The Dark Places by R. Whitfield (novel24 TXT) 📕

She wrapped her arms around herself. A calm washed over her as she reached the tall white home. She had so many memories, so many nice memories of this place. A tear rolled down her cheek as she reached behind her neck and unclasped the necklace, letting it fall into her hands. She held it up one last time. It glinted as the moonlight reflected off the pendant. “E,” she whispered and placed it in the mailbox. “Goodbye.”

35

Baltimore, Maryland, Present day

Parker wasn’t entirely sure why he was even considering picking her up. She hadn’t exactly given him an option, but the police officer in him also didn’t want a woman waiting out on the road alone, which he surmised was her plan from the start. He rounded the street and saw her waving at him through the headlights like a teenager at a rock concert. He had barely pulled the car to a stop when she ripped open the passenger door.

“I can’t believe you actually came,” she said quickly and slipped into the seat.

“Neither can I,” he grumbled in reply. “Seatbelt,” he said abruptly, pointing at her waist.

“Oh yeah, sure, sure,” she replied and strapped herself in. “So, where are we off to?” she asked and reached forward, turning the air-con vent in her direction. Parker instantly smelt her perfume as it wafted through the car interior. He shook his head. This woman was good, he thought.

“We’re going to North East,” he replied quietly.

Madison shifted in her seat to face him, causing the split in her skirt to travel up past her thigh. “Are you shitting me?” she said.

He took his eyes off the road quickly and looked at her questionably. “Why would I be shitting you?” he asked. “Madison, what the hell are you on about?”

She sighed. “You know then?” she said with a pout, all her research, all the effort she was making to break this case and get her life back on track was going to be for nothing.

“Know what for God’s sake!” he yelled exasperatingly. “You better start making sense, lady, or I swear I will leave you at the next gas station,” he growled.

Madison started. “The post office box for the necklaces.”

“What about it,” he replied.

She looked at him and smiled. “It’s in North East.”

***

Surin’s eyes fluttered open for the second time. She had no idea how long she had been held in the dank basement — time down there seemed to hold no measure. Waiting in silence, she tried to sense if she was alone, and after what felt like an eternity, she let out a long, ragged breath. Satisfied that she was the only one in the room, she attempted to shift her mindset from victim to cop. The pain in her wrist and ankles had lessened. He had loosened the restraints enough to allow circulation, but not enough to aid in her escape. Her mouth was swollen, and her head pounded like a bongo drum. So far, except for the initial attack, he hadn’t hurt her, but she was not sure that was going to last.

The cool air brushed over her half-naked body like a feather, causing a ripple of goosebumps to rise on her skin. She had never felt so exposed and vulnerable. As silent tears threatened, she began to understand what the other girls must have felt. Her heart was hammering with an intoxicating mixture of adrenalin and absolute mind-numbing fear. Her eyes darted to and fro, searching each of the black corners for any hint of movement, but there was none. She squeezed them shut tightly as the realisation of hopelessness dawned upon her. He was going to come back, he was going to rape her, he was going to kill her, and there was nothing she could do to prevent it. Tears welled again as she thought of her life and what she hadn’t yet achieved, then two faces flickered into her consciousness like a reel on an old black-and-white movie. Eamon and Parker, over and over. She sobbed loudly and bit her lip. “Parker,” she whispered. Just saying his name out loud had an instantaneous calming effect on her heart. She took a few slow, steady breaths and opened her eyes again, just in time to watch as he entered the room. Her skin prickled, and involuntarily, her body started bucking and pulling on the chains that bound her.

“Shh, Shh,” he whispered and ran his hand through her hair, causing her to shudder in disgust. “I’m here to talk, Surin,” he added. She could feel the smile stretching wide on his face.

“What in the world is there to talk about?” she asked and immediately fell into a fit of rib-cracking coughs.

He placed his hand on her chest, gently holding her down and carefully poured water into her mouth. His touch repulsed her, but she drank it thankfully, feeling the liquid put out the fire that was her throat.

“Better?” he asked.

She didn’t answer.

“Oh Surin, so stubborn, it’s one of the things I love about you.”

She listened to the movements as he placed the bottle somewhere and felt the bed compress as he sat down beside her.

“I want to talk about Eamon,” he said.

Surin felt herself begin to shake. Her body was compensating for the cold.

“Oh,” he said quietly, “I would cover you, but that would be blasphemy.” He moved his hand up the side of her ribs and over her breasts, pinching her nipple almost sensually. She stifled a sob.

“What do you want to know about Eamon,” she stuttered, trying to take his mind off her naked flesh.

He laughed. “You don’t understand, Sury. I know all there is to know about Eamon.”

She shuddered at the familiar way he said her name.

“I want to tell you. I want to tell you everything,” he added.