Free She Waits by Kate Sweeney

well. She hasn't gotten that angry since earlier this morning. You seem to be the common denominator. You must bring out the best in her." She patted me on the back as if I'd won first prize.
    "So, now what?" I asked. "I wasn't trying to do it all by myself. It just happened. You must know she's not the easiest--"
    We heard her coming down the stairs. Maggie appeared as white as a ghost, and her eyes were wide.
    "Did you leave my bedroom door opened after you checked on me?" Maggie asked.
    "No, why?" I said.
    "Because when I heard the glass door break, I flew out of bed and had to unlock the door. Did you lock it?" she said, shaking.
    "It was locked? From the inside?"
    I moved her out of the way and ran upstairs and into her room. Her bathroom door and closet door were both closed. I began to get panicky all over again.
    Both the Winfields were behind me. Maggie was holding onto the back of my shirt and making me nervous. Hannah was standing next to Maggie holding her hand.
    We all moved as if we were glued together. We walked to the bathroom door. I reached for the knob, threw the door open and backed up, my arm extended as if to protect them. It was also to give whomever a fast and clear getaway.
    Nothing. I poked my head around to check out the bathroom. The shower curtain was closed and of course, it wasn't transparent. Quietly, I walked into the bathroom with the Winfield family behind me.
    I reached over and quickly pulled back the curtain, with a tad too much strength. There was no one in the bathtub, but in my adrenaline rush, I yanked the curtain off the rod.
    I stood there with the plastic remains in my hands. "S-Sorry..."
    Maggie merely nodded and took the curtain.
    Back in Maggie's room, I flipped on the light and looked around. "Is everything in place?"
    Maggie shrugged as she looked around. "I believe so."
    Then she went over to her bed, sat down and grabbed a pillow to hug. A piece of paper fell off the bed and onto the floor. She bent to pick it up and examine it.
    She looked up, stunned, and handed it to me.
    "What is it, dear?" Hannah asked in a shaky voice.
    I reached over and took the paper.
    YOU SLEEP LIKE AN ANGEL
    The realization made my stomach lurch. He had been in her room while she was sleeping. He must have been in there. I interrupted him when I opened Maggie's door. Christ, he was in the room the whole time.
    Why would he lock her door? What was he planning to do? Leave the note or something worse? I looked at Maggie and Hannah. By the looks on their faces, I could tell they were thinking the same thing.
    "Maggie," I started while she stared at the note.
    She didn't answer, just continued to stare at the note.
    I went over and gently shook her shoulders. "Maggie."
    She blinked and looked up. She was beginning to scare me. Like I wasn't scared spitless all ready.
    "Maggie, what is it?" I said.
    "My mother used to say that to me when I was a young girl. That I slept like an angel." She had tears in her eyes. Hannah looked like she was about to faint.
    I was still trying to figure out why he locked the door. I looked around the room. The only other way out was through the window. I went to the bedroom door and examined the lock, pushing the button on the doorknob. My mind raced with a scenario. "Okay, let's try this. He gets in through the French doors, comes upstairs to presumably leave the note, and hears me in the hallway..."
    "But why lock me in?" Maggie asked as Hannah sat next to her on the bed.
    "He can't merely slip out now. He could have heard me in the hallway and knew the only way out was the way he came in, through the French doors. So, he locks you in and comes downstairs, figuring he can get by me, but it would be difficult to get by both of us." I said. "Okay, no one goes anywhere alone anymore. We all go together. The police checked the house tonight so we're fine for now." I was trying to sound confident. I hoped it worked. "Give me the note, Maggie. We'll call Steve."
    We went back