Jean was no longer in the bedroom.
He found her in the living room, sitting on the sofa near Hal, saying, I know the whole thing sounds crazy, but... She looked up at Larry.
Lanes feeling worse. She might not make it out for dinner.
Jean scowled. Id better go see her. Larry, why dont you get Hal another drink?
Her mother shut the door when she left the room. A few minutes later Lane heard the doorbell. That would be Pete and Barbara arriving.
She heard faint, cheerful voices. Some laughter.
It all seemed too weird to be reaclass="underline" the group drinking and eating and having a merry old time while they prepared to conclude their business with the vampire, never suspecting they had a realmonster in their midst.
The Devil hath the power to assume a pleasing shape.
Kramer hath a pleasing shape, all right.
God, if only they knew what he was really like.
Lane imagined herself getting out of bed and going into the living room. Hey, guess what Kramer did to me. Then he gets out his sharp friend and has at them all. Maybe Dad and Pete could nail him, but he was sure to cut someone.
She pictured the straight razor slashing a quick gash across her fathers throat.
Im not going to risk Mom and Dad, she thought. Better to let him keep on messing with me than...
Lane suddenly realized how vulnerable she was, lying in bed with nothing on but her nightshirt, and Kramer in the house.
Theyre probably all drinking. Kramer says, Mind if I use the facilities? Somebody points out that the John is just at the end of the hall. Of course, nobody escorts him. He excuses himself from the group and comes straight to my room for another round of threats and feelies.
Lane climbed out of bed. She turned on the lamp. At her dresser she took panties from a drawer and put them on. Though flimsy, the snug fabric felt shielding. She pulled off her nightshirt and stuffed it into a drawer. Shivering, she slipped into a bra. As she fastened its hooks, she remembered the times shed gone to school without one, hoping to attract Kramers attention.
You attracted it, all right.
Had nothing to do with that, she reminded herself. Kramer picked me before I started anything.
For additional protection Lane put on a T-shirt. At the closet she took a pair of thick corduroy pants off a hanger. She stretched the T-shirt down to her thighs, drew the pants up over its tails, and fastened the waist button and closed the zipper. Now, to get at her skin, Kramer would have to yank the shirt up out of her pants. She slipped a belt through the loops and cinched it tight. Then she put on her big, plaid shirt. She buttoned its front but didnt tuck it in.
She glanced at herself in the mirror.
Not exactly armor, but a lot better than the nightshirt. If Kramer paid another visit, he would have a tough time finding any bare skin below her neck.
Lane climbed into bed. She pulled the top sheet and blanket up to her chin. It felt strange to be completely dressed beneath the covers. Not only strange, but hot.
Better a little discomfort, she thought, than to let that slimy bastard put his hands on me again.
She listened for his footsteps. She knewhe would come.
Suppose he comes, and Ive got Dads gun under the covers and I blow him away? Theyll find the razor on his body.
Lanes heart began hammering as she thought about it.
Ill get it.
She climbed out of bed. When she eased the door open, voices and laughter flooded in. Theyre having one hell of a party, she thought.
The hallway was clear.
She rushed to her parents room. Leaving the light off, she made her way toward the closet where Dad kept his revolver.
In the dim glow from the hallway, she saw the telephone on the nightstand.
And felt a rush of relief.
She turned on the bedside lamp, phoned directory assistance, and got the number for Melanie Benson. She tapped out the number.
As she listened to the quiet ringing, she watched the door. Come on, come on, she muttered.
After the fourth ring, someone picked up.
Yeah? Riley, sounding annoyed by the interruption.
Its me, Lane.
All right! Whats up?
Kramers here. Hes at my house.
No shit?
Hes having dinnerwith us, for godsake.
What the hell?..
Never mind. Look, hes probably going to be here for a couple more hours. I cant get away, but... I dont know, I just thought I oughta let you know. Hell probably be going back to his house afterward, you know? Maybe you want to be waiting for him.
Fuckin-A.
What do you think?
Fuckers gonna be in for the surprise of his life. The lastsurprise of his life.
Be careful, okay? He carries that razor with him.
When they autopsy the fucker, theyll find it up his ass.
Good luck, Riley.
Yeah, sure. See you around, Lane. He hung up
Lane cradled the telephone. She rubbed her sweaty hands on the legs of her corduroys, turned off the lamp and hurried to the bathroom. She locked herself in
Sitting on the toilet, she hugged her belly and hunched over and tried to stop shaking.
Forty-six
Well, here she is, Pete announced, lifting his cocktail as if toasting Lane as she came into the living room.
Cant keep a good woman down, Hal said.
Larry felt a surge of relief, but it was mixed with apprehension. Feeling better, honey? he asked.
A lot better.
Thats terrific.
The gangs all here, Barbara said.
Now I can relax, Larry told himself. While everyone else had been drinking and munching snacks and apparently having a good time, hed been drinking and worrying about Lane.
But she must be okay. Thank God.
In a way, though, hed been comforted by the knowledge that she would be staying in her bedroom away from the action when it came time to pull the stake.
The way she was dressed, she obviously intended to go out there with them. She even wore the same shirt that shed had on the other night the one shed used to conceal the big crucifix from her bedroom.
Barbara seemed to notice the same thing. Smiling at Lane, she patted her belly and said, You got it?
Lane looked perplexed for a moment.
You know. She patted her belly again.
Oh, that. Lane glanced around.
Jeans in the kitchen, Barbara told her.
Its on my wall. Ill get it when the time comes.
Whats that? Hal asked her.
Lane glanced at him and looked away, her face going red, as if she were embarrassed to admit such a thing to her teacher.
Barbara leaned sideways and put a hand on Hals knee. Were discussing our protection. With her other hand she lifted the gold chain out of her sweatshirt and showed him Lanes cross. She loaned me this for big event. Shes got a giant one for herself. Has to hide it under her shirt so her mom wont know about it. Jeans superstitious about being superstitious.
Better eighty-six Barb, Pete said.
Im fine, she protested.
Must be fine, Larry said. Anybody can say superstitious twice in one sentence without messing up...
Youre the one whod better watch it, buster, Barbara told Pete. You go pulling another stunt like last time and youll...
This little piggie went wee-wee-wee-wee all the way home.
Barbaras face went crimson. You shut up.
Chow time, Jean called from the dining room.
Saved by the bell, Pete said.
Hal laughed. Is that B-E-L-L-E?
Good one, Hal. The belle of the ball.
Barbara showed Pete her teeth. Heres one belle you wont ball till Hell freezes over.