Part 6 (1/2)
”I have a locked room for her, grates on the windows. So far, I haven't lost anyone.”
”She thinks she'll have help.”
”You made sure you weren't followed?”
”In that fog, it would've taken Rudolph to follow us.”
Dr. Miles grinned. ”Any red noses in the rearview mirror?”
”Not a one.”
”We should be all right, then. n.o.body knows where she is except you and her parents.”
”They'll know,” Alice said from the floor.
”She thinks they'll find her through telepathy.”
”I'd say that's remote.”
”Hope so,” Dukane said. ”Laveda's gang believes in all sorts of hogwash, but if they have any special power, I haven't seen it in action. I observed one of their meetings, infiltrated it, even had contact with Laveda herself. If she's some kind of mind reader, I think she would've known I didn't belong. She acted as if I were just another member of the group. They all did. So I think their magic is a lot of talk, not much else. It's a dangerous bunch, though. They think they've got a handle on magical powers, so they act as if they do. They're basically fearless, think they're invulnerable.”
”We are,” Alice said. She sat up, crossed her legs, and looked up at them, smirking.
”They do fear burning.”
”Fire,” said Dr. Miles, ”has traditionally been a.s.sociated with purification. I've dealt with satanists who actually exhibit a phobic response to it.”
”There's something else I should tell you. They practice human sacrifice. I saw a young woman murdered at their meeting. The others drank her blood. Even Alice, here.”
Dr. Miles stiffened slightly.
”So it's a blood thirsty group.”
”You could be in a great deal of danger if they do find out, somehow, that Alice is here.”
”Well...”
”It might be wise for me to stick around.”
”I'm sure that won't be necessary.”
”I'd feel easier about it.”
”I don't think you realize-the process could take weeks, depending on the depth of her conditioning. Besides, I really don't imagine there's much cause for concern. Her location's secret. As for telepathy, I agree with you that it's hogwash. I've been involved with these matters for several years, and haven't lost a patient yet.”
”All right,” Dukane said. He felt a bit rebuffed, and realized his offer had been motivated by more than simple concern for her safety. He was attracted to her, wanted to spend more time in her presence. ”Well, I'll check in occasionally.”
”Better that you don't. We wouldn't want to compromise her location.”
”What ever you say. But be careful, all right?”
”I always am.”
”For all the good it'll do,” said Alice.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
Lacey woke up, and wished she hadn't. She lay on her back, eyes shut. Her arms, stretched overhead, were numb. Moving slightly, she felt a sheet beneath her. She wasn't covered: a mild breeze stirred against her skin, probably from the window above her bed.
She tried to lower her arms, but a tightness around the wrists held them in place. They were tied.
She moved her feet. They, at least, were free.
She licked her lips. No gag.
But she was blindfolded. She could feel it. She tried to open her eyes, but couldn't raise the lids. From the sticky stiffness against them, she guessed they were taped shut.
Lying motionless, she listened. The only sound in the bedroom was the hum of her electric clock. Through the open window came sounds of birds, a car door banging shut, a power mower somewhere in the distance.
So it's morning.
And I told James I wouldn't be coming in. Neat play. Somebody'd come by to check on me, if I hadn't told him that.
Just as well. This maniac would only kill him.
If he's here!
Lacey realized, with a dizzying sense of relief, that he might very well have departed-tied her up, took her car, and headed for distant places. Why not?
Because, as David Horowitz always says, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
He's still here. Probably watching me right this second. Does he know I'm awake?
Lacey tried to breathe slowly and deeply, feigning sleep.
What does he want? she wondered. Why the h.e.l.l hasn't he killed me like he did the others? Don't worry, he probably will.
Unless I get him first.
Fat chance.
You can't kill a man you never see.
She hadn't spotted him in the car, though he'd been in the backseat on her way home from Hoffman's. She and Cliff had missed him when they searched the house-unless he sneaked in later.