Page 34 of The Secrets We Keep

“Sarah! What’s going on?” I demand. I need to know she’s okay, even though she sounded anything but.

“Hello to you too Eleanor.” Chet’s voice comes through the line. It oozes hate. The way he said my name sends chills and not the good kind down my spine.

“What do you want Chet?” I ask calmly. I need to stay calm. Stay calm for Sarah.

“It seems you don’t know how to listen when you are told to keep your mouth shut. I’m being investigated. Do you know how that makes me look Eleanor?”

There he goes saying my name like it’s the worst thing on Earth. Before I can think to answer him, he starts speaking again.

“Your big mouth is causing me trouble and I need to make that trouble go away. Shall I use Sarah to make it go away?” He laughs and I swear I can hear Sarah try to say something, but can’t make out what it was.

“What no! Leave Sarah alone! She has no part in this! It’s between you and me, Chet.”

I take a deep breath to calm the mixture of fear and anger that is beginning to roll through me. I also need to lower my voice before Jessy can hear me over the water.

“What do you want Chet?” I quietly ask.

“You, if you want dear sister to live that is.” Now I’m certain that I can hear Sarah weeping in the background. The panic I feel for my sister is something I can’t even begin to explain. I have to do something and quick.

“Fine. You can have me. Leave Sarah alone and don’t touch her.” I fucking hate this man with everything. I really do.

“Chet Please!” My sister’s voice raises and it both pisses me off and makes me scared for her. Please Sarah, just keep your mouth shut until I can get there.

“Sarah I’ll deal with you in a minute, just shut up.” His voice threatens her before speaking back to me, “That a girl Eleanor. Now you must follow my rules or else Sarah pays the price.” He pauses again, “First things first. You tell no one. You get in your car and you come back home. Alone. Do you understand that? Not even your boyfriend is to know.”

How the hell does he know about Landon?

“Did you hear me?”

“Yes, I’ll come alone.”

“Don’t toy with me Eleanor. You will tell no one.”

I really can’t stand the way the words roll off his tongue. It almost sets me off, but I bite my tongue to control my anger for Sarah’s sake. There’s no telling what he’s capable of.

“All right Chet, I fucking heard you.” My voice raises. I can’t help it, this bastard is pissing me off.

“Once you get here, I’ll let Sarah go free. Then you and I will take a drive. Do you think you can handle getting here in a timely manner? I don’t like to be kept waiting. I’m a busy man.”

Chet’s cocky voice grates on the other end of the line, just hearing it makes me sick. It also makes me want to choke him. I want to tell him to suck a dick while waiting, but I know that won’t help me or Sarah. I swallow my pride instead. “I won’t keep you waiting.”

“Good girl.” He replies and the line goes dead.

I’m shaken and furious, yet scared to death. I’m more worried about Sarah. I need to focus on her first. He better not harm her. Getting her to safety is my number one priority and nothing else matters, not even my life. I’d give it all up for her.

I sit on the edge of my bed and rock back and forth to try and settle my nerves and come up with a game plan. I hear the shower shut off, that means Jessy will be leaving soon.

I act like I’m reading as Jessy peaks her head in, “I’m heading out, I’ll see ya later.”

“Have fun. Be good.” I reply back.

She shuts my door and it isn’t until I hear the front door shut and lock, that I toss the book and start packing a small bag. Home is a few hours away and I want to make sure I have a bag of essentials just in case. I also search my room for anything that could be used as a weapon, if it comes down to it. Fight or flight instinct has kicked in and my mind is racing in all directions. I’m sweaty and still slightly trembling. Get it together. I glance at my phone and see no text from Landon yet. He told me he might be late, so I decide to send a quick text to tell him that I’m tired and going to bed early. In hopes that it will throw him off, he won’t suspect that I’m taking off. He would never allow it and he’s going to be so pissed. Under other circumstances, I would never go, except Sarah. I hate that we just opened up to each other, yet here I am withholding another secret. Shaking my thoughts, I grab my stuff and look over to see what I have gathered. It’s not much, a few pens, a small pocket knife that I found in the junk drawer.

It’ll have to do if it comes down to it.

I take one last look at Jessy’s place before walking out and locking the door. Walking down to my car a few stray tears fall. I hate Chet so much. I just hope he hasn’t hurt Sarah. I can take the tears, but not if she’s hurt. She doesn’t deserve any of this and I intend to make it right. Unlocking my car, I toss my bag in the passenger seat before walking around to the driver side. Once in, I put the car in drive and pull out. I look back in my rearview mirror one last time at what I’m leaving behind. There’s no turning back now.

Chapter 17

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