Chapter 46
PIP
My eyes widen in alarm as Lila delights in shaking the container of gasoline right in front of me, the liquid sloshing ominously inside. My fingers are already tugging at the last knot in the nylon rope, but not fast enough.
She grins as she lifts a box of long, wooden matches, slowly extracting one with deliberate care.
"Have a good death, Pip Fletcher."
Just as she's about to strike it, a scuffling sound catches my attention from behind the door.
To my astonishment, it's Piglet, wriggling his way into the room through the decorative ventilation grate in the hotel's 1905-era wall.
His small form barely squeezes through the narrow opening.
He trots lightly into the room, his paws silent on the polished marble floor.
Once inside, he freezes, his head cocked, his eyes locked onto my immobilized form.
Though I doubt if Piglet is the most intelligent dog to ever walk the earth, he seems to sense I'm in danger.
To stall for time and keep Lila talking, I meet her eyes. “So you arranged for that Snickerdoodle Sara to assist you in your evil plan…”
“Of course. All the Snickerdoodles are beholden to me,” she begins, explaining her authority over them.
Out of the corner of my eye, I look at Piglet.
His nose twitches. Then his gaze shifts to the towering wedding cake perched on a high table.
Suddenly, I remember the story the woman from the shelter told me about Piglet and the fiasco with the child's birthday cake.
Can it be possible for history to repeat itself?
A moment later, Piglet answers my silent question by using his teeth to grab on to the tablecloth.
The cake wobbles.
Then, with a final tug, it crashes to the floor.
Lila spins at the sound of the crash.
"My wedding cake!"
Seizing the moment, I finally tear free from the last of the ropes.
With a swift lunge, I crash into Lila, sending her stumbling to the side.
In one fluid motion, I scoop Piglet into my arms and dash out of the room, leaving chaos in my wake.
My heart pounds against my ribs as I sprint down the hallway. I reach the elevator and hurriedly slap at the buttons.
But the elevator is agonizingly slow. Or maybe it’s just my perception.
The ballroom doors fling open.
Lila emerges, her face twisted with fury, her hands trembling at her sides.
“Come on,” I whisper to the elevator. “Come on.”
At last, with a soft chime, the doors slide open.
I dart inside, running smack dab into Snickers.
He’s flanked by two imposing security men.
Before I can speak, they move, charging past me toward Lila.
Snickers’ arms wrap around me and Piglet, holding us both tight.
"You're safe. You're safe now."