Page 66 of Two Favors Repaid

She tugged carefully but stopped at the clanging noise. She held her breath. Panic bubbled up to the surface of her mind. After a moment, when there was no noise, she pushed it back down. She felt beneath her with her free hand. She was lying on a bed. No, not a bed, a mattress placed on a cold, stone floor. The material felt soft and dusty, like it had been here for a long time.

Where am I? Why did they bring me here?

There was no doubt in her mind that Ford must be here as well. The woman at the hospital must be his partner. Emma sobbed quietly. She’d always assumed the partner was a man. How would they find her, if everybody thought they were looking for a man?

She wanted to wail at her own stupidity.

She knew Rob would be out looking for her. Susan must have given the voice of alarm just minutes after she disappeared. That was the good news. The bad news was they hadn’t found her yet, and she had no idea how long ago that was.

I need more information.

She opened her eyes for an instant. She was alone. It was dark but not so dark that she couldn’t see the outline of the room around her. She was in the bedroom of some kind of cabin. Almost perfectly square, about fourteen by fourteen.

Emma was cuffed to the far wall, facing the door, which was closed. Emma wanted to keep it that way. To her left was a window.

A perfectly normal window.

Emma tugged on her wrist again. If she were free, she could open that window and put this nightmare behind her. For a moment, she could almost taste freedom. Then she realized the handcuff problem was not one to be ignored.

The window darkened for a moment as a shadow walked by.

The words were out of her mouth before she could think.

“Help, help me, please!”

She squeezed her mouth shut, suddenly panicked.

For a moment nothing happened. Then Emma heard an old-fashioned clicking sound. Light peeked in from under the bedroom door. Somebody had turned on a desk lamp.

That doesn’t sound like a rescuer.

The hinges creaked as the door opened. Ford peeked his head in. He’d changed his clothes and cut his hair. Emma scooted back as far as the cuff would let her until she was sitting flush against the cabin wall, her knees up against her chest protectively.

“Ah, you’re awake, Emma. I was going to let you sleep till morning, but I see you couldn’t wait for my attention.”

“No. Please …” Emma begged. Her eyes filled with tears.

“I love it when you cry,” he said, creeping up until he was right in front of her.

“You must be thirsty. Would you like some water?” he asked, pointing to a small glass in his left hand.

She nodded. Her throat was parched. But he held it just outside her reach.

“Ask me nicely.”

Something inside her rebelled at the thought. She paused.

Don’t be an idiot. You’re going to need water to survive.

“Please,” she said. “I’d like some water, please.”

He laughed. “Nice try but that was too slow. We’ll try again tomorrow morning. By the time we’re done, I’ll let this water drip onto the floor and you will lick it gratefully. You’ll even thank me afterward. You’ll see.”

Emma started sobbing. She knew it was exactly what he wanted but couldn’t help herself. The fear was simply too much to hold in.

“I don’t like that noise,” a grouchy voice said from the living room. Emma had forgotten the woman from the hospital.

“I’m sorry, dear,” Ford said mildly.