Girl in the Shadows (Shadows 2)

"No, but she has had what we call a cardiac event. It looks like she's a candidate for a pacemaker. but I don't want her to have any procedures until we stabilize her blood pressure. I'm getting close to doing that."

"What do you mean, she had a cardiac event? What happened to her?"

"She has a heart block. The block effects the heart's electrical activity but the cardiologist believes that the pacemaker will help a great deal."

I felt like I was going to melt into a pool of shock and disappointment.

"Oh, really?" She certainly sounded

disappointed. "Is that expensive?"

"It's not the expense. Her insurance will handle it well, but she won't agree to our setting it up until she speaks with your houseguest."

"House guest?'"

"April. I'm afraid I don't recall her last name or even if Mrs. Westington told me,"

"Let me get this straight. Doctor. My mother won't agree to do what she has to do unless she first speaks to April?"

"Yes. Is she there? Do you know if she's coming up here to visit soon?"

I was about to speak. but Rhona said. "Let me go look for her."

I hung up the phone as quietly as I could and walked out of the kitchen, pretending to be busy with setting the table for their breakfast. Echo looked at me quizzically. I just smiled back, nodded at the table, and then waited in the hallway.

"Hey. April," I heard Skeeter call.

I walked to the foot of the stairway. "What is it?" I asked.

He was still dressed only in his underwear and had already started down the stairs. "Come up here." he said.

"Why?" I demanded. I could pick up the phone down in the kitchen just as easily. Why didn't he just tell me to do so?

He moved quickly until he had his right hand on my neck, his fingers squeezing like vice grips sending incredible pain into the back of my head. With his other hand, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me so I would go forward up the stairway.

"Ow!" I screamed. "You're really hurting me. I'll go up. Stop it," I said.

I stepped up, but he kept his grip on the back of my neck. What did they want to do, listen to what I said to the doctor? When we reached the top, he shoved me hard to the left instead of toward Rhona's room as I was expecting.

"What are you doing?" I cried.

He put his left hand over my mouth and grabbed my hair with his right hand, forcing me to walk toward Mrs. Westington's bedroom.

As we passed Rhona's room. I could see her standing by the night table, holding her hand over the mouth of the receiver and looking out at us. I tried to resist. but Skeeter had a very firm grip on my face and my hair felt like it was being ripped out of my skull in clumps.

That were they doing?

"Oh, Doctor Battie." Rhona said. loud enough for me to hear. "I'm sorry I took so long. but I've just learned that April has left. Yes, she went off to meet her sister and live with her. She's no longer here.

"But tell my mother I'll be up to see her as soon as I get dressed."

I tried to shout. but Skeeter's fingers pressed down on my tongue and made me gag. I squirmed and twisted to get out of his gasp.

Rhona hung up the receiver. "No!" I finally managed.

"Yes,," he said. He lifted me and carried me into Mrs. Westington's bedroom., and he shut the door behind us.

13 Bound and Gagged