Read Online Burn District 1 by Suzanne Jenkins - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Suzanne Jenkins
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in spite of the sadness. Katherine had encouraged him to go.
“Why hang around, miserable? Go. We don’t need you to hold our hands.” Victor was proud of her and supported her, waving him off.
Lexie was a different story. Paralyzed by what had happened to her the evening of their Sunday dinner, she hadn’t left the house since. A double whammy, he was guilty for both Miranda’s murder and Lexie’s traumatization. Grateful that Katherine wasn’t blaming him, he knew it was just a matter of time before she woke up out of her trance and unloaded on him.
The liquor was in the dining room, so he went there to pour himself a scotch. The streetlights usually cast a dim yellow light over this room, but tonight it was so black he had to switch a light on, bending over to look out the window first. The light was out. And then when he flipped the switch, nothing happened. A strong hand pressed over his mouth and an arm got him in a chokehold, strong enough to pull him off his feet. The choking sensation was so painful; he wet himself a little bit, but was able to stop it before he soaked his pajama bottoms.
Dragged through the dining room, across the hall to his office he didn’t struggle or try to yell, afraid the noise would alert Katherine or Lexie. His tongue rammed against his teeth, the pain was awful and he started gagging, the assailant easing up. “Puke on me and you’re a dead man,” he growled. Once inside his office, a flashlight went on and his beautiful daughter, Miranda was standing in front of him, smoothing his cheeks with her hands.
“Daddy, Daddy,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. Let him go, Alex.” Strong hands that hurt released him, gently holding on to his arms, offering tender support as Victor tried not to collapse under the shock of discovering she was alive. It wasn’t easy. He stifled a sob as he grabbed her, holding her to his chest.
“Mandy, you’re alive,” he whispered, unbelieving. “What happened?”
“First, you need to promise me you are going to stay calm. Promise me, Daddy.”
“I promise,” Victor replied.
“You need to go upstairs and get Mommy now, quickly. We haven’t much time. Get her and Lexie. They need to dress and get down here right away. Danny is already out in the truck, waiting. Go now.” Victor paused long enough to notice the man who’d grabbed him from behind was no longer there. Miranda turned off the light and stood in the darkness.
Running up the stairs, Victor went to Lexie’s room first. He gently shook her.
“Lexie, Lexie, wake up,” he said urgently. He put his hand gently over her mouth and whispered, “Shhh.”
“Lexie, Mandy is alive. She is waiting downstairs for us. You mustn’t say a word. Get dressed right away and get down to my office. Do you hear what I’m saying?” He looked at her terrified eyes, and she nodded her head.
“I’m going to wake up your mother now, so I need you to do as I ask.” He moved his hand away and she nodded, understanding after what she’d been through, this seemed like a natural next step. He left without saying anything further, hopeful she’d follow his orders.
Katherine wasn’t going to be as easy. She struggled against his hand. “What are you talking about?”
“Just keep it down, dear. If the neighbors hear anything and call the police, Miranda could really be in trouble. She’s waiting for you, so you need to come now.”
“Miranda’s downstairs?” Victor nodded his head.
“Danny’s waiting out in their car. Hurry,” he whispered. Pulling his jeans on over his damp underpants, he grabbed a shirt and his wallet, wondering if they were leaving for good, if he should take a toothbrush, or tell Katherine to bring her make up bag.
Lexie was already on the stairs, running toward her sister. The reunion was heartbreaking, both girls holding each other, but in minutes when Katherine appeared and had her turn, they were pushed out the door. Miranda had his laptop
“Why hang around, miserable? Go. We don’t need you to hold our hands.” Victor was proud of her and supported her, waving him off.
Lexie was a different story. Paralyzed by what had happened to her the evening of their Sunday dinner, she hadn’t left the house since. A double whammy, he was guilty for both Miranda’s murder and Lexie’s traumatization. Grateful that Katherine wasn’t blaming him, he knew it was just a matter of time before she woke up out of her trance and unloaded on him.
The liquor was in the dining room, so he went there to pour himself a scotch. The streetlights usually cast a dim yellow light over this room, but tonight it was so black he had to switch a light on, bending over to look out the window first. The light was out. And then when he flipped the switch, nothing happened. A strong hand pressed over his mouth and an arm got him in a chokehold, strong enough to pull him off his feet. The choking sensation was so painful; he wet himself a little bit, but was able to stop it before he soaked his pajama bottoms.
Dragged through the dining room, across the hall to his office he didn’t struggle or try to yell, afraid the noise would alert Katherine or Lexie. His tongue rammed against his teeth, the pain was awful and he started gagging, the assailant easing up. “Puke on me and you’re a dead man,” he growled. Once inside his office, a flashlight went on and his beautiful daughter, Miranda was standing in front of him, smoothing his cheeks with her hands.
“Daddy, Daddy,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. Let him go, Alex.” Strong hands that hurt released him, gently holding on to his arms, offering tender support as Victor tried not to collapse under the shock of discovering she was alive. It wasn’t easy. He stifled a sob as he grabbed her, holding her to his chest.
“Mandy, you’re alive,” he whispered, unbelieving. “What happened?”
“First, you need to promise me you are going to stay calm. Promise me, Daddy.”
“I promise,” Victor replied.
“You need to go upstairs and get Mommy now, quickly. We haven’t much time. Get her and Lexie. They need to dress and get down here right away. Danny is already out in the truck, waiting. Go now.” Victor paused long enough to notice the man who’d grabbed him from behind was no longer there. Miranda turned off the light and stood in the darkness.
Running up the stairs, Victor went to Lexie’s room first. He gently shook her.
“Lexie, Lexie, wake up,” he said urgently. He put his hand gently over her mouth and whispered, “Shhh.”
“Lexie, Mandy is alive. She is waiting downstairs for us. You mustn’t say a word. Get dressed right away and get down to my office. Do you hear what I’m saying?” He looked at her terrified eyes, and she nodded her head.
“I’m going to wake up your mother now, so I need you to do as I ask.” He moved his hand away and she nodded, understanding after what she’d been through, this seemed like a natural next step. He left without saying anything further, hopeful she’d follow his orders.
Katherine wasn’t going to be as easy. She struggled against his hand. “What are you talking about?”
“Just keep it down, dear. If the neighbors hear anything and call the police, Miranda could really be in trouble. She’s waiting for you, so you need to come now.”
“Miranda’s downstairs?” Victor nodded his head.
“Danny’s waiting out in their car. Hurry,” he whispered. Pulling his jeans on over his damp underpants, he grabbed a shirt and his wallet, wondering if they were leaving for good, if he should take a toothbrush, or tell Katherine to bring her make up bag.
Lexie was already on the stairs, running toward her sister. The reunion was heartbreaking, both girls holding each other, but in minutes when Katherine appeared and had her turn, they were pushed out the door. Miranda had his laptop
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