No Escape by Shannon K. Butcher

Author:Shannon K. Butcher [Butcher, Shannon K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-09-14T23:43:42+00:00

Amanda’s home was dark when she pulled in to the cracked driveway that was now closer to gravel than concrete. The scent of old cooking oil clung to her uniform and hair, making her stomach turn.

She’d lost too much weight since she’d left Bobby, but too much worry and not enough time to eat had taken its toll. She’d thought the worst was over—that she was finally getting back on her feet.

And now this.

If she left town—assuming her car would even get her that far—all her hard work and meager savings would be gone in days. There was no friend she could stay with. She’d lied to Isabelle because the truth was too humiliating. Bobby had torn her away from every friend she’d ever had in an effort to isolate and control her. And God help her, she’d let him, thinking it might bring them closer, might make him happy.

Amanda’s head dropped to the steering wheel with a thud. She was so tired. Worn too thin. A sad, secret part of her almost wished for it all to end so she could finally rest.

If it weren’t for Rachel, Amanda was pretty sure she would have saved the killer the trouble by now and taken care of the job herself.

But she did have Rachel, so she kept going even though she was numb with fatigue, struggling for every breath while simultaneously wondering why she bothered.

Amanda locked her car out of habit, even though no one would want it, and went inside.

Her babysitter, Nicole, was asleep on the couch. The goth clothes and overdone makeup looked ridiculous on her, but she was a good kid, and Amanda didn’t exactly have a lot of choices for child care in her neighborhood.

She gave Nicole’s shoulder a gentle shake. “Wake up. I’m home.”

The teen’s brown eyes opened and she shoved her purple hair out of her face. “You’re home early.”

“Yeah. I wasn’t feeling well.” At least it wasn’t a lie. “Go on home, and thanks for watching Rachel for me.”

Nicole grabbed her backpack and shambled out the door. “Why is there a cop car out here?”

Amanda looked past Nicole, and sure enough, a police car was parked out in front of her house. The officers inside saw her and nodded.

Isabelle’s doing, no doubt. Amanda was sure of it.

“I don’t know,” lied Amanda. “Guess the police are just patrolling the area.”

Amanda stood on the porch and watched Nicole, making sure she got home safe and sound. The neighborhood wasn’t horrible, but it got worse each year. A lot like her life.

When Nicole disappeared behind her front door, Amanda went back inside, stifling a sigh of defeat. Her house was a wreck. Bills and junk mail littered every horizontal surface. Laundry was piled in one corner, waiting for her to find time to get to it. There was a sinkful of dishes and a nearly empty pantry she didn’t have the money to fill.

If she left, it wasn’t as if she’d be leaving much behind. A few belongings.

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