Squeeze Play

by Pierce, Nicolette

  “Maybe I should drive,” Mya said, watching as I hobbled to the driver’s side.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “It’s your right ankle,” she said with hands fisted on her hips. “You won’t be fine. You’ll end up in an accident.”

  “I’ll drive,” Muffin said, swiping the keys from my hand and knocking me out of the way. “I need chicken and I need it fast.”

  “Oh, fine,” I said, nudging Jessica over so I could sit in back. Mya could have shot gun with a greasy bucket of chicken and a ravenous bear.

  We were on our way to find chicken when Mya shook her head. “Caleb didn’t answer.”

  “Text him and let him know we’ll be at the police station in fifteen minutes.”

  “I’m not driving to the station,” Muffin said. “You know cops give me an upset tummy. I’ll drop myself off at home after the drive-thru.”

  “Hang on,” I said. “We can’t go through a drive-thru with Jessica wrapped in duct tape.”

  “I don’t see why not,” Muffin said. “You’re taking her to the police anyway.”

  “True.” Even if the police were called, we’d be at the station only minutes later.

  Muffin slowed and turned into the Funky Chicken drive-thru lane. She placed her order, which included every side they had plus a bucket of extra crispy. I yanked money out of my pocked and smacked it into her outstretched hand.

  She took it and paid the employee who gawked at the pink zebra mummy.

  “Costume party,” Muffin said, taking her chicken. “Keep the change.”

  “Muffin!” I scolded as she drove off. “You just gave him a twenty-dollar tip.”

  “Would you rather stay and give him time to think?”

  “No. Let’s get to the police station.”

  “After I drop myself off at the apartment,” she reminded as she dug into the bucket.

  “Just hurry,” I pleaded. The thought of having Jessica bound and gagged wasn’t sitting well with me even though she deserved it for stealing Caleb’s money. If the police found us first, they’d have a hard time believing we were going to turn her over. As it was, the glittering pink duct tape was attracting attention from cars passing by.

  “Lie down,” I ordered.

  Jessica glared and shook her head.

  “Lie down!”

  She shook her head violently.

  I sighed and tipped her over. She had no way of catching herself and toppled rather easily with a muffled scream as her only protest. I sat on the edge of the seat, giving her room to lie flat.

  “Where do you think your husband is?” Mya asked Muffin.

  “I don’t know,” she answered, biting down on a wing. “I thought there was something different about him as soon as I saw him that first time. But he was just standing there as Frankie and I were heading back to Vegas. It seemed like too good of an opportunity to miss. I should have known.”

  “He decided to leave California just like that?” Mya asked.

  “If by ‘leave’ you mean let himself get abducted, then yes, that’s what she means,” I said.

  “You abducted him?” Mya asked Muffin with disbelieving eyes.

  “Have you never met Muffin before?” I asked dryly.

  Muffin snatched another wing.

  “You really should stop marrying men like that,” Mya said. “Wait for the one you love.”

  “Nah, it’s nicer when I don’t care about them. Then it doesn’t matter if they leave.” She shrugged as she licked her fingers. “There’s always another one around the corner.”

  “I thought you liked Piñata?” I asked.

  Muffin stilled and then shrugged again. “I did. But he’s gone.”

  “We should find him,” Mya said.

  “No. He’s gone,” Muffin insisted. “I can’t force him to stay.”

  “Yes, you can. You always do!” I argued.

  “He’s different. I can’t force him to do anything. He stayed because he had a reason.”

  “What kind of reason?” Mya asked.

  “I never figured it out and then he was gone.”

  “You love him,” Mya stated.

  Muffin muttered under her breath.

  “It’s okay to love him,” Mya said. “Now we just have to get him back.”

  “He’s not coming back,” Muffin snipped. “Stop hoarding the chicken.”

  Mya held the bucket out of reach. “Did you tell him you love him?” Mya asked. “I bet he doesn’t even know how you feel.”

  “It wouldn’t matter. He’s gone. I’ll never see him again.”

  For the first time in my short acquaintance with Muffin, I actually felt sorry for her. She had finally found a man worth keeping, but because of her brutish ways, he was gone.

  Piñata was actually perfect for her. While she had had the upper hand with gorilla strength, he was a match for her coarse personality. And, really, who wouldn’t she be able to dominate with her strength? Even Remy was no match for her. Piñata was slightly bigger than the other men she’d abducted. And he wasn’t afraid of her. He almost seemed happy while in the heat of battle with her . . . something I’d rather not remember.

  Mya was right. If there was one person Muffin should go after, it’s Piñata. I wonder if I can find him. Remy can help. On second thought . . .

  “Why are we talking about me?” Muffin asked, slurping soda. “Nadia’s the one who can’t keep a man.”

  Mya’s lips turned into a thoughtful pout. “It’s not that she can’t keep them, it’s that she can’t figure out who she wants.”

  “I’ve told her before, just marry both men.”

  “That’s illegal,” Mya scolded. “Anyway, I know which one she loves.”

  “So do I,” I interrupted. “But that doesn’t mean anything.”

  “Yes, it does,” Mya said.

  “She’s right. It does mean something,” Muffin said, taking a swipe at the bucket. “You manage to piss off every man who gets close to you. Why is that?”

  I shrunk into the seat until Jessica kneed me in the back. I glared and sat heavily on her. She groaned.

  “I don’t know why,” I said, using my weight to keep Jessica from bucking.

  “Yes, you do,” Muffin said. “It’s the same reason I marry men that I could never have feelings for.”

  Because she doesn’t want to get hurt, I thought.

  Muffin turned into the apartment parking lot. She snatched her chicken and wrenched the door open. Mya rolled out as well.

  “Nadia, do you mind if I stay home?” Mya asked, clutching her stomach. “All of a sudden, I don’t feel so well.”

  “Stay home,” I said. “It shouldn’t take me long.”

  “What about your ankle?” she asked.

  “It’s starting to feel better. I’ll be fine,” I said, plopping behind the wheel. “Let me know if Caleb returns your call.”

  “I will,” she said right before her eyes bulged and she dashed to the nearest bush.

  I grimaced and closed the door. “Well, it looks like it’s you and me,” I said to Jessica as I pulled onto the road. “I still can’t believe you stole Caleb’s money.”

  Jessica thrashed around and made muffled protests.

  “We’ll be at the police station soon. You can tell them your lies.” I glanced in the rearview mirror to see her still wiggling, attempting to free herself. It wasn’t going to work. Even though she was covered in pink girly tape, it was strong enough to hold a wild boar. “Your brother was worried about you. He’s been looking all over for you.”

  She stopped and blinked.

  “Where’s Caleb’s money?” I asked. “I thought you might have transferred it to an offshore account. I still can’t believe you stole it. Caleb’s a great guy. If you’re going to steal from someone, it should be from an evil rich person. Be like Robin Hood, not the sheriff.” I knew I was babbling and I didn’t really care. I was a little nervous bringing her in by myself.

  My car clunked and s
puttered. Oh, no! The check engine light blinked on. I pulled to the side of the road and turned off the car. Of all the times to have car problems, it would be while hauling a pink, money-stealing mummy.

  I pulled out my phone and stared at it. Who isn’t mad at me right now and would be willing to help? I scrolled through the contacts. Frankie. He could be mad that I told Mark, but I think we’re even after his episode on stage.

  “What?” he sniffled.

  “My car broke down. Can you come and get me?”

  “I’m a little out of sorts,” he said, sniffling again. “Call Caleb or Greyson.”

  “I can’t. They’re mad at me.”

  “Oh,” he sniffled again. “I’m sorry about that. Mark had me so frazzled. Everyone was yelling at each other and I snapped. I didn’t mean to tell them.”

  “They were bound to find out anyway. What happened with Mark?”

  Jessica thrashed and squealed in the backseat. I ignored her.

  “I don’t know,” he said and blew his nose loudly. I held the phone away from my ear. “We argued about the building and then we argued about silly, ridiculous things. I still don’t know why he was mad that I was buying his building.”

  And people tell me I’m blind.

  “Mark wanted to start a chapel with you, not have you take over his building. I’m sure he feels hurt that you’d rather have his building than him.”

  “That’s not why I put an offer on the building. I was trying to help him.”

  “I doubt he sees it that way. Did you explain why you did it?”

  “No. He kept shouting at me.”

  “What are you going to do now?” I asked.

  “I have a contractor coming to look at my building in a few minutes.”

  “I meant about Mark.”

  “Nothing.”

  I didn’t say anything. He needed time to sort through his feelings. Heaven knows that I couldn’t judge. As soon as things settled down, I planned to talk to Greyson and Caleb. I’m sure Frankie will talk to Mark when he’s ready. If not, I’ll come up with a plan for him too. One that even Mya would be proud of.

  “It looks like the contractor is here,” Frankie said. “I should be home in an hour or so.”

  “Okay,” I said. “Call when you’re done. I may still be stuck on the road.”

  “I will,” Frankie said and then shrilled. “Oh, my God! You’ll never guess who the contractor is!”

  “Who?”

  “Hang on a second. Let me open the door,” he said.

  I waited and listened. Not like I had anything better to do, I thought dryly, shooting a glance at Jessica who had given up on escaping. I heard a rustling sound in the phone and then a shriek.

  “Frankie?” I listened hard. There was a scuffle and another shriek. It was definitely Frankie’s voice. “Frankie?”

  The line went dead.

  Crap!

  I started the car. It clunked and shook, sputtering in protest. I had no choice. I just hoped I’d make it to the chapel.

  I merged onto the road and hauled ass to the chapel. I should clarify. Hauling ass in a broken car was equivalent to moving ten miles an hour with a hissing noise and billowing smoke.

  I quickly scrolled through my contacts.

  “Remy!” I coughed into the phone when he answered.

  “I’m busy, Jet,” he grumbled. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Get to the chapel.” Cough. “Emergency!”

  Smoke was invading the car. I rolled down the window only to get another lungful of smoke from the outside.

  “Dammit, Jet! What the hell is going on?”

  “Frankie’s in trouble.” Cough. “Get to chapel.”

  “I’m on my way, but I’m about twenty miles out. Where are you?”

  “A mile away. But my car is smoking.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re driving it,” he warned.

  “I won’t.”

  “Dammit, Jet!”

  “Stop yelling. I’ll call David. He may be closer.”

  “He’s with me. Pull over and get out of the car before it explodes,” he gritted.

  Cough. “It’s white smoke. And I have Jessica.”

  “You found her?”

  “Yes, we have her in the backseat taped up like a mummy.” Cough.

  “Who’s we?”

  “Mya and Muffin were with me. But then Muffin didn’t want to go to the police station and Mya was throwing up. I was on my way to drop off Jessica when Frankie called. It sounded like someone attacked him.” Cough.

  “Don’t go in. Call the cops and wait. Do you hear me? Don’t you dare go in!”

  “Yes.”

  “Repeat what I said!” he warned.

  “Call the cops,” I said.

  “And?”

  Cough. “I’m . . . losing . . . signal . . .”

  I heard a very loud curse right before I hung up.

  The temperature gauge in my car soared and the car shook for the last time. I stumbled out of the car with smoke trailing behind me and opened the back door.

  “Jessica, I’m going to unwrap your legs. We have to run about a quarter mile to get to the chapel.”

  She twisted like a wild animal. Clearly, she wasn’t going to make this easy.

  “You can either come with me or I’ll toss you in the trunk,” I stated, giving no room for arguments. Not that she could. She stopped twisting and gave a curt nod.

  I quickly unwrapped her lower legs and knees but left the upper legs wrapped. She glared at me.

  “It’s so you don’t try to outrun me,” I explained.

  She huffed.

  I grabbed Jessica’s ankles and dragged her out.

  “Hurry,” I said, hauling her to the sidewalk.

  She stood rigid.

  “Hurry!”

  She stood like a pink glittery statue, defying me.

  I unlocked the trunk and pushed her toward it. Her eyes widened and she turned and scurried down the sidewalk. I caught up within a couple of steps and turned her to face the opposite direction.

  “This way!” I ordered.

  I ignored her muffled curses and called Caleb as we raced down the sidewalk. It went to voicemail.

  “Caleb, I have Jessica with me,” I puffed. “My car broke down. Frankie is in trouble. I’m heading to the chapel. Please pick her up. She’s pink. Can’t miss her.”

  We passed a couple walking on the sidewalk. They gawked as we raced by.

  “New magic show!” I shouted. “Buy your tickets today!”

  I didn’t look back to see if they believed me.

  “Almost there,” I wheezed, giving Jessica an encouraging nudge when she slowed down.

  Oh, call the police, I thought, remembering Remy’s order. It’s probably the smartest order he’s ever barked at me.

  I dialed nine-one-one and puffed out answers to the dispatcher. He then told me to stay on the line.

  Jessica and I finally made it to the chapel parking lot. Frankie’s car was sitting in the lot next to a large van with a ladder tethered on top. I had to encourage Jessica to the chapel door. The door was locked. I dug out my keys and fumbled. It wasn’t easy trying to hold the phone to my ear, keep Jessica from running away, and unlock the door. Multitasking was never my strong suit. Jessica tugged herself free. The phone slipped and shattered on the concrete. And my keys went flying.

  “Get back here!” I shouted at Jessica who was already scurrying down the sidewalk, leaving me with a dilemma. Do I chase after Jessica or do I help Frankie?

  Jessica was closest. I raced after her. She looked back to find me charging after her. She gave a little hop and squeak and picked up her pace. I ran full force tackling her to the ground.

  “You’re making this difficult!” I yelled as she put up a worthy fight, even without the use of her arms.

  I grappled at her, pinning her down so she’d stop fighting. Jessica flung her head forward, nailing my forehead. Pain ricocheted through. Stars and te
ars flooded my eyes. We both lay flat on the ground whimpering. After the stars subsided, I rolled to my knees and dragged Jessica up with me.

  “You could make this easier on both of us,” I said. “I’m taking you to the police no matter what.”

  Her muffled argument rattled against my nerves.

  “Shut up,” I muttered and hauled her back to the chapel.

  As we returned to the parking lot, the van rumbled to life. Jessica and I quickly scuffled over to avoid it as it careened toward us. Jessica couldn’t keep up. I pushed her out of the way and jumped to the side. The driver’s window came into view.

  My pulse quickened and my hands popped up to signal my surrender.

  The lethal nail gun that was pointed at my head wasn’t as frightening as who was holding it.

  Chapter 23

  “Get in the van!” she ordered, prodding me with the nail gun.

  With my hands still up, I walked to the back of the van. She threw open the door and shoved me into the empty space. A security fence separated the back from the front.

  She slammed the door shut with a laugh that chilled my bones. A moment later she sat in the driver’s seat and tore out of the parking lot. I caught myself from sliding on the metal surface.

  She hadn’t taken Jessica. It was almost a hopeful thought until I realized Jessica would make a break for it. Jessica would never tell the police I was abducted.

  Frankie knew who the driver was. Where was he?

  I caught glimpses of her eyes in the rearview mirror. They told the whole story . . . death by nail gun.

  “Where’s Frankie?” I asked.

  Her eyes flashed in the mirror. “He’s tied up at the moment.”

  I let that sink in. He’s alive. Remy and David are on their way to the chapel. They should be able to rescue him.

  If she didn’t take Frankie or Jessica, then I must be her target. I eyed her again. She was the attacker. She’s the one who operated the excavator and set the bomb. But how? How did she know how to do those things?

  “Why?” I asked, not having to expound on the simple question.

  Her icy laugh filled the van and then it was quiet. I didn’t think she was going to answer the question until she finally broke the uncomfortable silence.

  “You took everything from me. It’s only right that I return the favor.”