by Clara Lewis
“I’ll get to it. This one is more urgent, no?”
Chief refused again, his eyes carrying the weight of a threat.
“No means no, Ava. Pursue this case any further and you just might get suspended.”
Ava bowed her head in what appeared to be defeat and exited the office, leaving Chief and Carl to talk about whatever in peace. In reality, she knew what had to be done.
She left work early that day, surprising her coworkers. Most had probably heard Chief raise his voice at her and assumed that she had gone home to lick her wounds.
Ava reckoned that all she had to do to look like a runaway was to simply dress how she did back in high school. She decided that it was time to go shopping. Ava took the next day off and went to the mall to buy what she needed for a believable disguise. Once she was ready, Ava drove to the address Cassius had given her. She changed at the station and emerged from the bathroom.
In the window of her car, she took in her all-black appearance and laughed. She looked ridiculous. Her long sleeves caught on everything, and her boots were impossible to run in. However, she looked every bit the runaway teen. She was certain that was enough to catch the attention of this kidnapper.
“This isn’t comfortable at all,” she complained, as she got into her car to observe.
There were no other cars in the vicinity other than the one that the employee inside the gas station owned. Minutes later another vehicle drove into the parking lot and remained in one spot for hours. This must be the kidnapper.
Ava got out of her car and walked past the van, hoping to catch a glimpse of the driver. To her dismay, his face was obscured by sunglasses and a mask, yet she knew he had given her the once-over. He turned away just as Ava thought she had his attention.
Ava looked for what had distracted him. The moment her eyes landed on another young girl standing by the driver’s window, Ava felt her stomach drop.
“No, no, no,” Ava mumbled.
The girl smiled at the driver and held up a finger. She threw her bag into the back seat and made her way into the gas station. Ava followed her through the aisles as she picked out a few things to buy. When they had both reached the back of the store, Ava grabbed the girl roughly by the arm.
“Get out of here, and don’t go with that man in the truck,” Ava bawled.
The girl pulled her hand away.
“You’re not my mother.”
Ava rolled her eyes but didn’t let go.
“I’m a detective, and I can tell you that man isn’t safe. Go home.”
Her last two words had caused the girl to push her away even more.
“I don’t have one,” she said.
The girl hurried to the counter and paid for her things. Once she had reached the entrance of the store, she broke out into a run, headed straight for the truck. Ava ran after her and caught her by the arm again.
“Please,” Ava pleaded.
Chapter 4
Ava was ignored. However, the driver was intrigued with the commotion Ava and this girl were making. He sat up in his seat and watched them intently.
Ava was not a weak woman. Years of training had prepared her exactly for moments like this. However, the girl was freakishly strong. In but a few steps, the girl had brought both of them to the driver in the truck.
“You brought a friend?” he asked.
He had meant for his tone to sound surprised, but Ava couldn’t help but think that he was more amused than anything. She hated that.
“She’s not my friend,” the girl grumbled.
“I’m her sister,” Ava replied, deadpan. “We seem to have the wrong car.”
She jerked on the girl’s wrist, earning her a glare. The man moved his head from side to side, getting a good look at Ava and the girl. He sensed the tension between them. He laughed.
“No, you’re not,” he said with amusement.
The man approached them. He was big… much, much taller than Ava had anticipated. Ava spared a glance back at her own car. It wasn’t too far off. They had a chance of making it provided the girl complied. Ava’s hand never left the girl’s wrist. She could tell by the way she gripped it that it would bruise tomorrow, but that was something she could apologize for.
The girl struggled against Ava.
“You’re Ellie, right?”
The man had stopped in front of them. Ava looked up at him in defiance. The girl, Ellie, nodded, her eyes pleading him to take her away from Ava.
“You’re running away from the wrong person,” Ava warned.
Ellie didn’t listen. The man and her shared a look which caused Ava’s stomach to drop.
“Get in the car, Ellie,” he ordered.
Ava refused and kept her grip around Ellie’s wrist tight. The man chuckled and grabbed her forearm with so much force that Ava had no choice but to let go. Ellie took that chance and grabbed her bag. She booked it from there and closed the car door with a slam. From there, she stared straight ahead and refused to look at Ava.
The man had gotten what he wanted. He had Ellie, and Ava finally felt the weight of her crushing failure. After all, it was her idea. Ellie focused her eyes on the floor of the truck, waiting for the man to get back in and drive off.
That wasn’t his intention though. His feet never moved from Ava’s peripheral nor did she hear his footsteps fade away. Ava’s feeling of defeat evolved into fear. She brought her head up and looked around wildly. The man stood in front of her, waiting.
What was he observing her for? He had gotten what he wanted. Ava looked up and saw him grab at her. Ava kicked away from him, earning her a growl. She crawled up and reached for her gun, tucked in her waistband.
Nothing.
Panic filled her as the man turned his head to her and began stalking toward her. Ava looked around her wildly and finally spotted the gun on the ground, mere steps away from her. At the same time, the man caught sight of it too. Their eyes met and for a split second there was silence.
When Ava moved to get to her gun, the man grabbed her hair and yanked her back.
“Stay still,” he ordered.
Ava struggled nonetheless, causing the man to pull at her hair. Ava dug her nails into his arms causing him to hiss in pain, but his hold never faltered. He began to drag her toward his truck.
The gun was so close now. Ava reached out one of her arms and stretched her fingers, hoping it would be enough to grasp the handle of the gun. The man noticed and let out a dark laugh at the sight of Ava desperately trying to gain the advantage. Without letting go, the man stepped around her and kicked the gun far across the parking lot.
The brute then hoisted her over his shoulder as if she weighed no more than a feather. Ava pounded on his back, but it was no use; he was clearly stronger. He opened the door to his truck and threw Ava, causing her to land on the floor painfully.
Ellie’s hands trembled in her lap as she watched Ava fight back. Her confident posture had now curled upon itself. Only now did she realize what a big mistake she had made.
It wasn’t Ellie’s fault. She didn’t know better. However, at this point, Ava had felt so much that she couldn’t help but send a scathing glare toward Ellie. Ellie had the decency to look guilty.
Ava directed her glower to the man who said nothing.
“Behave,” he grunted.
Ava responded to that by attempting to kick the man. He caught her foot and huffed in annoyance. He brought out his gun causing Ellie to gasp.
“Shoot me,” Ava dared.
The man laughed and brought the butt of his weapon up. The last thing Ava felt was the force of the cold metal rendering her unconscious.
***
Her leg had fallen asleep. Ava slowly blinked her eyes open and squinted. She attempted to get up but soon realized she had been tied down. Ava struggled against her restraints, trying not to get out—that was impossible—but to get some blood running through her veins again.
The man heard her moving and turned around.
“Look, Ellie! She’s awake,” he said, chuckling.
Ellie merely nodded and let out a forced laugh. Ava noted how Ellie angled herself away from the man. He reached out and Ellie flinched.
“Get your hands off her,” Ava growled.
The man raised his hands up in a show of mock surrender. Ellie simply moved away as far as she could.
“I can get off here,” Ellie said, pointing at a run-down gas station.
She was already out of the city. If she waited at the gas station, she could catch another ride to the next city. Her hands trembled as she watched the man’s reaction. His hands gripped the steering wheel with a force that turned his knuckles white. He wasn’t happy.
Ellie’s beating heart calmed down when he turned onto the road that led to the gas station. However, instead of stopping, he only continued driving. Ellie looked back, her relief turning into dread.
“We’re almost there, don’t worry. We’re almost home,” he simply said.
Ava and Ellie locked eyes in the side mirror, and they had the same incredulous look. Ellie’s eyes reflected fear to which Ava nodded, a small comfort for their shared situation. Ava somehow maneuvered her body into sitting upright. As she got up, she lost her balance and scraped her cheek against the faded seats. Ava winced as the pain reverberated through her entire face. She scooted up the seat and sucked in a breath when she saw a purple bruise form around her cheek. After sending a glare toward the driver in the rearview mirror, Ava directed her attention to the window.
The repetitive landscape had her almost falling asleep. And she would have if it weren’t for the lingering feeling that someone was watching her. Every so often, she would catch the man looking at her from the rearview mirror and she would avert her eyes quickly. It was a discomfort of a different kind. It wasn’t like the awkward meeting of eyes when you’d run into a stranger at a bus stop. No, this felt like a slimy, disgusting feeling that you’d experience when you walked through dark alleyways. It was dangerous and spine chilling.
Without warning, the man turned the truck into an unmarked trail causing both Ava and Ellie to slam into the car doors. He gave no apologies but continued to drive across the bumpy field. At least Ellie could hold on to the roof handle. Ava was convinced that the man drove over all the bumps just so he could punish Ava. She practically bounced around the back seat.
He came to an abrupt stop, causing Ava to slam into Ellie’s seat. Ava cursed as her cheek bumped against the headrest.
“We’re here.” He sighed.
They were at a farm, the kind one would see in the old western movies. Ava couldn’t help but laugh at the windmill. It was very on brand.
The man ordered Ellie to stay in her seat while he got out and rounded the car. He opened the door closest to Ava.
“Kick me again and I will shoot you,” he threatened.
Ava knew he was serious, and she held her tongue from making any sarcastic comments. He brandished a large knife and Ava winced. He chuckled, earning a dark look from Ava.
“It’s not for you.”
He said those words, but Ava could tell he meant to add the word “yet” to the end of his sentence.
He cut the restraints holding her feet together, and then without warning, he lifted her out of the truck and set her on the ground. Her legs had fallen asleep. The moment she was put on the ground, Ava collapsed to her knees.
Ellie was directed out of the car and she rushed to help Ava out.
“I’m really sorry,” she whispered.
Had she really been thinking that the entire time?
Ava patted her arm gently and said, “Don’t worry about it.”
The man waited impatiently. Eventually, he walked over and hauled her up himself. Ava struggled to stay on her feet, and Ellie hurried to support her.
“Get up. I need you to meet my girls, Detective Locke.”
Chapter 5
Ava stared at the man’s back as he walked away.
“Hey!” Ava yelled. “How do you know my name?”
The man just turned around and raised a finger to his lips.
Ava growled in annoyance.
“He has the audacity to act cute?” she yelled in exasperation.
Ellie shifted a bit so Ava could walk proper. The man was still a distance away from them, but at some point, he had stopped by one of the buildings and patiently waited for them.
The moment her legs were fully mobile, she tapped Ellie to let her go. Ava looked around. Her investigation started now. The plan was still underway, even if the path to get to this farm had been anything but smooth.
Ava stared at the man’s posture. He stood straight, with his hands in front of him in a familiar stance. She decided to test out her theory.
As they neared the man, Ava rushed at him. The moment his hand went to his hip, she knew. Ellie ran to her and tugged her away from him.
“So, you’re either a soldier or you’re a policeman,” Ava said.
She brought her bound hands up.
“I won’t be able to steal your gun anyway,” she reassured him.
The man tensed, and Ava could tell he was contemplating whether it was worth it to keep her alive.
“Why would you do that?” Ellie asked in a whisper.
Ava shrugged and looked back at the man with defiance. If he could focus on her, he would forget about Ellie. Ava knew how terrified Ellie had been in the truck.
“You are a dangerous woman, Detective Locke.”
She only cocked her head and leaned in closer.
“Speak to me again,” she dared.
This was the first time she had heard his voice in a peaceful setting. There were no stressful situations nor was there the roar of the truck disrupting her thoughts.
“Why is that?” he asked, his voice gruff.
Ava broke into laughter. She was terrified of what he might do to her when he lost his patience. She had to keep her act up. He was already revealing so much.
“No need to hide your real voice from me,” she said.
She gasped as if she were dramatically realizing something. Ellie tugged at her sleeve softly to get her to stop.
“Or… are you afraid that I’ll recognize you?” she goaded.
His silence was answer enough. He stalked up to her, causing Ellie to shrink from beside her. Ava stepped in front of Ellie in a subconscious act of protection. She looked up at the man, daring him to make a move.
“I’m willing to bet I know exactly who you are,” Ava confirmed, a smile on her face.
He grabbed her restraints and tugged roughly. Ava groaned in pain when the ropes cut into her wrists. With long strides, he pulled Ava along paying her no mind when she stumbled. Ellie followed them, her breaths becoming shallow as she struggled to keep pace.
“I’m pretty smart. I bet it won’t even take me a day before I guess your name,” Ava blurted out.
The man stopped abruptly, and Ava slammed into his back. Ava opened her mouth to complain sarcastically. What she received was a sudden backhand.
“Stop speaking.”
“Or what? You’ll hit me again?”
Ava spat blood out onto the ground, apologizing briefly to Ellie when it landed near her shoe. Her tough act was getting under this man’s skin, she realized with glee.
So far, she had discovered a few things.
One, she knew who this man was. Two, he had either served in the military or he was a fellow police officer. Three, he hated being outdone by her.
So far, she had managed to just irritate him with her sarcastic quips, but with the way he would react to her always having something to say, it made her third discovery seem much more personal. She had to know him.
He stared at her for a few beats before ordering her to close her eyes. Ava obliged. She knew she could take a hit, but it was difficult to pretend that it didn’t hurt.
She felt a cold fabric being tied around her head. That was another thing that cemented her belief that he knew
her, and that she most certainly knew him. If she were just another random woman he had brought to the farm, he wouldn’t have to go to such great lengths to blindfold them.
“You don’t really have to blindfold me; I already saw most of everything,” Ava quipped.
“I don’t want to look at you,” the man gruffly replied.
“Ellie, he blindfolded you too?” she called out to make sure.
“No,” came Ellie’s soft reply.
The man resumed yanking her around once more and she stumbled. The first time, the man had grunted in annoyance and waited for her to right herself. When she tripped a couple more times, he just kept on walking.
Suddenly the blindfold was ripped off, taking a few strands of hair with it. The man hefted a large trapdoor revealing stairs that led down into the basement.
“Hey, try being more gentle next time,” Ava grumbled.
The first thing she sensed was the damp and musty smell of the area. Ava’s eyes squinted as she looked at the lone light dangling from the ceiling. She rubbed her eyes as she struggled to observe her surroundings.
The man pushed her and Ellie forward, down the stairs, and Ava almost stumbled with how much force he used. Observing the area, Ava spotted mildew growing along the walls of the basement and grimaced.
“Maybe try to make the place look more inviting next time,” she commented.
That earned her nothing more than another shove. This time, Ava tripped over an old mattress, with a blanket folded meticulously over it. Ava dusted off her pants, ignoring her aching knee, and immediately looked for the girls.
There they were, huddled in the far corner of the basement. The man’s head turned to where Ava looked, and he waved at them. They huddled into each other, refusing to meet his eyes.
He gave Ava one final push before he went back up the stairs and closed the trapdoor with a bang, causing everyone to flinch. Ava looked the two girls over, and sure enough, they were the ones who had gone missing.
Their clothes were expensive but dirtied. Ava approached them slowly, aware of how jumpy they were. When they sensed her presence, they both looked up and Ava frowned at the sight of bruises on the skin visible to her.