Free The Devil's Bargain by Miranda Joyce Page A

and knew exactly what to do. A few minutes later we were relaxing on the couch while the taste of spicy tomato juice and the burn of vodka coated my tongue.
    “You are a miracle worker.”
    “I know. Is there a patron saint for binge drinkers? If not I’m applying for the position.” She turned to me and her eyes bored into me. “So do you want to tell me what happened or should I just wait until you’ve had two more and you blurt it out drunkenly?”
    “Kit went back to him.” I could feel hot tears welling up behind my eyes. I promised myself I wasn’t going to cry about this anymore but those promises are easier made than kept.
    “Oh honey, I’m so sorry. But you can’t be surprised.”
    “No, I know. I just wish I could chain her up in the basement and keep her safe.”
    “Or we could bury his body in the basement.”
    “I like that idea even better.” We clinked glasses and I finally let the tears fall.
     

****
     
    The next few days passed in a blur. I threw myself into work and filled my mind with spreadsheets and budgets so I didn’t have to think about the fear gnawing away in my belly. Why hadn’t Kit called? Usually in the love sick haze of their reconciliation she would decide that she was going to repair my relationship with Charlie. I would get several phone calls a day about nice things he had done or said or times he had asked how I was doing. It was as if she thought she could talk him up enough to me and I would forgive or forget all the bruises.
    Now the silence was deafening. Has she finally decided I’m never going to like him? Did they go to the springs like they planned? Where are you Kit?
    “Earth to Meg. Come in Meg.”
    “Sorry Beth, I was thinking about something else.”
    “You were worrying about Kit.”
    There was no point in denying it, Beth could read me like a book. Worrying about Kit was practically my second job these days.
    “She still hasn’t called. I checked all the hospitals and she hasn’t been admitted. I drive by their place every day but he’s always home so I can’t go knock on the door and demand to see her.”
    “That asshole would call the cops. Probably smack her around to punish you for showing up too.”
    “I don’t know what to do.”
    “The only thing to do is watch this movie with me and turn off your mind for a few hours. Worrying isn’t going to help Kit any and it’s turning you into a wreck. I didn’t want to say it earlier but you do realize you only put make up on one eye this morning right?”
    “No!” I ran to the bathroom and she was right. One eye was carefully lined and mascaraed the other was bare. I couldn’t help erupting into giggles. Back in the living room I could hear Beth’s raucous laughter.
    “Don’t laugh, this is horrible. I went to work like this!” I managed to choke out through my laughs.
    “Oh my God, Mr. Nelson must have been like ‘Crazy kids these days with their rap music and weird fashion, now they’re only doing half their makeup.’” Beth could do a perfect impression of my prissy, stuffed-shirt boss.
    Having a good long laugh finally eased some of the tension that had been growing in me ever since I watched Kit walk out the front door. For the next few hours I felt, if not free from my burden, that it had at least been lightened a little. Unfortunately, that all came crashing down around me while Beth was in the kitchen microwaving some popcorn.
    The tinny notes of “Sister Christian” sounded from my cell. Kit’s ring tone. Finally! I thought quickly sliding the screen unlocked.
    “Kit! Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for the last week!”
    Instead of Kit’s usual light hearted babbling there was silence on the other end of the line.
    “Kitty, what is it? Are you ok?”
    “I can’t talk to you anymore.” When she finally spoke her voice was hushed and husky as if she had been crying. Her words sent a chill of terror through my heart.
    “What?”
    “Meg, I love you and