Good Deed Bad Deed, Marcia Morgan [summer beach reads TXT] 📗

Hugh nodded his head in agreement and said, “That will work in our favor—plus the fact that they’re either inexperienced, or just stupid.” He walked to the desk and folded his arms around his wife. She gave a small sigh of relief as he pulled her close to him. They stood there a while, quietly comforting each other without need of words.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

It was just after dawn, and moisture still clung to the tall weeds and surviving patches of grass that surrounded the derelict house. Gareth was on time. For several minutes he stood on the sidewalk and faced the path to the front door, gathering his nerve for the inevitable confrontation he was about to have with Olivia. He cautiously moved forward then stepped onto the small porch and knocked. He could hear heavy footsteps approaching the door, and with a loud scrape and squeaking of hinges it opened just far enough for Lenny to see who was there. When he saw it was Gareth he opened it completely and pulled him inside, slamming the door behind him.

“It’s a good thing you’re on time. I’m going stir crazy in this dump. I have to get out to the café down the street and get something to feed those whining women. So… you want something?”

“Where are they?” Gareth asked.

“Through the archway—in the only other room there is besides the loo.”

“Then I don’t really need to see them. They can’t come in here anyway, right?”

“You will if one of them needs the bathroom. They each have a bucket, but once a day— if they’re quiet— I let them go in one at a time. I’m sure not cleaning those buckets.” He waited for a response, but receiving none he continued. “In case the free one does something stupid I hold my gun on the other one.” Lenny laughed to himself then broke into a wicked grin.

Gareth felt his stomach churn. His hands were clammy and his head was still throbbing from stress and lack of sleep. He was an unwilling player in a very dangerous game, dangerous for his brother as well as the women and himself. He wondered if Lenny could smell fear. If so, the scent would be overpowering in those two rooms, and mixed with the dank staleness he was forced to inhale, a feeling of nausea began to rise in his belly.

Gareth answered Lenny, his voice indistinct. “No, I don’t want anything.”

Lenny looked him in the eye and said, “You look a bit green around the gills, mate. Best get used to the situation and do what you’re told.” He paused and checked his wallet for money before continuing. “Then maybe you’ll come out of this okay— still breathing at least.”

Gareth sat down at the rickety table and tried to breathe deeply. Lenny stuck his gun in the waist of his pants then threw his jacket over one shoulder. He headed for the door, turned, and told Gareth he would be back within an hour. Lenny locked eyes with him in an icy stare before yanking the door open, walking out and slamming it behind him.

There wasn’t a sound from the room beyond the arched opening. In spite of hoping it would stay that way, Gareth was curious. Rising from the rickety chair he walked softly to where he could see into the room without being seen himself. What he saw made his heart sink. Both women were asleep on mattresses that lay on the floor, each woman with one arm extended uncomfortably to accommodate the chains binding them to the radiator and bed frame. Olivia was pale, much more pale than normal for her fair skin. Strands of the dark red hair that had so attracted him seemed pasted across her face, the remainder tangled and dull. Her body was partially covered by a thin blanket. He could see that her clothing was spotted and rumpled.

In the other corner of the room Olivia’s friend was hanging partially off the top end of her mattress in order to let her arm bend. She was handcuffed to the radiator, head resting on her wadded-up blanket. She was also pale. Her mouth hung open and her breaths were slow and deep. Her clothing and short hair were both disheveled.

From the look of them Gareth was sure both women had to be in some sort of physical distress, perhaps dehydration. Lack of fluids could make them lethargic, weak and pale. Perhaps sleep was their only escape from the helplessness they felt. In a wakeful state they were part of a real nightmare. He was sure they had no expectation of escaping their bonds, or of living to tell the story. They had seen Lenny’s face, and soon they would see his. Gareth was torn between the love for his brother and a woman he cared about. He hoped that the email he had sent regarding the women’s location had reached the right person, and that some action was being taken. But he couldn’t tell Olivia what he’d done, couldn’t give them both hope that could easily be false. The information had to be sent, even if it put him in danger from both sides. If something good came from his actions, at least Lenny and his pals weren’t smart enough to figure out that the clue had come from him. His situation was impossible, and either way, he couldn’t see how he would live with the outcome of either choice.

Olivia began to stir. Once awake she reached for her bucket and pulled it close to her. Gareth stepped back out of the doorway before she could see him. She stood with knees bent and began to work her leggings down as best she could with one hand. He stood quietly, waiting for her to finish the awkward process. Valerie continued to sleep until Olivia called out in an effort to rouse her. She sat up bleary eyed and