Joe took me into the hallway and pulled down the attic steps. When he started to push me up, I froze. Joe was making me hide in the attic. “Are there any windows up there?”
“No.”
I shook my head so violently I almost fell off the ladder. “No, I can’t.”
He climbed higher, so that we stood on the ladder side by side. “Rose, I know you’re scared and this is gonna be hard. But you can do this. You have to do this. Your life depends on it. Now go.” He pushed me up and I scrambled up the steps, trying to stave off the fear.
The attic was unfinished, and the floor joists were filled with insulation. Joe pulled a cord and a single light bulb lit up the space. There were several boxes in the corner to the left, toward the front of the house.
“You’re gonna hide behind those boxes. It’s gonna be tricky since there’s no floor and you’re drunk as a skunk. But try to keep alert and you can do it,” he said, guiding me toward the boxes. I told myself hiding in a dark attic was better than being dead. Joe got me situated the way he wanted me, my butt on one beam, my feet on another and hidden behind the boxes. He tossed my shoes in the insulation then knelt down, his face in front of mine.
“No matter what happens, you do not come out. Got it?”
“What’s gonna happen?” I asked in a whisper, my voice quivering.
“They’re gonna do whatever they can to find you. But you stay here. Do not come out, no matter what they say. Okay?”
I nodded, tears blurring my vision.
Joe smiled, but his eyes looked sad. He kissed my forehead. “It’s gonna be okay. Just sit tight and be quiet.” He scrambled to the attic door and clicked off the light, throwing me into darkness. The door shut and I found myself trapped, alone in the dark. I told myself I wasn’t trapped. I was hiding. There was a difference, only I couldn’t find it at the moment.
It wasn’t long before I heard pounding on the front door. My stomach tightened and my heart took off like a racehorse.
“McAllister! Open the door!”
“Hold on!” Joe shouted.
It sounded like the door crashed into the wall, followed by shouting and a lot of scuffling. The muscles in my back and shoulders locked.
“Where is she?” I barely made out the words.
I heard more voices, too soft to understand, followed by more sound of household objects thrown about.
“I hope you’re not that stupid, McAllister. Where are you, bitch?” a man yelled.
My stomach rolled and the drinks from earlier churned in protest. The walls below me shook, causing the wood beams to vibrate. I gripped the wood to keep from falling over.
“Where is she?” The voice echoed into the rafters.
My breath came in shallow pants.
“How the hell would I know?” Joe sneered. They were in the hall, directly under the attic door.
I choked back a sob, covering my mouth to muffle the sound. I could only imagine what they’d do to Joe if they found me.
“It ain’t no secret you had a thing for her. Where is she?”
The wall shook with a bang. A groan followed behind it.
“I told you. I’m not stupid.” Joe’s words sounded strained, as though he was in pain. “I sent her to Crocker, told her to be smart, and give ‘em what he wanted. Didn't she show?”
My breath stuck in my throat. Joe was getting beat up because of me. My consciousness became fuzzy and I forced myself to suck in air. I couldn’t afford to pass out.
“Yeah, she showed, then she disappeared into thin air.”
“What? Is she a magician?” Joe said.
Another slam into the wall and another grunt, long and low. “Look here, Mr. Smart Ass. We know she’s here.”
“I don't know where she is and you obviously haven’t found her here. Is her car in her driveway? Have you checked her house?”
“Her car’s not here and we’ve already searched her house. Crocker thinks you took her.”
“I’ve been here all night. If you don’t believe me, go check the engine of my car. I haven’t driven it since I dropped Rose off at her car, right before ten o’clock. It would be hot if I went to get her, like I’d be stupid enough to cross Crocker. I’m not a fucking idiot.”
“Check,” the guy said and someone opened the door and ran onto the porch. Seconds later they were back.
“He’s tellin’ the truth.”
A heavy thud rattled the floor joists.
“Where is she?” he growled.