Elle Unleashed: A Gripping Psychological Thriller with a Twist Read online

  Evan held her gaze, knowing full well that she had less than a thousand dollars in that account. “You’re my wife, Elenore. Please use the card.”

  She nodded and looked away.

  Something strange was going on with Elenore and not the usual strangeness she normally exuded. Evan could see it as plain as the nose on her face.

  He made a mental note to go online when she left and move a large sum of money to her account. Maybe that would make her feel more at ease about buying herself the things she needed.

  “If you get a chance,” Evan continued when the silence grew uncomfortable, “stop by the driver’s license office today and have your license updated. We can take care of your social security card online. Your passport should be arriving by mail, any day now.”

  “My passport?”

  Evan nodded. “You remember, we applied for it when we went to the courthouse to get married.”

  “Okay. I had forgotten.”

  Sarah let go of Elenore’s hand and approached the bed. “Are you coming home soon, Daddy?”

  It still blew Evan’s mind that Sarah was truly his daughter. And she’d grown more at ease with him as time went by. “Actually, I am, sweetheart. I’m starting to regain strength in my right leg. The other one still needs some work, but the nurse said I can borrow a wheelchair to use until I’m stronger.”

  “Really?” She took a step closer.

  “Wanna see what I can do now?”

  At Sarah’s nod, Evan eased his foot out from under the sheets and wriggled his toes.

  Elenore inched toward the bed as well. “Does it hurt much?”

  Not wanting to worry her, Evan shook his head. “It’s not too bad. And the good news is I’ve been experiencing some tingling sensations in my other foot as well. The doctor says it’s a good sign, and that it means the nerves are trying to heal. My chances of walking again are looking more promising by the day.”

  Was that relief he saw in Elenore’s crystal-blue gaze? “Hopefully, I’ll get to come home in a couple weeks.”

  “I— We— Sarah and I would like that.”

  Evan’s heartbeat accelerated. Elenore wanted him home. “I’d like that too. More than you know.”

  When silence fell once again, Evan attempted to lighten the mood. “Besides, the food here is so bad, stray animals wouldn’t eat it. In fact, I have it on good authority that the strays avoid the alley behind the hospital like the plague.”

  Elenore’s lips twitched.

  And just like that, Evan was once more swept away by her beauty.

  Only… Elenore didn’t wear makeup.

  Evan’s gaze flew back to her eyes—eyes so like Elenore’s… Only different. Eyes he’d witnessed before, in that dirt room, beneath the Griffins’ barn. Eyes that belonged to… Elle.

  More than a little worried by the appearance of Elle after so much time had passed, Evan flicked his gaze to Sarah, standing innocently next to his bed.

  “I would never let anything happen to her,” Elle softly stated, obviously reading his thoughts. “Ever.”

  “Elle?”

  Chapter Four

  Elle recognized the uncertainty in Evan’s eyes. If she allowed him to believe her to be Elle, worry and insecurities would eat away at him like a cancer.

  No, she couldn’t let that happen.

  She tilted her head to the side as if confused by his question.

  He watched her for a moment longer and then switched his attention back to Sarah. “So, school starts back tomorrow. Are you excited?”

  “Yes,” Sarah admitted in an upbeat voice. “I can’t wait to see my friends and play on the swings at the playground.”

  Elle had forgotten about school starting back so soon. She would need to get Sarah’s things together for the early morning commute.

  She stepped forward and took the child by the hand. “We better get going if we’re planning on shopping. The stores will be crowded soon.”

  Sarah kissed Evan goodbye and headed to the door.

  Elle followed close behind. She turned to look at Evan over her shoulder. “I’ll check on you tomorrow.”

  He sent her a small smile. “I look forward to it.”

  “Hey, wait,” he called before they made it to the hall.

  Elle faced him, her hand resting on the knob of his door. “Yes?”

  “Any word from Detective Rogers?”

  Elle’s heart began to pound. She forced her expression to remain as passive as she could manage, though she felt anything but. “No. Nothing.”

  Evan nodded. “I’m sure he’ll find something soon.”

  Elle hoped not. “Me too. See you tomorrow.” And with that, she left.

  * * * *

  Shopping for a four-year-old had proved harder than Elle thought it would be. Every outfit had to be tried on, as well as the shoes. She also purchased a new backpack for Sarah and what school supplies she could remember from the list hanging on the fridge.

  Once Sarah’s needs had been taken care of, Elle entered another store with the now sleepy child in tow.

  “This won’t take long,” Elle assured her, holding tightly to her little hand. “Then we can grab a bite to eat and go home for a nap.”

  Sarah’s answer was to rub her nose against Elle’s hand, a sign that she was wearing down quickly.

  Elle meandered over to the women’s section, her gaze touching on the beautiful clothes hanging there. The sort of clothes that Elenore had never been allowed to wear.

  Inching closer, Elle ran her fingertips along the fabric of several beautiful blouses. Yet, her gaze continued to stray to the black ones.

  She took one down, noticing the shoulder area missing, which would leave her shoulders bare. She put the top back.

  Thirty minutes and an armful of clothing later, Elle and Sarah carried their bags to Evan’s car. She strapped the child into her car seat and climbed behind the wheel.

  Looking in the rearview mirror, she met Sarah’s gaze. “Where would you like to eat?”

  The little girl yawned and murmured something about a burger and fries.

  Elle started the car and drove to the nearest drive-thru. She nervously stopped at the large menu situated to her left and mimicked what she’d seen Evan do.

  “Go ahead with your order,” a voice prompted from a speaker on the sign.

  Scanning the long list of items on the board, Elle ordered two burgers, two orders of fries, and a couple of drinks. Soda for her and milk for Sarah.

  “Pull up to the second window, please.”

  After paying for their meals, Elle accepted the food and passed Sarah’s over the seat.

  She grinned at the child instantly stuffing a couple of fries into her mouth.

  Elle ate her food on the drive home. That burger had to be the best thing she’d ever tasted. There was something very satisfying in the knowledge that she could give Elenore some small taste of the world she’d never been able to experience.

  Elle arrived home approximately fifteen minutes later. She parked the car near the kitchen door and carefully lifted the now sleeping Sarah from her car seat.

  Carrying her inside, Elle gingerly placed her in the center of her bed and trailed back outside to retrieve the bags from their shopping trip.

  Once she put all Sarah’s clothes away, she took her own items to her bedroom and hung them in the closet. It was time to box up Evan’s grandmother’s things.

  Elle had been putting off the chore for months, not wanting to do anything to cause Evan grief. But on more than one occasion he’d mentioned donating his grandmother’s clothing to those in need. And that’s exactly what Elle intended to do.

  She would have the closet cleared out before Evan came home from the hospital.

  Chapter Five

  Elle held tightly to Sarah’s hand on their short walk to school the following morning, listening to the little girl’s bubbling excitement about her first day back.

  Though the weather was still sligh
tly warm, there was definitely a noticeable temperature drop.

  Elle held a small sweater in her hand, deciding to bring it along in case Sarah needed it.

  She’d also brought along her shoulder bag containing the small handgun. It made her feel safe. But most importantly, it assured her of Sarah’s safety. Elle had seen far too many muggings on the news not to take the threats seriously.

  The school came into view a few minutes later. The two of them stepped up on the sidewalk in front of the entrance, behind a line of children being ushered inside.

  “Hello, Mrs. Ramirez,” Sarah’s former pre-K teacher greeted from a few feet away.

  It took Elle a moment to realize the woman spoke to her. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever grow accustomed to being referred to as Mrs. Ramirez.

  Unsure of how to properly respond, Elle attempted a smile that felt fake, even to her. “Hi, Mrs. Bartlett.”

  The teacher waded through the throng of excited students, stopping at Sarah’s side. She touched the child on the head. “Good morning, Sarah. Are you excited about being in kindergarten this year?”

  Sarah’s eyes shone with adoration. “I can’t wait.”

  The bell suddenly rang. Mrs. Bartlett lifted her smiling face to Elle. “Do you know where her room is?”

  “We didn’t make it to orientation, but her teacher is Mrs. Davidson,” Elle answered, attempting to be heard over the noises around her.

  The pre-K teacher took hold of Sarah’s free hand. “Well, with your poor husband being hospitalized, it’s no wonder. Come on, I’ll show you where her class is.”

  Apparently everyone had heard about Evan being shot.

  Elle simply nodded, allowing Mrs. Bartlett to guide them through the crowd and into the school.

  They trailed down the long hallway, coming to a stop in front of a decorative door with the teacher’s name written in crayon across its center.

  The first thing Elle noticed upon entering was a dark-haired woman not much older than herself, standing in the center of the room, speaking to at least a dozen children.

  “Mrs. Davidson,” the pre-K teacher announced, sidling up beside her. “This is Sarah Ramirez and her mother, Elenore.”

  “Hello there.” Mrs. Davidson extended her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  Elle awkwardly accepted her outstretched palm. “You too.”

  After explaining the routine to Sarah and Elle, Mrs. Davidson led Sarah over to a desk with her name on it.

  Elle followed, conveying to Sarah that she would be back at two thirty to walk her home from school.

  Sarah nodded her understanding, her attention already on a group of kids now gathering near some brightly painted cubby holes. And just like that, Sarah forgot that Elle existed.

  Elle almost smiled. Almost. She ventured back to the hall and made her way outside, when her gaze landed on a gray van parked along the sidewalk.

  She could see a man sitting in the driver’s seat, staring intently at the school. It was Bill.

  Her insides turned cold. Sarah was in that school.

  Elle’s heart began to pound the longer he remained there, unmoving.

  An image of Bill looming above her flashed through Elle’s mind until her breathing became choppy, and panic took control.

  She gripped the bag hanging across her shoulder and forced her feet in the direction of that van.

  The closer she got, the more the memories tormented her. Bill’s sneering face, his unrelenting fists.

  Her fingers slipped inside the shoulder bag to wrap around the hilt of that gun.

  The driver’s side door abruptly opened to reveal an elderly man sitting in a wheelchair.

  “Thank you for coming back, Mr. Nelson,” a woman’s voice called out from behind Elle.

  The gentleman in the van smiled at someone over Elle’s shoulder and produced a pink backpack. “I would forget my head if it wasn’t attached to my shoulders.”

  Just then, a little girl ran past Elle, snatched up the backpack, and hurried back toward the school entrance.

  “It’s okay, Mr. Nelson,” the woman responded, laughter evident in her voice. “The first day of school is hectic for a lot of people. We’ll see you this afternoon.”

  Elle released her grip on the hilt of her pistol, unable to take her gaze off the elderly man sitting in a wheelchair in that van.

  The one known as Mr. Nelson sent Elle a warm smile. “Good morning, miss.”

  Elle had almost done the unthinkable and killed a man she’d thought to be Bill. A man that, upon closer inspection, didn’t look anything like Bill. And Bill was dead, had been for months.

  She turned and fled.

  Chapter Six

  Elle arrived home in record time. Which wasn’t a surprise considering she’d run the majority of the way.

  She couldn’t seem to get the image of Bill from her mind. But why? What had triggered it? And then it hit her. Sarah. Her fear for Sarah had conjured up that monster’s memory.

  An overwhelming feeling of protectiveness settled inside Elle. She recognized it for what it was. She hadn’t been able to prevent the Bills of the world from hurting Elenore, but she would protect Sarah. Even if she had to kill every man within a hundred-mile radius of her to do it.

  A calmness enveloped her. She unlocked the door and stepped into the kitchen.

  Removing her shoulder bag, she dug around inside until she found what she sought. The ATM receipt with the address of the young prostitute’s mother written on the back. Below the address was the name Marlon Hurley.

  Elle replaced the receipt back in her bag and moved off down the hall to her bedroom. She took down a black pullover top from the closet, a pair of jeans, and black boots.

  Once dressed, she strode to the bathroom, released her blonde hair from its ponytail, and applied a generous amount of makeup.

  She then took a good, hard look at the finished product in the mirror. The woman staring back from her reflection didn’t resemble the once scared and broken Elenore Griffin. No, this woman was confident and calm. This woman had a purpose. This woman was… Elle.

  Satisfied with her appearance, Elle tugged off her wedding ring and tucked it into the top drawer of her dresser. She then left the house and climbed behind the wheel of Evan’s car. According to her cell phone’s GPS, it would take her twenty minutes to reach her desired location.

  Thankfully, she had gotten the rest of Ida Mae’s ammunition the other night when she’d slept there. She had enough bullets to take care of Marlon Hurley. More than enough.

  Elle arrived at 2244 East Chestnut Street a little after nine a.m. She pulled into the drive of an empty house across the street, feigning interest in the for-sale sign there.

  Just then, an attractive woman who looked to be in her late thirties exited the home of the address Miley had given Elle. She climbed behind the wheel of a yellow two-door car and backed out of the drive.

  The woman never once glanced in Elle’s direction. Which Elle found hard to wrap her mind around. Had that been Elenore coming from that house, she would have memorized her surroundings long before stepping out the front door.

  After another ten minutes of sitting there, Elle reached for the gear shifter, intending on circling the block to keep from being noticed.

  She’d been watching for evidence of Marlon Hurley’s presence but had yet to see even so much as a curtain move across the street.

  The side door to Miley’s house suddenly opened, and a tall, dark-haired man stepped out, wearing a mechanic’s uniform and a close-cut beard. He climbed into a dark-blue truck and left in the same direction as the woman.

  Elle followed, staying a safe distance behind until the truck pulled into a service station that read JACK’S TIRES AND LUBE across the marque out front.

  She drove on by for a couple of miles and then circled around to find Marlon Hurley standing out front, scoping out a flat tire on the back of a red sports car.

  Elle pulled into the station. She
left the engine running and rolled down her window.

  Marlon glanced up, interest suddenly flashing in his eyes.

  He sauntered over. “Can I help you, pretty lady?”

  Elle’s stomach rolled. She swallowed back the bile that threatened and pasted on the friendliest smile she could manage through her nausea “I hope so. I seem to be lost. Can you tell me how to get back to the interstate from here?”

  Marlon dropped down to his haunches next to her door. His eyes became hooded, and he lifted a hand to rest along her lowered window. Grease resided beneath his fingernails. “You’re not from around here?”

  She shook her head. “Alabama.”

  He was practically salivating on her door. “What’s a pretty little thang like you doing in Atlanta?”

  Elle wanted nothing more than to pull that pistol from her bag and shoot him right between his leering eyes. But, of course, she couldn’t. Not yet, at any rate.

  She lifted her left hand and ran her pinky finger along her bottom lip. A move she knew would show that she didn’t have on a wedding ring. “Visiting a friend.”

  It produced the desired effect. His gaze touched on the place where her ring normally resided. “Alone?”

  Forcing a smile once more, Elle softly stated, “Being alone has its merits, Mr.?”

  He touched her on the arm. “I just bet it does. And name’s Marlon.”

  “Nice to meet you, Marlon. I’m Lacy.”

  Marlon stayed in that same position for what seemed an eternity, and then, “Why the hurry to leave town? One more night in Atlanta wouldn’t hurt anything, would it?”

  Elle licked her lips and gave a dainty shrug. “I might be persuaded to stay another night.”

  “I bet I can persuade you.”

  The bile she fought so hard to contain threatened to spew forth, but she held it back. Barely.

  She swallowed with difficulty, which he didn’t seem to notice. “What ya got in mind?”

  “How about a drink later tonight?”

  A plan was already forming. “I believe I can handle that. Name the place.”

  He seemed to think over her words. “Anywhere but downtown Atlanta. I know too many folks there.”