Endless Abduction

by Gloria Martin

  She was lounging in shorts and a t-shirt with a fresh cup of coffee when she spotted her shoes set neatly by the door and her panties hanging from the knob. For a brief moment, she considered hanging them on the outside for Kirk to find when he returned, but then she imagined a surprise visit from Kirk’s sister, or his mom. That would not be good, though it might become a funny story told at some holiday dinner a few years down the road.

  Linda was scrolling through email on her phone when she heard a small pop come from somewhere near the door. As she stood to investigate the noise, the door swung open and Joe stepped in with his Taser drawn. Her last thought before crumpling onto her broken coffee cup was that being Tased hurt way more than she would have expected.

  She regained consciousness in the trunk of Joe’s police cruiser, her hands cuffed to a metal ring in the floor. Each bump along the way caused the cuffs to bite into her skin, and the bumps seemed to be coming in regular intervals, like speed bumps in a residential neighborhood. There was no discernable traffic noise outside the trunk, even as the car accelerated for a long stretch. After a sharp turn, the car continued much slower for a minute before coming to a stop. The engine turned off, and she heard him get out of the car.

  When the trunk popped open, sunshine beamed in on her dilated pupils. She couldn’t see Joe at first as he stood off to the side, probably so she couldn’t kick at him when the trunk lid swung open. He may have been an asshole, but he was smart enough to learn from the mistakes of the previous evening, and he knew Linda would fight back if he gave her an opening.

  He bent over her, and the metal ring popped open. Then he backed off and ordered her to step out of the car. His pump action shotgun was pointed at her as her bare feet touched the stone driveway.

  “Turn around and close the trunk,” he said.

  As the trunk clunked shut, she saw that they were in the driveway of a two-story brick McMansion adorned with yellow crime scene tape.

  “Time to go inside, Honey. The door’s unlocked.”

  She stepped onto a cool marble foyer that opened onto a plush living room with a stairwell to the second floor on the left side and windows looking out over a creek to the right. More yellow tape crisscrossed the bottom of the stairway.

  He marched her to a white leather couch and ordered her to sit, and then the cop in the overstuffed uniform sat opposite her in an overstuffed chair. “I hope you like your new home,” he said. “It just became available last week.” He smiled, and she decided that his teeth were entirely too small for his puffy face. “I’d give you a tour of the master bedroom, but a meth lab blew up under the stairs. It’d be a pity to see you fall into the basement.”

  “How long do you think you can keep me here, Joe? How long before someone comes looking for you?”

  “I’ve got a week off. That’s plenty of time to make you see the error of your ways and to put a beat-down on your little boyfriend. Maybe I’ll bring you some of his tender parts in a jar.”

  “You’ll need a really big jar—bigger than I ever imagined before I met him.” She didn’t even know why she said it. She knew it was a dig at his insecurities, but she didn’t know why she made that particular dig while he sat across from her with a shotgun in his lap.

  His ruddy complexion turned even more crimson as his jaw clenched and his eyes glared. He looked almost nothing like the man she had met and married. To think that they had tried to have children—that she kept trying even as his behavior became more controlling and her friends became more concerned. Now he sat across from her in puffy skin with a badge and a puffed-up ego surrounding a sad little core. And he thought she was his property, apparently, despite the fact that he had divorced her for another woman.

  The divorce had been a blow to her, but she turned it into the blow that forged the blade. She was the stronger alloy now, and she sensed that he knew it as well; sensed that he could feel the rust in his veins and the lead in his gut, and it scared him.

  And fear had led better people than him to do terrible things.

  *****

  Kirk knew what had happened the second he saw Linda’s phone and the broken coffee mug on the floor. He retrieved his semiautomatic pistol and a leather-handled fighting knife from a hidden lockbox in the closet and turned immediately back out of the apartment and called Mary, who asked for five minutes to contact a friend inside the Arlington County Police Department. It was seven and a half minutes before she called back.

  “I’ve got a location on Officer Asshole’s patrol car, Kirk. It’s in northern Arlington County just northwest of Chain Bridge. I’ll send you the lat/long via text. Also, I talked to our friends on the FBI side, and there’s not much they can do through unofficial channels. I can try the Virginia State Police, but they may do a handoff to the Arlington County Police. ”

  “And that’s a bad thing?”

  “My contact worries that officer Platt may be monitoring their frequencies or that one of his buddies might send him a warning. There’s also the small matter of how my contact came to know about this in the first place.”

  “No worries, Mary. I’m already heading north on the GW Parkway.”

  “Are you armed?”

  “Do you really want to know?”

  “No. I’m pretty sure you know how to take care of yourself, Kirk. I suppose you can forget what I said about avoiding confrontation. I’ll get some kind of help to you as soon as I can. “

  Kirk parked in a church parking lot off of Rt.123 and set off through the woods, staying parallel to the river. He reached a small creek and turned to follow it uphill to the target, but there was too large an open area and too many windows on that side of the house, so he worked his way back down to the river’s edge and moved fifty meters upstream. Then he turned ninety degrees and crept uphill again to where the woods were closer to the house.

  He could see the back of the patrol car parked outside the attached garage, so the target was confirmed. The garage also offered the easiest and most concealed access to the roof, and it was always better to take a building from the top down, even if you had no grenades. Slow and smooth, he crept up to the garage, climbed onto a fence post and then onto the roof. He made his way to a window and checked for alarms before laying a few strips of electrical tape on the window pane above the lock and tapping the point of his knife at the center of the glass. The glass cracked in several directions, and he carefully removed it all, placing the rough triangles of glass on a shingle he’d bent up, to keep them from sliding off the roof.

  The window opened easily enough, and Kirk listened for a minute before inching through it into an empty bedroom. He moved down the hallway in a combat glide and cleared every room on the second floor before turning back to the stairs. He scooted down the first few stairs sideways and leaned to get a view of the floor below. Linda and her ex sat across a low coffee table from each other in a large room. Kirk could see stainless steel handcuffs glinting on her wrists and the blue steel of a shotgun barrel in his lap. Their shoulders were to the stairway, and Joe seemed warier of the front door than the stairs. Kirk would be somewhat behind him almost all the way down to the landing. Linda would have the opportunity to see Kirk much sooner as he descended the stairs, and he hoped she wouldn’t react.

  He was almost two-thirds of the way to the landing when the center of the stairway collapsed. He dove forward, feet twisting behind him, and landed on his right shoulder. His clavicle gave an unhealthy snap, and the pistol skittered across the landing to the main floor. Kirk rolled to his feet and lunged through police tape toward the towering police officer as the shotgun swung around quickly. The business end would be pointed at Kirk before he made contact. He was just ready to roll onto the deck when Linda crashed into her ex and the shotgun swung too far and boomed. Kirk hit the man high, and the low coffee table cut his legs from under him so they rode over the stone table top together. The back of Joe Platt’s head smacked to the floor just as Kirk’s fist smashed into his face. Kirk snatc
hed up the shotgun with his left hand, jumped clear, and pointed the weapon back at his opponent, but it was clear that the man wouldn’t be getting up any time soon.

  Linda stood across the table from Kirk with her handcuffed wrists extended toward him. “Now that you’ve made your grand entrance, can you help a girl out?”

  He found the key in a keeper on Platt’s belt and released her from the cuffs, all with his left hand, since he seemed unable to lift his right arm. Then he rolled Joe onto his stomach and let Linda have the honor of cuffing him. That seemed to signal the real end for her, and her relief came out in silent tears on Kirk’s shoulder.

  “That was quite a fourth date,” Kirk said.

  She lifted her head from his shoulder and kissed him. “You really know how to show a girl a good time.”

  *****

  By that evening, it was clear that Officer Joe Platt would survive his injuries, but would not survive the security footage of him shoving his ex-wife into the trunk of a police car. Kirk would survive as well, but a broken right clavicle and a broken bone in his left hand were going to keep him off of the traveling team for a while. Apart from some soreness, Linda was fine, and she didn’t mind at all that her big, tough SEAL needed some help in the shower.

  She propped him up in bed that night sans clothing and then left to change into a sheer black babydoll she had fetched from her apartment. When she walked back into the bedroom his eyes widened and he gave a low whistle.

  “Come to Papa, little lady,” he said, his fingers curling in a ‘come-hither’ motion.

  She walked slowly up the side of the bed, letting her fingers trail up the inside of his leg and bump over his abs. “Remember: Some things are meant to be savored, taken in small bites.”

  She bent to kiss him and let her hand drift to his navel and then slowly back up to his chest. Then she moved her lips to his ear and whispered, “Slow is smooth; smooth is fast, right?”

  She stepped back, stripped the babydoll up over her head and tossed it onto his shins with an “Oops.” Then she pinched a corner of the garment in her fingers and dragged it up his legs and around his swollen penis where it climbed like a snake on a branch until it crawled off onto his torso and she flipped it up onto the pillow beside his head.

  “Was that slow and smooth, Kirk?”

  “You’re killing me,” he said, “and I just broke two bones for you.”

  “Well, it seems I’ve helped you grow another one.” She touched over the glans with her index finger and drew a slick trail of his anticipatory emissions down the shaft. He twitched and moaned, and his hips rose ever so slightly. “I really need to be de-thonged again before I deal with that. It’s too bad that I’m the only one capable of a proper de-thonging at the moment.”

  She turned her back to him and slowly bent at the waist as she stroked her hands down her hips and legs, drawing the lacy black fabric along as she went. She tried not to think too much about the show she was putting on for him, and felt some relief when she finally straightened and kicked free of her panties.

  She turned back toward him and climbed onto the bed between his legs. She took him in her hand and kissed her way along the path her lingerie had taken and then continued upward. She felt his hot need press between her breasts and down her abdomen before it met with her own. She kissed him and slid back, taking him in millimeter by millimeter until he was fully sheathed.

  “Was that smooth enough for you, sailor?”

  “So smooth that I’m afraid it’s going to be really fast.”

  “That’s okay. We’ve got all night.”

  It wasn’t too fast. It was just perfect.

  And they had all night and then some.

  THE END

  Bonus Story 7 of 40

  Taken by Two Alpha Dragons

  “I’ll see you tomorrow then Steph,” I said. I waved to Alyssa on her way out of the office. The day had been hectic with the strange influx of emergencies. Usually many pet owners would go to the other, much larger, emergency pet hospital down the street from ours. But even they had a huge load of patients they couldn’t keep up with and consequently sent some over to us. Denver was home to many pet lovers and not just your usual cats and dogs either. In Colorado it was legal to own an exotic variety of pets, and all needed to see the vet at some point. So there was a lot of busy work for me as a veterinary technician.

  My day was finally almost over though and it was pushing seven thirty at night. It was already pitch black outside since we were nearing the end of November and into December. I finished up with some paperwork and went to do some last checks on the animals before I closed up shop. Alyssa usually helped me close up at night, but she had to go to her daughter’s dance recital and I told her that I could handle closing on my own.

  It was nearly nine o’clock by the time I left the building to head out to my car. Denver was pretty much just like any other big city, there was always lots of activity on the sidewalks and streets. I was thankful for that as I walked down the sidewalk that would lead towards the back of the building where employee parking was. However, the small lot behind the building was only lit by one light post and at night I always hurried to my car. Even though I was a twenty-six-year-old woman, I was still afraid of the dark, and what could be hiding in the shadows.

  I made it to my little blue Honda Civic and breathed a sigh of relief once I was inside. I quickly turned on the car so I could get the heat going, and the car warmed up. Soon after I was pulling out and heading home towards Montbello. I lived fairly close to the wildlife refuge and it was always sort of peaceful in my neighborhood. I pulled up to my cute little two-bedroom house and parked in the drive like I always did. My house was fairly tucked away from the rest of the street; it was built towards the back of my lot and hidden by shrubs lining the perimeter of the house and a few trees. I started walking towards the porch and then I felt the hair raise on my nape. I glanced around behind me, but I couldn’t see into the shadows. I stared, but it didn’t appear that anyone was watching me.

  I glanced across the street and saw that my neighbor’s lights were on inside, but there were no movements in the windows or anything like that. Plus, the Wilsons weren’t the type to spy on their neighbors. I just needed to chill. I’d had a hectic day at work and I hadn’t had a chance to really unwind yet. I took a deep breath and continued up to my porch and then into the house. When I stepped through the front door I realized that I’d left my purse in the car. I had only grabbed my work bag in the hurry to get inside. I sighed and walked into the family room to drop the bag on the couch and then I headed back out to the car.

  As I walked down the steps of my porch I saw a dark figure walking up the drive. I stepped forward with caution and met the stranger halfway, by my car. He grew bigger the closer he got to me, both taller and more muscular. When we were standing in front of each other in the cold night air, I found it odd that he was wearing a skintight black t-shirt and dark jeans. Meanwhile I could see my breath in the air when I exhaled and I was close to shivering in thickly lined parka and Ugg boots.

  “Hello, my name is Micah,” his voice was deep and had that sexy rasp to it. I looked up, and up, at his face. Of course he was handsome as well as tall, he had an intense brow and almost unnatural teal colored eyes. His hawkish nose led down to plump lips and a cleft chin. He had a square jaw that was speckled with brown stubble. I glanced up at his brown hair and saw it was styled into an undercut bun. His incredible good looks coupled with his height and build lent me to believe that he wasn’t quite real.

  “Um…uh, hi. I’m Stephanie…” I said. Micah inclined his head in an almost old world fashion.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you Stephanie,” Micah said with a small upwards quirk of his lips. I was growing confused and uneasy as to what he was doing in my driveway. Micah was also just staring at me, his eyes almost calculating as they roamed my body from head to toe.

  “Ah, it’s good to meet you too?” I said in confusion.
“Can I ask what it is you’re looking for exactly?” Micah tilted his head slightly to the left and grinned, his smile was predatory and it definitely sent a frisson of warning up my spine.

  “Yes, I’m looking for you. There is someone I need you for. I’ve been watching you for a few days now and upon closer inspection I’d say you’re the perfect fit.”

  My eyebrows furrowed and I took a step away from Micah, but he only took a step forward in return.

  “I don’t know what you’re saying, but if you’ve been stalking me I’ll call the police. I’d like for you to leave now, thank you.” I tried to make my voice as stern as possible, but Micah shook his head and sighed.

  “You don’t have a choice Stephanie, I have a deadline to meet,” Micah said simply before he grabbed me by the arm abruptly and spun me around to land hard against his chest. All the air left my lungs as it felt as if I slammed into a brick wall. Micah’s hand covered my nose and mouth and I couldn’t breathe. His hand was hot, not like body temperature hot, but like accidentally touching the stove while it was cooling off hot.

  My heart thundered in my chest as I struggled against him, but he had a vise grip on me and I felt that soon I would pass out from not being able to breathe. My vision tunneled around me and then utter blackness enveloped my sight seconds before I passed out, unconscious.

  *****

  I woke up feeling disoriented and with a sense of dread in my chest. Before I opened my eyes all the memories of Micah and his suffocating me outside of my house came pouring back. My eyes flew open and I bolted up straight in bed. I was in bed? I glanced around and saw that I was in an opulent room; it was decorated in warm colors and the modern furniture was all warm mahogany.

  The large canopy bed was situated in front of a great fireplace. To the left of the bed, and along the left wall of the room, was a long window that looked out at a forest. There was a window seat that served as a little reading nook also. To the right of the room was a set of double doors and on the wall behind the bed, further to the right was another door that probably led to a bathroom or closet.