The Keyholder by Claire Thompson Page A

hard and finished—“took me.”
    “September twenty-second,” the cop muttered, staring at the ceiling as he mentally tallied the passage of time. Nora, too, was calculating in her head. Nearly seven weeks held captive by that monster downstairs, and all the while the keyholders, Charles and Nora included, were blithely unaware of the atrocity taking place just over their heads. The thought made Nora’s skin crawl, and she hugged herself to stop trembling, tears wetting her cheeks. She ached to put her arms around Eva and comfort her however she could, but she sensed the girl was barely hanging on, determined to keep whatever shred of dignity remained to her in the situation.
    The cop opened his mouth and then snapped it shut again. Nora intuited he’d wanted to ask about sexual assault and abuse, but, to his credit, had decided against it for the moment. Instead, he said, “Okay. We’ve got what we need for now.” He fished in his pocket and held out a card, which Jack took on Eva’s behalf. “Call that number once she’s admitted. I’ve got an arrest to make.”
    After one last, horrified look around the room, the cop left the attic. Nora could hear him clomping down the portable stairs then moving rapidly down the hall to the second floor stairs.
    “We’re gonna get you to a hospital, now, okay, Eva?” the male medic said. “They’ll do a more thorough exam and probably want to keep you overnight for observation. Let me help you to your feet.” He extended his hand, which Eva took. The young woman stood, looking like a child in Jack’s shirt.
    “Can you walk, honey?” the female medic asked Eva, who nodded.
    They started to lead Eva out of the room, and she twisted toward Jack, pleading in her eyes. Nora could feel her fear, and her need. “Jack?” she said, her voice trembling a little. “You’ll stay with me? You’ll come with me? Please?”
    “Yes. Absolutely,” Jack said firmly, and Nora loved him in that moment.
    Nora moved closer to the young woman. “Is there someone we should call, Eva? Your folks must be worried to death.”
    “No,” Eva said quickly, then added, “My dad probably doesn’t even know I was missing. My mom passed away a few years back.”
    “Anyone else? A roommate?”
    Again Eva shook her head. “No. No one.” She almost managed the ghost of a smile. “A single girl, alone in the big, bad city. He had me all figured out.”
    Nora felt the sudden flare of anger rise up in the girl and sensed in that moment Eva’s strength and fierce determination. “He’s going to jail, Eva. And you’re not alone—not anymore.”
    ~*~
    The noose was tightening around her throat. Eva twisted, trying to pull her arms from behind her back, but the rope was too tight; it cut into her wrists, chafing as she tried to twist free. She was balanced on the chair, held in place by the rope around her neck. Master Phillip stood in front of her, a nasty leer on his face, his booted foot poised for the kick that would jerk the chair from beneath her feet.
    “You have to die. You do understand that, don’t you, slave Eva?” His voice cut like a whip.” I can’t keep you anymore.”
    She tried to scream. If only she could make herself heard, someone would come—someone would save her from this monster before it was too late. But no sound came out. His icy blue eyes bore like lasers into her head. She stared at him in mute horror as he kicked the chair from beneath her.
    “Eva, Eva. Wake up. Hey, hey, it’s okay. You’re having a bad dream, honey. That’s all.”
    Someone was holding her in a gentle but firm embrace. The scent of soap with a hint of vanilla invaded her senses, and she breathed it in, the coiled tension in her muscles easing, the terror slipping away.
    Jack .
    The name burst into her consciousness like sunlight, and the last of the nightmare burned away in the face of its warmth. Eva opened her eyes. She squinted in the sunlight flooding the unfamiliar room. Jack