Chapter 6 Sydney
Sydney
Once out of the office space and into the elevator, Sydney rocked back and forth from her heels to the balls of her feet and pursed her lips.
Millions of questions bounced around in her mind.
Where were they going? How would they get there?
Would she get caught? What would happen next? Would they do it again?
The sex or the murder? Surprisingly, she’d be all about either or both.
Energy she’d never felt before surged through her.
Doing her best not to grin like a maniacal fool, she watched the floors tick down as they descended to the lobby.
When the elevator dinged and the doors opened, they exited the lift hand in hand.
She did her best not to look into the cameras monitoring the lobby.
Instead, she snuggled up to her unknown lover, putting on a good show for anyone watching.
Considering they’d murdered a man and left him in his office, any detective worth their salt would check the security footage. That was probably why her co-conspirator kept her at his side. He could use her for an alibi and cover. Well, he hadn’t acted alone, so she needed him too.
Exiting the building, the crisp autumn night greeted them. She chuckled at a joke he hadn’t said as they passed the last bit of security and headed toward the parking lot.
First conundrum solved. Now they had a new dilemma.
“Whose car are we using?” she asked.
His jaw shifted as his black eyes scanned the lot.
There was no way they were natural. They had to be contacts. What color was underneath them? Would she ever find out?
“Did you drive?” she pressed.
“Yes.”
“Then we should take yours,” she offered. “I work here, so my car being left in the lot overnight after an office party wouldn’t be suspicious.”
He peered at her with obvious confusion.
“There’s a body upstairs,” she whispered. “The cops are obviously going to be curious.”
An audible exhale escaped him as he dipped his chin in a curt nod. Still holding her hand, he tugged her to the left.
Holding back a squeal and doing her best to appear calm, natural, and not at all rushed, she went along with him. This was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her. She probably shouldn’t be this elated considering she killed someone, but she couldn’t help it.
She felt alive, and this sensation was thanks to this random dude.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
They’d murdered together. She should get to know him.
“Obviously, you don’t have to tell me your real name.” He might not be comfortable sharing too much. This wasn’t his first rodeo. So she decided it was best to give him the option.
His silence filled the night.
“Do you have one of those cool serial killer nicknames?” she pressed. “I mean, I don’t want to assume, but I got the sense this wasn’t your first time.”
He gave her a sideways glance.
Was he annoyed?
“I wasn’t trying to insult you,” she offered. Was being a serial killer a bad thing? “I just meant you seem like someone who has a handle on what they’re doing.”
Rolling his eyes, he shook his head and pulled a fob from his pocket.
Turning her attention to the cars surrounding them, she tried to guess which was his. Would he be a sedan type of guy or an SUV? Maybe he was an unmarked van kind of killer. Then again, Ted Bundy drove a Volkswagen Beetle.
Licking her bottom lip, she gave him the once-over.
She’d read that Ted Bundy was supposedly this charismatic, attractive guy.
Her partner in crime definitely fit the latter part of that bill, but she wouldn’t call him all that charming.
Then again, he had captivated her. Maybe he was, but not conventionally.
He probably drove a Honda Civic. There were billions of those on the road. Hell, she’d owned one. Would they have matching cars?
The lights blinked on a black Ford F-150.
Ahh. That made sense. He probably used it to store bodies. She nodded to herself as they approached it.
To her surprise, he didn’t go straight to the driver’s side. Instead, he walked around and opened the passenger door for her. When he released her hand, he gestured for her to climb in.
“How gentlemanly,” she said before offering him a peck on the cheek.
He recoiled slightly and furrowed his brows as she climbed inside the cab.
Shaking his head, he closed the door and trotted around the front of the vehicle.
Lying across the center console, she reached and slid her hand into the handle. With a bit of doing, she could reach the handle and be a little chivalrous herself.
He paused and once again peered at her quizzically from the outside of the vehicle.
She gave him a shrug. “What? I’m nice.”
He blinked repeatedly in obvious confusion as she settled herself in the passenger seat.
“Just because you’re kidnapping me, doesn’t mean I have to be a bitch,” she said as she pulled her seat belt around her and clipped it into place.
“I’m not kidnapping you,” he muttered as he climbed into the driver’s seat.
Finally! He spoke.
“Oh.” She nodded. “Of course not. This is a hostage situation.” Though she wasn’t sure what the difference was.
Maybe they could talk that out when they got to the safe house. Once again, she bit back a chuckle as she thought about the situation. This was absolutely insane, but she was along for the ride.
“You’re not my—” He pinched the bridge of his nose before he started the truck.
“We can talk about it later,” she offered.
Obviously, this was a stressful situation for him. It should be for her, too, but then again, she had spent no amount of time planning this. So she wasn’t the one having to rethink months’ worth of scheming.
Then again, maybe this was part of the plot all along. Maybe he needed a hostage to make his exit that much easier. She’d have to ask him when he was in a better mood.
Would that happen? She had just met him. Maybe Grumpy Gus was his constant state. Another thing she’ d have to figure out eventually.
Allowing her smile to spread on her lips, she folded her hands over her thighs as they pulled out of the parking lot. This was the most exciting thing she’d ever done.
How much further could they go?