The Midnight Bandit by Melissa Willingham (best book club books of all time txt) 📖

you don't want me to do that. So obey what I say and you won't get injured. Will you behave for me?"

"Yes, I will do whatever you tell me to," she agreed, nodding her head. What other choice did she have?

He laid the knife on the table nearby. He bound her wrists together and crouched over her. He tried to kiss her but she turned her head. "You’re so beautiful. Kiss me," he whispered. He took hold of her chin and maneuvered her head to face him. He placed kisses over her lips and tried to invade her mouth with his tongue.

Janet couldn't see him very well, yet she could hear his heavy breathing and feel his bandit mask against her face. She felt sick and thought she might throw up all over him.

"I'd like to take my time with you," he told her. "But, under the circumstances, you've left me no choice. This will have to be quick."

She began to struggle again and attempted to pry loose from her wrist restraints. She slid as far back into the couch as she could go to avoid him. She whimpered in fear of what he might do to her.

The masked man slid down onto the floor in front of her and spread her overcoat apart. He gripped her legs to pull her to the edge of the sofa and pushed her dress up to her knees.

"Shhh, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I won't do anything to you that hasn't already been done before," he breathed huskily.

She squirmed about and pleaded, "Please, don't do this."

He lowered his mouth to her knees and started to kiss them gently. She could feel his hot breath; his wet tongue trailing over them. He grasped her thighs and opened them, despite her best efforts to keep them closed.

Suddenly, someone else burst through the doorway to the teacher's lounge. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?" the individual shouted to the assailant. The man sounded like Dennis.

Janet glanced over toward the door, relief filling her instantly. She couldn't see anything in the dark, but she felt the man who'd been attempting to assault her back away. He jumped up hastily and charged toward the other man.

The two of them collided and Janet could heard them scuffling together at the entrance. The sound of fists hitting flesh and groans of pain were audible.

Janet shook her head to clear it and sat up, grasping her clothing. She recovered herself and smoothed her skirt out. She could hardly believe how close she'd just come to being another victim of the Midnight Bandit.

The fight beside her carried out into the hallway. She didn't know who would win and she was terrified the rapist would try to finish the job.

She was just about to call the police when she heard sirens in the distance. She remembered then that Alice and Millicent had promised to send help.

As soon as the perpetrator caught wind of the approaching officers, he broke free. His loud footsteps pounded against the floors as he fled the scene.

Janet heard glass breaking from somewhere nearby. She realized the offender was using the same escape route she'd planned to take earlier, a school window, before he'd ambushed her.

Dennis called out to her from the open doorway. "Janet, are you all right? Did he hurt you?"     

"No, I'm okay. You interrupted him and he wasn't able to get very far. Thank God! Thank you, Dennis, for rescuing me," she told him.

"You're welcome. Come on, let's go let these officers in," he suggested.

***

Later, after the police searched the school and filed a report, they left. Janet stood waiting for Dennis to return from the basement. He'd gone to work on the fuse box.

Janet's phone rang again. She reached into her pocket to retrieve it.

She flipped the top and raised it up to her ear. "Hello?"

Alice's voice came on the line. "Hey, are you at your parents yet?" she asked.

"No, I'm still at the school. I'll be leaving here shortly."

"Well, you can relax now. There's no need to be afraid anymore. The rapist has been caught and it isn't Dennis Pittman."

"I know. Dennis is here with me.” She explained what had occurred moments before.  When she’d brought Alice up to speed, she asked, “So, who is it?"

"You'll never believe it. The rapist is Detective Lee Bowers. He was caught trying to break into another woman's home about thirty minutes ago. My brother has a police scanner and we just heard the news."

"My goodness! That's shocking. Who would've ever thought it would be him? Now I know why he didn't want me involved in solving the case."

"He had us all fooled. They say he was bleeding from a mild head wound. That would be from where Millicent hit him with the lamp. He had other minor cuts and abrasions. Probably from his altercation with Dennis. I guess when he discovered where Millicent was staying, he decided to stalk her again. He must've planned to rape her and then refocus on you later," Alice supposed.

After a brief pause, she continued. "I spoke with an officer a little while ago and he said the rapes began when Bowers came to work in this town. He was probably the one in those other nearby cities, too. I'm sure DNA will point to him. No wonder they couldn't catch the guy, it was the very detective who was working on the case."

Suddenly, the power flickered back on and the hall was flooded with bright lights.

"Thanks for calling me. Listen, can I get back to you when I get home?" she requested.

"Sure, I'll catch up with you later." Alice rang off.

Dennis came walking up just then. He looked at her warmly, with compassion and concern. "Are you going to be all right?" he wondered.

She nodded. "Yes, I will be after I get past the shock of what took place here tonight. I was so afraid until you showed up in the teachers' lounge and saved me from Bowers."

Dennis approached her slowly and reached out to place a hand on her arm. She jumped a little bit, still shaken by the earlier event.

"It's okay," he soothed her. "You're safe now. No one will bother you as long as you’re with me. I can promise you that."

Glancing directly into his eyes, she asked him point-blank. "Did you rig up the fuse box so the lights would shut off on Alice, Millicent and me?"

"No, it's just a coincidence. That crumbly thing is old and rusty. The principal has ordered a whole new system to replace it. Just ask him."

She relaxed a bit at that explanation. Suddenly, she grasped his hand. "The rapist has been caught. It was Detective Bowers."

"What? Are you serious? After all those safety warnings he gave the teachers, he was the one who was attacking women?"

"Yeah, what a hypocrite. He was crafty and conniving, but he got caught up in his own web. I'll fill you in on all the details. Listen, I'm not ready to go home and be by myself just yet. Would you like to go somewhere else together? I can think of much better things to do on Halloween than hang around here. Can't you?"

"Absolutely, madam. I'd love to have the pleasure of your company for the evening. Come on! Let's go celebrate the occasion!"

They both laughed as they trotted happily down the hallway. They both got in their cars. He followed her to the nearest bar so they could enjoy the festivities. Bats flew, wolves howled and leaves fluttered to the sidewalk, signaling the bewitching hour of All Hallows Eve.

Imprint

Publication Date: 10-02-2010

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
Dedicated to all the victims of sexual predators.