Page 70 of Two Favors Repaid

“We need to get the techs up here to see if they can find anything, but this car’s been carefully cleaned.”

“It’s the same car, I can feel it,” Rob said.

“It is the same car,” Lorraine confirmed, pushing the tablet in front of his face. “Check out this detail.”

“It’s the same dent,” Rob said. He wanted to hug Lorraine but kept his hands to himself, knowing she wouldn’t take it kindly.

If they’d abandoned the car here, they couldn’t be too far away. Unless they had a second car stowed here and took that instead. But then, why come in this direction in the first place?

No, they went off on foot from here.

His heart soared.

They were close.

Rob reached into his pocket and fished out his phone, sending Natalie their location.

Chapter 23

Emma

A wooden door slammed shut. It sounded like the front door to the cabin. Somebody had left. Maybe Ford. Maybe the woman. Maybe both of them.

Emma held herself very still. She wasn’t going to rush into anything—not this time. Her mouth was killing her from being held open by the ball gag. She’d discovered it was possible to breathe through it, as the rubber ball in her mouth had a small hole going through. But it was still painful and scary. She hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep.

She needed to learn more about the situation she found herself in.

If Ford’s the one who’s left, I might have a chance to speak to the woman alone. I can explain—

Moments later the door opened. The shape filling the door was too small to be Ford.

Yes! Finally a bit of good luck.

Then she noticed the glacial look in the woman’s eyes.

“Good morning,” the woman said quietly. She was younger than Emma had assumed at the hospital. But then she hadn’t really been looking at the woman that carefully then—you don’t look at strangers in that much detail. Her face was pale and thin, her eyes were red-rimmed. Her dark hair hung greasy and limp. She didn’t look like someone who’d been taking care of herself.

Emma looked up at the woman, holding her gaze as bravely as she could. Her eyes gravitated naturally towards the water bottle she carried in her hand.

“You’re probably thirsty,” the woman said.

Emma nodded quickly. Her throat was parched. Her panic at being gagged had only served to increase the rate at which her body was dehydrating. As much as she wanted the water, what she wanted even more than the water was to be free from the ball gag. When the woman reached out and touched the back of her head, Emma couldn’t help leaning towards her, like a dog looking to get its ears rubbed.

There was a soft click and then the gag fell out of her mouth. Emma stretched her jaw gratefully, looking at the odious piece of red rubber on her lap. It was shiny with her spit.

“He has larger ones,” the woman commented lightly.

Emma shivered.

“Thank you for helping me,” she said. She felt tears pouring down her cheeks.

The woman handed Emma the small water bottle. Emma looked at the top. It didn’t look like it’d been tampered with. But then, it’s not like she was an expert at this. And she needed water to survive.

Drink it before she changes her mind.

Emma struggled with the cap for an instant. Finally, it opened. She knew she should be drinking slowly, but the pleasure and the fear were simply too much. She drained the entire bottle in one go, feeling an almost painful feeling in her stomach when she was done.

“My name is Emma,” she said. “What’s yours?”