Captured Lies

by Maggie Thom

Guy steered Bailey away from the main road and cut through a heavily treed path that he'd taken in search of her. He glanced behind him and noted the blue truck travelling very slow and the string of traffic behind him that didn't seem too pleased. Guy couldn't shake the feeling that he was following them and was not just a Sunday driver.

  After walking around a few side streets, he finally led her back to the motel. He ushered her inside, saying he just wanted to scout the area. He walked around the end of the motel and pulled out his cell phone. A quick call to Graham, which got him his voice mail. He left a message.

  "I have another vehicle and license plate for you to look up. I'll call later."

  The area was quiet. Very little traffic passed by the place. Guy walked not only fully around the motel but around the block. Knocking on the door and then announcing it was him, he used his key to enter their room. Bailey was just coming out of the bathroom, her eyes meeting his for several heart beats before she looked down and reached for the brown bag on the bed. She was quick to pull out two raspberry filled pastries.

  "Speaking of heart attacks."

  She shrugged as she gave him the bag which held two glazed donuts and one blueberry filled one.

  "Okay, want to tell me where and why you snuck out this morning?" Guy quickly wolfed one down and reached for a napkin to wipe his hands. She stared at his fingers but looked deep in thought. He'd have given almost anything to know what had put that almost defeated look on her face. She looked like she needed to get something off her chest. Like she wanted to tell him. Not sure what to do and not wanting to destroy that look of trust she was giving him, he casually turned and tossed the paper towel into the garbage.

  When he faced her again it seemed that his simple motion was enough to change her mind. Her chin was thrust out and her shield was back in place. Sighing inwardly, he sat down on the edge of the bed.

  She got up and walked to the window but didn't pull back the curtain. "I needed some air. My life is turned upside down." She faced him. "And I've got some lunatic who's telling me to trust him. The only catch is he keeps telling me I'm not me."

  Guy flopped backwards and stared at the yellow and brown stained ceiling. "I don't know what I'd do in your shoes. I don't even know how to tell you everything I need to tell you." Blowing out his breath he sat up. "Here's what I do know. You were born, February 2, 1983 to?" He looked away. "Let's just say a nice couple for now."

  She slammed her hands onto her hips. "Are you freakin' telling me that you won't say who you think my parents are? You want me to believe your bullshit and you won't tell me who they are?" Spinning away, she clenched her fists and shook them and then gently tapped them against her forehead. She turned back and glared at him before grabbing her purse and heading for the door. "You're an ass!"

  He was off the bed and had his hand planted over her head before she even managed to grab the knob. She refused to turn and look at him. "I know it sucks. But? there are other people I have to listen to. For now. It was devastating for them when you were stolen at two days old."

  "Why was I still in the hospital?"

  "Believe it or not back then they kept moms and babies in for several days. In your case though it was also because you had a bit of a cough. They just wanted to make sure it cleared up."

  "And then, according to you, I vanished." She pushed against his chest.

  For a moment, he didn't budge. He liked the feel of her small, soft hand against his body. Knowing this wasn't the time to pursue that topic, he stepped back. She took a wide berth around him, walking over to the bed, flopping down onto it. Only to stand up just as fast.

  "Why did someone steal a two-day old baby?"

  He stared at the wall behind her. It took him a minute to answer. "We think it had to do with the black market."

  "You're telling me you think I was stolen so someone could sell me to another person?" Shaking her head she continued, "I get how horrible it is but I have to tell you there's no way it could have been me. My mom followed the law to the letter. Even though we hid every time we saw a cop car, whenever she saw someone breaking the law she'd find a pay phone and call in an anonymous tip. She turned people in for speeding, jaywalking, selling drugs. She never broke the law." She stopped herself in time. She'd been about to share with him that they'd lived in some pretty shady places, so she'd had plenty to inform the police about. Although they'd never known who she was. Her wanting to remain unidentified was so people couldn't retaliate. "There's no way she'd have stolen a baby."

  His fingers dove through his hair. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he rested his elbows on his spread knees and clasped his hands. "Look, let me lay out everything I know and then we'll talk about what you know. This sucks but there's no doubt as to who you are. You saw the picture yourself."

  "Pffffft. You expect me to believe something like that. It could have been doctored."

  He shook his head.

  "It could mean I'm related but not kidnapped. Right?" Her eyes opened wide.

  He really wished he could tell her yes.

  "Who the hell are you?" The yelling came from outside. Bailey and Guy ran to the window. Guy carefully lifted the edge of the frayed curtain. Two men were at the door to the lobby of the motel. One, an older man with heavy lines etching in his face, which seemed in total contrast to the muscled physique displayed by his tight t-shirt and blue jeans. He did not look too happy nor did he look like someone you spilled your guts to. However, the man who had rented them the room didn't seem to be telling him anything. At least not anything he wanted to hear. The angry man strolled away from the building and climbed into a truck, his head turning constantly, his eyes taking in everything.

  It's the same truck.

  When Guy had left the motel, to go and find Bailey and when they'd been walking back, he'd seen that truck drive by a few times. He'd hidden as best he could but the guy seemed really intense. There was just something that didn't sit right with him. It was like the guy was looking for someone. He knew he might be overreacting but his gut told him it was the man from the night before who had shot at them.

  How the hell did he find us?

  He watched until the man drove away. "Okay, grab your stuff. We have to go." He turned to address Bailey only to find she was already half way out the door. "I didn't mean that fast." This was someone who was a little too comfortable with being on the move.

  "Where?"

  "That way." He indicated where he'd parked the car.

  She paused, looking around before sprinting across the parking lot, then dodging across the street. He ran to keep up. Halfway down the residential block he led her down a back alley. He'd been adamant about not parking at the motel. It hadn't made sense but something had told him he needed to hide the vehicle. He unlocked it and climbed in, ignoring her glare and her thrust-out hand. Huffily, she climbed in the passenger seat.

  "Going to tell me what that was about?"

  He looked at her for a moment and realized he didn't want to tell her anything. She'd been through a lot and he didn't want to be the one to add to it. He wished he could tell her that whoever was after them was really after her. Deep down he was sure this was all connected to the Black Market Ring and her kidnapping, twenty-nine years before. Someone wanted her to remain missing.

  "I think we should get moving to wherever it is that you need to get to. I'm assuming it's a place that should give us some answers?"

  She shrugged, staring out the side window. "I need to go back to that caf?. I want to get some food for the road."

  There was something she wasn't telling him but he was too preoccupied staring at every vehicle they encountered, to drag it out of her. "Fine, I'll drop you off there. Wait for me. Inside."

  Her head whipped around. "You don't think that guy was after us, do you?"

  "Let's just say I want to make sure he didn't see us. Okay? So stay in the restaurant until I get there. Got it?"

  "Right."

  Before he coul
d answer, she climbed out. After he left her, he circled the block 3 times to ensure that their company from earlier wasn't around. Grabbing his phone, he hit #2 on speed dial.

  "Graham. I need some information and fast." He quickly filled in his partner on what was going on. "I need to rent another vehicle now but not in either of our names. How long?"

  "Give me ten minutes to hack in and put your paid reservation into their files. Okay? How's an SUV sound?"

  "Great. I'm thinking a 4x4 might come in handy. I need to talk to the sketch artist the Ontario Police Services use. I'm hoping he can do a drawing of my guy, then you can run it through the police data base."

  "Got it. I'll get him to call you right away. Where and when are you going to be able to look at an email once he gets a draft done?"

  "Unfortunately, she still hasn't told me where we're going. I'll be in touch." Looking out his window, he couldn't help but be in awe of the beautiful sight - the mountains, snow capped and glistening in the sunlight. He wished they had time to enjoy it. "Cell phone might be an issue though. We're headed west from here, which means we're going into the mountains. I'll call as soon as I can. Any information on those plates?"

  "Stolen vehicle, three days ago from a car rental agency. No suspects yet. Sorry. Interestingly though, the truck was just reported stolen about an hour ago in Calgary. No idea when it was taken. The owner had been away for several days. When he got home early this morning it was gone."

  Guy swore. "Thanks, bud. I?" He didn't know how to say thank you. This was very different than anything they'd ever been involved in before. Neither one of them had ever been the target.

  "I know. Keep it upright." It was Graham's way of telling him to stay safe and don't get into trouble he couldn't get out of.

  "I will." He was beginning to realize, it was going to be easier said than done.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE