MELT: A Psychological Thriller (40 page)

He paused with the car door open.

'Is there
any
way we can fix this?'

'I don't know? Can you?'

Michael left without waiting for an answer. Words weren't good enough for him anymore. He expected action. He expected her to change without any compromise on his part.

Well, she would fix it.

She would teach him a lesson.

A lesson about contractual obligations. Marriage was a contract. Having a child was a contract. And when she agreed to have his child, he was signing a contract for life.

She'd earned Michael. He couldn't just walk away from his debt.

Chrissie sat and finished her wine, planning her next two hours carefully.

Well, it has to be done.

In her bathroom she counted the valium tablets into her palm.

That looks about enough.

She crushed the tablets into her empty wine glass.

Now for the mixer. Strawberry benadryl? No. Orange paracetamol? That sounds all right.

She added enough to make a paste, then added tap water, swirling it with her finger.

Doesn't look too bad.

Maddie was fast asleep. Chrissie sat on her bed and stroked her daughter’s hair until she sat up.

She rubbed her little eyes. 'Where’s Daddy?'

'Here, Daddy needs you to drink this.'

Maddie had trouble with the wine glass, so Chrissie helped.

Maddie only drank half.

'All of it, Maddie.'

'But it's yucky.'

'Drink it anyway. It's medicine.'

'I don't want to. It's yucky.'

Chrissie stroked her daughter's hair. 'Daddy said he won't take you to the beach if you don't finish this.'

Maddie obeyed this time, pulling a face as the final sediments went down.

'Now get up and come downstairs, sweetheart.'

'Why?'

'Because you're sick. We're going to the hospital.'

Maddie only made it halfway down the stairs. She still lay awkwardly on the stairs when the ambulance arrived.

Chrissie was crying so much she surprised herself. She cried in the ambulance all the way to hospital, while they were treating Maddie, and even when she was talking to the doctors and police.

It was exhausting.

When Maddie's toxicology report returned, it supported Chrissie's allegation that Michael had been giving Maddie dangerous doses of valium to make her sleep at night.

The police found Michael at the beach house. After questioning, the police advised Chrissie they had insufficient evidence for a conviction, but enough to keep Maddie safe.

The court granted Chrissie full custody.

Michael was left with a photo in his wallet and a restraining order.

But he'd learned an invaluable lesson.

Chrissie judged that missing six months of his daughter's life was a suitable punishment. After six months, she'd forgive him for letting Maddie find the Valium. She'd take him back if he agreed to never separate their family again.

But she’d underestimated him.

Michael compared the police toxicology report against the hospital's records. Combined, the reports showed the high drug levels in Maddie's hospital blood-work meant that
either
parent could have given her the drug.

The appeal date was set.

An appeal that Chrissie was going to miss.

Michael would get Maddie, and everything Chrissie had ever worked for.

The injustice of it burned Chrissie more than the acid on her toes.

Chrissie searched her cargo pockets.

Where is that stupid thing?
Ah, got it.

She held the paper above her lighter.

ZICK...ZICK...ZICK.

'Is it that bad?' asked Alex.

ZICK
. The lighter ignited.

The flame spread up the paper.

‘You'll never know.'

 

 

#

 

 

Chrissie squatted behind the umbrella with the pistol ready.

She felt vulnerable.

If they planned to overpower her, this would be the logical time.

She listened for the chain. Satisfied, she relaxed. The smell near the drain was putrid.

I can still smell those corpses. They’re getting worse every hour.

Finished, she tossed aside the cargo pants. They were too hot.

Her skirt now felt several sizes too large.

How much weight have I lost?

She tightened her belt, listening for Alex and Megan.

'We need a break,' called Megan. 'We've worked all night.’

'It's too hot to keep going,' called Alex.

Chrissie dried her hands on her skirt.

'You can't stop,' she answered, limping back. 'We need that chest.'

'It's melting out anyway,' said Alex. 'A few hours rest won't matter.'

Chrissie waved at the drain. 'Meanwhile we're losing water. Listen how fast it's running away.'

Sweat stained Megan’s bra. Her burns looked like infected needle marks. Wearing just cut-off denim shorts and a bra, she looked like a trailer park junkie.

Just look at you now
, thought Chrissie.

'I can barely lift my arms,' begged Megan.

Chrissie pointed at the chest. ‘You nearly have it out.’

'Just two hours rest,' asked Alex. 'Then we'll get it out. I promise.'

Chrissie noticed blood under Alex's shackle. More blood dripped off his index finger.

He's too exhausted to even notice.

Chrissie pointed. 'Rest over there. Don't get too comfortable.'

Megan touched her shackle. 'Could we swap these to our ankles? Or even just change hands?'

Chrissie raised an eyebrow. 'You must really be tired.'

'She dropped the key down the drain,' Alex reminded Megan.

'Oh,' said Megan. 'I forgot.'

'Come on,' said Alex. 'Let's lie down.'

'Leave the picks,' Chrissie instructed.

Both icepicks hit the floor.

Chrissie heard Alex telling Megan how to lie so the cuff hurt less. After that, they didn't talk.

Chrissie checked her watch. 11:03 am.
No wonder it feels like an oven in here.

She'd let them rest through the scorching midday heat, but not a second longer.

At least they
could
rest.

She couldn't risk falling asleep.

They'd be waiting.

They'd either shoot her or cut her throat. At best, she'd wake up to find herself the slave.

Instead, she closed her eyes and listened to the melt water.

What is inside that chest?

If the chest was trapped, then today was the last day of Alex's life.

But what if the chest contains something even better than food?

Chrissie prayed that inside the chest was some way to communicate with their captors. Some way to end the torment and be set free.

This could be the end. Opening that chest could be the end of this nightmare for me.

Chrissie opened her eyes every few minutes so she wouldn't drift off to sleep.

Every few minutes she stared at the chest.

Did that just move?

She limped over and pushed it. The chest wobbled.

It's melting loose already.

'Wake up,' she yelled. 'Come on. Get up. It's moving.'

Megan wearily propped herself up on one elbow. 'It hasn't even been an hour.'

'I don't care. The chest is falling out. Get up and finish it. You can rest after that. Come on! Up! Up! Up!'

'Come on,' said Alex, helping Megan rise.

Chrissie stood back as Megan wobbled the chest.

'She's right,’ said Megan. ‘It's loose.'

'We need to pull it,' Alex said.

'Let's throw the chain over it,' said Megan. 'We can pull the chain.'

'Yes, do that,' Chrissie said excitedly. 'That's good.'

Alex shook his head. ‘We can't pull it
toward
ourselves. Somebody will get a broken leg.’

'I said DO IT!' yelled Chrissie.

Alex nodded. He and Megan pushed their chain over the chest.

'Brace your shoulder on the ice,' Alex instructed. 'Get ready to dodge if the chest falls toward you.'

Megan nodded.

'Okay,' said Chrissie, taking charge. 'On the count of three. One. Two. Three.'

Chrissie was so excited, she forgot to step back herself.

Megan and Alex pulled.

The chest burst from the ice and careened toward her. It missed Alex and Megan entirely, but Chrissie stood squarely in its path. She jumped away, but not quickly enough. The rolling, bouncing chest clipped her calf in midair. The glancing blow tangled her legs, spinning her off-balance as she leapt.

She managed to roll as she landed, sparing herself from serious injury.

My gun.

She looked down. Her hand still gripped the pistol. It might well have been glued to her fingers.

She quickly checked the others.

They looked shocked. Neither had the initiative to take advantage of her compromised situation.

She sat up and rubbed her throbbing calf muscle.
That was too close. Alex's prediction of a broken leg almost came true.

Alex and Megan stared at the chest.