Endless Night by Richard Laymon Read Free Book Online Page A

her. It didn’t seem to cut her, though.
    The hot slipstream raised her hair and nightshirt. She tried to see straight down, but the shirt blocked her view.
    She was sure she must be dropping straight for the concrete.
    Would’ve taken a magnificent leap to clear it and reach the pool.
    Maybe it won’t be so bad, she told herself.
    Bend your knees and ...
    Andy cried out. A quick, harsh cry of pain.
    Jody’s feet smacked down. The impact stung. Her knees folded. As she tumbled forward, she flung her arms up, hoping to protect her face from the concrete. But didn’t get them high enough in time. They were only halfway up when she slammed and splashed.
    Water surged into her mouth, rushed up her nostrils.
    Made it!
    She blew out air to clear them, emptying her lungs but getting rid of the water fast before it could trigger a choke or gag.
    Then she clawed for the surface.
    She was amazed that her leap had carried her all the way to the pool. Andy hadn’t even tried for the pool. Maybe he’d known it was too far away, so he’d vaulted the railing instead.
    From the noise he’d made, he must’ve gotten hurt.
    Breaking the surface, Jody sucked air and blinked water from her eyes. She twisted around. Both men were looking down at her from the balcony.
    They could jump right on me.
    Neither looked ready to try it, though. Maybe they didn’t want to risk the concrete.
    She watched them as she breast-stroked toward the side of the pool.
    If they were planning to jump, she thought, they would’ve done it by now. But they know I’m coming for Andy. Maybe they’ll throw their knife and sword at me.
    They won’t do that.
    Where’s the ax man?
    The ax man vanished from her concern when she reached the side of the pool and both men suddenly bolted into the bedroom.
    “Oh, God!” she gasped.
    She jumped and shoved at the edge and burst from the water. She got a knee onto the tiles, flopped forward, squirmed and scrambled up and ran for Andy, her drenched nightshirt glued to her skin, her feet smacking the concrete.
    He was sitting up, clutching his right knee and gasping and sobbing.
    “They’re coming,” Jody said.
    He looked at her. He shook his head.
    Jody scurried around behind him. Squatting, she clutched him under the armpits.
    “Don’t,” he said. “Get out of here.”
    “We’re gettin’.” She hoisted him. Stood him upright and balanced on one leg. “Try to stand on ...”
    He tried and cried out and hobbled and fell backward against Jody. She stumbled away under his weight, but stayed up. Arms wrapped around his chest, she squeezed him against her.
    “Put me down,” he gasped. “Drop me. My knee’s busted. I’m done for. Please! Get out of here while you can.”
    “Not without you, pal.”
    She hustled backward alongside the pool, hugging Andy to her chest. He tried to help by hopping along with his good leg. The injured leg hung limp, heel dragging.
    “Any ideas?” she asked.
    “They’re gonna kill us.”
    “Have to catch us first.”
    “Leave me here. You gotta. You can get away if you...”
    “Hey, shut up.”
    She scanned the rear of the house. So far, nobody was rushing out.
    At the end of the pool, she stopped. “Which way? You’ve been here. Where can we ... ?”
    “Back there. The fence.”
    She swiveled her head and saw a block wall a few yards beyond the side of the pool. It looked like it might be seven feet high.
    “Great,” she muttered.
    She put her back to it and made for it, towing Andy.
    She watched the house.
    What’U I do if they come?
    If I drop him, I can make it over the wall easy.
    Dad would never drop him in a million years. Not even if it meant dying.
    “Maybe they won’t come,” she said.
    “Why wouldn’t they?”
    “The cops might be on the way, for one thing.”
    “How do you figure that? You faked the call.”
    “Maybe they don’t know I faked it. Besides, maybe the cops picked up when I made the real call ...”
    “Did they?”
    “Don’t