The Woman Beneath the Stairs by Christopher Greyson

Author:Christopher Greyson [Greyson, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Ally quietly closed the cellar door and hurried down the stairs. She crossed the basement, setting the food and water bottle on the floor. After moving the stack of screens, she gathered her supplies in her arms and opened the wine cellar door.

Ally ground her teeth when she realized her mistake. She'd left the main light on. If the kidnapper had returned, they would have known someone else had been there. “It's me, Ally,” she whispered.

Kim's chain clinked as she leaned forward. “You came back?” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I thought I may have dreamed you.”

Ally set the food on the bench and pointed at the closest light in the ceiling. “I forgot to shut that off. Did anyone come in?”

“No one. Is that food? Can I please have a drink? I'm so thirsty.”

Ally opened the water bottle and gave it to Kim. She drank like she'd just crossed the desert. Water poured down her chin.

“Small sips,” Ally said.

Kim gasped for air. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“Give me your right hand.” Ally picked up the saw.

“Can I have some food?”

Ally ripped the top off the Tupperware and handed Kim the fork. It was awkward with her left hand shackled, but Kim dug into the tortellini.

Ally examined the shackles. The metal band encircling Kim's wrist had two hinges and a key lock. Each hinge was over an inch and a half long and would take forever to cut through. But did she need to do that?

“The weakest link,” Ally muttered and grabbed the chain.

It was hard going to get the cut started. The blade kept sliding on the metal link, but once she etched the surface, a groove took shape. Soon, tiny silver flecks began falling on the bench.

“It's working!” Kim cried. “It's working!”

“Shh.” Ally grabbed some prosciutto and handed it to Kim. Ally seized the chain tightly and sped up. With each forward thrust, more sparkles fell, and the saw blade sunk lower. Her arm was beginning to tire when she broke through the link.

Kim clamped her hand over her mouth. Her eyes were shiny with tears and hope.

Ally seized the screwdriver and stuck it between the chain link. With Kim bracing her arm and Ally pushing as hard as she could, the metal twisted. The chain landed on the bench with a loud thud.

Ally's eyes darted to the closed door. Sweat poured down her face. She grabbed her shirt and mopped her brow.

Kim wrapped her arm around Ally's shoulder, burying her face in her neck, and sobbed.

Ally stroked her back. “Keep it together. One more to go.”

“I'm so sorry about Tim. I had no idea he was still married. He said you divorced him.”

Ally shook her head and continued to saw. Tears now filled her eyes.

“He said you left him like Jane. You just walked out of his life and didn't look back.”

“He talked about Jane? Jane Nelson?”

Kim nodded. “She's the girl who went missing. He said you both broke his heart. When I asked where you went, he laughed and said you were probably hanging out with Jane in his mother's basement.

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