Twisted Roots (DeBeers 3)

shook my head so hard. I thought my eyes would fall out, and then I charged past her, out of the room, rushing down the stairs.

"Hannah!" Danielle called behind me.

I didn't turn back. The twins were too good at lying and getting people to believe anything they said. What good would it do for me to stay there and deny and deny? I thought.

Claire froze in the entry hall when she saw me clinging to the top of my dress and rushing toward the door. The look on her face put even more panic into my feet. In seconds I was out the door and down the portico steps, running over the driveway toward the entrance of the property. Only when I reached the gate did I pause and fix my dress. Then, as calmly as I could. I pushed the button that opened the gate and stepped out on the highway.

Moments later I was heading back toward Joya Del Mar, the traffic whizzing by, my own tears flying off my cheeks, the sea breeze catching my hair and flailing it about my face. I was sure I looked like a madwoman, but I didn't stop walking, even when my legs and feet began to ache.

I must have walked and run nearly two miles before I finally stopped to catch my breath. My skin was clammy with sweat, my heart pounding so fiercely. I thought it would soon shatter like a piece of fine china. Traffic continued to whiz by. If anyone saw me standing there, he or she did not think to stop to see what was wrong.

I had left my purse behind at Daddy's house, My cell phone was in it as well as my wallet and my credit card. What would I do? I walked on slowly until I came to the gate of another estate and pushed the button on the call box. After a very long pause, a deep male voice said, "Yes?"

"My name is Hannah Eaton." I said "I've broken down in my automobile. and I don't have my cell phone with me. Could I come in and make a call, please."

"No." the voice replied. "However, if you will give me the number you wish to call and whom you wish to speak with and tell of your plight. I will do so for you. Well?" he demanded instantly.

I couldn't think. Should I call Miguel? Would this upset Mommy and get everyone angry at me? I made a quick decision and gave him Heyden's phone number.

"Please ask for Heyden and tell him I need him to came to this address to get me," I asked.

"Very well. Remain at the gate," he said.

It was so strange: a deep, unemotional, unsympathetic-sounding voice coming from this metal box embedded on a stone pillar by the tall, black castiron gate. It was as if I had called into hell itself.

"Please let me know if he's coming," I pleaded, but there was no response.

More frightened than tired and angry now. I crunched up under the lights from the entrance and tried to calm myself. It seemed like hours had gone by and no one stopped. Where was Daddy? Hadn't he returned when he said he would and didn't he know I had run out of his house onto the highway? Why wasn't he looking for me?

Despite a clear night of dazzling stars, the sky felt so close and oppressive to me. Every shadow along the highway, every sound other than an automobile that I heard was a threatening sound. It wouldn't surprise me to discover my twin half brothers lurking in the dark, making noises to see how terrified they could make me.

Oh, why did I run away? Why didn't I remain there and do battle with them and prove to Danielle that they were vicious liars? I knew she wouldn't want to believe that, but it would still have been better for me to stand my ground. I thought. Now. I probably looked guilty to her. and Daddy might believe it as well. He would have only their side of the story to hear and Danielle's shock at seeing me in her bedroom, bared to the waist.

I couldn't stop crying. My shoulders heaved and fell, and my chest and stomach ached. Did the man inside this impregnable estate really call Heyden? Had Elisha answered and deliberately pretended he wasn't home and not tell him about me? She was certainly capable of doing that. And what if he did reach Heyden? I realized. He had no automobile. What good would it have done? Would he come get me on his moped? Why didn't I ask the man to call Miguel?

I thought about getting up and walking on until I came to someplace where I would find a phone. but when I stood up, my legs were shaky. Instead. I returned to the call box and pressed it again. Again, it took an exceptionally long time for any response. Finally the same. voice full of obvious annoyance said. "Yes?"

"It's me again. I was wondering if you had made the call for me."

"I did and the individual you requested said he would find a way."

"You could have told me," I said.

"This is or a public phone or any sort of rescue service. Do not use the call box again." he ordered and went silent,

"I won't!" I shouted into the box microphone. "And you can go to hell if you're not already there."

My voice echoed away and died.

I took a deep breath and gazed down the highway. After another half dozen or so cars went by. I saw one pair of headlights closing in, the vehicle slowing down. It was a taxicab and it pulled up to the gate. Heyden was in the backseat looking out the window for me. The moment the cab stopped, he jumped out.

"Hannah, what's going on?"

I rushed into his arms and just cried. He guided me back to the taxicab, and we both got inside,

"Where to now?" the driver asked.

I couldn't see his face, but he sounded amused.