Escapade (9781301744510) by Carroll Susan

Author:Carroll, Susan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: new york city
Publisher: Smashwords

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Zeke Morrison felt as if the top of his skull were going to explode. But considering the pain that thundered like the strokes of a hundred hammers, the loss of his head might prove a blessing. For what seemed an eternity he had been conscious of nothing but mind-numbing agony, mists of darkness webbing his eyes the few times he tried to open them. The effort to do so had proved so great, he had given over trying.

But slowly the pain receded enough to allow him awareness of other things—the feel of silk beneath his cheek, the heavy odor of cheap perfume, so strong it made him want to retch. He remembered enough to know he had sprawled out on Rory's sofa to spend the night. But such a cloying scent had nothing to do with the riot of springtime, the freshness that was Aurora Rose. Something wasn't right.

He managed to raise his hand to his head, flinching as his fingers came in contact with a huge knot swelling on his scalp. He eased his eyes open, a fraction at a time. All was a dizzying blur, but eventually the room stopped spinning. He was surrounded not by the cozy warmth of Rory's parlor, but an atmosphere far different.

Moth-eaten velvet curtains blocked out most of the light, for which Zeke was grateful. His gaze roved around the chamber, taking in the tawdry flocked wallpaper, the cheap gilt trim on the bedposts and dresser. Somehow it all fit well with the stink of the perfume.

Zeke blinked in recognition, not of this particular place, but of similar establishments he had frequented. He knew a bedroom in a brothel when he saw one.

He could almost hear the echo of Sadie's voice scolding. Johnnie, why must you have anything to do with bad girls like those?

"This time, lady, I swear I'm innocent," Zeke murmured. How had he come to be here? Not by his own power, of that he was certain. He couldn't even remember leaving Rory's flat.

He shifted on the lumpy mattress, his head throbbing with the effort to remember. It had been too warm in Rory's parlor. He had opened the window, climbed up to the roof.

The roof! Footsteps behind him, the thug with the jagged scar, the heavy club crashing down- it all came back to Zeke in a blinding flash.

Attacked by the same man twice in one night? It made no sense. Obviously, the scarred man had trailed Zeke to Rory's flat and lurked in the street below, waiting for him to leave. When Zeke had climbed up to the roof, the thug must have spotted him and followed. In Zeke's experience, pickpurses usually weren't so persistent. He didn't know what this was all about. He was only sure of one thing—he had to get out of here.

Zeke struggled to raise himself. But at that moment, he heard the scrape of a heavy boot, the chink of a key as someone unlocked the bedchamber door.

Too weak to risk further conflict, Zeke felt it might be better to lie still.

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