "I just can't wait to get my knife into you, baby, to see you squirm with pain." And he kept looking at her legs, only just covered by her short skirt, and then back into her eyes, his own eyes gleaming, as if he was hinting at some sickening secret. It made her shiver and sweat just to be sitting next to him.
Al was driving. Suddenly he glanced into the back seat. "Tony, you keep that knife in your pocket until we're through with these broads; we don't want them cut up before we've had our fun...you hear me Tony?"
"Yeah, I heard you," Tony answered, meeting the other's gaze in the mirror. The crazy gleam in Tony's eyes was subdued a bit. He hesitated a minute, then, as if gathering his strength, he continued:
"Hey, Al, how's Mason going to know where we are?"
"Shit, I knew we shoulda stayed there," Al grumbled. "Now we gotta go back. I'm not going to let Mason get away."
Al slowed down and was about to turn the car around when Tony interrupted him.
"Listen, Al, I got it all figured out...it'll be easy. We just leave him a note, see, at his broad's place...tell him we kidnapped her and we're holding her until he comes. And he will come...won't he, baby?" he said, looking at Cindy, his eyes gleaming with demented lust. He slipped his hand beneath her short skirt, but when he felt her silken sex, he withdrew his hand quickly, as if startled that she wasn't wearing any panties. She was sure that she saw a flicker of disgust in those crazy eyes of his, but whatever she had seen passed quickly, and he just smiled at her, a knowing, lurid smile, then settled back in the seat to wait for Al's answer.
"O.K., O.K., so somebody's gotta go back and leave Mason a note," Al mumbled. "I don't trust neither of you guys, so I'll go; but I'm warning you, Tony, you keep that knife away from these broads until I get back."
Tony mumbled his assent.
They sped out of the city and soon were in the foothills. The road was worse now, but Al continued to wheel the car around the corners at high speeds and every once in awhile Cindy was thrown against Tony's body. She shuddered at each of these contacts.
Now the scrub oaks were replaced by tall dark pines. It was getting colder and also harder to breathe as they climbed into the mountains. Cindy recognized some of the landmarks. She knew approximately where they were taking them, but it didn't really matter...they would never be able to escape.
Cindy tried to think of other things, but the one fact that loomed large, the one fact that seemed to pound in her brain was that she and Katie might never get out of this alive. And now they were planning to kill Paul, they were planning to lure him to the cabin and then kill him. She tried desperately to think of some way of warning him, but there was none. She felt sick.