TWENTY

He lay back against the grass and watched the sun come up. He couldn't remember when he'd felt more alive.

Ali had been a joy, a treasure, from the moment she realized that he wasn't her good friend and her brother, Henry, and that her dear sister, Lori, wasn't there to save her. Too late, she'd recognized him, and only the chloroform had subdued her. He really hated to have to resort to that, but she'd been winding up for a good long scream, and in that neighborhood, screaming was bound to bring someone running.

He'd arrived at the college early to scout out the best location—that is, the location where he could remain in the shadows for the longest period of time without appearing to be trying to hide. It was, he reasoned, a very fine line. He found the perfect spot on Yarrow Street, just past a building that had a very gothic air—it looked like some type of theater—across the street from a prep school that looked deserted now that classes were over for the summer. There was a wooded area right past the main building that would give him a buffer, in case someone was about, and the gothic structure sat by itself near the road and was obviously closed. Just beyond it the road dipped down nicely, and as a bonus, a wide grass stretch surrounded it. He parked well past the streetlight and dialed her cell phone.

“Hey, we're here,” he told her when she answered.

“Where's here?” She sounded out of breath, as if she'd been walking fast.

He described the surroundings.

“Oh, you're all the way over there. I should have told you to stay straight on Morris for a bit.” She paused as if debating. “I think it would be easier for me to find you than for you to drive around trying to find me.”

He smiled to himself. “Are you sure? Because if it's too far for you—”

“No, no. It's fine. It'll just take a couple of minutes. Is Lori with you?”

“Yes, she's here. She just took a little walk down the street to look around.”

“Yeah, it's a nice neighborhood over near the theater. I'll be there soon.”

He got the towel ready, then stepped out of the car and leaned back against the driver's door, his heart pounding. He tried to remain cool and calm, but really, how could one when anticipating such pleasure? Deep inside him, the beast pawed impatiently.

He saw her step into the light from the one street-lamp at the end of the walk near the theater. She appeared to pause, her steps hesitant. He stepped into the street and waved to her. Seconds later, his phone rang.

“Yes, it's me,” he said, trying to inject a lightness into his voice.

“Why are you parked all the way down there?”

“Lori wanted to get a better look at this old house down the street and I didn't want to park in front of it ′cause I didn't want the owners to think we were casing the place. Keep walking, Ali. I'll call Lori and tell her to come back to the car.”

“Oh, okay. I just wanted to make sure it's really you.”

“It's really me.”

“I'll be there in a minute.”

He kept the phone close to his head as if speaking to someone while he opened the car door. In one hand he held the towel he'd prepared, and he kept his back to her until the last possible minute.

She was a few feet from the car when she called out, “Henry, you didn't tell me you got a new car.” and he spun around in a flash, like a dancer.

It took several seconds for her to realize that he was not Henry, but by then he had the towel to her face and was dragging her quickly to the passenger side where he taped her hands, feet, and mouth, and strapped her in to the seat.

He talked to her as he drove through the night, explaining to her what he was going to do to her and why, then turned on the radio and sang to her for the last few miles before turning off the main road and heading for his special place. He'd had no trouble hiding the car behind a stand of trees, nor had it been a problem for him to carry her through the field. The moon was high and bright and he knew the way. He'd laid her on the ground and stared into her eyes, drinking in her fear and panic until the beast swelled within him. He was invincible then, and knew that nothing could stop him from having her.

Nothing had.