Val went back to the only possible way in or out, the door with no handle. She pushed on it. It wobbled a bit. But it definitely moved. Now, how does it open? Val looked at the hinges which were held together by three long old-fashioned metal pins. Pull the damn thing off its hinges, that’s what she needed to do. She staggered back to the bathroom and grabbed the shampoo bottle. At least this expensive crap will be put to good use.

Val put shampoo on the pins to lubricate them, then took the cap off the bottle, placing it upside down against the top portion of the pin. She turned the bottle upside down and banged the cap against the first pin, tapping the pin up. After half a dozen strikes, it moved. Then it finally slid out. She repeated with the second and as the third pulled off, the door separated. Thank God, thank God! Val grabbed the door and slid it open as much as she could. She was about to slip out but realized she couldn’t.

What in the hell is this? Is this another sick joke? Val collapsed to the floor, exhausted, defeated. It’s another closet. I broke into a damn closet!

She lay on her back looking up. She was partly in the empty space but there was something in the door jamb that caught her eye. Val reached out and pulled. An accordion style metal gate? What the hell? She stood up and examined the inside of the closet. There was nothing but a keyhole on the immediate side wall. A keyhole. Metal gate. Oh my God, this is an elevator. An elevator that needs a key.

Val ran back to the bathroom and pulled the key from the toilet and hurried back to the elevator. She slipped it in the hole. Holy shit, it fits. How did Gabrielle have this in her pocket? How did it end up in the laundry on her floor? Val wasn’t going to question that now.

She was about to turn the key but then ran back to the bed and grabbed the phone, quickly placing it in her pocket. Once back in the elevator, she turned the key and the elevator started to move down, to the next floor. Once it stopped, she faced another door. This one, though, was unlocked. As it creaked open Val realized she was in another bedroom.

And Bridget Morgan was sitting up in bed staring at her.

37

I’m in the Morgans’ house!

Bridget’s mouth opened.

Val’s pulse exploded. Oh no, she’s going to scream. If she screams, I’m dead. Val smiled as calmly as she could and put a shaky finger to her mouth emphasizing shh.

Bridget mimicked the motion.

Val nodded and whispered, with her finger still on her lips, “Yes, shh.”

Then, suddenly, Bridget tossed back the covers and got out of bed. And headed towards Val.