nothing compared to the pain and suffering they’re surely going through. All you have to do is let me out of these straps. Help me get home.”
He wished she’d stop talking. “I can’t do that,” he answered, owing her no explanation. He was following orders. Doing what needed to be done for Allison.
“But you want to,” she said. “I can see it. You look at us differently than the others do, like we’re still people.”
Zach collected the few empty bowls. “I’m not the savior you think I am.”
“If you weren’t,” Penny said, choking down a spoonful of the mush, “you wouldn’t have bothered to answer me.”
12 .
Four shots of bourbon gave Billy the courage to stand on the chair in a semi-crowded waiting room and hold up the posters. “Have any of you seen either of these women?” He teetered and nearly fell.
This is the only way. He prayed someone would answer him.
A tattooed security guard appeared and reached for his wrist. “I’m going to have to ask you to come with me.” His polite tone contradicted the brutal hate in his eyes.
Billy read the guard’s nametag. Max Reid . The murderer his Uncle Jack warned him about. He brushed hair away from his pimply face with the back of his hand. What could he do in public? “Anyone?” He stepped down and stumbled sideways. “How about you?” He held the poster in front of an older woman. “Have you seen my sister, Amy. What about Penny? You see her?” He persisted even as Reid grew more annoyed.
“I’m only going to ask this one last time. Will you come with me, please ?” He was clearly not used to being polite.
“I have every right to be here.” Billy went from one chair to the next showing the posters to anyone who would look. Some took an interest, others turned to ignore him.
“All right, I’m done asking.” Reid grabbed his arm. “I’m sorry for the disruption, folks.”
Reid’s grip tightened as he steered Billy away from the others and toward the security office.
Shit! This is bad. Billy’s head swam from the booze, his body shuddering with fear. He shouldn’t have drank. This was a big mistake.
“I’m not doing anything wrong.” He tried to pull away, but Reid’s hold didn’t budge. Got to get out of here. Get your knife. The leather sheath rubbed on his leg, but there was no way he was getting to it.
Reid pushed Billy inside the Security Office and kicked the door closed behind him. “Foster, you can stay or go, but don’t get in my way.”
Stay, please stay. Billy didn’t figure Reid would commit public murder.
The thin man in the dark framed glasses looked up from a stack of papers. “Whatever you’re up to, Miranda will be back any minute.”
Yes, good. Tell him reasons why he should let me go. Another witness.
Reid locked the door. “I’ll be quick.” He pushed Billy hard into the split section of counter.
Billy doubled over, the hit to his gut making the bourbon rise in his throat.
Reid lifted the counter and shoved Billy into a chair behind it.
Billy willed his hand to his concealed knife, but his ribs hurt too much to bend. He’s going to kill you. His brow was coated in sweat.
“You were warned--all of you-- to stay away from here.” Reid’s brick of a fist connected with Billy’s jaw and knocked him to the floor. Billy’s vision blurred and he felt the disorienting sensation of being lifted. “When are you going to learn?” Reid hoisted him back into the chair. “Foster, give me that tape.” He pointed at a roll of duct tape behind him.
No, not that. There was no shot of him escaping being bound.
“I’m not having anything to do with this, Reid.” Foster stood up, went into the back room, and closed the door.
So much for an audience. Billy didn’t like the odds of being alone with Reid. You have to get out of here. He grabbed the edge of the table and managed to stand up, but he couldn’t run. He could barely walk.
“Where do you think you’re
He wished she’d stop talking. “I can’t do that,” he answered, owing her no explanation. He was following orders. Doing what needed to be done for Allison.
“But you want to,” she said. “I can see it. You look at us differently than the others do, like we’re still people.”
Zach collected the few empty bowls. “I’m not the savior you think I am.”
“If you weren’t,” Penny said, choking down a spoonful of the mush, “you wouldn’t have bothered to answer me.”
12 .
Four shots of bourbon gave Billy the courage to stand on the chair in a semi-crowded waiting room and hold up the posters. “Have any of you seen either of these women?” He teetered and nearly fell.
This is the only way. He prayed someone would answer him.
A tattooed security guard appeared and reached for his wrist. “I’m going to have to ask you to come with me.” His polite tone contradicted the brutal hate in his eyes.
Billy read the guard’s nametag. Max Reid . The murderer his Uncle Jack warned him about. He brushed hair away from his pimply face with the back of his hand. What could he do in public? “Anyone?” He stepped down and stumbled sideways. “How about you?” He held the poster in front of an older woman. “Have you seen my sister, Amy. What about Penny? You see her?” He persisted even as Reid grew more annoyed.
“I’m only going to ask this one last time. Will you come with me, please ?” He was clearly not used to being polite.
“I have every right to be here.” Billy went from one chair to the next showing the posters to anyone who would look. Some took an interest, others turned to ignore him.
“All right, I’m done asking.” Reid grabbed his arm. “I’m sorry for the disruption, folks.”
Reid’s grip tightened as he steered Billy away from the others and toward the security office.
Shit! This is bad. Billy’s head swam from the booze, his body shuddering with fear. He shouldn’t have drank. This was a big mistake.
“I’m not doing anything wrong.” He tried to pull away, but Reid’s hold didn’t budge. Got to get out of here. Get your knife. The leather sheath rubbed on his leg, but there was no way he was getting to it.
Reid pushed Billy inside the Security Office and kicked the door closed behind him. “Foster, you can stay or go, but don’t get in my way.”
Stay, please stay. Billy didn’t figure Reid would commit public murder.
The thin man in the dark framed glasses looked up from a stack of papers. “Whatever you’re up to, Miranda will be back any minute.”
Yes, good. Tell him reasons why he should let me go. Another witness.
Reid locked the door. “I’ll be quick.” He pushed Billy hard into the split section of counter.
Billy doubled over, the hit to his gut making the bourbon rise in his throat.
Reid lifted the counter and shoved Billy into a chair behind it.
Billy willed his hand to his concealed knife, but his ribs hurt too much to bend. He’s going to kill you. His brow was coated in sweat.
“You were warned--all of you-- to stay away from here.” Reid’s brick of a fist connected with Billy’s jaw and knocked him to the floor. Billy’s vision blurred and he felt the disorienting sensation of being lifted. “When are you going to learn?” Reid hoisted him back into the chair. “Foster, give me that tape.” He pointed at a roll of duct tape behind him.
No, not that. There was no shot of him escaping being bound.
“I’m not having anything to do with this, Reid.” Foster stood up, went into the back room, and closed the door.
So much for an audience. Billy didn’t like the odds of being alone with Reid. You have to get out of here. He grabbed the edge of the table and managed to stand up, but he couldn’t run. He could barely walk.
“Where do you think you’re
Similar Books
