The Silent Boy (Emma McPherson Book 1) by A.J. Flynn (early reader books .txt) 📗

Hayley didn’t answer, mostly because she couldn’t think of anything to say. She’d never dealt with anything like this before.

He rolled his head back and continued watching her through his half-closed lids. Almost as though he were in reverie, he carried on talking.

“Of course, Colleen hasn’t accused me outright. Colleen is such a lady, she wouldn’t deign to accuse a dog of pissing on a fire hydrant. No, she’s not a woman, but she’s a mile-wide, twenty-four-hour-a-day lady.”

Johnson seemed to have forgotten her presence, but Hayley remained standing as if planted. She seemed unable to move.

“All you women are the same” his voice droned on, “—like bacteria, or…one of those sucker fish that sticks to the back of sharks and lives off of them. I used to watch you as you left for work. I knew by the way you moved that you were one-hundred percent woman and could make any man appreciate you. You’ve got sex written all over you.”

Hayley’s breath hitched as Robb droned on.

“I used to think of you over here at night with Valentine, dressed in scanty nightgowns he’d tear off… I used to drive myself crazy thinking about you, with your soft perfumed hair, in bed with him. But look at you now”—his voice grew suddenly sharp—“you’re just as blowsy as Colleen, except not as fat. Just another god-damned bitch.”

Hayley discerned utter hatred in his face as he scowled at her, and the first prickles of fear touched her spine. She didn’t know what she’d done to anger him, but she knew that this man had become dangerous to her.

“You better go on home, Mr. Johnson,” she said in a quivering voice.

A cruel smile twisted his lips and he shoved himself out of the chair. There was something obscene about his expression. “You know that old saying, if at first you don’t succeed? Well, I think you’re just what the doctor ordered.”

As he spoke, he stumbled towards her, shoulders stooped, elbows jutting away from his sides. Hayley looked on in terror at the advancing figure, but found that she was frozen stiff, and unable scream or run.

With one quick movement, Robb fastened his hand on the neckline of her robe, and thrashed. The material was too thick to rip, so it just hung open, revealing her bare chest.

He narrowed his eyes and sneered. “No difference except some of them take more baths.”

Hayley realized the true extent of her danger and opened her mouth to scream, but Robb’s palm smashed against her lips, smothering the sound until it was nothing more than a whimpering moan. She staggered backwards against the wall and looked on with pleading eyes as he drew his fist up for a second blow. He was blind to her fear, only intent on relieving the hot rage and frustration that was burning inside of him.

The blow struck the side of Hayley’s face, and she crumpled to the floor, her hands pressed firmly over her mouth like she was trying to silence the dry racking sobs that shook her.

Robb stared down at the defenseless woman with surprise. The full consequence of what he had just done was beginning to make itself felt. He wanted to try to help her, but he didn’t know what to do. A man could get himself into a hell of a lot of trouble if she decided to go to the cops. He reached for his hat and, after a quick glance to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything, fled through the back door.

He didn’t dare start the car, but he pushed it enough so it would coast on the slight incline of the street. He couldn’t figure out how he’d somehow managed to get on the wrong side of the street, but it was too late to worry about that now.

The car slowed to a halt partway across his driveway, but it would have to suffice. He sat for a while, struggling to collect his thoughts. If he went home in his present condition, Colleen would surely know something had happened.

He covered his face with his hands and thought, Christ, what did I do?

Mrs. Valentine had never been anything but nice to him. Sure, he had stolen a peek every now and again, but he had looked at just about everything that passed his way wearing a skirt. He’d never forced a woman in his life and never would have thought himself capable of it. They simply never mattered enough for him to risk endangering himself. For every one of them who wasn’t willing, there were two more that were. Be that as it may, if Mrs. Valentine decided to call the cops, he would surely be sent to prison.

There wasn’t any point in waiting any longer, so he stumbled to the door and pushed it open as quietly as he could.

“Is that you, Robb?” Colleen called from the kitchen.

He mumbled with irritation. He knew that tone. Colleen had something to talk about and she planned on talking until all hell froze over. He passed a quivering hand over his eyes and wondered to himself how he might make it through, but he didn’t dare leave until he found out what Hayley Valentine would do as soon as she got hold of herself.

Colleen entered the room looking calm and cool. “It’s nice to have you home early for a change, I’ve been nervous all day. First poor little Charlie, and now this. It’s getting to the point where I’m afraid to listen to the news anymore.”

Robb was too preoccupied with his own problems to pay her very much attention.

“You look exhausted, dear,” she went on. “Take a seat and I’ll fix you something to eat. I doubt I’ll have very much appetite thinking about poor Mrs. Valentine over there all alone. I’d pay her a visit, but I’m sure she’s in bed by now.”

At the sound of Hayley’s name, Robb froze. “What about poor Mrs. Valentine?” he managed to ask through his dry