14. CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 14
Neo
“ W e’re here,” the captor I refer to Mouth Breather in my head grunts from the front of the van. Not that I know where here is. After tackling me and whizzing me off, two of the four steroid-looking jerks threw me in this windowless van and tied me up, facing the back. Which makes picking up any identifying landmarks extremely difficult. Though, from the sounds of the vehicle, I think we went over a bridge.
“I still can’t believe you forgot the blindfold,” the one I think of as Vinny because he sounds like a stereotypical mobster gripes to Mouth Breather for the twentieth time.
There’s an exaggerated sigh. “I told you I was sorry. There’s nothing we can do about it now. Get over it.”
“Tell it to the boss. How are we going to win if you can’t remember something as simple as a blindfold?” There’s the crinkling of a bag, then crunching from Vinny’s side of the van.
Mouth breather shifts in his seat. “You really want to go there? I’m not the one who forgot to rent a van?”
“I made the reservation. It’s not my fault they lost it.” Vinny’s defensive tone tells me this isn’t the first time they’ve had this argument.
“Right… because that happens all the time.” The turn signal clicks and I plant my feet, preparing for the turn.
“You’re a dick.”
“Takes one to know one.”
If I thought being kidnapped before was bad, being kidnapped wearing nothing but underwear and a t-shirt, and listening to these two bicker for hours may be worse. Fortunately, I’m not vomiting this time, but my skinned knees burn, my shoulders ache, I’m covered in mud, and the zip ties they used on my wrists bite into my skin with every bump and jostle.
“I’m going to kill Alexander myself,” I mumble.
“What’s that?” Vinny says.
My blood chills at the ominous threat in his tone. “Nothing.”
The turn signal clacks again, and I brace myself. We make a right, but then we make a sharp left and I’m tossed to the side. We slow to a stop, and before I can right myself, the back doors fling open. I sit, squinting my eyes, at the beams of sun blinding me.
“Where’s his blindfold?”
The back of my neck pricks. That voice, that nasally superiority… I recognize that voice. My eyes adjust and a mouth that looks like it’s experienced a lifetime sucking on lemons frowns at me. “Dr. Dinn?”
She turns her beady eyes on Mouth Breather. “You forgot it, didn’t you?”
Mouth Breather throws his hands up and turns to Vinny. “How many times do I have to apologize? I thought Jed had it. I left it on the table and asked him to bring it while I ran to the bathroom before we left.”
“I told the boss you would find a way to screw it up.” She snaps her fingers and a ball of yarn appears in her palm. “Not that.” The yarn vanishes.
“You know Alexander?” I keep my focus on her raised hand while staying aware of Mouth Breather and Vinny, and trying to catch glimpses of my surroundings.
Three parked cars. One red to the left of us and two white to the right. Asphalt that has more cracks in it than the FBI’s security code—until Hendrix fixed it.
She snaps again and a strip of gauze appears. “That won’t work. Alexander who?”
“Not getting any younger.” Vinny cocks a brow, and a look of knowing annoyance passes between him and Mouth Breather.
Dr. Dinn glowers at him. “Quiet. Let me concentrate.” She squeezes her eyes closed and this time when she snaps a long strip of gingham appears. She looks at it and lifts a shoulder. “This will work.”
Vinny yanks me forward by the elbow, and I wince as the zip ties bite into my wrists. “Let’s go.”
“Alexander Atteridge.” I stumble out of the van, grateful to be able to stand and stretch out my cramped limbs, but the grit and pebbles on the parking lot asphalt bite into my feet.
Dr. Dinn’s dark brows scrunch and her mouth puckers, then she looks at Vinny. “Why does that name sound familiar?”
Vinny pushes me to a stop in front of Dr. Dinn. “Don’t know.”
“He kidnapped me earlier this week.” Maybe I can ferret out how much they know. And how much they’re working together. Any information could be valuable to Colden, Arlo, and SPAM.
“He means Paris,” Mouth Breather takes the blindfold from Dr. Dinn, who wouldn’t be able to tie it around my head without asking me to bend down. And there’s no way I’m doing that.
Dr. Dinn tuts. “Oh, Paris. What a disaster.”
Vinny and Mouth Breather make sounds of acknowledgement, but none of them say any more.
“Why do I need to be blindfolded if I’ve already seen you?”
“Because,” she sighs like she doesn’t have time to explain something so simple, “we don’t want you to be able to identify our location.”
I nod, keeping quiet about the fact that from where we stand, I can make out the two-story blond brick building. If buildings had feelings, this one would be depressed. The flat roof hangs about three feet over two square windows that are caked with a brown film. Ancient motion-detecting lights perch on crumbling bricks like modern day gargoyles. Curtains that were once white but now yellowed are drawn on the windows directly below the brown funk panes. My gaze sweeps the building, but there’s no number in sight.
“Cover his eyes, then bring him in.” Dr. Dinn strides toward the entrance with its dirty white awning, her kitten heels tapping on the uneven asphalt. Vinny hurries behind her, digging in one of the many pockets in his camo cargo shorts, leaving me alone with Mouth Breather.
Mouth Breather covers my eyes with the gingham. “How’s that? Can you see anything?”
“Nope.” Yes. But I’m not about to make it any easier on these people.
“Sorry we got you in your skivvies.” The fabric tightens around my head as he ties it.
Through the bottom of the blindfold, I can see my mud splattered legs. “Had I known I was going to be abducted again, I would have dressed for the occasion.”
Mouth Breather huffs a chuckle. “You’re funny. I’ll get you some wet paper towels so you can clean up and try to find you some pants once we get inside.”
“Thanks.” Other than being tackled in the mud and the zip ties, this kidnapping isn’t terrible. At least I know what I’m dealing with. Sort of. Unlike the last one.
Hand on my elbow, he guides me to the building. “It’s the least we can do. With you, we’re bound to win the competition. If that happens, we’ll have a chance at nationals.”
“Great.” I feel like I’m on my high school Science Olympiad team all over again. Only instead of a bunch of high achieving science nerds, I’m teamed with a group of rogues who have no problem committing felonies. With any luck, I’ll create or exploit an opportunity to get away from these fools sooner rather than later.
***
I stretch my neck to one side, then the other, the popping releasing some of the tension. True to his word, Mouth Breather brought me a pair of sweatpants and slides. The sweatpants hang loose around my waist and don’t cover my ankles, but at least my ass isn’t on display for everyone.
I look around the room Vinny shoved me in… An hour ago? It’s hard to say. The room lacks a clock anywhere and time moves at a different pace when there’s nothing to mark it. The stark white walls and floor, and the glaring overhead fluorescent lighting have the feel of a hospital or research facility. Unlike the gloomy, I’ve-given-up-on-life building it’s located in.
At least there’s no pink in sight. Silver lining and all.
There’s a jingle of keys and I sit on alert as the lock clicks. The door swings open and in walks—
“Mr. Ridge?” A chill settles over my core. Based on what I know, I shouldn’t be surprised, but I still find myself wanting to retreat.
His smile is warm, like we’re meeting for coffee, and his suit is as impeccable as it was six days ago.
God, has it only been six days since my life was normal?
He extends his hand, but when I lift my shoulders and tip my head to my wrists secured behind my back, his smile disappears. “I apologize.”
He strides to the door, opens it, and calls for someone to bring scissors. Once in hand, he closes and locks the door again, then frees me of the ties.
My arms fall to my sides, pricking tingles flow as the blood circulates again. I shake them out, wiggling my fingers and circling my wrists.
Mr. Ridge sets the scissors on a stainless steel table behind him. He rolls a chair and positions it in front of me, then sits. Legs stretched out, crossed at the ankles, he looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world. “I suppose you’re wondering why I asked you to meet with me today.”
“I’m not sure being surrounded by a bunch of thugs in ATVs—”
“They’re really more off-road vehicles.” He crosses his arms over his chest like he’s settling in for a comfortable chat with a friend.
The tingling in my fingers gets stronger. I flex them slowly, forming fists and releasing the hold. “Really? So what’s the difference between them and ATVs?”
“Other than price? I’m not sure. Do they have four-wheel drive too?” He uncrosses his legs and shifts them under him, making like he’s readying to stand. “Jed will know.”
I hold my hand up to stop him. “Maybe later. After you tell me why a bunch of thugs on off-road vehicles abducted me, tossed me in a van, and transported me here. Wherever here is.”
He resumes his casual posture, leaning back in the chair. “We need your work.”
“You just agreed to give the university a grant for my work.” The confusion buzzing through me is stronger than the tingling of blood returning to my hands.
He flicks a piece of lint from his pant leg. “You’re further along than Arthur led us to believe. Because of that, we decided to pivot.”
Freaking Dr. Lexton. I still can’t figure out if he’s unintentionally caught up in this, or if he’s purposely sharing information with a bunch of criminals.
“By kidnapping me?” Just like his son. I wonder if they talk about best abduction practices over family dinners.
Mr. Ridge shifts, crossing his right leg over his left knee, and tugs at his cuff, straightening it. “I am the president of a… group, and we find ourselves involved in a competition of sorts. Winning it would allow us to… grow.”
The pancakes I ate this morning threaten to return—maybe we’ll have vomiting yet—and my heart pounds in my temples. Even though Colden and Arlo already told me this, there was a part of me that didn’t believe them. Who would believe there were evil leagues competing for who was the worst? Or would it be best? Maybe best at being the worst? I shake my head and keep from reaching for my necklace. The last thing I want to do is give Rylan Ridge a reason to think I’m hiding something.
“So you’re not an organization who works with individuals experiencing grief?” I give myself a mental high-five for keeping my voice steady. The last thing I want to do is to let on what I know.
He narrows his eyes like he’s trying to read me. I keep my expression neutral, but his smile drops a few degrees. “Your technology can be used for multiple purposes. We would like to help you expand on those purposes.”
“Thank you for your offer, but I have no interest at this time.” I stand, ready to walk to the door and keep walking until I’m as far away from this place and everyone in it as I can get. Maybe they’ll forget about how they kidnapped me to get me here and just let me go.
“Sit down.” The command leaves no room for misunderstanding, and I sit. The rushing blood pounds in my ears. Mr. Ridge leans forward, his elbows on his knees. “We just need your research and findings.”
“I would think Dr. Lexton could give that to you without having to go through the hassle of a kidnapping.” I lean back and cross my arms. The nerve of this guy. Like I’m going to hand over my life’s work. I can see where his asshole son got his asshole-ness.
His top lip curves in a snarl. “You know Arthur doesn’t have access to everything. Don’t you?”
“Apparently, there’s a lot I don’t know about the department chair.” I can’t stop my eyelids from the non-stop blinking, and I grit my teeth to keep from chewing on my lip. The less he knows about what I know, the better.
Glacial blue eyes hold my gaze. I want to look away, but I will myself to keep still. It’s obvious that Rylan Ridge is a man who looks for weakness and, once found, will exploit that weakness until there’s nothing left of you.
He smiles and a cozy warmth spreads up my legs, filling my core and chest. A force that feels outside of me tells me to give him the zip drive. He really is a nice man. But a voice in my head shouts, nooooooooo.
“I’ll give you time to reconsider your position.” He stands, with not a wrinkle to be found in his pinstripe suit, and unlocks the door. The strange battle within me vanishes. It’s only now that I realize he doesn’t have keys, nor is there a key pad of any sort.
“Is that your power?” I gesture at the door. But I know it’s not. Just as I know Alexander’s power has nothing to do with bugs.
It’s the smile. They both have the same smile.
Instead of answering, he opens the door and exits, but before it closes, he turns and says, “You have one hour to change your mind about joining us. If you don’t, we’ll get… creative with our encouragement. Perhaps with your lab tech. Or brother. Or you losing a finger. Or eye.”
The door shuts with a snick, and my breath rushes out. I have to get out of here.