Home Invasion Read Free

before.
    Kathy lowered her head, afraid he was going to hit her again. “There is no safe,” Kathy said. “I swear to you.”
    “Where do you keep your jewellery?” the thin man demanded.
    “In the top drawer of the dresser,” Kathy said.
    The second man quickly walked to the dresser and pulled open its top drawer. The drawer was filled with Kathy’s underwear. The man tossed the frilly bras and panties to the floor and pulled out Kathy’s red leather jewellery box. He opened the box and emptied its contents onto the top of the dresser. “What’s this garbage?” he snarled.
    “It’s all the jewellery I have,” Kathy told him.
    “It’s garbage.” The man spat on the floor in disgust. “Where’s the good stuff?”
    “That’s all I have,” Kathy insisted.
    The thin man hit her again.
    The slap stung the side of Kathy’s mouth. She tasted blood.
    “Don’t mess with us, Mrs. Brown,” the thin man warned. He raised his hand to strike her again.
    How does he know my name? Kathy wondered. “My other jewellery is in the bank, in a safety deposit box,” she said.
    The thin man swore.
    “Take her rings off,” his partner said.
    The thin man grabbed Kathy by the shoulders and spun her around. Then he pulled the ringsoff Kathy’s fingers, tearing at her skin. First he took her diamond engagement ring, then her gold wedding band. He stuffed them into the side pocket of his jeans. Meanwhile, his partner went through the rest of the dresser drawers, dumping their contents on the floor. “There’s nothing here but clothes,” the man sneered. He stomped on Kathy’s T-shirts and blouses. Then he marched from the room.
    Moments later, Kathy heard the man moving around in Lisa’s bedroom. Drawers opened and closed. Things crashed to the foor. Glass broke.
    “What’s going on?” Jack asked. Jack’s voice was so weak that Kathy could barely make out what he was saying. Blood still dripped from the wound to Jack’s head. He was as white as a ghost.
    “My partner is getting angry,” the thin man warned. “And it’s not a good idea to get my partner angry.”
    “Jack, are you all right?” Kathy asked.
    “Shut up,” the thin man ordered. He slapped Kathy again.
    “No!” Jack cried. “Please. If it’s money you’re after, my wallet is in the pocket of my pants.”
    “Hey, Steve,” the thin man called to his partner. “Get back in here.”
    “Are you crazy?” the second man asked as he returned to Kathy and Jack’s bedroom. “Now they know my name, you moron.”
    The thin man shrugged. “So what? They aren’t going to tell anyone. Are you?” he asked Kathy, with a cruel smile.
    Kathy shook her head. “No. We won’t tell anyone. I promise.”
    “See? They won’t tell anyone,” the thin man said. “She promises.” He laughed.
    Kathy knew he didn’t believe her. “I swear we won’t tell anyone,” she said again.
    “Did you hear that?” the thin man asked Steve. “She swears they won’t tell anyone.”
    Steve grabbed Kathy’s chin. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you it’s not polite to swear?” he said. He turned to his partner. “Why did you call me back in here?” he asked.
    The thin man pointed at Jack. “Man says his wallet is in his pants.”
    “Where’s your pants, old man?” Steve asked.
    Jack slowly pushed himself into a sitting position. He looked toward the small green velvet chair next to the window. “Hanging over the back of that chair.”
    Steve crossed the room in three quick steps. He grabbed Jack’s pants from the back of the chair and began going through the pockets. Then he held up Jack’s wallet. “Bingo,” he said, dropping the pants to the floor. He opened the wallet and pulled out a small wad of twenty-dollar bills. “A hundred and forty bucks!” Steve shouted. “That’s it? A hundred and forty lousy bucks?” Steve pointed his gun at Jack’s head.
    “I have money,” Kathy cried.
    “Well, now, what do you know?” the thin man said