14. 14
Lisa’s need to pee was overriding her desire to keep Randy from getting mad. She was working herself up to asking him again when a knock sounded on the door.
Randy glared over at her as if she’d caused it. As if that were somehow possible from where she still lay bound on the bed. He tossed a blanket over her body, so it looked like she was trying to nap.
“Say anything and I’ll make you regret it,” he whispered before moving to the door. “Who is it?”
“Management. We’ve had a problem with your payment, and I need to speak to you please.”
There was something familiar about that voice. Lisa would swear that was Cowboy. But how was that possible? It wasn’t. she must be imagining it.
“One moment.” Randy twisted around and gave her another warning glare before he took off the chain and opened the door a few inches, using his body to keep anyone from seeing inside. “Can I –”
His words were cut off as the door flew open. Lisa didn’t know what was going on, but knew this was her chance.
“HELP!” She thrashed, trying to get the blanket off her so whoever had just come in could see how she was bound. “Help me!”
“She’s here.”
Two big men burst into the room, one tackled Randy to the floor while the other came toward the bed. It took her a moment to realize the one coming her way was Deke.
Oh God. He’d found her.
For a moment it felt like her heart stopped beating. Her whole body flashed cold as relief went through her at being found.
“Are you okay?” He grabbed the blanket and whipped it off her and to the floor. “Son of a bitch.” He reached for something on his belt then the tape on her wrists and ankles seemed to fall away.
“My head hurts, but I think it’s okay.” Tears pooled in her eyes and all she wanted was to feel his arms around her.
“Let me see.” He ran his fingers gently over the back of her head until she winced, then he pulled her into his arms. “It’s a good size goose egg, but there doesn’t seem to be any bleeding. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I think so, but I need to pee. He hasn’t let me go since he took me.”
He glanced around, then stood. “Come on. I’ll help you.”
“I’m okay. I can walk.”
“Bumblebee, it will make me feel better to help.”
Lisa let him pull her to her feet then walk her to the bathroom.
When she emerged, she felt so much better and since it wasn’t taking nearly everything in her to keep from wetting herself, she could pay more attention to what was going on.
The door had been closed since she’d gone to the bathroom. Randy now sat on the edge of the bed bound hand and foot much like she’d been while both Deke and Cowboy stood on either side of him. It had been her brother’s voice she’d heard. She hadn’t imagined it.
“What should we do with him?” Cowboy asked Deke.
“We’re not that far from the badlands. It wouldn’t be hard to make him disappear. Permanently. Out there, chances are he’d never be found. And if he were, I’m sure people know how stupid he is. Wouldn’t be a stretch to think he’d wandered off and died of exposure.”
Lisa didn’t know if they were trying to scare Randy or they were serious, but they were succeeding in scaring him. She could tell by the wide, terrified look in his eyes as he looked back and forth between the two of them. She considered letting them go on for a while, just to see how far they’d let it go. But she wanted to get out of here, to go home, more than she wanted to serve Randy a taste of his own medicine.
“Stop it. Both of you. You know you’re not going to do that,” she said, interrupting their debate.
“Then what do you say we do?”
“Call the cops. He hit me and kidnapped me. I’ll tell them so and they’ll arrest him.”
“They’ll make you testify in court. It will be he said, she said. They’ll give him a slap on the wrist and let him go. I won’t let him go free to endanger you again,” Deke said.
“No, it won’t. Because you will also tell how you found me here. And I’m sure my doorbell caught video of him hauling me unconscious out of the house.”
“You have a video doorbell?” Cowboy asked.
“Yeah, I’m surprised you didn’t notice,” she said with a frown.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever even looked at the doorbell. The few times I’ve approached, you seemed to know I was there and opened before I got the chance. I assumed it was because you heard my bike,” Deke said.
Lisa moved to stand next to Deke.
“I did hear your bike, but confirmed it was you with the camera.”
“I want access,” Deke said, his tone brooking no argument.
She turned to him then shot Cowboy a pointed look.
“He knows. I had to tell him when you weren’t answering text or calls, and I had a bad feeling.”
That reminded her about her phone.
“Which one of you is calling the cops?” She looked back and forth between the two of them until they started to bicker between themselves. Confident they’d make a decision soon, she pulled her phone from her pocket and found that sure enough. All the vibrating she hadn’t been able to answer had been calls and texts from both of them. There were a few other things, like notifications from the doorbell camera, she’d look at those later.
As she scrolled through the texts, she was vaguely aware of Cowboy calling the police and telling them they had a man in custody and wanted to press charges for kidnapping. He said more but she tuned him out.
“You sure you’re all right?” Deke wrapped an arm around her shoulder and held her gently against his chest.
“My head hurts but other than that he didn’t hurt me.”
“Head wounds can be tricky; we should probably get you checked out before I take you home.”
“We’ll see.” She wasn’t committing to anything until she’d told the police what happened. She wanted to be sure they got her statement down so they wouldn’t turn around and release Randy. Worrying about him free again was the last thing she needed.