“You’re absolutely right, they should listen to you—”
“If John quit the firm, we would’ve lost that case! The pressneverwould’ve let it go! It was damning! And I never lose! So I tried to get him to come back! He wouldn’t listen!”
“I totally understand, Roger.” Mary saw the fury burning in Roger’s eyes, out of control. Her plan wasn’t working. He was getting more worked up, not less. He had killed John in a murderous rage like this. Fear bolted through her body. She fought the panic tightening her chest.
“Itoldhim he was making a mistake!” Roger started breathing harder, shaking his head. “I said, ‘justlistento me,’ but he wouldn’t change his mind! He told me to get out! He tried to throw me out!Me!He thought heknew,but he didn’t! He was just akid! And he wasn’thalfas smart as he thought! Asyouall thought—”
“Stop talking about him!” Judy shouted suddenly, sobbing, and in the next moment she was flying across the room at Roger.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Mary screamed, terrified, as Judy raced toward Roger in blind hatred.
Roger backhanded Judy, connecting with her cheek, then pivoted and punched her hard in the forehead.
“Judy!” Mary screamed, watching in horror as Judy staggered backwards from the impact, then fell against the dresser, banging her head. Judy collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Roger whirled around, coming after Mary. She scrambled to the other side of the bed, ran out the door, and reached the hallway. Her mouth had gone bone-dry. Adrenaline coursed throughout her body. She had to get help.
Roger overtook her in the hallway, pulling her back by the hair. She cried out in pain. Her hair felt like it was coming out at the root. She tried to free herself, hitting Roger’s arms. Her breath went ragged with fear and exertion. She heard panting and realized it was her. Roger was going to kill her and the baby. He’d lost control.
“Help!” Mary screamed, but Roger clamped a hand over her mouth to silence her. Tears of fright came to her eyes. Her heart hammered like a piston. She bit down hard, grinding the fleshof his palm between her front teeth. She tasted metallic in her mouth. She had drawn blood.
“Bitch!” Roger sprang away, startled and in pain.
Mary raced forward toward the stairway, praying she wouldn’t fall. She had to live. She had to survive for the baby. She grabbed the banister just as Roger caught her, yanking hard on her shoulder and her silk T-shirt, trying to pull her back into the bedroom.
Mary held on to the banister for dear life. Her shirt collar pulled tight against her throat, cutting off her air. She writhed this way and that, trying to get him off, but she couldn’t. Roger grabbed her shoulders again and tried to pull her back. She clung to the banister with both hands, squeezing the wood as hard as she could. Her fingers kept slipping. Her arms ached. Her shoulders felt like they were being pulled out of their sockets. She looked wildly around for something to use as a weapon.
She spotted a framed photo of her and Anthony hanging on the wall, to the left. She let go of the banister and lunged for the picture, tearing it off the wall. Roger grabbed her and tried to get her in his arms, but she whirled around and whacked him in the face with the photo.
The glass on the picture shattered against his cheeks and eyes. Roger cried out, his hands flying up. The picture fell to the floor. Shards of glass were embedded in his cheeks and forehead. He brushed them away, making bloody cuts as Mary raced back to the stairs.
She reached the top and raced down the staircase, half-stumbling, trying not to lose her balance. She prayed she didn’t fall. Nothing could happen to the baby. She had to get out of the house. She had to save them both. And Judy.
Roger ran down the steps after her, right behind her. Suddenly he kicked her in the back of the head.
Mary’s skull exploded. She cried out in agony. She saw stars,stunned. She reeled and slipped on the step, losing her balance. Her arms flailed, but she caught the banister, hanging on tight. She forced herself to stay conscious. She had to keep her wits about her. It was do or die.
Roger clambered downstairs and squatted next to her, grabbing her arms and trying to pry them off the railing. He pulled one arm off and tried to shove her down the stairs. She grappled with him, not letting go, wrenching him back and forth.
His leather shoe slipped on the stair and his leg came out from under him. She saw him pitch forward, then whipped him downward with one hand, holding on to the railing with the other. The sudden motion knocked him off-balance and he started to fall, but held tight to Mary. She didn’t have the strength to keep her grip on the railing. He took her down with him.
Roger rolled ahead of her down the stairs, unable to hold on to Mary. She managed to slide down on her back, protecting her belly. She landed on top of him, then scrambled over him and darted to the front door.
“Help!” she screamed, praying her neighbors heard. She reached the door and grabbed the knob, twisting it open.
Roger grabbed her ankle from behind, dragging her backwards. Fear electrified every fiber of Mary’s being. She couldn’t fall facedown on the baby.
Mary grabbed the small console table to break her fall, dragging it back with her. The lamp, the mail, and the key basket scattered everywhere. The door swung partway open.
“Help!” she screamed in desperation. She was almost safe. Somebody had to have heard her. She prayed they would come before it was too late. The table legs skidded on the hardwood, and Mary held on to the table, riding it backwards.
She tried to climb over it to the door, but her belly was in the way. Roger clambered to his feet, grabbing her from behind by the shoulders. She screamed, ramming her elbow back into his chest, again and again. She couldn’t get him off of her. Terrorand effort exhausted her. Sweat slaked her face and neck. She felt weaker and weaker.
Roger put his hands around her throat, choking her from behind. She tried to scream but no words came out. She gasped for oxygen. She heard herself gagging.
“Mary!” Judy screamed, and Mary looked up to see her best friend racing down the stairwell, holding her phone.
