Sam had let the woman into her hotel room. If she hadn’t been wearing what she was, she might have insisted they go downstairs. But honestly, she’d had no inkling the other woman was a loon. Yes, the woman had threatened her earlier in the convention. But she hadn’t known the woman was batshit nuts. If she’d even suspected that, she might have been quicker to go downstairs at the beginning of the conversation. Which probably would have meant she would have been tied up earlier.
There’d been no stopping Madison. Not with her having a gun.
They had chatted for close to ten minutes about nothing. Absolutely fucking nothing. To the point that Sam was getting bored.
Another knock had come on the door.
Sam’s heart had leapt into her chest. Joel. Could it be Joel? Was he back? How would she get rid of Madison?
That’s when she’d discovered Madison was batshit nuts. Madison had said, “I think that’s for me.”
“For you?”
“Yes, it’s a friend of mine.” She’d gotten up off the bed and flounced to the door. “I told him to meet me here.”
Warning bells had begun sounding. But Sam had still been under the impression Madison had some sanity. “I thought we were girl talking?”
Madison had grinned. A toothy, scary grin that had stretched out her face wide. “We were. It’s been great.” She’d opened the door to reveal a man who’d looked a little like a rat. “Hey, Sol.”
Madison had turned to face Sam, and she’d held a tiny gun. It didn’t even look real. “What the hell?”
Madison had tossed Sam handcuffs. Her voice hardened. “Put them on.”
Sam shook her head. “Uh-uh.”
“This is a gun. I will shoot your petite little ass into kingdom come.” Madison had sneered at her. “I don’t need big guns like in Halo to fuck you up. Or mar that beautiful little face of yours.” She’d held the gun at eye level with Sam’s face. “Ever try to game when you can’t see? Doesn’t work so well.”
That’s when Sam had realized Madison wasn’t just nuts, she was insane. There were no big Halo guns or army men to save her from Madison either. Sam was fucked. “I don’t want to put on the cuffs.”
“And I don’t want you fucking Joel. Looks like we both didn’t get our wish.” Madison had wiggled her finger on the trigger. “Put them on or I shoot.”
Sam had put them on. They’d tied her feet together with some sort of hemp rope. At that point, she’d been terrified that the ratty man would do something, especially considering how little she was wearing. But he’d only been concerned with one thing.
“You will let me get the high score in Halo 3 now? Right? That’s what we agreed to.”
“Yes! For all of your help and the comment on the message board I said I would.” Madison had huffed out a breath. “Now shut up.” She’d gone over to Sam’s bags and pulled out her laptop.
“What are you doing?” First, they tied her up, now they were going to mess with her computer? That made even less sense than this whole damn situation.
Madison had fired up the laptop. “Not smart. No password to get in.” A few clicks on the keyboard had been heard as the machine whirred to life. “Let’s see. Your password for the Forums. I’m thinking General Forums for the message. So everyone can see. That will tell Joel who you really are.”
Sam’s face had pinched up. “What are you doing?” This woman wanted to take Sam out of the equation with Joel to get Joel to herself.” Look, just let me go. You can have crosscountry500.” Not really but if it would get her out of this mess, she’d say it.
“Too late now.” Madison had snickered. “Wouldn’t you like to know what I’m doing?” Another click. “What’s your password?”
“Like I’m going to tell you.”
Madison had laughed then. A full out one beyond the snicker. “Beeyotch. Haven’t you learned yet? You will do anything I say. But I somehow doubt I need to threaten you. The Forums have unlimited tries to get a password right. I have all kinds of information from data I’ve been collecting about you.” More clicks. “You’re not that smart so I’d bet it will be something easy.” Madison had clucked her tongue. “Birthday? No? I’m shocked you were smart enough not to use that.” Several minutes later. “Okay. What is it?” Frustration bit through her words like teeth.
Sam couldn’t help a smile. She wasn’t stupid enough to use something easy to guess. “Like I’m going to tell you.”
The gun had been put into her face again.
Sam had gritted her teeth together as she revealed her password. “You’re posting something as me about Joel.” Something that would piss Joel off even more than he already was. If only she hadn’t reacted without thinking it through. This never would have happened. If only she had accepted her feelings earlier. Figured them out. Ran with them.
“Got it in one. I’m amazed you had the brains to figure that out. Cheerleaders like you are never that bright.”
Sam had never been a cheerleader. She’d shut her mouth though and didn’t argue. Hadn’t wanted to give the woman more satisfaction.
They’d posted some message on the General Forums without sharing what it said with Sam. Then apparently, HarborLights89 wasn’t Madison’s only name. They’d posted some comments, delighting in telling Sam what those were. Then solidata1 had posted something nasty about her. Again, they’d delighted in telling her exactly what he’d posted.
Sam had closed her eyes. She’d known she was in deep shit but wasn’t sure how far they would take this. “Are you going to let me go?”
Madison had snorted.
“You can’t keep me here forever.”
Madison had moved toward her. “I can do anything I want to do, beeyotch.” God the woman was annoying using the accented Internet slang for the word bitch. “But I don’t need you here forever. Just until after the costume ball tonight.” She’d gone all dreamy eyed and her voice had softened. “After getting slammed by you on the boards and getting sympathy from me, Joel will be just ripe for me to pluck him tonight. Just ripe.” She breezed airily back to the laptop. “That’s all the time I need.” Madison had shut down the computer and gone to the closet. “Now what were you wearing for the costume ball? I know it wasn’t what you’re wearing, beeyotch, please.” Sam had heard the sound of hangers being pushed around. “I overheard you and Joel were ‘perfect’ for going together tonight.”
I was going in this, idiot. She didn’t say it because the woman wouldn’t believe her. Not to mention, it didn’t make a damn bit of difference.
Madison’s aha had stopped Sam from speaking too. “Found it. Inara. How unoriginal. But…I bet Joel’s going as Mal. So that would be perfect together.” She clapped. “Considering he probably did choose that costume thinking of you, it will be quite apropos when I help get him through your abrupt disappearance and terrible comments posted about him on the boards.” She had come to the bed and said, “Tsk. Tsk. When the maid finds you tomorrow, Joel and I will quite happy together. And the ramblings of a woman who posted that message will…” She blew out a sloppy breath that sprayed Sam with spittle. “…come across as a woman scorned. I win. You fail.”
Sam had gritted her teeth together again. “Bitch.” No clever Internet expression from her. Joel. I need you. If only they could mind speak. He had no way of knowing she was in danger. Nor would he have a clue how he was being used. The idea of Madison with him turned Sam’s stomach. No way would this hag get her clutches on Sam’s man.
But Joel isn’t your man, is he? That’s the problem.
She’d tossed their relationship away and hadn’t had a chance to fix it yet. Now she might never get that chance. Madison’s scenario wasn’t too farfetched to work. Joel might just fall for this.
“Now I think it’s time you got silent. And go to sleep for a while.” Madison had poured water in a glass from the bottle on the table and plunked a pill in there to dissolve. “It’s a roofie.”
A date rape drug. One that would make he
r powerless for a while. Probably put her unconscious or out of it enough, she’d not be able to move, even if she wasn’t already trussed up like the Christmas turkey.
“It will help you stay quiet for a few hours and out of my way. Not to mention…it will make you comfortable. A drawback. I don’t want you comfortable but I do want you quiet and out of my way.”
Sam hadn’t been able to fight back as they’d poured the concoction down her throat. She’d tried to choke on it but had swallowed enough to affect her. Too much. Her limbs had already started feeling weighty following her gulps.
They’d waited several minutes. Madison had done something on Sam’s computer again. Sam had heard whispered things about sending an email, probably to Joel.
Then, they’d left her lying on bed, trussed up like a Christmas tree on top of an old minivan while her mind had gone into shutdown mode.
She’d heard her phone ring several times. Had heard her cell phone ring. She could get to neither and had been too out of it to even try for most of the time.
She’d heard someone at the door trying to break in. She couldn’t do anything to alert them to her presence. It might have been a dream anyway.
She’d even thought she’d heard Joel’s voice.
But that had to have been a dream. He wouldn’t look for her after the way they’d left things.
Her biggest regret.
The drug had finally cleared her system enough that she could feel her appendages again. Her head had cleared enough that she didn’t feel this fog all around her.
Only she couldn’t break free of the handcuffs or the rope as easily as the drug. Or the damn gag. She was going to gag the other woman if she got half a chance.
She had to pee.
All she could think was the news story about the astronaut woman who’d driven across country with a diaper on so she didn’t have to stop and use the restroom. A stupid association for her mind to make but it was there. There had been some mental instability in that woman.
Only Sam wasn’t the crazy one in this situation.
She’d lose her whole reputation with those posted messages but what did that matter?
She’d lose Joel over this. Joel. Joel. Joel. His face kept appearing in her mind. His smile. All she could think about was losing him.
He was all that mattered to her. She didn’t give two cents about her reputation anymore. She could be counted on forever as a gaming bimbo for all she cared. A game slut. A word she never used. All she cared about was fixing her reputation with Joel. He was all that mattered.
She was in love with him. She knew that now. Even if she couldn’t fix things between them, she didn’t want him to end up with a crazy woman. She had to protect him. Somehow.
To do that, she had to get herself free. Tonight. She couldn’t wait for the maid to find her in the morning. She’d yell herself hoarse if she had to but to do that, she had to get someone’s attention or get the gag off. She’d start by getting someone’s attention.
She kicked at the hotel phone with renewed vigor. You will come off the table onto the bed. I’ll use my nose and dial. Hadn’t she seen a television show have a hero do that?
She still had time to find Joel and fix this. Tonight. If she could only get herself free. She would get herself free. She had to.
The phone clattered to the floor. It landed beside the bed and disconnected itself from the cradle that also fell.
Not exactly what she’d intended but she’d work with it.
Now for the hard part to put her plan in action.
Joining the phone in the floor.
* * * *
Joel blew out a breath and sipped his beer. He didn’t usually drink at these things. But he’d needed something.
He’d already had some comments directed his way.
Course everyone from the Forum who was there was plugged in. They’d seen the message on the boards. If only there had been a power outage. Then his humiliation could have waited until he got home and logged on. He wouldn’t have had to face anyone in person. Instead, he had to take the brunt of this face to face.
Baxter had disappeared on him. He’d said something about having to check something out and had dashed away.
Joel tapped his hand on his tight pants. He should go up to the room. This just wasn’t fun any more.
“Joel. Or should I call you Captain Mal.” A soft voice came from behind him.
He turned. A woman with dark hair and eyes stared back at him.
She wore an Inara costume that seemed inordinately tight. “I’m HarborLights89. Madison. We met earlier in the convention.”
Oh yeah. He remembered briefly meeting her a lifetime ago. Before Samantha. How appropriate the initials for that were B.S. He and HarborLights had chatted a few times online and had emailed back and forth before the conference. She’d…emailed him a few hours ago. Said she’d be there. As Inara. “Oh, hey.” He plastered a smile on his face. He’d make a play to leave in a minute or two. Couldn’t deal with being here, especially when she wore what Samantha had been planning to wear. He didn’t want to be rude though so he’d extricate himself carefully.
She came up beside him. “Wow. You look great. Positively awesome. Captain Tight Pants has nothing on you.” She giggled.
The sound grated against his already frayed nerves. “Thanks.”
She took his arm in her clutches. Her nails bit into his skin. “Do you want to sit and talk? Dance? Have another beer?” She seemed determined to find out what he wanted to do and do it. Her smile was as plastic as a doll’s.
Her cloying behavior made him want to get his arm away from her. He looked around the room. Door was right over there. Escape route was planned out. Just a little longer. He could play the gracious dude for a couple of minutes more…
He sniffed. A familiar scent wafted to him. Tickled his nostrils as they flared. Samantha’s perfume.
He tried to be unobtrusive as he looked through the crowd, trying to decide where he’d smelled the scent. “I think I’m fine here. Standing.”
“Okay.” Her eyes grew brighter. “We can hang out.” She giggled again, an annoying sound that pierced his ears this time. “I like just being with you.”
She didn’t know him well enough to like “just being with you.” They’d only met once pre-Samantha. They’d talked online but it was all casual stuff. Not like he and Samantha. Who’d taken his heart and stomped on it so not a fair comparison either. When would it cease being impolite to leave?
He stopped and sniffed again. The scent was coming from Madison. She was wearing the same perfume as Samantha. His gut clenched.
Funny how he didn’t remember that scent from her the first time they’d met. It was something he would have remembered. Samantha didn’t wear a common perfume.
But the encounter had been a regular day at the convention. Not an event like this. Maybe she had saved this scent for tonight.
“What’s the perfume you’re wearing?” He took another swig of his beer. Probably shouldn’t be asking but now he’d know what to avoid in a woman’s perfumery. This would always make him think of Sam. Always.
“Perfume? I’m not wearing perfume.” She looked confused as her head turned to the side. Her hair bounced back and forth.
“Really?” He took another whiff. It was coming from her all right. “You smell good.” He layered on the charm. No sense being a total dolt. Not only that, he was curious as to what it was.
“Oh. I do?” She seemed to get flustered for a second. “It’s nothing. Just a little spritz.” She laughed too long and too loudly. “I forgot I even had it on.”
Did woman apply things like that and forget? He found that hard to believe when the scent was so distinctive, but maybe they did. “What’s the name of it? I like it.”
She tittered again. “Just a little something. I don’t even remember.” She tossed her hair back in a move that reeked of nervousness.
Why would her perfume make her that nervous? He
stared at her, watching the show unfold in front of him from her antics and wondering what was going on.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and it was one of the vendors who sold costumes at conferences like this. Joel had been friends with him for a long time. They talked online too.
“Hey buddy.” Joel wrestled his arm free from Madison who didn’t seem to want to let go and clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Not selling tonight? Just hanging out?”
Giorgio grinned. “I shut down earlier. I was just wondering how it went. From the looks of things, very well.” He came around Joel. “But this isn’t the cost…Oh, never mind. You’re not who I thought you were.” He looked at Madison with a perplexed look that was no less perplexed than the one she shot back.
Joel looked back and forth between the two of them. “How did what go?”
Giorgio now looked troubled. “I think I made a mistake. Sorry to have disturbed you.” He turned as if to walk away.
Joel didn’t grab him but he did step with him. “No, tell me what you thought.” His heart did some pounding. What was up? Could this be important?
Giorgio pursed his lips together as he turned back around. “I…It’s nothing.” He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“What is?”
Madison pasted on another smile. “Let the man go, Joel. Why don’t we go outside where we can talk better? Drink. Have some fun together.” Her eyes sparkled with unnatural fire. “We can be good together.”
Giorgio scratched at a nonexistent beard. He’d shaved since the last time Joel had seen him. “I saw you earlier. With a woman. A different woman.”
Samantha? Had to be. She was the only woman he’d hung out with at the conference. “Yes?” He tried not to feel his stomach plummet at the thought of being with her earlier. How great it had been. Had badly it had ended.
“She came by my costume booth today…it was probably midmorning. Or early afternoon. Depending on your perspective.” Giorgio grinned again with a lecherous look. “She was desperately in need of a costume. I helped her out.”
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