Closing Time

by E. L. Todd

  Then I heard the cock of a gun.

  “You heard me,” she hissed.

  I raised my hands in the air, begging her not to shoot me.

  “Turn around,” she commanded.

  Slowly, feeling like I was going to faint, I turned until I saw the face of my tormentor. I hadn’t seen her in years, and fortunately, I didn’t catch a glimpse of her at my wedding.

  She was just as hideous as I remembered her. She had yellow teeth, brown hair that was tangled and starting to fade to gray, cold and unforgiving eyes, and wrinkled skin that aged her by twenty years. The typical smell of smoke accompanied her. But I noticed the gun in my face more than anything. A loaded pistol was pointed at the center of my eyes, ready to blow my brains out. I stayed calm even though I was scared to death. I didn’t speak, letting her do all the talking.

  “Now disable the alarm.”

  I slowly walked over to the alarm and my fingers moved toward the help button.

  “I’m watching you.” She pushed the gun against the back of my neck.

  I’d try to knock the gun out of her hand or take her on myself, but I had to think about someone else. I couldn’t risk my baby. I had to play it cool and wait for help to arrive. Sean would come. I knew my husband better than anyone. Someone was coming. I entered the code and turned it off. “There. It’s off.”

  The alarm stopped echoing in the house. Now it was too quiet.

  I lowered my hands to my sides then turned back to her. “What do you want?” I asked calmly.

  Suddenly, my phone went off. The song was my wedding song, meaning the caller was Sean.

  She pointed the gun directly into my cheek. “Answer it and tell him you’re fine.”

  I crept toward the couch then grabbed the phone. She kept the pistol glued to me, ready to shoot me in the head. I took a deep breath and took the call. “Hello?” I would never answer the phone this way. I always said his name when I answered. That was a dead giveaway that something wasn’t right.

  “Baby, are you okay?”

  “Yes.”

  “Put it on speaker phone,” she hissed.

  I pressed the button and held the phone out.

  “Why did the alarm go off?”

  “I accidentally tripped it,” I lied.

  “Doing what?” he asked.

  “Going grocery shopping.” My voice was hollow, not perky like it usually was. And he and I just went grocery shopping two days ago, buying so much food we didn’t know where to put it. That was my way of telling him something wasn’t right.

  “Okay.” His voice was quiet, like he was stressed. “Why am I on speaker phone?”

  “I’m letting my nails dry.”

  I never do my nails. Sean knew that too.

  “Okay.” I could hear the fear in his voice.

  He knew something was wrong. I’m sure he wanted to say a million things but couldn’t. I heard the sound of the car in the background so I knew he was driving, here more than likely. And he wasn’t supposed to leave the lake house until tomorrow. I don’t know how he knew I was in trouble but he did. That meant Mike was less than a minute away. I would be okay.

  “I’ll let you go,” he said. “I need to get back.”

  “Okay.”

  “I love you, baby. More than anything in the world.” He said it with more emotion than he usually did.

  “I love you too.”

  “Bye.” He hung up without waiting for me to respond. He never did that, so I knew he was hauling ass in his Ferrari to get to me.

  “How touching,” she said with disdain. She held out her hand for the phone, waiting for me to hand it to her.

  I dropped it in her hand and kept my distance.

  She shoved it into her pocket while the gun was pointed at me.

  “What do you want?” I said quietly. “If you want to rob me, tie me up and take whatever you want. I won’t stop you.”

  She smirked, showing her pointed yellow teeth. “I am here to rob you, but not your furniture.”

  “Then take my purse and go.”

  She shook her head. “You were never very bright, Scarlet. I want your husband’s money, not yours.”

  If I weren’t pregnant, I’d tackle her to the ground and do something. But it wasn’t worth it. “Then take everything. Money means nothing to us.”

  “And that’s what I intend to do. Now take me to his office.”

  “He doesn’t have money there.”

  She pushed the gun into the side of my head, making me flinch. “Do what I said.”

  “Okay, okay.” I raised my hands then walked up the stairs.

  Come on, Mike. Please bring a gun.

  We marched up the stairs then entered Sean’s office. I hardly ever went in here. As far as I was concerned, it was his private space. I didn’t even clean it, protecting his privacy.

  She kept the gun pointed at me as she sat in front of the computer. After she turned it on and typed a few things, she said, “Transfer the money into my account.”

  “Uh…I have no idea how to do that.”

  Anger flooded her face and she stood up. Then she slapped me hard across the face. “I said do it.”

  I took the hit then touched my cheek. “I don’t know how,” I said again. “I don’t even know what his account numbers are.”

  “Your name is on the account.” The gun was back in my face. “You have access to it.”

  “The entire time we’ve been married, I’ve never taken money from the account. I work for my own money and use that when I need things. I have plenty of money in that account. I will give you all of it if you just leave.”

  “How much?” she asked.

  “Three million.”

  “Ha,” she said sarcastically. “That’s pocket change compared to what he has.”

  I dropped my hand to my side and stared at her, waiting for the next step.

  “Now do it,” she ordered.

  “I don’t know how!” I snapped. “I don’t even know what his password is.”

  “Don’t give me that shit.” She breathed in my face, smelling like smoke. “Your life is really more important than money?”

  “Not at all. Which is why I’m offering you three million instead.”

  She eyed me for a moment then looked down, her eyes settling on my stomach. “Is your baby’s life more important than money.”

  The threat in her words immediately sent me into defense mode. She could slap me and hit me all she wanted, but my baby was a completely different story. “I’m cooperating with you. Let me give you the three million I have. I’ll take you down to Sean’s bank and I can withdraw the money there.”

  The gun moved from my head to my stomach.

  No.

  “This is your last warning, Scarlet.” The threat was in her eyes.

  Where the fuck are you, Mike?

  I stood still, unsure what to do.

  “Fine. I guess that’s how it’ll have to be.”

  I covered my stomach and stepped away. She didn’t shoot me. Instead, she moved toward me, ready to kick me in the stomach.

  No. I lost my baby once and I’m not doing it again.

  I locked my arms together and let her kick me hard in the forearm. She didn’t touch my stomach, but I was certain my wrist was broken.

  “You cunt,” she said. “Give me the money!”

  Every memory I have of this woman is nothing but disturbing. She’s tortured me for so long and I’m sick of it. She would never go away. She would haunt me every day, haunt my daughter, if I didn’t do something. The mama bear inside me came out, hissing and scratching.

  I grabbed her arm and slammed it down on my knee, making her wince. Her bones were thin and frail due to her poor health. But her hands didn’t drop the gun. I slammed her arm down again as she grabbed my hair and pulled.

  I screamed then pushed her against the wall.

  Her hand was loose on the gun, and somehow, she pulled the trigger. I moved out of the way a
nd heard the sound of the gunshot. It was loud, louder than I expected. I felt my body, wondering if I’d been hit.

  I didn’t see any blood.

  I grabbed one of Sean’s football trophies and threw it at her, hitting her right in the side.

  She screamed and dropped the gun.

  I had to get it.

  “Oh no, you don’t.” She put her foot on it then pulled it back to her. “I’m going to do what I should have done a long time ago.”

  I grabbed the lamp, and despite how heavy it was, I swung it at her.

  She ducked then dropped the gun again.

  I couldn’t reach it, but I could hit it away. With the end of the lamp, I shoved the gun under Sean’s desk, out of reach.

  Her eyes widened in pure rage. She hated me, hated me more than I could ever imagine, and I knew right then and there, she would kill me. Only one of us would walk out of here alive.

  And it was going to be me and Skye.

  She rushed me then shoved me against the wall. I kept the lamp in front of my stomach, protecting my daughter while I took the hit to the face. I felt the burn of the scratch and blood seep down my cheek.

  I screamed then pushed her back, making her land on her back.

  She was back up with quicker speed than I realized. She was just as much of a fighter as I was. She charged me then tripped me to the ground. When I looked up, her foot was above me, ready to step right on my stomach. I couldn’t get up, but I could move. I turned my body, taking the pain in the shoulder instead of the stomach. She jumped down hard, and I screamed in pain.

  My shoulder was broken. I couldn’t use my right arm at all, only my left.

  Shit.

  I squirmed out of the way, using my left hand to help me climb of the bookcase.

  She was on me again, gripping my hair.

  I was going to lose. I couldn’t use my dominant arm and the pain was blinding me. But I couldn’t give up. That wasn’t an option.

  I grabbed a random book, one that Sean used in college, and then hit her in the skull with it.

  Her eyes spun in confusion as the vertigo hit her. She stumbled slightly, trying to regain her balance. I didn’t give her a chance to recover. I slammed the book on her head again, making her fall to the ground. Still scared, I hit her again.

  She was out.

  I stood over her, looking at her with fear in my eyes. Blood and sweat covered my body and I couldn’t catch my breath. I was too scared she would get up again, or even worse, she was faking it. I moved back slightly, keeping my eyes on her, and then grabbed the gun off the ground. With a shaky hand, I came back to her then pointed it at her head.

  Shoot her. I had every right to do it. She made my life miserable since my dad left. She hurt my brother, gave him more trips to the hospital than a war veteran. So many nights of my childhood were spent with me crying in Ryan’s arms. She was a monster. Evil was tainted everywhere. All she did was make me suffer. She didn’t deserve to live. Why do so many innocents die but she continues on? It’s not fair.

  My hand shook as I kept it pointed at her.

  Come on. Just do it.

  Hot tears fell down my face. Skye will never be safe until I kill her.

  Do it.

  With a scream, I stepped back and leaned against the wall, the gun still pointed at her. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t take someone’s life. I just…couldn’t. I was weak.

  I tried to catch my breath as my arm hung limply from my side. The blood dripped from my chin. I felt pain everywhere except in my stomach. I did everything I could to protect Skye. I think she was okay.

  “Scarlet!”

  I heard Mike yelling for me. “I’m here! Help!” I didn’t need help, but I didn’t know what else to say.

  He barged into the room, a pistol in his hand. He swept across the room, spotting me, and then pointing the gun at my mom, who lay in a heap on the floor. He came over to her, still keeping his gun on her. He leaned down and felt the pulse in her neck. Then he looked at me.

  I still held the gun and I sobbed.

  Mike looked at me timidly. “Scarlet, put down the gun.”

  I didn’t realize I was still pointing it at her. My hand shook before I finally put it on the ground.

  “Good.” He came to me then looked at me. I knew the damage must be really bad because he looked panicked. “The cops are on the way. I need to get you to a hospital.”

  “No! She can’t get away!”

  “Scarlet, we need to go now.”

  “No!” I still sobbed to myself.

  Mike grabbed two of Sean’s ties then tied each arm to the legs of his massive desk. “She’s not going anywhere. Now let’s go.”

  “I can’t move, Mike…”

  “It’s okay. I got you.” He stayed calm while he bundled me in his arms and lifted me. I couldn’t even wrap my arms around his neck because one was completely useless.

  “You’re going to be okay, Scarlet. I got you.”

  I cried into his chest and felt him put me in the passenger seat. He ran around the car then jumped in, starting the engine and taking off. He broke the speed limit and hauled ass while he drove me to the hospital. My mind moved in and out of consciousness.

  Why couldn’t I stay awake?

  “Scarlet, keep your eyes open,” Mike barked at me.

  “I can’t…” It was too hard. I was so tired…

  “Don’t you dare close your eyes!” he screamed at me. “Talk to me, Scarlet.”

  “I…Sean.”

  “He’s coming.”

  I breathed hard, feeling all the pain move inside me. It was unbearable, excrutiating.

  Mike slammed on his breaks and we stopped in front of the emergency room. “We’re here. It’s going to be alright. I’m getting you right now.”

  “Okay…”

  Mike lifted me again then ran inside the hospital. I saw a whirlwind of faces and heard a cacophony of noises. “She’s been shot. I need a doctor.”

  I’ve been shot…?

  The next thing I knew, my clothes were ripped away and I was in a bed. Nurses and doctors hovered over me, hooking me up to tubes and IV’s.

  “She’s pregnant,” Mike said. “Is the baby okay?”

  “Skye…” I felt more tears fall down my face. “No…please tell me she’s okay. I can’t lose her.”

  Mike came into my sight. “I’m here, Scarlet. Everything is going to be okay. I’ll be here the whole time.”

  “Is she going to be okay?” My voice was desperate.

  Mike didn’t respond. “Sean’s almost here.”

  I needed my husband but I needed to know if my baby was okay more. “I’ll never forgive myself…”

  Mike grabbed my hand. “They are going to put you under, Scar. But I’ll be here the whole time. I’ll only leave when Sean gets here.”

  “Okay…” Why were they putting me under?

  And then everything went black.

  14

  Sean

  Fuck!

  God fucking damn it!

  My foot never left the gas the whole drive. I ran stop signs and red lights, not letting anything get in my way. A cop flashed on his lights and started to chase me.

  I didn’t have time for this right now.

  I hauled ass in my Ferrari until he bit the dust. He would call for back up eventually and they would all be looking for my plates, but I’d be long gone by then.

  I had to get to my wife.

  This couldn’t be happening.

  Why was this happening?

  Was she okay?

  She better be okay. I’ll fucking kill myself if she’s not.

  I called Mike when I was twenty minutes away. “Is she okay? What do you know? What’s going on? Is Skye okay?”

  Normally, Mike would snap at me for talking too fast but he didn’t do that now. “They took her to surgery. That’s all I know.”

  I panicked. Surgery? That wasn’t good. Why the fuck is this happening to me? “Is s
he going to be okay? Can you tell me that?”

  “No…but she was talking the whole drive. She stayed conscious.” I heard the tears in his voice.

  My brother was crying. That wasn’t good.

  “What about her mom? What happened to her?”

  “I don’t know…I tied her up for the cops. I’m sure they are there by now.”

  My phone rang because I had another line. I’m sure it was the cops but I didn’t have time for that. “Is she dead?”

  “No…she was alive.”

  “What? Why the fuck didn’t you kill her?”

  “Scarlet had a gun pointed at her but she didn’t pull the trigger…so I couldn’t.”

  I cursed into the phone. “You should have blown her brains to bits!”

  “I know…it’s too late now.”

  “I will make that woman’s life miserable. Every single day she’ll wish she were dead.” I breathed through the anger and gripped the steering wheel.

  “That makes two of us…”

  I stayed on the phone with him but couldn’t think of anything to say. Everything was in slow motion. I couldn’t lose my wife. Please don’t let that happen to me. My wife and my baby…

  I started to cry. I couldn’t help it. It wasn’t the time or the place, but I couldn’t stop the flood of tears. I stayed on the phone with my brother, thinking about how much pain Scarlet was in. I could lose her.

  “I’m sorry…” Mike’s voice was choked with emotion.

  I didn’t know what to say. I just stayed on the phone with him, waiting for the miles to end. When I was a mile from the hospital I hung up then raced down the roads, making cars pull over to get out of my way.

  I parked in handicapped spot, not giving a damn, then sprinted into the emergency room. After I found out which room was hers, I ran until I saw Mike outside her door, looking like a ghost.

  As soon as I reached him, I hugged him tight, feeling weak in his arms. I cried into him and he held me. It was weak but I didn’t care. I never hit rock bottom like this. But here I was.

  “I called everyone and told them what’s going on,” Mike explained. “Ryan, Flynn and Cortland are on the way, my parents are handling the situation at the house, and Cassandra is coming.”

  “Thanks.” I pulled away then wiped my tears. “Any news…?”

  “No.”

  I gripped my skull. “What happened?”