Letters From Al by Pieper, Kathleen (ebook audio reader TXT) 📕

"No argument there, Alec." She sidled up to him and leaned her head on his shoulder for a moment before easing out of the office. “I am sorry.”

Ben, the tall officer who'd helped investigate the break-in at her house waited to drive her. She sighed and just wished she were at home. He smiled when he saw her come out of Alec's office, and reached for his hat.

"Come on. Alec said no stops along the way."

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I just want to go home.”

"Miss Morris, Alec said to remind you to lock up after I leave." Ben had dutifully gone around the house and checked the doors and windows and everything was in its proper place.

"Thanks, Ben. Tell Alec to call me when he gets off."

"I think he'll be over, if I know him." Ben said with a knowing smile. The house seemed emptier than usual. Maddy had so much company lately it was hard to get used to the silence. Relaxing in a hot bath, she felt better after dressing in fresh clothes. Thinking she heard someone at the back door, she padded down the hallway hoping Alec got off early to be with her. Being physically threatened had given her a little more perspective on needing someone. It felt good to have Alec in her life.

The clock chimed loudly from the living room and Maddy felt strange, in fact, everything around her had a strange feel to it. Just as she reached the end of the hall a hand came out of the closet and dirty fingers clasped over her mouth and cheeks.

Automatically Maddy pulled back and struggled, there was something familiar about the smell. An arm encircled her waist and pulled her back into the darkness of the closet. Oh no! The sweat and beer smell. That cowboy this morning had the same smell. How? How could he have gotten in? Ben and she both checked everything. That was of little consequence now. A criminal stood here in her home and controlled her.

Think, girl, think! Try and talk to him, see what he wants.But she couldn't, he wouldn't let her. His filthy hand pressed onto her mouth and chin so hard she couldn't breathe, much less talk. Stay calm and you’ll stay alive. Maddy, don’t panic, think of Alec. She did and it helped.

"You listen and you listen good. I want all the papers, those letters and the book, the diary. I know you have them and I want them now." The dirty cowboy jerked her hard and moved his hand slightly so she could reply.

"What letters and book?" She gasped. But her try at stalling only angered him. Viciously he jerked her arms and pulled her head back by the hair, his mouth next to her ear.

"Don't make me mad, Girl. You made me mad this morning. Now where are they?"

"In the kitchen," she croaked. He pushed her forward again giving her no time to think. Maddy pointed to the refrigerator and stepped back but he kept his hands on her.

Flinging the freezer door open, he found the plastic bag with the papers and diary in them. With a gleeful curse he grabbed the frosty bag and pulled her back down the hall towards the front door. Terrified, she knew he might hurt or even kill her now that he had what he wanted.

The hall rug balled up under their feet as he dragged her forward. The little table with the porcelain bird crashed behind them. One arm slipped loose and she flailed out, hoping to touch anything stable but he was too strong for her.

He pressed her up against the door as he peered through the sheer curtains, muttering under his breath looking for his partner. She nearly slipped away but he roughly slapped her across the face, leaving her dazed.

At that moment, her free hand found the umbrella stand and the big silk umbrella with a duck's head handle. Her groping fingers closed over it and she swung it around, hard, smacking him on his neck and back. Harder and harder she hit, as fast as she could. Suddenly her other arm was free and she regained her balance.

Using her feet she kicked and bashed away at the intruder until she realized he was backing away from her. In his haste he broke a pane of glass opening the front door trying to get away. He swung the door open just as Maddy bent forward and charged into it, hitting her soundly in the forehead. She sank down and in a cascade of stars. She screamed as she felt herself being lifted and slammed into something very hard. There was just blissful silence as she collapsed on the floor.

When she opened her eyes again, faces peered down at her in a circle. They looked familiar but pulsated in and out like some bad dream. It scared her and she tried to get away, but hands pushed her back down. Even if she had managed to get up, the pain in her head would have forced her right back down.

Alec's voice gently called her name from somewhere in the distance and then his steel blue eyes and crooked grin came into focus. She smiled and put a hand out. Groggy and shaky she tried to speak, but he kissed her gently and made the other 'faces' go away.

Alec was here, he wouldn't let anyone hurt her. Maddy could go to sleep. She was safe with Alec. A moment later a light shining in her eyes made her turn away, groaning in protest. The sharp pain from the movement aggravated her headache even more. Why didn't they leave her alone? She just wanted to sleep. She raised one arm to shield her eyes but someone pulled it back down and poked her arm. A wire or IV seemed to be attached to it.

Prying her lids open Maddy licked dry lips and saw another circle of faces. Not so many this time, and not