Page 20 of Savage Justice
She shakes her head.
“Would you like to learn?”
She shrugs, which Ethan interprets as a ‘yes’.
“Come sit next to me, then and I’ll explain what we’re doing. Robbie, can you tell Lucy what each piece does?”
Delighted to be the fount of such wisdom, Robbie launches into the task. “This is a pawn. It moves one space forward. And this is a rook, or a castle. It moves in straight lines, like this…” He demonstrates. “The bishop moves diagonally, like this, and the knight goes two forward and one to the side. Or one forward and two to the side…”
Ethan chuckles at her baffled expression. “It’s not so complicated, once you get used to it. Shall we show you how we play?”
She nods and moves closer to him. I don’t know how he does it. It’s effortless, but he has some sort of rapport with frightened children. The game continues, but each time he moves a piece, Ethan explains to Lucy what he’s doing and why.
“I’m moving my queen so it’s between his castle and my king. To stop him putting me in check again. Check means that if I don’t do something about it, he’ll take my king next move, and then I’ve lost.”
She frowns in concentration, chewing on her buttered toast and hanging on every word.
“See, he’s having a go with his bishop now. But if I move my knight there, now I can take his bishop next move.”
“But what if he moves it away?”
“Then I’ll take his queen. Like this.” He demonstrates, much to Robbie’s disgust.
The tables are soon turned. Robbie attacks in earnest, and before long Ethan is forced to concede. Robbie is gloating, and Lucy seems awestruck.
Ethan knocks his king over and gets to his feet. “I have to go. Robbie, will you play with Lucy? But remember, she’s just learning so give her a chance.”
“Girls can’t play chess,” the boy observes disparagingly.
Ethan ruffles his tousled hair. “Never underestimate a girl, Robbie. Especially this one. Lucy’s the bravest girl I know, and you’re the smartest boy, so you should get on fine.”
Robbie sets up the pieces again and takes a white pawn in one small fist and a black one in the other. He holds both out to Lucy. “You choose. White always goes first.”
Molly chooses that moment to appear in the doorway, her baby in her arms.
CHAPTER 6
Molly
It’s the familiar sound of Noah demanding his breakfast that wakes me. He’s not crying, not quite yet. That comes next, but for now he’s whining and chuntering, still half asleep himself.
I prise my eyelids apart, then jerk to full wakefulness. I’m in a strange room, an unfamiliar bed. I sit bolt upright, swing my gaze about, taking in the classy decor, the expensive furniture, the elegant comfort surrounding me.
And I remember. Oh God, that man. The sink, the water, the sheer unadulterated terror when I was sure I was going to die.
The memory of the attack is blistered onto my memory, but somehow, miraculously, I didn’t die. How? Why not? I have some hazy recollection of another man. Several men, and a car. A strange house. This house? They must have brought me here, but I don’t know why.
And Lucy. Lucy was here when we arrived, and so was Noah. They were both safe. I distinctly remember, he was in a cot, sleeping. He still is. And Lucy was in the bed with me.
I turn to look at the space where she should still be tucked up. I even peer under the pillow as though she might be hiding there. Fear mounting, I slide out of bed and check the adjacent room, to find only a luxurious bath and shower.
My daughter has disappeared.
I pluck Noah from his cot and cradle him against me. I tell myself not to panic, she won’t be far away. She was probably hungry. She’s always hungry.
And so is my son. I need to find him something to eat as well as locate my little girl. I vaguely recall the woman who I spoke to last night telling me Noah had been fed, so I have to assume they have the makings of a formula bottle here. And maybe a nappy. I wrinkle my nose at the ominous aroma emanating from my baby’s nether regions.
The woman was kind, and gentle. I liked her, I think. And the other one, more efficient, business-like. She was a doctor. She examined me and gave me something to help me sleep. Christ, it was good stuff. It knocked me out cold for hours. But I’m awake now, and there are things to be done. Finding my daughter is at the top of my list.