She went into the bedroom. On the bed lay two green shopping bags. Inside them she found a white blouse, a pale blue skirt, panties and a bra, and a shoe box containing a pair of white sneakers.
All brand new, the tags still on them.
Blushing, she called out, ‘Thank you, Jack! They’re great!’
‘You’re welcome,’ he called from somewhere beyond the shut door.
Marty took off the robe. She hung it in the closet, glimpsing the shotgun’s stock before she turned away. Then she removed the bandage from her back and made a new one. After that, she removed the tags from the clothes. She started to get dressed.
The bra was slightly too large.
‘Wishful thinking,’ she muttered. Laughing quietly, she put it on anyway.
Everything else fit well. Looking at herself in the brand new clothes, she felt clean and fresh and very safe.
The night with Willy seemed far away.
Until she saw her face in the mirror.
That brought it all back. Her stomach twisted. She crouched on the floor, shivering, hugging her belly. Then, like an icy wind, it passed. She hurried outside.
The afternoon sun was hot and calming.
She found Jack behind the cabin, standing at a red brick barbecue.
‘The clothes are wonderful,’ she said.
‘You look great.’
‘If you’re into battered, bruised and ugly.’
He laughed. ‘I must admit, I would be interested in seeing what you look like when you haven’t just been beaten to a pulp.’
‘Consider it done. It’s the least I can do for you.’
36
Willy came out of the shack. He was naked. He held his red bandanna in one hand, his leather belt in the other.
The girl raised her head and opened her eyes.
‘This is gonna hurt, sweetie. But don’t scream too loud, or I’ll have to gag you. You wouldn’t want that. My hanky’s got boogers in it.’
Her dry lips stuck together when she tried to open her mouth. Then they peeled apart. She licked them, and asked in a raspy whisper, ‘Why are you doing this to me?’
‘Because I can?’
He began to swing his belt.
37
When Jack drove her into the town of Wayside that evening, it looked different from the night before. Golden in the lowering sun. Busy, yet peaceful. And crowded. A dozen people stood in line at the movie theater.
‘Would you like to see a show?’ Jack asked.
‘Would you?’
‘Sure.’
Jack parked the car, and they walked to the theater. Inside, they found seats near the front. The lights faded out. And the previews started.
Marty could hardly believe that she was safe and watching a movie.
Only two nights ago, she’d been in a theater with Dan.
She’d spotted Willy…
For the next couple of hours, she stared at the enormous screen but noticed little that was on it. She dwelled on the screen in her mind, the one that played a horrible film about Willy.
In that film, she relived it all.
Again and again.
Marty was pulled out of it when the lights came up. She found that she was squeezing Jack’s hand.
On the way out of town, Jack asked if she would like some ice cream.
‘Sure,’ she said.
They stopped at the Wayside Motor Inn, and each had a hot fudge sundae at its all-night burger joint.
Then they were in the car again, rushing along the dark, twisting road.
‘Gives me the creeps,’ Marty said. She slid across the seat, close to Jack. He put an arm across her shoulders.
‘You don’t need to be afraid.’
‘He’s still out there,’ she said.
‘But he doesn’t have you. Not anymore. And tomorrow we’ll go to the police.’
‘Will you come with me?’
‘Of course.’
‘What if Willy comes for me tonight?’
‘He won’t.’
‘He might already be at your cabin waiting for us.’
Jack’s hand went to the back of her neck. Gently and firmly, he rubbed her there. ‘He won’t get you. Not tonight. Not while I’m around.’
38
‘You look good in stripes. Anyone ever tell you that?’ Laughing, Willy scraped the bottom of his chili can. Then he licked the spoon. ‘That was funny. Why aren’t you laughing?’
The girl, sitting on the mattress with her legs crossed, said nothing. She gazed sullenly down at the can of chili in her hand. ‘By the way, sweetie, what’s your name?’
She scooped a spoonful of chili into her mouth.
A flashlight lay on the table beside the big, battery powered lantern that lit the center of the room. Willy picked it up, turned it on, and threw its beam in her face.
She shut her puffy eyelids.
‘What’s your name?’ Willy repeated. And then he remembered a game he used to play when he was a kid. He put down the flashlight. He went to the bed and knelt on it, facing the girl. She smelled like sweat and sex. ‘Now,’ he said, ‘what’s your name?’
‘Tina,’ she said.
‘You lie!’ he blurted, and smacked her hard in the face with his open hand. The blow turned her head sideways. ‘What’s your name?’ he asked again.
She looked at him. She pressed her lips tightly together. They were cracked and bleeding. She said, ‘My name’s Tina.’
‘You lie!’ he yelled, and smacked the other side of her face. ‘What’s your name?’
She glared at him. She said nothing.
‘YOU LIE!’ He swung. His hand clapped her cheek so hard his fingers tingled and blood flew off her lips.
39
‘I’ll be just outside the door if you need me,’ Jack said from the bedroom doorway.
‘I need you,’ Marty said.
He grinned. ‘Maybe some other time. Goodnight.’ He shut the door as he left.
Marty turned off the bedroom light and stood in the darkness. She thought about going out to Jack. But she didn’t want to seem pushy.
Some other time.
She took off her clothes and climbed beneath the sheet, wishing he was there beside her, holding her close and warm. His strong arms around her. Caressing her. Not doing anything funny, just being gentle and safe…
She woke up with a start.
Her heart was slamming. Her bangs were plastered to her forehead with sweat and the bed was soaked beneath her. She lay there motionless, wondering what had shocked her awake.
The room was pale with a creamy glow of moonlight. The door was still shut. Between the door and the dresser fell a shadow. The shadow was too small to conceal a person. But the open closet made a large darkness.
He’s in there.
Ago, he’s not. Don’t be ridiculous.
He is!
The sweat seemed to freeze on Marty’s skin. She pulled her top sheet up tightly under her chin.
The only sound she could hear was her own loud, thudding heart.
She glanced at the nightstand. There was no lamp on it.