Deadly Communications by Lillian Duncan

No Micah. He put me down here. Locked door. Keeps telling me if I promise not to tell, I free.”
    “Do you know him?”
    Ella squeezed her eyes shut but signed monster .
    Monster. Not allowed to tell about the monsters.
    “Who’s the monster, Ella?”
    Her eyes still shut, she shook her head. She put her head in her hands and started sobbing. “Can’t…can’t remember.”
    Maven decided there wasn’t a reason to force the issue. The most important thing was to get out of here. She walked around the basement.
    No windows or doors.
    The only way out appeared to be the door she’d been pushed through. It was locked.
    She should have left Paul a note to say where she was going. Or Lizzie, or Sandra. Her phone! She had her cell phone in her pants pocket. She hit Paul’s number. As it started to ring, the basement door opened. Quickly, she tapped the end button and hid it in her pants pocket.
    The man stomped down the steps and put out his hand. “Any weapons or phones?”
    “No.”
    He grabbed her. “Sorry, if I don’t believe you.” He began searching her pockets. It didn’t take long to find the phone. “I thought you said you didn’t have a cell phone. Shame on you for lying, Mrs. Morris.” He laughed. “Not that I blame you. Good try.”
    How had he learned her name?
    The man made his way back to the steps and turned to look at them from the top. “You shouldn’t have come. Enjoy your last few minutes here on earth. You won’t see the next sunrise. Neither of you.”
    Ella jumped off the couch. “No. Not hurt her. I promise. I promise.”
    “Too late now, Ella. I might believe you but not her. She’s a troublemaker.” He walked back up the steps.
    The room went dark.
    Ella began to sob.
    Maven hugged her. “We need to stay calm.” Maven made her way up the steps. She felt for the switch and turned the light back on.
    Ella’s sobs continued.
    Maven tried the door. Locked.
    In hindsight, she wished she’d let the call continue or hidden the phone under the couch. She walked down the steps and over to the still sobbing Ella. “We aren’t giving up, but I need you to calm down. You won’t be able to help if you’re this upset.”
    Ella nodded and took several deep breaths. The sobs slowed.
    “God helps those who help themselves.” Maven patted Ella’s arm. “Actually, that’s not in the Bible, but it’s a good sentiment. God wants us to trust Him, so we go to Him in times of need. So, I’m thinking God wanted us here, and now, He will show us the way out because of our trust in Him.”
    “What now?”
    “What now, indeed? Let’s pray and find out.” When she was finished with the prayer, Maven smiled. “I have an idea. But first, I need to know who the monsters are, Ella.”
    Ella took a deep breath and looked at Maven. Her hands moved reluctantly. Monster. Kill. Gun .
    “Who did they kill?”
    Don’t know. Don’t know. ”OK, well now’s not the time to worry about it. The police can find that out after we get out of here. Ella, who is the monster?”
    She signed. My brother .
    Her brother? Maven had expected Ella to say her father. Apparently, Micah was still involved with drugs. Poor Sandra, it would crush her when she found out. Of course, if Micah was involved, her father could be as well. “What about your father?”
    Ella shook her head adamantly. Not father. Brother. Her brother.
    Was Ella confused?
    Maven shook her head.
    Father or brother…or both. The truth would come out.
    If they lived to tell the police.
     
     
     
     

28
     
    Maven stood on the basement landing in the dark with a golf club in her hand, waiting and listening. Now that they had a plan, she wanted to get it over with while the adrenaline was still flowing. The longer they waited, the less adrenaline they would have. Now, Lord, now.
    Footsteps approached the door.
    She touched Ella’s arm, and the girl tensed.
    The lock clicked open.
    This was it.
    The door opened. He muttered a curse and felt for