Part 60 (2/2)
”I know.”
The way she said it, Lyle believed her.
”You've got to do better than that,” Jack said.
He took a step toward her but stopped when the dog growled.
Her eyes flashed at him. ”Have I not warned you about this house and its dangers for you and your woman? Have I not? And neither of you listened!”
Why didn't I know about this? Lyle thought.
”Yeah, you did. And obviously we should have. So what? I-told-you-so doesn't solve the problem. If you know so much, what's going on in there?”
”Your woman and her baby are in grave danger.”
Baby? Was Gia pregnant? Lyle saw Jack blanch. He looked frightened, something Lyle hadn't thought possible.
”How do-? Never mind. What kind of danger? Why?”
”The why why does not matter because the does not matter because the why why has changed. But the danger is mortal.” has changed. But the danger is mortal.”
Lyle's mouth went dry. ”Charlie too?”
She didn't look at him. ”Anyone in that house now is in danger.”
How could she know all this-any of it? She could be wrong or just plain crazy.
Jack seemed to have bought it. He was turning in a circle, his hands raised and balled into fists. He looked ready to explode.
”Got to be a way in. Got to!”
The woman's eyes remained fixed on Jack. She paid Lyle no more heed than a piece of furniture.
”You cannot break in, and no one inside can break out. You must be allowed allowed in or out.” in or out.”
”Allowed? How do we arrange that?”
”I do not know for certain. Perhaps by offering the ent.i.ty something she wants more than your woman.”
Jack said nothing, just stood and stared at the woman.
”Name it,” Lyle told her. This was Charlie, his brother at risk here too. The sky was the limit. ”Whatever it is we can use to trade, name it and we'll do our d.a.m.nedest to get it.”
”It's not an it,” Jack said. He started for the door with a strange light in his eyes, almost like glee, yet disturbingly malevolent. It made Lyle want to back away. ”It's a he. And I know who. Let's go.”
Lyle had a sudden inspiration as to who that ”he” might be and was very glad he was not him.
11.
”You all right?” Charlie said from where he sprawled next to her.
Gia had landed on her left leg harder than her right and it hurt. She pulled it under her and tried to stand, leaning against the dirt wall at her back for support. It held.
”I think so.” She brushed off her jeans. ”How about you?”
Charlie stood easily. ”Fine.”
Light filtered down from above. Gia looked up. She could see the panels of the cellar ceiling, but all around her was dirt. She and Charlie had dropped into a well-like pit maybe a dozen feet deep and half that across.
She fought a surge of panic as the walls seemed to tilt toward her and move in. She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth to let the moment pa.s.s. She'd never been claustrophobic, but she'd never been tossed into an oubliette before either.
”Tara?” she called. Her fear-dry throat made it sound more like a croak than a name. ”Tara!”
No reply.
”Tara, why are you doing this to us? We never hurt you. We can help bring your killer to justice. Please let us out!”
Only silence from above.
Gia's heart pounded as she ran her hands over the smooth circular wall. The dirt was hard packed, with no ridges or depressions for handholds.
She glanced at Charlie. His wild-eyed gaze darted up and around and back. He licked his lips as he placed his sneakered right foot against the wall, then stretched out his arms and placed both hands against the opposite side. When he raised his left foot and put it next to his right, he was arched across the pit. Now he started inching his hands and feet upward toward light and freedom.
But after half a foot or so his hands slipped off the wall and he fell, landing on all fours like a cat. Without a word he tried again, with the same result.
He stood and leaned against the wall, head back, eyes closed, breathing hard.
”Lord, give me the strength for this, I pray you. Please.”
He tried again and this time advanced maybe a foot before falling. He sat hunched against the wall, knees up, head down, the picture of dejection.
”If the walls was just one foot closer-half a foot, even-I could slam it. I know I could.”
”It's okay,” Gia said softly. ”You gave it your best shot.”
”Not good enough.” He stood and looked at her. ”We trapped.”
Gia glanced up and thought about standing on Charlie's shoulders. But even then she'd be short of the upper rim.
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