'Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

Author:Jacqueline Frost
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Chapter Thirteen

I patted the ground, in search of whatever I’d tripped over, and came to my feet with what felt like a pipe. I left the broken bottle behind. My arms trembled from fear and exertion, but adrenaline had come to the rescue. I wouldn’t make it easy for whoever eventually came through that door for me, and I was tired of being scared and helpless.

My illuminated phone screen made a small cone of light in the darkness, and I turned it toward the entrance. Only one way in or out, and I was gathering up the nerve to bust my way out. Because staying inside the glass barn meant I was prey.

I propped the phone against a box, then marched forward with nothing but determination and hardheadedness. If whoever had shut me in had wanted to hurt me, they would have by now. They hadn’t. So they’d just wanted to scare the coffee out of me. Mission Accomplished.

Now I had a goal. I needed to get to my truck without injury or abduction.

I stalked ahead on aching, fatigued legs, dragging the length of the metal behind me until I was close enough to kick the door open and reach anyone in my way with the large, improvised bat.

A wide shaft of light suddenly flooded under the door. The thing that had sealed me into darkness had been removed. It seemed my assailant and I were on the same page. It was time to open the door. I hefted the pipe in my hands and gave myself a silent countdown.

The door opened, and I swung.

“Ah!” The looming figure before me ducked, barely dodging my blow. “Hey, hey, hey.” Ray’s voice projected from the big silhouette, backlit by the mega-white snow and beautiful sun.

I froze, blinking against the blast of gleaming sunlight.

“It’s me,” he said, stepping closer as I began to tremble violently. Ray took the pipe from my hands and tossed it aside. “I’m here. You’re okay.”

He wrapped me in long, strong arms, and I collapsed against him, tears flooding my cheeks and sobs racking my chest. He pulled me in close, letting his cheek rest on the top of my head while I lost my mind. “Someone laid a two-by-four in front of the door,” he said. “Why would anyone do that? It wasn’t heavy, and the door wasn’t locked.”

“It blocked out all the light,” I said, wiping frantically at my eyes. I hadn’t truly been trapped. Someone had just wanted me to think I was. “It was terrifying. Did you see anyone?”

“No.”

The bark of a siren startled me, but Ray held me tight.

“Sorry,” he said. “I called Evan the minute I got here. You asked me not to hang up, but I had to. I didn’t know what I would find … if you’d be hurt … if the killer would still be here. There were too many what-ifs. Don’t be mad.”

I squeezed his middle and rolled my head to the side, pressed my hot, wet cheek against his cool, slick coat.

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