Fingering the Family Jewels by Greg Lilly

Author:Greg Lilly [Lilly, Greg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Struggling free, I scrambled up the porch stairs to the door. The knob wouldn’t turn. My keys?

Back against the door, I struggled to see in the shadowy darkness. My elbow slid up the doorjamb attempting to locate the doorbell to summon Ruby. Nothing moved in the yard or driveway. Finally, I felt the button with my elbow and jabbed at it.

I waited.

Leaves rustled in the oak; I scanned the limbs for a noose, something hanging from the tree — nothing. Was it a panic attack? The specter of Mr. Sams? My heart thundered in my ears, but I couldn’t pick out any sound from inside the house; no lights flicked on to indicate Ruby heard me. I hit the doorbell several more times. I surveyed the neighborhood for other signs of life; every dark house had black lifeless windows staring at me. A glint of silver caught my attention in the driveway — my keys.

Easing my way back down the four steps of the porch, I stayed alert, ready to fight. I stopped and glanced around the darkness. A shimmer of light hit the side of the house; headlights scanned the front yard as a car came to the stop sign at the corner. It turned and drove past the driveway. The encouragement of another person so close allowed me to run for my keys. As the taillights faded in the distance, I found the door key and headed back up the porch.

With a watchful eye on the darkened shrubs and trees, hiding places for evil, I fumbled with the lock. I took a deep breath and steadied my hand; the door opened and I slid in, locking the deadbolt quickly behind me.

The blinds had not been closed in the den, and the television flickered the late night infomercials of faded celebrities. I walked into the kitchen to find a pitcher of iced tea sweating on the counter and a plate of half-eaten chicken in the sink. The brick Ruby used as a doorstop held the dining room door open. She always closed that door when it started getting dark. I eased through it and found the front door standing open. Ruby!

I ran back to the bedroom, “Ruby!” I yelled. “Ruby!” All the blinds hung open, no lights on, and her bed still neatly made. “Ruby!”

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