Page 94 of Deathtoll

Emma made another attempt. Then another and another and another, stabbing again and again and again, until Kate could feel blood running down her skin.

When she couldn’t hold back a hiss at the next stab, her sister unfolded herself. She lay there on the cement floor for a few seconds, breathing hard. “I don’t think this is going to work.”

“It should, dammit. If you could wedge the tip of the metal right in next to the plastic tooth.” Kate visualized the process.Oh.“Okay, hang on. I know what we’re doing wrong. You need to push the file in from the bottom, not from the top.”

She pulled her hands up the pipe to make room for Emma’s foot under them.

Her sister folded back up and tried again. Failed. Huffed. “The angle isn’t right.”

No, it wasn’t.

“Put the file in my hand,” Kate instructed.

When she had it, she wedged the tip of the nail file into the little locking loop from the bottom, then lowered her hands until the other end of the file was resting on the cement floor. She used the floor for leverage as she yanked down her hands. And accomplished nothing.

“Let me try the clipper again.” This time, she felt the plastic with her finger first, located the spot where she’d already weakened it with the cuticle cutter, and she clamped the nail clipper onto the exact same spot.

Emma sat up, craning her neck. “Is it working?”

“No. The plastic is too damn thick. I can cut into it, but I can’t cut through.”

“If it’s damaged enough, can you just break it?”

Kate dropped the clipper and tried.

Snap.

When the tie fell away, she could have cried in relief.

She didn’t waste time on rubbing her wrists or celebrating. She snapped up the file and got on her knees next to Emma to release her.

The trick was much easier to perform now that she could see what she was doing. Within thirty seconds, Emma was free.

“Shoes on.” She grabbed her socks and sneakers. “We’ll need to run.”

“Bathroom first.” Emma picked up her shoes and socks, then darted around the stairs to open a door Kate hadn’t been able to see from where she’d been tied up.

“Thank God.” Kate ran after her sister and took her turn.

By the time she came out, Emma was at the torture table, grabbing a large wrench. Kate grabbed a hammer.

Her first impulse was to tell her sister thatshewould protect her. But then she smiled instead. “You’re so kickass.”

“Thank you for noticing.” Emma stole up the stairs.

Kate followed silently behind her. “In my defense, the last time we lived in the same house, you were a teenager.”

She held her breath while her sister tried the door at the top.

“Locked.” Emma breathed the word. “Got a credit card?”

Kate pulled the nail file from her right sock.

Emma shifted out of the way and looked up.

Kate followed her gaze to the dark lightbulb.

Neither of them dared to turn it on. If Asael was out there, he might see the light through the gap under the door, and their surprise attack would be spoiled.