[Anthology] The Mystery Box Set by Eva Pohler

Author:Eva Pohler [Pohler, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Thrillers, General
Google: pD0yDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Green Press/Eva Pohler
Published: 2017-08-22T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty: Fatima

”What happened to Fatima?” Yvette asks Mona.

“She lives here with me. I’m sorry I lied, but I was afraid you wouldn’t stay to hear my story if you saw her. Most people are frightened by her appearance and her strange behavior. She never recovered.”

“What? She lives with you? Can I meet her?” So that explained the sounds Yvette has heard in Mona’s house, the face behind the fence and in the window. They belonged to Fatima. Yvette is awash with relief.

“Of course. You can come over now, if you’d like.”

“I’m leaving for the lake, remember?”

“I thought you weren’t feeling well. You’re still going?”

“I don’t want to disappoint my family.” Yvette winds a strand of hair around her finger, thinking.

“Come by on your way. Fatima would love to meet you after all these days of hiding.”

Yvette considers Mona’s invitation. On the one hand, she’s something like a reader with the rare opportunity to meet a character in a fantastic story. Fatima in her house? Fatima the monkey-like woman who was held in a cage for so many months? Yvette’s curiosity overwhelms her. She wants to meet Fatima.

On the other hand, Mona could be lying and luring her into a trap. Yvette has this fleeting thought, which resists becoming a revelation: Mona’s not a victim of the Stockholm syndrome; it is she, Yvette. And here she goes, possessed, walking into Mona’s trap.

“Does anyone else live there?” Yvette asks.

“No. The cats, of course.”

“What happened to Ahmed?”

There is silence on the other end of the phone.

“Mona? Are you still there?”

“Yes. Listen to me Yvette. Ahmed is still looking for me and for my baby.”

“Where’s your baby?”

More silence.

“Mona, is your baby still alive?”

“Yes, she is. I want to tell you what happened to her. I need to tell you what happened to her. Oh, Yvette, I can’t possibly tell you over the phone. Come over and meet Fatima, and I’ll tell you the rest of my story.”

Yvette glances at the clock. It’s after five. It will take her two hours to get to Choke Canyon. “My family’s expecting me.”

“I’ll be quick. I promise. Please. This is so very important. Soon you will understand why. I know it’s hard to trust someone you’ve just met, but you have to believe me. Come now, or as soon as you can.”

Mona’s desperation alarms her. “What about the men’s deodorant in your medicine cabinet?” Yvette’s face flushes red. She hadn’t meant to say that question aloud.

“It was left here by the last renter. He left lots of his things. I was in a hurry to get the place. I told the owner I would rent it as is. I was desperate.”

Yvette is torn. She doesn’t want to let down her family, especially Devin, but they’ve made many trips to the lake together, and it’s good for the kids to have time alone with their father. Yvette has gone without Devin on numerous Cub Scout and Girl Scout trips. Missing out on this one spring break vacation isn’t such a big deal.

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