Chapter Twelve: Choices
The thought that someone had actually had a key to the apartment made Brian extremely uncomfortable. “Maybe we’re really jumping to conclusions now,” he said with a frown.
“Under the circumstances, isn’t that the best way to find the truth?” Honey asked. “Have a theory and then try to test it?”
“Very scientific,” Brian said approvingly. “Okay, so what would it mean if they did have a key?”
“Well, they’d have to have access to you or to Jim to get one, wouldn’t they?” Honey’s brow wrinkled. “You haven’t lost a key since you got here, have you?”
“No, of course not. Surely you know us both well enough to know that we’d probably change the locks if we actually lost a key?”
“Sorry, I should have thought of that. You don’t even have to know you both all that well to know how responsible you are.”
“Right,” Brian agreed slowly. “So, anyone who was planning something like this might figure that out.”
“I guess so,” Honey said. “But does that make any difference?”
“Neither of us has lost our keys, but a couple of times we’ve had trouble finding them. Both times they turned up a couple of hours later, so we really didn’t give it much thought. It probably would have given someone time to have one cut.”
“Where did you lose them?” Honey asked.
“The first time we were at home and the second time it was at college.”
“So, that almost definitely means someone you know well enough to speak to,” Honey mused.
“Maybe, I mean there are heaps of people we see around college, but don’t have much to do with, and as for home, well, most of the tenants are at least at the college, even if they’re not in the same course. Any one of them could have grabbed the keys, if they’d been visiting. We even could have left them in the door while we were doing something and someone distracted us. I mean we’re careful, but not that careful.”
“I can see that happening to Trixie and I rather than you and Jim, but I suppose you could be right. We haven’t really narrowed it down at all.” Honey sounded despondent.
Brian shook his head. “I don’t agree. Last night we had no idea, now we’re fairly sure we’ve had some kind of contact with them, and that they managed to get keys to the apartment. The more I think about it, the more likely that seems. A few times lately, Jim and I have noticed things not being where we left them, but I guess we each kind of figured the other one was absentminded.”
“You mean they’ve been in your apartment, going through your things?” Honey grimaced. “That’s awful.”
“But they would have gotten used to the layout. Plus, they may have read letters or checked our diaries.”
Honey flushed at the thought of someone reading her letters, especially those she wrote to Brian. They were private.
As the afternoon wore on, Brian and Honey were glad they had not consumed the entire contents of their tray for breakfast. When Brian checked his watch around four, it became clear that there was nothing on the menu for lunch, and he suggested they share half the remaining coffee and a piece of bread; Honey readily agreed. They sipped and chewed slowly, savouring each mouthful.
“I never realised how often I eat without even thinking about it,” Honey said.
“I guess we all do,” Brian agreed. “But in our country, or I should say, in our families, we’ve never really had to think about it all that much.”
“It must be awful to be hungry all the time. So many people are.” Honey shook her head. “We’re so lucky.”
Brian spluttered the coffee he had just sipped, and Honey grabbed his arm, her face concerned.
“Are you all right?”
Brian nodded as he recovered his composure. “I’m sorry, Honey, really I am, but I couldn’t help it. It’s just so like you.”
“What is?” Honey asked, genuinely confused.
“We’re so lucky!” Brian began to splutter again.
“Well, we are,” Honey began, then she too, began to smile. “Okay, fine, you have a point. Maybe today, and even yesterday, we aren’t or weren’t quite so lucky.” She wrinkled her nose. “Gosh, I must have sounded like I’d lost my mind.”
“No,” Brian cried and hugged her. “It’s just one of the things I love about you. You always think about other people, even when you’re in a really tough situation.”
Honey blushed. “Thanks, but I was pretty scared last night and pretty preoccupied with us, if you want to know the truth.”
“Only a fool wouldn’t feel like that, Honey, but you seem to be doing okay.”
Honey shrugged. “I guess it’s partly because it makes a real difference being able to see where we are, and I know we have to use it carefully, but that little battery lamp they brought in will really help.” The darkness made things so much worse. “Also, if they really wanted to hurt us, they probably would have done so by now, wouldn’t they?”
Brian nodded vigorously. “I think you’re right. I wish we could get out of here, but I don’t think we’re in any immediate mortal danger.”
“No, we’re just bruised, kidnapped, trapped and half-starved,” Honey said, keeping her face serious.
Brian took the teasing good-naturedly. “Fair enough; I deserved that.”
“I can’t help thinking about Trixie and Jim, and about the rest of the Bob-Whites, and our parents. They must be so worried.”
“Of course they’ll be worried and I wish we could let them know that we’re okay, but we can’t. At least we know they have one another.”
Honey was about to reply when there were footsteps in the corridor, and the door opened.
Lee entered and he crossed the room, regarding the captives with amusement. “You have taken your time with your victuals, haven’t you? Worried there won’t be any more?” He glanced behind him as if to speak to someone, and his expression changed as he realised the door had not caught behind him. Brian and Honey had already noticed this, and Brian leaped to his feet and charged the other man.
“Run, Honey!” he shouted
Honey obeyed without even thinking and ran from the room. Lee’s furious bellow followed her. “Where are you? She’s getting away,” he screamed, desperately trying to fight Brian off.
Honey ran down the corridor her heart and mind racing. I’ve got to get help, she thought, even as every fibre of her being made her wish she could turn around and go back to Brian. As she ran, looking for some sign of an exit, there was more yelling, and then footsteps, pounding in the corridors behind her. She opened and closed doors to no avail. She saw a flight of stairs that rose to the left of her and flew up them. To her amazement, faint light showed above her, and she raced up the last few stairs to the top, where a bolted door was flanked on both sides by deep metal cupboards. Her fingers trembled as she struggled with the stiff bolt. She glanced over her shoulder, expecting to see one of her captors, instead, much to her surprise, she felt the bolt give way, wrenched the door open and stood facing freedom. Why she hesitated, Honey could never clearly put into words, but suddenly the silence was broken by:
“Where are you, little rich girl? Didn’t Daddy tell you that it’s not nice to leave a party early?”
The long-dreaded footsteps were approaching now. She knew she should run, but she couldn’t. Honey jerked one of the cupboards open. It was almost pitch black inside, but Honey jammed her body as far into its inky corner as she could. She virtually held her breath and hoped the sound of heart pounding wasn’t as loud as it seemed to her.
“No! No bloody way!” Neil almost screamed as he saw the open door. He ran through it, but the sound of a car speeding off drove him back inside where he re-bolted the door. “I am gonna make Belden pay for this. When I’m finished with him, she won’t even recognise him.” He turned and ran back down the stairs, shouting as he headed back toward the others.
Honey forced herself to count to ten before coming out of the cupboard. She stood, almost completely still, knowing she should unbolt the door again and run, but how could she? He was going to hurt Brian. Swiftly, she unfastened the necklace Brian had given her, opened the door, and threw her treasured gift into the yard. There was a chance, a tiny chance that someone may see it. She closed and re-bolted the door. Slowly, she made her way down the stairs, in the distance there were sounds, terrible sounds, and in spite of her fear, she hurried toward them.
“Yell all you want, she’s gone,” shouted Neil. “She just left you for dead.”
Brian’s reply was inaudible but the groan that followed wasn’t. There were several thumps and more moans from Brian.
“Stop it! You’ll kill him!” The voice Honey recognized as belonging to Ken shrieked
“Don’t mind if I do,” Neil said, and Brian cried out in pain.
“Get away! Get away from him!” Honey burst into the room and flung herself on top of Neil, scratching, punching and kicking.
It was difficult to say who was more surprised. Her attack forced Lee, who had been holding Brian, to release his grip, and the two slumped to the floor. Neil struggled against the furious girl and yelled to Ken
“Shoot her, for God’s sake!”
Ken, gun still in hand, watched in amazement, but made no move to obey. Lee recovered first; he pushed Brian aside and dragged a still-kicking Honey away from Neil.
Neil slowly got to his feet and walked over to where Lee was holding Honey. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and slapped the girl across the face.
Brian, bloodied and barely able to move, struggled valiantly to get to his feet. “Leave her alone!” he shouted.
Honey said nothing, just glared at Neil, whose neck, arms and hands were red and scratched.
“I think our guests need some time alone,” Lee said finally.
“Why didn’t you shoot?” Neil demanded, stalking up to Ken.
“I could just have easily hit you, you know,” Ken replied sullenly.
“He’s right,” Lee said. “Let’s get out of here.”
“We need something to clean Brian’s wounds,” Honey said, eyes defiant.
“Forget it, you–” Neil began.
“I’ll bring you something,” Ken said at the same time.
Neil started to challenge him, but Lee intervened.
“I reckon they’ve earned a little something,” he said, with an almost grudging respect. “If you’d come in behind me, like you were supposed to, she’d have never got away.”
Neil flushed. “ I forgot something. Anyway, she didn’t really get away. I figured I’d have some fun with pretty boy here before she realised there was no way out”
Honey started to speak and changed her mind.
“Yeah, well you were lucky she didn’t go the other way, weren’t you?”
Neil looked uncomfortable and he avoided both Lee and Honey’s gazes. “Whatever,” he mumbled. “I still enjoyed laying into him.” He nodded toward Brian.
“I’ll send in some hot water, but,” Lee tightened his grip on Honey’s arm. “Don’t try that again. Next time, we will shoot him.”
As soon as they left, Honey dropped to her knees, taking hold of her friend’s hand. “Oh, Brian,” she cried, reaching her other hand out to touch his bruised and battered face.
Brian found it difficult to move and his eyelids fluttered as he tried to focus his thoughts. “I was so sure you’d get away,” he sounded disappointed, almost angry. “You should have tried to hide at least.”
Honey sniffed, knowing she should tell him the truth, but somehow unable to. “I’m sorry, but how could I let them do that to you?” A tear spilled down her cheek as she spoke, and Brian relented, reaching up his hand to gently wipe it away.
“What a girl you are, Honey Wheeler. Remind me never to get on the wrong side of you.”
“As if you ever could,” Honey said, fighting a desire to sob her heart out.
“I don’t feel so good,” Brian admitted, with a wan smile, as he allowed her to cradle him against her.
The sound of the door opening made the two cling even more tightly to one another. Lee and Ken entered, but this time Ken carried the tray and Lee held the gun. Ken placed the tray on the floor next to the two captives.
“There’s some warm water and antiseptic, as well as some tea and crackers,” he said, his voice sounding more normal. Lee motioned for him to leave but at the door Ken turned to face Honey and Brian. “There’s sugar for the tea too; it sounds like an old wives tale, but hot sweet tea is good for shock, you know, have some.” A moment later he and Lee were gone.
Honey’s hand shook as she poured tea and spooned sugar into it. She held the cup to Brian’s lips and he managed a couple sips.
“Now you,” he insisted.
Honey took a sip of the hot sweet beverage, and then another, before offering more to her friend. After the pair had consumed most of the cup between them, she picked up one of the clean cloths, dipped it in the water, and began to gently dab at Brian’s face.
He couldn’t help but wince slightly as she applied the antiseptic, but her fingers were soft and careful, and gradually, Brian began to feel a little better.
“What about you?” he asked, fingering the red mark on her cheek where Neil had struck her.
“It’s nothing.” Honey shook her head. “I’m fine. You’re the one I’m worried about. You need proper medical attention.”
“Nurse Wheeler suits me just fine.” Brian managed a weak grin. “Has anyone told you that you have a terrific bedside manner?”
“Once or twice,” Honey replied, valiantly joining his attempt to lighten the mood.
“Who exactly?” Brian demanded only half-jokingly. He wasn’t too keen on the idea of Honey offering anyone else her ministrations.
“Oh, I’m not sure I can remember all of their names,” Honey teased as she poured more tea. She handed Brian a cracker, and he bit into it carefully.
“You need some too,” he said.
“I guess I should, though I don’t feel very hungry.” She selected a cracker and ate it slowly.
Brian laughed suddenly, and Honey regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
“Sorry,” he said. “But I was going to say you should eat, because we need our strength.” He laughed again. “What an understatement.”
“Maybe,” Honey agreed with a small smile of her own. “But that doesn’t stop it from being true.” She picked up the plate. “Have another cracker.”
MBW:MAIN NEXT
Author's notes: Dana continues to edit with style, flair, talent and compassion- I am beholden. All misses and messes are mine.
Word count: 2510
Disclaimer: Trixie et al belong to Random House and not to me. No profit is being made from these scribblings.
