Endless Night Read Online Free PDF Page B

straight. She took a few quick breaths. “They murdered everyone. All the Clarks but Andy. I’m a friend of Evelyn’s. She’s been killed. They’ve all been killed. You’ve got to let me in. We’ve got to call the police before they get us, too! Please!”
    The old lady blinked behind her enormous glasses. She shook her head. “This is all terribly confusing.”
    “It’s simple!” Jody blurted. “It’s simple as hell! There are maniacs out here with swords and axes and knives and running around like a bunch of fucking refugees from Lord of the Flies and they want to kill me and Andy! What could be simpler than that? Damn it, open the door!”
    “Young lady!”
    “Don’t you get it?” She whirled around. Still, nobody was coming. She turned to the old woman again. “Please. We’re going to get killed.”
    “I can’t just let any old stranger into the house,” she said, continuing to shake her head. “I have responsibilities. It isn’t my house, you understand.”
    “I don’t care whose ... Where’s Dr. Youngman? Who are you?”
    “I’m Mrs. Youngman.”
    “Is your husband home?”
    “My husband passed on, I’m afraid.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “He’s been gone these nine years.”
    “Please open the door. Please!”
    “This is my son’s house. Dr. Ernest Youngman.”
    “Is he home?”
    “I wish he were. I’m sure he would know precisely what to do in this sort of predicament. But he simply isn’t here. He’s off to Big Bear for the weekend with the whole kit ‘n’ kaboodle. Everyone but me, that is.” Her face lit up. A bony old hand with liver spots appeared in front of her face, and snapped its fingers. “I’ll call up Ernest right this very minute and ...”
    Jody swung the Slugger hard with both hands.
    Its fat end struck the door just below Mrs. Youngman’s face.
    The blow sounded like a shotgun blast.
    The old lady jumped.
    “Open the door or I’ll break it down!” Jody shouted.
    The face vanished.
    Oh, God, now I’ve done it.
    Lowering the bat, Jody rushed forward and pressed her face to the bars. She couldn’t see Mrs. Youngman. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Please. I’m so scared. If they get me, they’re gonna chop me up and ... Please!”
    “You made me pee myself!”
    “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Really.”
    “You’re a vicious child!”
    “I’m not. Really. I’m sorry.”
    “A juvenile delinquent, that’s what you are!”
    “Jody ! ” Andy’s voice. Calling from somewhere not far away.
    His voice thrilled her with joy; he’d made it. The creeps hadn’t caught up with him. But his voice also shot terror through her; he was on his way, and they were sure to be close behind him.
    Jody whirled around and spotted Andy as he dashed past the end of the hedge by the driveway. She waved her arm.
    “Where are they?” she called.
    “Coming,” he yelled. Changing direction, he raced straight toward her. Apparently, he could see that the door’s spy hatch was open. “You got him!”
    “Afraid not. He’s at Big Bear. Nobody’s here but his mother, and she won’t let us in.”
    “Mable!” Andy shouted as he ran closer. “It’s Andy! Mable, you’ve gotta let us in!”
    Hearing metallic rattles and clacks, Jody turned to the door. It swung wide open.
    She lunged over the threshold. Mrs. Youngman, behind the door, scowled at her. The old woman’s eyes were red and full of tears.
    “I’m sorry,” Jody said.
    “The damage has been done, you mean thing.”
    Andy charged into the foyer. As he flopped onto the marble floor, huffing, Jody took the door from Mrs. Youngman.
    She gazed past its edge as she swept it along.
    Out on the sidewalk, the man with the knife ran into view from beyond the hedge.
    Jody finished shutting the door very fast.
    But not fast enough, she was sure of that. He’d been looking at her.
    She groaned as she twisted the deadbolt lock.
    “What?” Andy gasped.
    “I think he saw me.”

Chapter Five
    “They’ll be coming