Page 11 of Cut Deeper

It was time to test her pressure points. I needed to know what made her tick. The cracks had already formed from my presence alone, and I had no doubt she would try to kill me. Had our positions been reversed, I’d already have a scalpel in her throat.

I was a highly respected plastic surgeon and had a reputation to uphold.

I tapped the screen on the dashboard and classical music filtered through. The drive home was uneventful, yet the excitement began to build as I approached. It was time to cage my little project and observe.

?? ?? ??

The other two stared as I transferred Anne into her cage. Eva was torn between fear and relief—she thought that with another woman present, I might leave her alone. She was wrong.

Gareth was straining through the bars to see Anne.

They all had blankets, water and portable toilets. But did I get any thanks for my efforts? No.

I double-checked Anne’s handcuffs before placing the blanket over her shoulders.

“Please let me go. I won’t say anything. My son—” Gareth rasped before choking on his words and burying his face in his hands.

I’d removed their gags because I wanted all three to converse. I was beginning to regret it already. I never understood the logic of their having children and my granting them freedom on that basis.

I closed Anne’s cage and locked it. Even with the handcuffs on, I was taking no chances.

“Please,” he whispered as I walked away.

The lights would switch off automatically.

It would be interesting to see Anne’s reaction when she met Gareth again. I chuckled to myself as I climbed the stairs. I’d replayed her stabbing that canvas too many times to count. All that murderous rage simmering away was exquisite.

?? ?? ??

My hand was never far from my phone that night, even knowing I had work in the morning. I didn’t put it down until I’d heard every foul name she called me. Every delicious threat she uttered was like a confession.

Eva and Gareth tried to calm her down, afraid I would come.

Their words fell on deaf ears for a good twenty minutes.

When silence finally fell, the whispers began.

“Hello?” Eva whispered.

Silence.

“Hey, new girl. Please don’t make him mad,” she said, more urgently.

“We need to try and get out of here,” Gareth added.“What’s your name?”

Silence.

“I’m Gareth. This is Eva.”

“Gareth?” Anne asked abruptly.

“Shhh,” Eva hissed.

“Gareth from Moorbeck?”

“Uh, yeah. Do you know me?”

Anne snorted.