Captured Lies

by Maggie Thom

Fingers bit into Bailey's arm as she was pulled backwards and slammed up against a hard body. She tried to turn her head but he squeezed her elbow hard. "Don't waste your time trying to figure out who I am, you won't be around long enough for it to matter. Keep your mouth shut and move." He held her tight to his body, walking right on her heels. She tried to break his strong hold but every time she moved or made a sound, he threatened to slice her throat. Biding her time, she tried to attract attention - she opened her eyes wide, flipped them to the side. She frowned. She glared. She made faces.

  No one even gave her a second glance.

  Bailey was sure there had to be a mistake. "Who are you?"

  "Your worst nightmare. And you're mine. Shut your mouth. Or I'll use this gun to solve my problem right here and right now." His gravelly, acid filled voice sent shivers down her spine. He peeked past her. "Go." They moved forward going against the mass of people that were heading out.

  Taking a deep breath, she stuck out her left foot. It was quick but sufficient. A tall man stumbled, kicking her, sending shooting pain and then numbness up her leg. Off center, she took advantage of it and threw herself sideways, pulling her assailant with her. At the same time she kicked out, connecting with her captor's shin.

  "Ouch. What the hell?" Already off balance, he threw out his arm to block his fall, loosening his hold on Bailey. She shot off in the other direction causing more people to go down.

  A man pushing an overfull cart couldn't avoid hitting a teenager oblivious to what was going on due to being plugged into a loud MP3 player and who walked right into the man's path. The teen tumbled, taking several people with him. Luggage scattered. People started dog piling, even though they hadn't asked to play. Swearing and shoving became the immediate response.

  Others screamed, some wiggled and squirmed, trying to get untangled from the mess, only to cause more to topple or fail at getting up including Bailey. Using one of the victims on the floor, she braced her feet against his backside and shoved. Her captor, who was trying to hold onto her and keep himself from getting trampled, couldn't maintain his steady grip.

  She yanked her arm out of his grasp, not caring anymore who the nut was, she just wanted to get away. She dove over the pack, climbing over the sprawled bodies. She didn't apologize, knowing no one would hear her over their own swearing anyway. She slapped at hands that reached out to either dislodge her or grab at her. Bruised and battered, she finally reached the edge of the heap. She jumped to her feet and plunged through the crowd.

  There was utter chaos. People were pushing and shoving, tripping over each other, swearing at each other. Bailey went through the crowd like a person with a machet? going through the jungle. Never having been in that airport before, she raced down the long open space lined with conveyors and masses of people, all waiting to grab their suitcases from the black belt. Using the confusion, the yelling and swearing in at least five languages, she now used the people to hide amongst. Glancing over her shoulder, commuters and visitors were moving in all directions but she didn't see anyone who seemed to be following her. She shuddered at the fleeting thought that if what she'd been told was true, that might just have been the second time in her life someone had attempted to kidnap her. Well, third actually, if she counted the guy on the street earlier that day who had wanted to turn her into one of his junky whores. If she'd been any slower he might have succeeded.

  She crouched low, shoving past people and raced outside. Her head snapped around like a hawk hunting food as she ran back the way along the outside of the building, using the masses as a shield. Graham and Guy were standing in the same place. Relieved, she raced up to them, grabbed them each by the arm and started to walk. Quickly.

  The two guys laughed. "What's going on?"

  "We don't have all day. We need to get moving. Now."

  Guy stopped, forcing her to face him. Feeling his eyes burrowing into the top of her head, she looked up. Her breathing was still labored and she had no idea what he would see in her eyes but she was doing her best to hide that she was spooked. He reached out and brushed a stray hair off her cheek and pushed it back over her shoulder. She tried to lower her eyes but was caught by the mesmerizing look in his. He blinked once, stepped back and set a pace just short of a run. Not sure what he saw, she was thankful he didn't ask any questions but hustled them towards the parkade. In fact it was she that had to run to keep up with the two men. At the car Guy opened the door, grabbing and tossing stuff into the back of the car. It was relatively clean, just full of junk. It looked like he might live in there. She climbed in, surprised to find Guy sitting beside her. He slouched down and encouraging her to do the same.

  "What happened?"

  She shook her head hoping he would just leave it alone but she should have known better. Next thing she knew he'd slid across the back seat, shoving the books, looseleaf, discarded wrappers, onto the floor and sat beside her. He gently grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him.

  "Why were you limping?"

  "Well, there was a bit of confusion inside. Someone tripped. Luggage fell. People were pushing and shoving. Chaos. Let's get out of here and I'll tell you all about it."

  She forced herself to meet his questioning gaze while focusing on her breathing to calm her nerves. She'd seen it on a TV yoga class that she'd found early one sleepless morning. Clasping her hands tightly in her lap, she pasted on what she hoped looked like a smile.

  "So nothing serious? It just scared you?"

  You have no idea. She glanced at Graham before replying. Guy might trust him but she didn't know him. "Yeah, just a little too crazy busy for me."

  "Welcome to Toronto."

  She slouched against the door not caring where they went or what their destination would be. She'd seen all she wanted to see. Who the hell attacked me? She wondered if it was the same guy from before or a new one. Which scared her even more. How many people really wanted her?

  Turning, she was surprised to meet Guy's unwavering gaze. And for the first time in a long time she felt vain about her appearance. Not sure how to read his look, she found her hand raising almost involuntarily to rub her cheek as though she had dust on it. She was tempted to reach up and brush her windblown, tangled mass away from her face but knew that wouldn't change anything. Certainly not the smell as she became aware of her own odor. She comforted herself with the fact that some of the strong stench could be Guy's. One day out and about and they had managed to acquire many different odors.

  Not wanting to explain what had happened, she looked straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge him. Besides what could she tell him, 'some guy I didn't even see, tried to accost me'. He finally gave up and leaned forward to talk to Graham. Snippets of their conversation drifted back to her.

  "-he's wanted in several provinces. Looks like Bean will get the bust."

  "What did you find out?"

  "Some very interesting stuff. He's not who we think he is..."

  Their voices dropped too low for her. She needed to hear what they were talking about but it took too much effort. Her eyelids dropped, her mind let go.