“He sawed the tread from the bottom until there was only a microscopically thin layer of wood on top,” she surmised. “The first time his wife stepped on that tread, that thin layer gave way, sending her headlong to the rock floor.”
Wyatt shook off the brutal images. “I’ll be sure to pass this along to Henley. The forensics folks weren’t likely looking for anything related to a prior fall.”
He checked the time on his cell. “We should get going. We can make the necessary calls en route.” Hattiesburg and Wiggins needed to be updated on Jamison. They finally had a break in the case. Whether it helped find Cherry Prescott and Penny Arnold alive was yet to be seen, but it was something.
“I want to walk through the house.” Adeline rounded the staircase and headed upward. “Just once.”
“Sure.” They had already broken the law, what was a few more minutes?
Wyatt watched her move from room to room, touching things, studying others. She considered the Christmas tree at length, fingered an ornament that looked like something the son had made at school. Wyatt’s heart thumped harder and harder. How had he allowed these last nine years to get past him without making her listen? Without trying harder to get her back?
He’d pretended not to miss her that much. That he was too busy to care about a real social life. Just because he was thirty-two didn’t mean he needed to be married with kids or even dating steadily.
But he’d been lying to himself.
The one thing he had needed had been gone.
The worst part was she would be leaving again.
How would he ever live with losing her twice?
Wyatt’s phone vibrated, yanking him from the painful thoughts. He pulled it from his pocket. “Henderson.”
“Wyatt, you and Addy need to get back here.”
The tension in Womack’s voice chilled Wyatt’s blood. He turned away from where Addy was checking out a family photo album. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Irene . . .”
Wyatt’s heart surged into his throat.
“The bastard got to her just minutes before security could get into place. The doctors were already working on her when I reached the hospital. Wyatt ... Jesus Christ. They tried everything they could.”
Womack’s voice quavered on the last. Wyatt tried to push the words he needed to say past his lips. Couldn’t.
“Goddammit, Wyatt,” Womack sobbed, breaking down. “She’s dead. Addy’s mother is dead.”
35
It was daylight. Cherry could see the dim rays of light attempting to invade the cracks in the walls. Her body ached from being in one position too long. Her wrists and ankles burned where the ropes cut into them. She was cold. So cold. She just wanted to go home.
Please, God, let them find us today.
She’d prayed for days. Over and over. But no one had come. Each morning when she woke bowls of water and oatmeal sat within her reach. At first she’d refused to touch either. Then, desperation had taken over and she’d gobbled from the bowls like a starving dog.
Yesterday or maybe the day before Penny had been dragged into this awful place with her.
Cherry couldn’t estimate how long she had been here. A week? Maybe.
Penny had cried at first. Her wails had been nearly unbearable. Finally, she had fallen asleep again. That was the only relief Cherry had gotten from the pitiful sounds. Penny lay sprawled on the floor, her shackles twisting her arms and legs at an odd angle.
Cherry prayed he wouldn’t come back today. Maybe he would be hit by a car or would have a heart attack. Glee gathered in her chest. She and Penny might die here if they weren’t found, but at least he wouldn’t have the satisfaction of torturing them anymore. Or killing them.
And he was going to kill them as soon as the last princess had joined them.
Cherry closed her eyes and sobbed softly. She wanted to hold her children. To kiss her husband. There were so many things she wanted to say to them before she died.
So many, many things unsaid ... undone.