Till Dark - Page 101/113

Jordan stared at the scene before her in a daze. What's going on she croaked weakly. Her eyes would not focus and she only heard the muffled sound of Clark gagging. Clark turned the tape recorder on before he reached up and hit Andy in the chin with his fist and his head flew back but he didn't release his hold. Andy countered by raising his knee and hitting Clark in the groin. Being taller than Clark had its advantages. She watched horrified at the scene in front of her and the confession from Andy she heard on the recorder. The man she was in love with was now beating up her date and confessing to killing her husband. Jordan's head swam with the news that her husband was murdered. It ripped open all the wounds she had healed and opened even more at the discovery of her husband's unknown life. Pulling herself together she made herself think. I've got to escape she thought. She remembered being attacked on the beach and then realized that her hands were tied behind her back and bound to her ankles as well. Slowly she pulled her hands under her bottom until they were under her legs in front of her. Carefully she started un-tying her ankles. Free she stood and stumbled toward the stairs. Clark was the first to notice her and he reached for the gun that was tucked in the back waistband of his pants. After a few minutes of struggling he managed to pull it out and aimed it at Jordan but she was already a safe distance down the stairs. Andy saw the gun and removed his hand from Clarks neck long enough to grab the gun as well. The two men wrestled each other for the gun as Jordan headed down the stairs to what she hoped was safety. Her bare feet stung from the sand and concrete stairs but she didn't stop. Her heart was pounding so loudly that when the gun went off she was not sure if it was real or her mind playing tricks on her. Clark fell to the floor and Andy took off down the stairs after Jordan. There were footsteps on the stairs behind her and, real or not she didn't want to find out. She hastened her pace till she reached the bottom of the stairs after what seemed like an eternity.

Salt air filled her lungs burning with freedom and fear as she burst out the door. She ran down the beach meeting several people along the way, each time she would ask them for help but, they simply looked at her as though she were crazy. Jordan ached all over and her head was spinning out of control but, finally she made it to a hotel and she stumbled inside calling to whoever would listen. The front desk clerk called the manager as soon as he saw Jordan and informed him that they had a crazy woman in the lobby. When the manager came up to Jordan, she grabbed the front of his shirt. Her hands were still bound by the rope, and she begged him to help her. He agreed that he would and looked down into the tearstained face of an angel. Very calmly he asked her what was wrong and she proceeded to tell him everything that she could remember. Somewhere in all the confusion the hotel clerk had called the police and Jordan could hear the sirens coming down the strip. They arrived just in time to have Andy burst through the door to the hotel "Where is she I know she came in here." He screamed at several of the hotel guests. Jordan heard him and screamed. "No! Stay away from me you murderer." Andy came toward her but she backed up closer to the hotel manager. A police officer stepped in front of Andy blocking his path. "Sir that's close enough." Andy continued toward Jordan in determination. "Jordan what are you talking about?" The officer placed a hand on Andy's chest stopping him. "Stay Back!" he shouted. Andy stopped but never took his eyes from Jordan."I heard the tape Andy. I know that you had my husband killed and you tried to do the same thing to Clark and me tonight." Throwing his hands in the air exasperated, he continued to walk toward her. "That's the most insane thing I have ever heard. Why would I want to kill you?" The officer pulled his weapon out this time and pointed it directly at Andy. "Stop where you are he shouted." Andy snapped out of it and finally realized there was a gun pointed at him. He made no further motion. "Jordan flew behind the hotel clerk for protection. "Stay away from me! Don't you come near me!" She was screaming at the top of her lungs now and several hotel guests were staring in confused awe at the entire scene. Several more officers arrived and grabbed Andy before he could take another step closer. We want you to come down to the station for questioning." Andy's shoulders slumped. "Okay Officer. The real guy trying to hurt Jordan is still in the lighthouse." "Jordan, are you okay?" It was Officer Greer. Jordan smiled in relief. "Yes, I'm okay will you please take him away." The kind Officer stepped over to her. "We can take over from here Thank you." He led Jordan over to a couch that was in the lobby while another Officer took Andy to the police car waiting outside. "Tell me what happened."