It took her only about three minutes to untie Quinlan. In another three minutes all of them were free. They rose and stretched and tried to get the blood moving back into their legs and arms. “I think I’ll tie him up real good,” Corey said and dropped to her knees. “Look, Quinlan, he’s got one of our guns.”
“Thank God,” Quinlan said. He looked outside the shed. “It’s near dawn. I don’t see a soul. I guess they just sent him here to make sure we were still alive. Why, I don’t know. There’s no way they could have afforded to keep us alive, no way at all.
“Ah, look here. The old man brought us some sandwiches. They’re out here on a tray. How the hell did he expect us to eat them with our hands tied behind our backs?”
“All done,” Corey said, standing behind the two men. “What now, Quinlan?”
“Thomas, bar the shed door, then let’s get into Doc Spiver’s house and pray the phone’s still connected. We can get the cavalry here. Then we’ll go find Sally.”
“He’s mad, Amabel, utterly mad.”
Amabel was rubbing her jaw. She looked bewildered. “He’s never hit me before, never,” she said slowly. “He’s always caressed me and loved me. He’s never hit me. I always thought it was Noelle who brought that out in him, like she made him hit her, like she was sick and needed it.”
“No, she hated it. He demeaned her, Amabel, and she stood for it all because he’d threatened to kill me if she didn’t stay with him, if she didn’t take his abuse. He hasn’t hit you because you’re not with him all that much and because if he did, you’d probably shoot him or just leave. Noelle couldn’t leave. She had to stay to protect me. Now that he’s got you, he’ll beat the shit out of you whenever he feels like it.”
“No. I’ll tell him that if he ever hits me again, I’ll leave him.”
“You can try it, but I bet he’ll find a way to keep you, just like he did your sister.”
“You’re wrong. You’ve got to be wrong. We’ve been intimate for twelve years, Sally. Twelve years. I know him. He loves me. The only reason he hit me tonight is because he’s afraid. He’s upset and worried that we won’t get away. And you pushed. Yes, you made him furious. It’s your fault.”
“You’re nuts, Amabel. Wake up. He’s insane.”
“Shush, Sally, here he comes.”
“Quick, Amabel, untie me. We can escape.”
“Now what’s this? My two girls conspiring against me?”
“No, dear,” Amabel said, rising to go to him. She hugged him, then kissed him on the mouth. “Oh, no. Poor Sally thinks just because you hit me this one time you’ll do it again and again. I know you won’t, will you?”
“Of course not. I’m sorry, Ammie, I’ve been under so much stress, and you were arguing with me. Please, forgive me. I won’t ever touch you again.”
“He’s lying,” Sally said. “If you believe him you’re stupid, Amabel. Yeah, come on, you lousy human being, come on over here and hit me again. I’m tied, so I can’t hurt you much. You’re safe. Come on, you pitiful excuse for a man, come and hit me.”
He was heaving with rage, the veins in his neck red and thick. “Shut up, Sally.”
“Look at him, Amabel. He wants to kill me. He has no control. He’s crazy.”
Amory turned to Amabel. “I’ll take care of her. I know what to do. I swear I won’t kill her.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Trust me, Ammie. Can’t you trust me? You have for the past twelve, years. Trust me now.”
“You think he won’t kill me, Amabel? He’s a filthy liar. Do you want to be an accessory to murder?” Her words swallowed themselves. God, Amabel was already an accessory to murder maybe sixty times over. Maybe she’d even killed some of the people. Sally shut her mouth.
Amory St. John laughed, low and mean. “I see you understand, Sally. Ammie belongs with me. We’re two of a kind. Now, Ammie, untie her feet. I’m taking her out of here.”