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Val shuddered, panic like a vise around her throat. I have to get out of here. She glanced at Noni’s motionless figure once again. That could be me.
No, because you’re going to fight. You’re going to get loose and you’re going to fight.
But how?
She looked around the room. There were two cots with simple metal frames. If she could find a nick in the metal, she might be able to saw the tape off.
Grimacing, she spun around so that her back was to the bed and began using her feet to propel herself backward.
Careful. Don’t touch Noni. She didn’t want to make things worse for the poor woman.
She finally made it to the bed, half expecting Corey to come in again, but he didn’t. She paused at a loud noise in the next room, holding her breath to listen.
It sounded like a door slamming.
A minute later a motor revved. A minute after that, the motor’s noise had quieted and she sat in silence once again.
Get moving. You’re running out of time.
Awkwardly, she began feeling for a sharp place on the metal bed frame. It was too damn smooth. This wasn’t going to work. She let go of the frame, letting her shoulders slump.
Then jumped when the door to her room quietly opened. Val didn’t move. The steps behind her didn’t sound like they belonged to Corey or Bobby.
She barely swallowed a gasp when cool fingers touched her hand.
“Shh,” a woman whispered. “I’ll try to help you, but they can’t know I’m awake. Turn your face toward me.”
Val obeyed. It was Dianne Gates. That was why the NOPD hadn’t been able to find Dianne. As Jace had feared, Corey had had her all this time.
Why is she here? Was Dianne a prisoner or a participant? Was this a trap?
Guess I’ll soon find out.
Carefully, Dianne peeled the duct tape from Val’s upper lip. It was enough for Val to suck in a breath.
“Thank you,” Val whispered. The tape was still stuck to her lower lip and right cheek.
“Keep it on your face, just in case they come back. I’ll have to run back to my room. They can’t know I helped you.”
Val nodded. “Got it. Can you loosen my hands?”
“I’ll try.”
It seemed to take forever, but it must have been only a few minutes before Dianne found the end of the tape binding Val’s hands and began to work the edge loose.
“Are they both gone?” Val finally whispered.
“I think so. Last time they took both boats. This time it was only one, but no one was in the main room when I came through.” Dianne renewed her efforts and finally Val could move her hands.
Wincing, she slowly brought her hands from her back to rest on her outstretched legs. Her fingers were numb. She shook her hands to restore circulation.
“I’m Val Sorensen,” Val said quietly, leaning forward to start picking at the tape binding her ankles. “Why did they bring you here?”
“I think that they think that I know too much, but I don’t know anything. And you?”
“I’m leverage. Corey thinks my boyfriend knows where Bella Butler is hiding. Corey aims to kill her to keep her from testifying against the man who raped her.”
“What?” Dianne breathed, looking shocked. “Why?”
