Page 92 of Asher's Assignment
“I’m not sure.” It was one they hadn’t heard before.
A moment later, heavy footsteps sounded overhead. Something had their captor’s attention.
The footsteps paused for several seconds, then started again, faster. He was running.
Asher pushed to his feet when a door banged closed.
“Did he leave?” Leah asked.
“I think so.” Asher walked up the steps to listen at the door. They’d heard him come and go before, but never so quickly.
He went back down the stairs. “Something’s happening.”
Angling his head as he thought, he weighed their options. They could play it safe. He could sit back down, and they could wait. Or he could risk the taser—or worse—again and attempt to make something that would get them out of here or defend them when he came back.
His gaze connected with Leah’s. She’d complained of a scratchy throat this morning.
They were out of time. He needed to get Leah out of here.
“Okay, sweetie, here’s what we’re going to do. I think I can make something to aid in our escape.”
“With what? There’s nothing here.”
“There’s enough. Can you get my unicorn suit? I want you to rip out the fan and the wires.”
She got up while he crossed to his mattress on the floor. Getting to the springs wouldn’t be easy without a knife. Neither would removing them. But he couldn’t let it stop him. It was time to leave.
Asher heard the rip of fabric and glanced back. Leah had the costume’s fan in her hand and was hurriedly yanking the wires free from the suit. It gave him an idea. “Bring me the fan when you’re done.”
She gave the wires one last yank and pulled the entire unit free. Climbing off the bed, she walked over to him. “What are you going to do with it?”
“Right now, I’m going to use the plastic like a knife.” Palming the fan, he slammed it down. His knuckles scraped the floor, but the fan stayed stubbornly intact, so he did it again. This time, it cracked. Pulling on the pieces, he separated a chunk, giving him a nice point he could use to dig into the heavy mattress fabric.
“What do you plan to do once you dig into the mattress?”
“Use the springs. I noticed when he unlocked the door the other day it’s bolted. I don’t think it’s locked. I might be able to twist the springs into a long wire we can slip under the door to open the bolts.” It was a long shot, but it was better than sitting around waiting. “I can twist more together to make a shiv.”
“What’s a shiv?”
“Basically a knife, but it’s more for stabbing than cutting.”
“Oh. What happens if he has a gun this time?”
Asher’s movements faltered for a fraction of a second. He didn’t want to think about that. “Let’s not borrow trouble.
Thirty-Seven
What was taking so long? Esther glanced at her phone. Edie hadn’t texted her with any updates. It had been forty-five minutes since she left the school and ten since she and Connie arrived at the farmhouse.
“What happens when he gets here?” Connie asked. “I know you said your sister is working on a plan, but he’s going to want us to go with him. If she’s not here…”
“I know. I was just thinking the same thing. And he won’t let us take our phones.”
“Do you think he’ll search us? Like, thoroughly, I mean?”
Esther cocked her head. “How thoroughly?”
“I’m wearing a sports bra. What if I tuck it under the back? We can tell him I left mine at the house when we ran from the cop guarding the place. Will your sister think to track mine?”
