Chapter 75. Frederico and Not Alfred

Elaine didn’t know how long she’d been in the basement but she guessed from Frederico’s change of clothes. Two days – and each day she grew weaker in her resolve to leave – as she feared no one would look for her.

Frederico sat on the end of the table, with a deck of cards before him. She could tell he was winning – there had been no hand slams against the table.

“There I win again,” he declared.

“Not fair. I think you cheated,” Alfred said.

“Shut up.”

Elaine raised her head. “Stop telling him to shut up. You are cheating.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. You always do,” Alfred said.

Frederico growled then smacked the cards off the table. “We’re not playing anymore.”

“Why do you get to decide that?” His left hand reached for the cards and began to place them in a neat stack.

“Yes. Why do you get to?” Elaine asked.

If she were just in the room with Alfred alone, she wouldn’t be so scared. He was the calmer, friendlier an