A Heart Full of Diamonds by A.M. Jenner

was now a game to both of them, with their responses
expected and given. Her smile spread out across her face.
    “Have you finished your homework, yet?” She knew her eyes
sparkled with the fun of the game.
    “Almost.” His face took on a pleading look, but that, too,
was part of their game.
    “Well, then you can almost come to bake cookies.” Her giggle
was soft.
    “Aw, Marilee! It won’t take long to finish. I can do the
rest right after supper.”
    “Derrek, my friend, you know your dad will skin us both if I
let you come before it’s totally done. I’ll tell you what. By the time I get in
the house, put my things down and change into some comfy clothes, you should be
able to have your homework finished and we can get the cookies started. What
time will your dad be home tonight?” Her face still held a wide smile.
    “He’ll prob’ly be home at ten. He’s gotta stop for milk on
the way home from work. Can’t I bring my homework over and finish it at your
place?” Hope dribbled all over his words.
    “No, you can’t. It will take longer to gather it up and
bring it over than it will for you just to finish it, right?”
    “We-e-l-l-l,” he drawled, his grin still wide.
    “Well, nothing. Come on, Derrek. Finish it up and come over.
I think I still have a cookie left from last Saturday’s batch, plus I have some
milk to go with it. Hurry and finish and come over, okay?” She raised her
eyebrows, tilting her head to one side with the question.
    “Okay,” he said slowly, “if I hafta finish first, I will.” The
grin had slipped to a grimace, knowing he’d lost his bid for early release.
    “You hafta finish first, my friend, or we’ll both have Dad
down our necks and you know it. You hurry, I’ll change quick, then we’ll have a
great time. Okay, Partner?” Marilee schooled her features to a solemn
deal-making look and stuck out her hand for the traditional hand shake.
    Taking her hand in a mighty shake, Derrek’s grin was back in
place. “I’ll hurry,” he promised.
    “But do it right.” she admonished him.
    “Will do. See ya in a few!” He turned and dashed back into
his house, and, smiling at his retreating back, she continued along the walk to
her own porch.
    Unlocking her door, she entered and reached to turn on the
lights. A strong arm gathered her close, a hand pressing hard across her mouth.
A deep, gruff voice spoke in her ear.
    “Don’t scream. Do y’unnerstan’?”
    Marilee made a sound in her throat, and the hand eased its
pressure on her face by a fraction. The strong arm held her tight, but her own
fear held her still.
    The men were back. She was a dead woman. Where were the
police? How did they get in? Why hadn’t anyone seen them? Where was their car? She’d
been looking for extra cars and hadn’t seen any. Panic made her whimper, her
eyes wide as she tried to see if this man was alone or if his partner was there
with him.
    “Now, Mrs. F., I’m gonna to let ya go, but it’ll go real
hard on ya if y’make any loud noise. Y’unnerstan’?”
    With the slightly decreased pressure on her face, Marilee
managed a small nod.
    The pressure increased momentarily as she was given one hard
shake. “I’m warning ya. Y’make any sudden moves or y’make any loud noise and I’ll
have t’hurt ya some. I don’t want to, but the choice is yers. Ya do unnerstan’?”
    Her mind was going a thousand miles an hour trying to find a
way out of this. She must remain outwardly calm or he wouldn’t let her go. Her
lungs burned, and she realized she was holding her breath. She exhaled as she
gave a small nod.
    The pressure held a moment longer as she dragged air into
her lungs. The man released her with a little push, making her lunge forward to
keep from falling on the floor. She dropped her purse as the lights clicked on and
she regained her balance. She turned to look at him standing by the door,
blocking her exit.
    A movement near the window caught her eye, and she