The front door was unlocked, and she pushed it open. The cafe was dark, now, and empty. Apprehension was gathering in Ryan’s stomach, worry pulling at her. Where was Liv? What had happened?
Maybe she was at home. Giving the cafe one last look, Ryan turned and headed back to her car.
“I’m sorry.” Veronica’s voice was whisper-soft in Liv’s ear. Liv was pulled against her, Veronica’s back to the cobblestone walkway at the rear of the coffee shop. The knife was pressed against Liv’s throat again, close enough she could feel it against her skin and she was afraid to swallow.
Liv didn’t answer. She wasn’t sure what to say, after all. What did you say to a crazy person holding a knife to your throat?
She could hear Ryan’s voice calling her name. Could hear the sound of Ryan’s car driving away. All she wanted to do was scream and run, go flee to Ryan and her protection. But she couldn’t.
“He’ll kill your grandmother,” Veronica said, her voice dark and gravely.
Liv didn’t answer.
“And my family.”
Liv knew that was more important. She wanted to close her eyes, hide from the horror in front of her, but she couldn’t. Instead she felt Veronica grab something from her pocket. “Hands behind your back.” Liv did as she was told.
Zip ties were put around her wrists, bound tight but not too tight. She was grateful for that, at least.
“Now walk.” Veronica nudged her forward.
Liv wanted to kick, to fight. But what if Veronica was telling the truth, that someone would go after Gram? She was in the safety of the hospital for now but what would happen if Liv wasn’t there for her? Hot tears spilled down her cheeks, the emotion threatening to choke her.
It was a few blocks before they got to where Veronica wanted her. “Get in the car.” Veronica popped the trunk open, and pointed for Liv to get in. It was a new Chevy of some sort. The trunk was quite roomy. Not that Liv particularly cared, but at least she wasn’t going to suffocate to death. Numbly she sat on the rim of the car and then tried to scoot in without hitting herself.
Then Veronica grabbed her feet and bound them together with the same zip ties she had used on Liv’s hands. “Don’t say a word, or I’ll gag you,” she threatened.
Liv closed her eyes, and felt the car shake as Veronica shut the trunk. She was alone in the darkness. Even when the trunk lights lit up, they were only faint slivers of light that didn’t give her a lot to work with.
Her breathing was starting to come too fast, her heart racing. She had to get it together.
She took a few deep breaths, trying to settle herself. She’d get out of there.
It was like Ryan said. No matter what, they’d get through it. Liv would make it out of this situation.
She hoped.
Shifting in the trunk, she oriented herself so that her feet were pointing towards at least one of the tail lights. It was something she’d read in a book, being able to kick out a tail light to alert passersby that someone was in the trunk and needed help.
Was it even possible in modern-day cars? She had no idea. It wasn’t like the book had included a list of cars that it worked on.
She took another deep breath and tensed her core muscles so she could kick the small light that signaled the rear-view lights. Nothing. But she kept at it.
What other choice did she have?
She was starting to make progress, feeling it give a tiny bit, when the car slid to a stop. Where were they? Were they done already?
A chill ran down her spine. Had Veronica taken her somewhere remote to kill her? No, that made less sense. Veronica was obviously working for someone. Was it Steven, maybe?
She heard voices, muffled by the fabric of the trunk. She shifted again, trying to get her feet so she could kick whoever came. It was a stupid move, really, but it was the only one she had.
Liv knew that once she was out of the car, once she was in their grasp, she was in serious trouble.
The trunk popped before she was ready, the bright lights around them blinding her before she could do anything. Was that a flashlight? No, it was something else. Something that hurt.
She was pulled roughly out of the trunk, the binding on her feet cut so she could walk. Her hands stayed bound behind her back. Which was worse compared to binding them in front of her, in her opinion.
“You’re still poking around.” Ross’s voice surprised her, then he sighed.
Liv lifted her head, looking between him and Veronica. Veronica wasn’t looking at him, and the knife had apparently gone somewhere else. Ross apparently didn’t need such tools to threaten someone. The ice Liv could see in his eyes was scary enough.
“Now, what are we going to do with you?”
29
Monday 7th November; 8pm
Ryan parked back in front of the cafe, her heart starting to race. She’d checked Liv’s home, her home, the hospital. No one had seen her. Deciding to take it a step further this time, she started walk a block to the right from the cafe, looking down any of the alleyways she could see.
Nothing.
The other direction. Three more alleyways, and then she saw it. A zip tie lying on the floor.
Ryan’s heart sank. That wasn’t good. Had someone taken her?
Duh, she reminded herself. That was the obvious answer. Maybe it was the Chief? He knew how close Liv had gotten to the case - and how close Ryan had gotten. He was the logical person to be snarled up in the murders. If the drug runners had a police contact, it’d make sense for it to be him. How else would they have avoided trouble for so
