“What happened to you?”
“Please,” she pleaded. “I need to call the police.”
His gaze narrowed in suspicion and for a moment, she feared he wasn’t going to let her in side. Finally he backed up, gestured for her to come in.
He quickly surveyed his porch and yard. “Is somebody after you?”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so.” She looked around the room. “I need to use your phone.”
He shuffled to ward the kitchen. “It’s in here.”
Elizabeth rushed past him, almost knocking him over. She didn’t take the time to apologize. She had to warn Joe.
Her first instinct was to call 911. But the police might not take her word for what was happening. And she didn’t have the exact location. The Agency would surely know Joe’s plan for connecting with his contact.
She punched in the number she’d learned by heart long ago. A voice answered on the first ring.
“I need to speak with Director Calder.” Elizabeth ID’d her self using the code name and number she’d been given when she first agreed to work with the Agency.
When Director Calder’s voice came across the line Elizabeth felt the sting of tears. Thank God.
She explained about David and warned that Joe was walking into a trap some where in the vicinity of Avenue A here in New Jersey.
The phone cut out.
“What did you say?” She’d missed what ever Director Calder had said.
He repeated, but again the phone started cutting out and she only got a word here and a word there.
She turned to the owner of the house. “Is there something wrong with your phone?”
In the moments it took him to answer, fear surged into her throat. What if she hadn’t completely disabled her captor? What if he was out there attempting to tamper with the phone line? Her heart pounded erratically.
“Damn thing won’t hardly hold a charge any more. Just put her back in the cradle for a minute and she’ll be fine.”
“Director Calder?” she shouted into the mouth piece of the receiver but the line was dead.
She depressed the talk button again and again. “You’re sure that’s all it is?”
The old man nodded. “It’s the only one I got. Being cordless lets me use it all around the house but lately it won’t hold a charge for long. I guess I left it out of the cradle too long today.”
Elizabeth stuck the phone back into its cradle and took two deep, calming breaths. She’d made the call. Even though she didn’t know what Calder had said, he’d gotten all she needed to tell him. He would en sure help got to where Joe was supposed to meet his contact.
“You need to wash up or something?” the old man asked. He looked at her face and then her hands. “Your throat’s all red and swollen. You sure you’re okay, lady?”
She shuddered and considered all the diseases she could catch with that horrible man’s blood all over her.
“I’d like to wash up,” she managed to get past the lump in her throat. Her body shook so hard she could barely stay vertical. She recognized the symptoms. The receding adrenaline. She’d have to be careful about shock. She’d been through an or deal.
“Down the hall.” He gestured to the hall at her left.
She nodded. “Thank you.”
Her legs as weak as a toddler taking her first steps, she staggered to the bathroom.
“Sweet Lord.” Her reflection was not a pretty sight. Her hair was a mess. Her face had a few smears of blood but her blouse was the worst. And her throat was red and swollen. Her bloody blouse was even torn.
She shuddered again, wondered if the man who’d been holding her captive was lying in that other house dying. She should call 911.
Being quick about it, she thoroughly washed her hands and face. She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. That was the best she could do. Before leaving the bathroom she said one more urgent prayer for God to watch over Joe.
Please let him be safe.
When she returned to the living room the old man was still in the kitchen.
“Thought I’d make you some tea,” he said as she joined him there.
“Thank you.” She nodded to the phone. “May I try your phone again?”
He shrugged. “Probably won’t do you any good but you can try.”
She picked up the phone and punched in the three dig its. The operator answered and she explained about being held captive and injuring her captor to escape. She verified the address with the old man fretting over the tea cups and then hung up.
The police and paramedics would be here soon.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said as she took the tea he offered. “I’m Elizabeth Cameron.” She sipped her tea and sighed. The heat felt good drenching her raw throat.
“Rosco Fedder.” He sweetened his tea, stirring it thoughtfully. “Sounds like you had your self a fright, Missy.”