That Day - Karen Deen (large ebook reader .TXT) 📗

two years. I love it. They’re a couple in their fifties who never managed to have children. Mr. Warrington is a wealthy businessman in some sort of importing business. I don’t know much about it and it’s not something that concerns me. They live the typical society life of parties, charity functions, and dinner parties. Sometimes I work the parties when they’re hosting in their home but not often. Usually, they bring in the caterers who have their own staff. My job is the clean up the next day. I never mind because they treat me well and the pay is good.

“Okay, well, Mr. Warrington has moved your car into the garage in case you get caught in the rain, dear. The new gardener has just left for the night, not that I know why he bothered to turn up today at all. He does nothing and is completely hopeless. I need to talk to Mr. Warrington about that, but that’s not a concern for you. We’re heading out to the Parkinson dinner shortly, after Mr. Warrington is finished up on his phone call. I will see you in the morning.”

“Thank you, that was sweet of him, moving my car. I’ll lock up when I leave. Enjoy your evening and I’ll see you tomorrow.” With that she left me to my polishing.

I can hear the storm break and the rain starting to hit the window next to where I’m standing. At the same time, the front doorbell rings. Unsure if they’ve left yet, I make my way along the corridor from the back bedroom to the top of the stairwell, which leads down to the large, marble-floored foyer.

Just as my footstep is about to put me out of the corridor in full view of the front door, I hear men’s voices, a gunshot, and Mrs. Warrington letting out a blood-curdling scream that pierces my ears. Enough to make me stumble back against the wall in the corridor, my heart hammering so loud I can hear it in my ears. I hear Mr. Warrington’s shoes running across the marble floor from his office. His pained howl at seeing his wife.

I slowly peek around the corner to see him drop to his knees over his motionless wife, with blood pooling out from under her body on the floor.

“Nooooooo!” The pain in him radiates in his voice and through my body.

“We warned you, Warrington. You didn’t listen. Refusing the boss’s request to import his drugs in your shipment was never going to end well. Now, would you like to reconsider?”

My hand clasps over my mouth so I can’t make a sound, the man now pointing the gun at Mr. Warrington.

“You took the love of my life. What makes you think I will agree now? I will not be part of your law breaking, ever! Sue-Ellen would never forgive me. I would rather die too.” The tears pour down his face as he holds her body in his lap trying to rock her back to life, willing her to take one more breath.

“That can be arranged,” the gunman replies and shoots him clean between the eyes. His body falls forward on top of her lifeless body.

My body is quivering in shock. I know I need to move, but I’m having trouble even breathing. Just as I start to slide back behind the wall, the shooter looks up and makes eye contact. Oh god, I’m dead too.

The huge crash of thunder hits at the same time as the biggest flash of lightning, feeling like it’s on top of the house. Instantly the lights go out, and I know I don’t have time to wait. I run as fast as I can to the back of the house, my footsteps muffled by the plush carpet and my soft shoes. I’m frantically trying to think of how to get to my car. It’s useless because they know that’s where I will go to try to escape.

My heart racing, my tears dropping on my cheeks, I can’t stop.

Need to hide.

Think, Jenna, think!

The only advantage I have over them at the moment is the darkness. I know every square inch of this house like the back of my hand. Behind me I can hear them tripping up the stairs and running into furniture.

Arriving at the maids’ closet, I remember the servants’ dumbwaiter. We don’t use it now, but the house being so old, it’s part of the history of families before the Warringtons. As quietly as I can, I slide the door up but still try to go as fast as possible, climbing in sideways and tucking my knees up under my chin.

Lowering the door quietly again, I can hear them coming.

“Where are you, bitch? If you come out, we’ll let you go,” a booming voice echoes down the corridor as I hear the bedroom doors opening and being thrown back with force against the walls. I’ve never been so thankful for the huge house with so many rooms to slow them down. I know that if they find me, they will kill me too. I saw them, there is no way they’re letting me go.

The thunder still cracking so loudly above us is echoing even louder down the dumbwaiter chute. I’m shaking with fear as I use the rope to send the little box I am wedged into down to the kitchen, where I need to find a place to hide. I don’t know if I’m just sending myself straight into their waiting hands, but I have no other choice. I have to try to escape. There is no other option now.

It’s life or death. My life or death!

“Asha, are you okay?”

I scream and throw my iced tea all over myself as I jump from fright.

“It’s just me, it’s okay, you’re safe.” Davina’s arm on mine brings me back to where I am. “You were having another flashback, weren’t you?” Her eyes are full of sympathy as she hobbles to sit on the seat next to me.