34. Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Four
HATTIE
As my phone chimed with a text from Dylan, I smiled and tapped on the notification.
Dylan: Aiden just texted. He has Brian, and he’s getting ready to question him.
Me: See? It all worked out Brittney just pulled up, so I’ll text you when we leave.
Dylan: Okay.
I slid my phone into my back pocket and headed out to the dining room, beyond relieved that this whole mess was finally over.
I was stopped twice by employees as I made my way through the packed restaurant. As a co-owner of the restaurant, I couldn’t say no. Finally, I reached the bar, watching Savannah move back and forth quickly, pouring drinks.
“Brittney’s here,” I called over the noisy crowd.
Michael and Paul were sitting halfway down the bar, waving, so I gave them a friendly smile.
“I’ll be another minute. Need to finish these drinks for table twelve.”
“That’s fine. I’m going to grab the food Ashley left for us.”
When I mentioned that we were going to hang out at Dylan’s again, she offered to make my favorite snack. And I was not a girl who ever turned down nachos.
“I’ll meet you outside,” Savannah said without looking up from the drink she was mixing.
“Okay.” Once I’d made my way through the swinging double doors that led into the kitchen and through to the catering side of the restaurant, I grabbed the prepped container of grilled chicken nachos from the fridge and stepped over to the side door that led to the overflow lot.
I wasn’t sure whether Brittney was out this way or parked in the front lot, but the weather was mild tonight, so I’d walk around if I didn’t see her car right away. It would be a heck of a lot easier than dodging people in the crowded dining room anyway. Two servers had called out tonight, and I felt bad for leaving when I knew they were shorthanded, but I’d been here since nine a.m., and I needed a break.
As I stepped out into the side lot, I scanned the handful of cars parked close by. Most of the bar, kitchen, and catering staff would park out this way, but since the catering staff was gone, the lot was pretty empty. When I didn’t see Brittney’s car, I turned to head toward the front of the building.
I was startled by movement in my periphery and spun that way. With my hand pressed to my chest, I peered into the darkening lot and discovered Josh, who was using his phone’s flashlight to search the ground by his car.
“Hey, Josh. Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he said, peering up at me. “I dropped my key fob, and now I can’t find it.”
Crap, the guy was probably too drunk to drive. I couldn’t leave him here like this, whether he found his key or not.
“Here, I can help.” I set the bag of nachos down, then headed toward him, tapping the flashlight icon on my phone as I went. “Two pairs of eyes are better than one.”
Although it was only seven, it was already dark. We really needed to get some more lights put up out here.
“Thank you, Hattie.” He turned and searched near the rear driver’s side tire, while I squatted to peer under the front of the car.
“I don’t see it over here,” I said, pushing against my thighs to stand.
Halfway up, Josh stepped up behind me, and a chill ran down my spine. Before I could turn, he held a cloth over my mouth and cinched an arm around my middle, yanking me to my feet. I held my breath, knowing whatever was on the rag wasn’t good.
My phone fell to the ground, and he kicked at it, sending is sliding away from us. I fought against his hold, trying to scream, to kick, to fight, but he was too strong. He gripped my wrist, and when I wrenched it out of his hold, I felt the beads of my bracelet press into my skin.
Finally I had to take a breath, and then everything went dark.