by Peggy Slocum
“She took off towards the back door that leads to the garage,” Elliot says in a weak voice. He tries to stand up. “Ugh,” he groans in pain, and he is forced to remain still.
“Elliot! You’ve been shot.” Symphony leans down to aid him. “Put your arm around my neck; I’ll help you up.”
“No, leave me here. Captain Aims will be here any minute. I’ll be fine. You have to go after Mrs. Freedman.”
“I’m not leaving you alone,” Symphony says determined to get him to his feet.
“The plan was to meet Beth and Sarah in the garage.”
“That woman is headed in their direction?”
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell ya.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to them,” Symphony says ready to pursue Mrs. Freedman.
“Hey, hold up for a sec.” Elliot reaches into his denim pocket to pull out a key chain with two keys dangling. “Here, take these.” He tosses them in mid-air.
Symphony catches the key ring. “What are these for?”
“My car, in case you need to chase after her. I know about those car escapades when you were a teen. You shouldn’t have any problems.”
“Thanks. Help’ll be here soon. I gotta go.” Symphony skulks off through the darkness towards the garage, pursuing Mrs. Freedman.
Chapter 24: No Where To Run
“Someone’s coming,” Beth says with her ear to the door. “I only hear one set of footsteps.” She glances towards the girls, concerned. “You guys better hide, and if it’s not Elliot, don’t come out no matter what.”
Sarah and Kelly scramble to find a spot to hide.
“Hurry up. They’re coming,” Beth says.
“Kelly, over here,” Sarah says with a quiet voice. “We should both be able to fit.” Sarah squeezes into a tall wooden cabinet that stands in a corner. As Kelly is about to join her, the basement door bursts open. Instead of climbing in beside Sarah, she pushes the door closed and hurries over to Beth’s side.
“Elliot?” Beth asks as her heart pounds, sensing danger.
“Oh, what a pleasant surprise, my dear. I was told you were electrocuted.” Mrs. Freedman closes the basement door behind her.
“What have you done with Symphony?” Beth asks.
“She will not be joining you today, and don’t bother trying to stall me. Your friend Elliot will not be coming to the rescue either.” Mrs. Freedman pulls a set of keys from her pocket. “It seems you are a better investigator than I thought. And the police are most likely on their way here. Get in the car, it appears I am in need of a couple hostages.”
“No … no, I’m not getting in that death chamber,” Kelly protests.
“It’s OK, Kelly, stay behind me. I won’t let anything happen to you,” Beth says.
“It will be all right, dear, you can ride in the front with me. But you must get in the car now.” Mrs. Freedman commands Kelly with a hypnotic suggestion.
A blank stare comes over Kelly’s face. She plods to the car in silence, obeying Mrs. Freedman without question. She climbs into the front seat, closing the door behind her.
“Now it is your turn,” Mrs. Freedman says to Beth.
“No, I’m not one of your puppets. You can’t make me go anywhere with you.”
“I have had a very trying day.” Mrs. Freedman pulls her gun out and presses it into Beth’s back. “Now move.”
“No.”
Mrs. Freedman opens Kelly’s door and presses the gun to her head. “Get in or I will shoot her instead.”
Believing her, Beth opens the door behind Kelly and gets in.
Mrs. Freedman presses the garage door’s remote to open it. After making sure everyone is buckled of course, she speeds off down her driveway into the night with her hostages.
* * *
Approaching the stairs, Symphony hears the cranking noise of the garage door opening. I’m too late. She climbs as fast as she can to the top of the steps, making it in time to watch Mrs. Freedman pull out of the garage.
“No!” Symphony yells as she kicks a nearby metal tool cabinet.
“Symphony?” Sarah asks as she comes out from her hiding place. “Is that you?”
“Sarah! You’re all right.” Symphony runs over and wraps her arms around Sarah.
“Glad to see your space bubble is deflating,” Sarah says, joking.
“Yeah.” Symphony searches the room with her eyes. “Where’s Beth?”
“Mrs. Freedman took her and Kelly. We have to save them.”
“Elliot’s been shot. You need to stay here with him. Go down that long flight of stairs and then keep walking. You’ll run right into him.”
“OK, but what about you?”
“Elliot gave me the keys to his Vette. I’m goin’ after Mrs. Freedman. He said the police will be here soon, but I’ll still call 911 on my way.” Symphony spots a four-wheeler outside the garage and runs to it. “I’ll call Elliot when I find ’em.”
After Symphony disappears into the dark, Sarah hurries down the basement steps to find Elliot.
* * *
As Mrs. Freedman rounds the last corner of the half-mile driveway, several cars are coming her way. “Oh look.” She points down the road off to the right. “Here comes the cavalry. Whatever will I do?” She taunts the girls as she turns left out of the driveway and escapes unnoticed.
* * *
Nearing the end of the driveway, Symphony is surrounded by six unmarked police cars. She tries to dodge them but every maneuver is blocked. Unable to get away, she puts the four-wheeler in neutral, jumps off, and runs toward the lead vehicle.
“Move!” Symphony loses her temper and kicks the car. “She’s getting away!”
Captain Aims swings open his door, “What’s wrong with you? Are you trying to make things worse for yourself?”
“Me? I’m not the one you’re after. It’s Mrs. Freedman, and she’s getting away with Beth and that missing waitress!” Symphony says, enraged. “I watched her turn left from the garage!”
* * *
Captain Aims picks up a radio. “Hey Cary? Are you the one picking up the rear?”
“Yes sir,” Cary says.
“A gray Caddy turned left as we were coming up the road. Chase it down and put them in custody; they may be involved.”
“Yes sir.” Cary squeals his tires while backing out of the driveway and skids the nose of the car around. The car’s engine roars as it accelerates onto the blacktop in pursuit of the Gray Cadillac.
“So who are you?” Captain Aims asks.
“Symphony. I work for Beth and Elliot. Elliot and Sarah are in the basement waiting for help. He’s been shot.”
Captain Aims grabs his phone. “Where’s that number? There it is.” He presses Send.
“Hello?” Elliot answers.
“Elliot, thank God. Are you OK?” Captain Aims asks.
“I’ve been shot, but I’m all right. Sarah’s with me. Let her parents know she’s OK.”
“Yeah, of course. I’m at the estate. Where you at?”
“I’m in the garage, and I have a couple guys tied up in the basement,”
“I’m on my way. Hey, do you know a Symphony?”
“Yeah, she works for me. I sent her after my Vette. Why?”
“I wasn’t sure what was up with her.”
“Let me talk to her.”
Captain Aims hands the phone to Symphony.
* * *
“Hello,” Symphony says.
“Hey, it’s Elliot. They won’t let you chase after Beth, so tell them you’re getting my Vette and then head towards the highway. Mrs. Freedman will most likely end up there. Call me the minute you see the Caddy, and we’ll send help. I wouldn’t send you, but I don’t know how to tell who is on Mrs. Freedman’s side and who’s not. So, be careful.”
“No problem, Elliot. I’ll drop ‘Precious’ off at your place.” Symphony closes the phone and hands it back to Captain Aims. “Elliot still wants me to take hi
s Vette home. It’s past her curfew,” Symphony says with no expression on her face.
“Yeah, all right. You can go, but one of the guys will take you to the car and make sure you go in the opposite direction. Is that understood?” Captain Aims asks with a fatherly tone.
“Yeah, sure,” Symphony replies.
“Good. Ralph!”
“Yes sir?” Ralph responds.
“Take this girl to Elliot’s car. She’ll tell you where to go. The rest of you come with me.” Captain Aims gets into his car and leads the way to the garage.
* * *
Mrs. Freedman obviously hears the sirens in the distance as she pulls onto the highway.
“Where are you taking us?” Beth asks as she searches the back seat for a possible escape. “And what is that horrible smell?”
“You don’t want to know,” Kelly answers, her voice shaking and filled with fear.
“Huh, I would’ve thought you would take better care of your vehicle, Mrs. Freedman. A perfectionist like you should be ashamed of yourself. This seat is ripped to pieces.” Beth scrutinizes the fabric closer. “Is this blood?”
“Yes,” Mrs. Freedman answers. “And if you do not cooperate, when this is all done, your blood will be added to the collection.”
What is taking them so long? They should have caught up with us by now. At least we’re heading toward Boston. It will be easier to escape in a town. Beth focuses on the rips on both sides of her and puts her hands on them. She gasps aloud. These rips are caused from someone’s fingers! OK, stay calm Beth. Don’t let her intimidate you. What to do? Come on, think! Oh God , please show me what to do. “I don’t understand why you think you can make the world a better place by forcing change. All you are doing is creating human puppets. In order for people to truly change, it must happen from within.”
“Silly girl, I am changing them from the inside.”
“No, you are merely putting a new coat of paint on them through hypnosis and clothing. The only one that can create a true change in someone’s life is God,” Beth says.
“Do not preach to me, girl. I have read the Bible in its entirety, and I know all the rules, and I enforce them,” Mrs. Freedman says, losing her patience.
“Well, you have obviously missed something very important. When Sarah talks, all I here about is how much God loves me and everyone else, despite what we have done. When you talk, I’m … not feeling the love.”
“You will see things my way very soon,” Mrs. Freedman says. “Your high standards will make it easy to convert you to the daughter I have always wanted and eventually my replacement.”
“Your replacement? Wow, you really are twisted.”
“Do not disrespect me, girl, or you will end up like your friends. You are but an expendable pawn to me.”
“God has opened my eyes to the truth, and I am free. There is no truth in what you have to offer, just prison … If death is the alternative then so be it.”
“Fine. Then you shall have it your way. Checkmate!” Mrs. Freedman raises her voice.
“No!” Kelly says as Mrs. Freedman reaches for a lever next to the radio and flips it sideways. “Please, stop the killing!” Kelly flips the switch back, pleading for Beth’s life.
“It is too late, child,” Mrs. Freedman says as the headrest on Kelly’s seat swings back, almost hitting Beth’s head.
Beth’s eyes widen as a long, sharp razor is revealed. “You’re crazy!” Beth shouts as she unbuckles her seatbelt and tries to get away from the guillotine. She bends her head down towards her knees, but it doesn’t help. The giant razor dangles above her neck ready to drop at any moment. Dear Lord, what do I do?
“Don’t fight it, girl, you will only prolong your death.” Mrs. Freedman reaches over and presses a button.
Beth closes her eyes and clenches her teeth as a loud clicking noise sounds next to her head.
“The razor is going to drop! Run!” Kelly unlocks the door for Beth to escape.
Beth grasps hold of the door and pushes outward. She rolls from the rear of the Cadillac and tumbles hard onto the icy pavement, just missing decapitation.
Kelly’s door opens next.
“Jump!” Beth hollers.
* * *
Kelly tries to escape.
“After all I have done for you, you have the audacity to betray me like this?” Mrs. Freedman points her gun at Kelly’s head.
“Jump!” Kelly hears Beth yell.
Click.
Kelly turns her head away from the gun sentencing her to death and gazes back at Beth who is struggling to chase after her.
“I believe!” Kelly shouts back to Beth.
Bang!
The gun goes off, and Kelly’s body falls out of the car onto the road.
“Kelly! Kelly!” Tears stream down Beth’s face as she watches Kelly’s lifeless body skid across the highway. That woman is mad! Shock is starting to overcome her, but she shakes it off and forces herself to her feet, this time succeeding. Beyond a snow-covered embankment, a mall looms in the cold January night. She begins to run toward it.
Exhausted and cold, she stops for a moment. Her heart is racing so fast, it feels as though it could explode at any second, and her lungs burn with every breath she takes. This is hopeless; I’m in the middle of an empty mall parking lot. It’s been closed for hours. “Oh God.” Beth lifts her eyes up towards the heavens. “What do I do?” Run! a strong reply from within answers. Peace and warmth shower over her, renewing her mind and body, enabling her to focus on reaching the mall. Thank you, Jesus, for reassuring me. I’m really not alone anymore, am I?
As Beth nears the entrance, she senses the inner voice speaking to her again. It’s locked. Go to the main entrance around the corner.
Disregarding the voice, Beth runs up to the first door and tries opening it. “It’s locked,” she says. “I can really hear you, can’t I?”
Yes, answers the voice, hurry!
Beth runs around the corner. “Wow. The main entrance. This is so cool!”
Run. the inner voice says.
Beth pauses to gaze back, hoping she has lost Mrs. Freedman.
Don’t look back. Keep moving forward.
“OK, God, you lead and I’ll follow.” She reaches for the door, and it opens without hesitation. She runs through and doesn’t stop until she comes to the escalators. “There are three different halls to choose from, Lord. Which way do I go?”
Take the one less traveled.
“What do you mean?”
An exit light flickers on and off revealing a door below. “That one?”
Yes.
Through the door and down the hall to the right is a sign reading, “Security Office.”
“Oh, thank you, God!” Beth knocks on the door twice. After hearing no answer, she twists the knob and enters. “Hello, is anyone here?” Beth takes a moment to scan the office with her eyes for someone on duty. “A phone,” she says, relieved. Beth sits down at the nearest desk and dials 911. As the phone rings, seconds feel like minutes until …
“Nine-one-one. What is your emergency?” the woman on duty asks.
Tears of joy fill Beth’s eyes and trickle down her cheeks. “My name is Beth Doyle, and I’m being chased by an extremely dangerous and armed woman. I have escaped to a shopping mall across from highway fifty-six, and I’m hiding in the security office.”
“It’s going to be all right, dear,” the operator says. “I’ve dispatched the orders to send help to the Townsend Mall, and they’ll be there soon. Would you like me to stay on the phone with you until they get there?”
“Actually, if you don’t mind, it feels great to hear a voice of sanity.”
“Not at all.”
“I think I hear someone coming.” Beth whispers into the tightly clenched phone.
“Stay calm. It’s probably just the security guard.”
As the footsteps get closer, Beth hides under the desk.
“Are you still there?”
“Yes, shh. The door is opening.”
The door widens and …
“Gr-r-r-ruff ruff ruff.”
Beth’s heart pounds as fear tries to grip her.
“Mae, calm down,” an elderly man says in an endearing voice.
“Ruff. Ruff. Ruff.”
“What’s wrong, girl?” the old man asks the dog.
Beth peeks around the desk with tears streaming down her face. Controlling her emotions has always been necessary. Weakness is not something she ever admits, but somehow all her walls no longer seem important.
“What’s all this?” The sweet, elderly man eyes Beth peering out from the side of his desk. He is a stout, five-foot-six man wearing a security uniform. His salt and peppered hair, weathered wrinkles, and the wire-rimmed glasses that rest atop his round pudgy nose show evidence of his many years. Standing next to him is a proud, fearless, well-groomed white and gray Siberian husky and German shepherd mix with beautiful green eyes.
“It’s the security guard.” Beth stands to her feet. “Thank you for all your help. I should be fine now.”
“You are most welcome. Hope everything works out for you.” The operator says with true sincerity before ending their conversation.
“Hi,” Beth says. “I’m sorry to have startled you. My name is Beth. I was being chased by a car, and I ran into the mall to get away. The police are on their way.”
The elderly gentleman gazes at the young woman with his warm, caring brown eyes. Poor girl—she seems so scared and exhausted. Oh, Heavenly Father, please help this young lass. You know her needs, God; please protect her. Thank you, Jesus, for all you do. In Jesus’ name. Amen. “Well, my name is Sydney, and this here is my partner Mae. I’m sorry about the circumstances, but we welcome the company. It gets pretty lonely on this shift.”
Mae trots over and lifts her paw to shake Beth’s hand.
“Oh, how sweet.” Beth brightens as a smile zips across her face.
