She checked the stack of messages Margot had left for her on the counter and carried her belongings back to the office opposite the kitchen. Once a formal dining room, the office housed Summer and Margot’s desks, which were back-to-back, and Juliana’s desk and hutch in one corner. The office was in the rear of the house and had very large windows which were draped with sheer white lace to let in as much light as possible. Summer loved this room. One window looked out over a rolling hayfield on the property next door. When the sun hit the grass just right and the wind rippled through it, it was magical. The other window looked out over rosebushes in the shaded backyard.
She looked out the windows now and smiled at the overcast, pearl-gray sky. The rain was still falling but was supposed to clear up by midmorning. She sipped her coffee and giggled at the antics of a squirrel climbing down a tree trunk in the backyard. The house was completely silent except for the occasional settling creak. After checking the time, she set to work.
A while later, Summer stood in the dimly lit kitchen stirring sweetener into her second cup of coffee when she heard a thump outside the back door. Thinking it was Mr. Abbott, the carpenter, she peeked out through one of the closed shutters. Perhaps he was dropping off supplies for the big job starting tomorrow.
She focused on the individual dressed in dark clothing. He had his back to her and was bent over something. He moved and she could see he was leaning over a small toolbox, and she gasped when he turned. Carpenters didn’t wear ski masks in the summertime. She silently closed the shutters, grateful she’d left the bright overhead light off, and snuck across the hall on trembling legs.
She snatched her cell phone from her desk, dialed 9-1-1, and slid her other hand around the handle of the aluminum baseball bat Margot had brought up to work after the fire.
Summer’s heart lurched in her chest as the masked intruder tampered with the back door. She nearly jumped out her skin when she heard a loud thump. She could hear swearing on the other side of the door as she peeked from the office. The burglar was making so much racket, he evidently assumed no one was there.
She pulled her phone from her ear and looked at it. No bars. “Damn it.” Cell service was spotty at best this far out in the country. Sometimes they had it, and sometimes they didn’t.
Suddenly righteously pissed off, Summer made a decision that might get her into trouble later. Once they got in, whoever that was on the other side of the door was in for a surprise. She turned off her desk lamp and tiptoed back across the hall and switched off the light over the stove in the kitchen, casting the back of the house in darkness. She was tired of “phoning it in” to the sheriff and tired of being a victim, constantly checking her rearview mirror as she drove to and from work. She was sick and tired of assholes like this one in general.
Adrenaline pumped through her system as the knob jostled in the door like it was coming loose. In a matter of seconds the door would be open. Where were her keys? In her pocket. She breathed a prayer of thanks for that bit of luck. They could be another weapon. She could use the remote to set off her car alarm and perhaps scare him away, but she perversely wanted to catch him in the act, inside her house. He thought no one was there yet. Otherwise he would have been much quieter.
She bit her lip as the inside part of the old doorknob fell with a thump to the doormat. Her hands tightened around the bat as she stood back from the opening leading into the kitchen. He’d have to move forward several feet before she could swing.
Humidity permeated the air and brought in the scent of rain as the door swung open slowly. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she waited.
Well, I’m committed to this course now, aren’t I? Come here, sugar. Don’t be shy.
A dark shadowy figure moved forward and angled to his left toward the office.
Excellent. Hold still. This might hurt a bit…
Careful to step on the carpet runner and not the hardwood floor, Summer snuck as close as she dared. She threw her body into it and swung the bat, aiming for his head. She didn’t want to kill him, just knock him out cold.
Whap!
She pulled back as he flapped his arms and tried to reach for her in the dark. She swung again and landed a blow across his upper chest as he tried to grab for her. He cried out in pain, and she realized she might’ve broken his collarbone.
Damn it! Why didn’t I run?
Knowing she had to make it count, she backed away to lay a good one on him when he slowly crumpled to the floor, moaning. She would have to step over him to get out either door. Holding the bat ready to whack him again, Summer edged close and prepared to jump over him and sprint. At the last second he grabbed for her and closed his big hand around her ankle. She tripped and fell on top of him.