As she spoke the words, a board snapped directly behind her. Penny’s heart jumped. Before she could turn to look over her shoulder, a bony hand reached out of the darkness and grasped her wrist.
CHAPTER
18
ELEVEN BOWLS
Smothering a scream, Penny twisted around to see that it was Old Julia who had seized her arm.
“Oh!” she gasped in relief. “I thought it was Winkey or Father Benedict!”
“You go now!” the old woman urged her. “Please!”
“I can’t until I’ve helped whoever is locked in here,” Penny replied, gently prying away Julia’s fingers which were cutting into her flesh. “Tell me, where is the key?”
Old Julia shook her head in a stupid sort of way.
“The key to this door,” Penny explained patiently. “Where is it kept?”
“Father Benedict,” Julia mumbled. “No other.”
“Then it’s impossible to help the girl without bringing police!” Penny exclaimed. “I’ll have to get out of here and drive to Riverview! But can I prove anything?”