Chapter 16

Robin knocked on the door for what must have been the tenth time, still no answer.  “Erin?”  Robin called loud enough to be heard inside.  Still no answer.  She pulled out the key Brenda had given her.  Robin felt bad for invading Erin’s privacy like this, but it wasn’t like her not to answer the door.  She touched the doorknob and the door swung open on its own.  That stopped her dead in her tracks.  This wasn’t right.  She looked in the room hesitantly, and gasped at what she saw before her.  The room was a mess, tables and chairs were upturned.  “Erin!”  Robin shouted frantically.  Not receiving any response she ran up the stares.  Things were strewn about the hallway.  She followed the path of destruction into Erin’s room.  Robin looked around frantically but there was no one else in the room.  Something called to her out of the corner of the room.  Something that wasn’t right, something that had no business on the snow-white carpet, a hideous red stain.  Robin knew, without having to look twice, what it was.  With tears in her eyes she pulled out her cell phone and shakaly dialed the pent house number.

Jason answered the phone after only one ring, “Morning.”

Robin took a deep breath to suppress a sob.  “Jason, you need to got down here,” her voice cracked with the pressure of the tears she was holding back.  “And bring Pete with you.”

“I’m on my way.”  Jason didn’t ask questions.  He knew that she was going to the cottage to see Erin.