Page 144 of I'm Watching You

The phone rang and Audrey came into the kitchen and answered it. ‘Sure, just a minute. Nicole, the phone is for you.’

Grateful for the distraction, she left her cards and moved to the wall phone.

Audrey smiled as she handed her the receiver. ‘It’s a policeman.’

Tension rose. ‘Thanks. Hello?’

‘Christina.’

Richard’s smooth voice raked down her spine. Her grip tightened around the receiver. ‘What do you want?’

‘I’m outside, parked at the edge of the driveway. I want you to smile to the nice people and then walk out the front door, come down the drive, and get into my car. If you don’t, I’ll be forced to do some very nasty things to your friend, Ms O’Neil.’

Nicole glanced over at Eleanor, who laughed as her father came into the room and tickled her. Audrey stood at the stove working on a pot of sauce.

‘Don’t keep me waiting, Nicole,’ Richard urged.

Steel cut through the silk. SheknewRichard. He would do exactly what he said. ‘I’ll be right there.’

She hung up and managed a smile. ‘I think I need to get a bit of fresh air.’

Audrey frowned. ‘You look pale, Nicole. Are you all right?’

‘I’m fine. Just need some fresh air.’

Kier lifted a brow. ‘Who was that on the phone?’

‘Detective Warwick,’ she lied. ‘He wants to interview me again.’

‘I’ll go outside with you,’ he said.

‘No, no. Challenge Eleanor to a game of gin. I’ve been a bad opponent so far. I’m going outside for just a few minutes.’ The lies tumbled off her tongue so easily.

Mr Kier studied her. ‘All right.’

She turned and stiffly walked out the door. Before she went outside, she stopped at the entryway table, where she’d left her purse. She grabbed her cell phone and a vial of mace and put them in her pocket. Richard wouldn’t expect too much resistance from her. And hopefully she could use that to her advantage.

As she reached the country road just out of sight of the house, she saw a dark Mercedes. Black and sleek, it looked out of place.

The tinted passenger window rolled down. Richard sat behind the wheel looking so calm and relaxed. ‘Good tosee you, Christina. If you’re thinking about running, I thought I should tell you that I have your friend Lindsay stashed in a very unpleasant place. If anything happens to me, she’ll be long dead before anyone ever finds her.’

Nicole opened the door and slid into the front passenger seat. ‘Let her go, Richard. You have me. Just let her go.’

His eyes darkened. ‘Close the door, Christina.Now.’

Woodenly, Nicole closed it. If she made a move for the mace and did subdue him, what would happen to Lindsay? She had to wait for the right moment.

The doors locked immediately. He started to drive. ‘You’ve cut your hair. I don’t like it.’

She didn’t know what to say to that and decided to stay quiet.

‘But hair grows, doesn’t it?’ He frowned. ‘Put your seat belt on, Christina. I don’t want you getting hurt.’

She swallowed and tried not to let her fear show. ‘Where are we going?’

‘Home, eventually. But first we have a stop to make.’

‘Where?’ she demanded.

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