Rising and crossing to stand just inside the door, she began to cough and gag, moaning in between the other sounds. It must have sounded more convincing to her captor than it did to her. He came to the doorway and stopped, apparently unable to see her in the dark. She’d counted on that.
He took one step and then another, looking from side to side. She glided toward him, gripping the heavy piece of firewood with both hands. She raised it over her head and with all her strength she brought it down on his. With a muffled groan, he slumped to the floor.
Had she seen a length of cord in the outer room? She dashed out, found it, snatched it up. It felt flimsy, but it would have to do. She wasn’t too good with knots, but she tied his hands behind his back as securely as she could, wrapping the
