Closer Than You Think Read Online Free

reached the paved road, she began dictating a new to-do list into her phone. Her lists had helped her stay sane, enabling her to accomplish everything she’d needed to do to leave Miami as Faith Corcoran, leaving Faith Frye behind in an insanely short period of time.
    She’d learned the magic of lists after her mother died and her father began turning to the bottle for comfort. She’d had to run their little household back then and she’d only been nine years old. Lists were her salvation.
    Tomorrow she’d contact her grandmother’s attorney to get the correct house key, and then call the utilities to have the power and water turned on. She’d need a landline, too, because cell service was spotty out—
    Oh no. Her heart sank as she realized what she’d forgotten. Cell service. Dammit. She stared at the phone she held clutched in her hand. She’d changed her name, her address, her driver’s license and credit cards, but she hadn’t changed her cell phone number.
    Irritation swept through her. How the hell had she forgotten about her phone? Not only was it still in her old name, it was a damn homing signal.
    She stopped the Jeep in the middle of the road and pulled the chip from the phone. She’d get a new one tomorrow. An untraceable one, just like some of her former ex-con clients carried.
    Then once she got all her ducks in a row, she’d return to the house to begin what was sure to be a massive clean-up job. Correction. It’s not the house. It’s your house. Get used to saying it, and going inside next time will be a lot easier.
    Relax. You left Peter Combs in Miami. No one is stalking you. No one is trying to kill you. There’s nothing to be afraid of here .
    Mt Carmel, Ohio, Sunday 2 November, 10.15 P.M.
     
    Arianna Escobar came to with a gasp, then held her breath, listening hard. She heard nothing. If he was in the room with her, he was holding his breath as well. She waited until she could hold her breath no longer. Air rushed out, and with it, a moan. She’d tried so hard to suppress the moans.
    He loved her moans, she’d learned. He loved her agonized screams even more.
    At the beginning, she’d been determined to give him neither. To give him no satisfaction.
    But he’d hurt her. A whimper escaped her pursed lips. With knives and . . . Another whimper escaped. She’d gritted her teeth and bitten her tongue until she couldn’t take the pain another second more. She’d screamed then, delighting him.
    She’d screamed and screamed until her throat was raw. And then, he’d abruptly stopped, backing away with a muttered oath. He’d left; she’d heard the door close. When had that been? She didn’t know. She could only see a bit of light through the edges of her blindfold. She thought she’d seen lights flashing overhead just before he stopped and swore.
    He’ll be back . He always came back. At first she’d prayed that someone would save her. But no one had. Now she prayed for death to come quickly.
    It didn’t seem like that was his plan. Whoever he was. He seemed intent on stretching this out. On making it last. He’d said so, several times. That he needed to make it last.
    But worst of all, she didn’t know if he had Corinne too. The last thing she remembered was him shoving Corinne into the back of a van, but Arianna had heard no other screams since waking. Only her own.
    Please let Corinne have gotten away. But she didn’t think her friend had escaped. Corinne had been limp when he threw her in the back of that van. Like she was dead already.
    The door closed quietly and she tensed. Lemons. She smelled lemons. It was the girl. Again.
    ‘Help me,’ Arianna begged, her voice raspy and broken. ‘Please, help me.’
    A damp towel patted her cheeks, cleaning up what was probably sweat and blood. And tears. Arianna had shed all three.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ the girl whispered. ‘I’m so sorry.’
    Arianna tugged the rope again. ‘Untie me. Please. I’ll get you out too. I