Dead Even Read Online Free PDF

or not he would do as well in administration was up for grabs. Actually, though it pained her to admit it, Gerald was just a bit of a snob. But he was good to her—and good for her. She had managed to ease out of her shell somewhat these last months, and join the human race.
    The doorbell rang, and at the same instance she heard Bess yell, “It’s me, Audra.”
    It took a few seconds to unbolt the various locks she had installed on her door, then Bess was in. She hugged the thin, elderly woman to her. “Thanks for coming, Bess. You know me; I’m not the bravest soul in the world.”
    â€œLand, child. Ain’t nothin’ to thank me for. Now what’s all this about? What were you talkin’ about on the phone?”
    Audra reached down and picked up the drink she had prepared for Bess. “Here you go, Bess. Let’s sit down, and I’ll tell you all about it.”
    When she had finished talking, Bess shook her head in astonishment. “Do you mean to say you went ahead and taught school all day, with all this on your mind?”
    Audra nodded. “It was too late to get a sub, and besides, we had a field trip planned. I made it through the day, though. Then tonight, I told Gerald, and we’re going to the radio station tomorrow to listen to the tape. Gerald thinks it is a waste of time, says it isn’t likely that the man I heard was the man who attacked me, but I want to listen again, to be certain.”
    Bess nodded her head slowly. “Well, you always did say the only thing you could remember was the man’s voice. And Gerald wasn’t the one who was attacked— you were. Don’t go lettin’ other people put ideas in your head. If you think this is the man, then by golly, go after him.”
    â€œThe trouble is, even if I decide it is him for sure, I don’t know what can be done about it. Gerald says the police would never let a voice identification stand, certainly not after all these years.”
    Bess took a long drink, then responded slowly, picking her way carefully through the thoughts flooding her mind. She wanted to say that Gerald didn’t know his tight little ass from a hole in the ground, but she reckoned Audra would just have to find that out for herself. “Maybe not, Audra. But they could do some investigatin’—find out where this man was livin’ ten years ago, find out what his background is, whether he has been in any trouble before, that sort of thing. And there’s one other possibility you haven’t explored. Once you see this man, it might all come back to you. You might remember his face, even though you’ve blocked it all these years.”
    Audra shuddered. “You’re right, of course. I never even considered that. I’m not sure how I would handle putting a face to my nightmares. I’ve spent ten years trying to block that night from my memory, and now I might remember more than I really want to.”
    Bess reached over and patted her hand, comforting. “Child, it’s the not remembering that has caused you the most trouble. You can’t deal with an enemy until you meet him head on. If this is the man, then you’ll have to gather up enough courage to face him. Bring him to justice. No tellin’ how many young girls have suffered, or perhaps died, because of him. You never know—maybe you’re the only one who is left alive to finger him.”
    Later, Audra lay in bed staring at the small nightlight she always left burning. Her fingers reached up under the flannel nightgown she was wearing and traced the scars across her midsection. The vicious red slashes were a constant reminder of that night so long ago. You are running away, Audra, the psychiatrist had said to her. You can’t remember because you don’t want to remember. Right now, you feel safe in not remembering. You are throwing up a shield for protection, but in the long run, it will