MONDAY EVENING In the darkness, Ben tried desperately to loosen the tightly bound ropes from his limbs. Anxious to escape and distance himself from his unbalanced and extremely dangerous wife, he struggled frantically. He had no doubts that this woman was capable of murder, and the thought spurred him on. After half an hour of squeezing and twisting his fingers, he detected a slight movement in the ropes and pulled his left hand, then his right hand free. His hands shook as he fumbled with the freshly tied knots around his ankles, but within minutes he managed to struggle free and leapt from the chair. Dark curtains hung from the windows and he peered through them for any landmarks that might identify his location; but all he could see were a row of trees and a few cars parked in a side street. The light was fading quickly and visibility was minimal, but he spotted car headlights shining on the dimly lit road outside as a car came to a halt, and then footsteps approaching the door.
