The Serial Killer's Wife by Blake Crouch, Robert Swartwood Read Free Book Online Page A

apartment door.

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 13

    T HROUGH THE PEEPHOLE she could see Todd standing on the other side of the door, still dressed in khakis and collared shirt from substituting, his tie hanging loose around his neck. He leaned forward with his left hand placed flat against the doorframe, using his other hand to bang urgently on the door.  
    “Sarah?” he called. “I know you’re in there. Please, let me in.”  
    In her ear, Cain said, “Who is it?”  
    “Nobody,” she whispered.  
    “It doesn’t sound like nobody.”  
    Todd banged on the door again. “Sarah, please, open up. I’m not leaving until you do.”  
    “A friend,” Elizabeth whispered.  
    “Will he eventually go away?”  
    “I don’t think so.”
    “I see,” Cain said. “Then this will make it harder for you.”  
    “What will?”  
    “Killing him.”  
    Through the peephole she watched Todd step back from the door, loosen his tie even more. He looked both ways down the hallway, stepped close, began banging on the door again, calling her name.  
    Elizabeth whispered, “You’re joking.”  
    In her ear Cain chuckled a dark robotic chuckle. “I am. Just make him go away. Do not let him in the apartment and do not hang up on me. I want to hear everything you say.”  
    Elizabeth closed her eyes, thought for a long moment, though Todd’s constant banging on the door and calling her name wasn’t helping her concentrate. Finally she opened her eyes, engaged the door chain, and opened the door.  
    “Hi, Todd.”  
    He looked surprised, his fist suddenly frozen in midair. Immediately he said, “What’s wrong?”  
    “Nothing’s wrong.  
    “When I called you earlier, you hung up on me. Then when I called you back, you didn’t pick up.”  
    She tried remembering the excuse she had given him. “My battery was really low. It went dead right after I’d talked to you.”  
    His fist was still frozen in the air. He lowered it to his side, frowning at the chain. “Can’t I come in?”  
    “Now’s not a good time.”  
    “Why?”  
    “Matthew’s sleeping. He was really worked up about what happened at school.”  
    “I’ll be quiet.”  
    “You mean quieter than you just were?”  
    “Sorry about that. I was worried.”  
    Elizabeth stood with her face looking out through the narrow gap, the BlackBerry in her left hand behind the door.  
    “I appreciate that,” she said, forcing a smile. “But Matthew’s fine.”  
    “I’m sure he is. I was talking about you.”  
    The forced smile faltered. “What do you mean?”  
    “About what happened between you and Chad Cooper.”  
    “What are you talking about?”  
    “The word is you knocked him down to the ground. Which I don’t blame you for doing one bit. The guy can be a jerk and no doubt deserved it.”  
    She wondered briefly how many other variations of the story were circulating around the middle and high schools, teachers and other school staff always being ones to love good gossip, but the BlackBerry was suddenly heavier in her hand and she knew she had to make Todd leave.  
    “Thank you for your concern,” she said, “but everything’s fine. I’m going to go lay back down with Matthew now.”  
    Todd just stood there on the other side of the door, looking confused. He was almost ten years older than her, a divorcee with two children, his wife already remarried to a contractor in Arizona. She wasn’t in love with him but was falling for him, despite her better judgment, and every time he visited she invited him in, even if Matthew was asleep.  
    “I’ll call you later,” she said.  
    Todd didn’t say anything but nodded dumbly, looking lost.  
    Elizabeth said goodbye and closed the door softly. She looked back out through the peephole and waited for Todd to leave. He didn’t at first, just standing there, running the conversation through his mind, probably wondering what he had said or done wrong. Finally