“Only seven times,” I shout, running down the front steps. I stop short when I hit the bottom. Two sparkly heels that look exactly like the ones Lyndi was wearing are laying on the ground.
“Was Lyndi wearing silver heels?” I ask Maddie, needing to know for sure.
“Yes. Why?”
“Because I just found them.”
“Why would she leave her shoes? She’d never do that.” Maddie’s quiet for a moment. “Unless she had no choice. If she needed to run. Oh no. You don’t think… no. But what if…”
“Maddie, what?”
“Rodney! H-he’s been calling her. What if he took her?” Maddie’s voice turns hysterical, but I can’t let myself focus on her emotions or I will get hysterical myself.
That’s the call she was avoiding the other night? Why didn’t she just tell me?
“We don’t know that,” I say, trying to comfort myself more than her. “We can’t jump to conclu—”
“HELP!”
My head whips around toward the alley, and I listen. But all I can hear is my stupid heartbeat. “Call 911,” I yell to Maddie, then hang up. “Lyndi!” I shove my phone into my pocket and sprint into the darkness.
“He—” The word is cut off by a thud.
“Lyndi!” My voice is loud against the quiet night. No one responds. I stop and listen. There’s a rustling sound straight ahead and I don’t pause to think. I charge right for it.
I enter the alley and stop short. There, almost hidden by the shadows, is a body. The blue dress confirms my fears. I race to her, dropping down to her side. My hands rush up her side until I locate her wrist.
I wait. There it is: a soft pulse. Relief floods my body.
I fumble for my phone and shine a light on my girl, but a movement by the dumpster catches my eye. I swing my light in that direction.
A man.
He freezes like a deer caught in headlights.
I narrow my eyes and stand up, my back arched, ready for a fight.
He curses, then takes off running.
I don’t want to leave Lyndi, but I can’t let that man go. He hurt what is most dear to me, and he will pay. I sprint after him, my phone light the only thing illuminating my way the farther we disappear into the darkness.
I yell at my phone to call Caleb.
“Hey man, where’d you go?”
“Outside alley. Lyndi’s unconscious. I’m chasing the perp west,” I yell into the phone. I don’t bother hanging up. I know in a second he will find Lyndi, and she will be safe.
The man stumbles over a pipe, and I gain ground on him. “Stop right there!” I call after him.
“What are you going to do? Kick me with your loafers?” He cackles, then coughs.
Something like that.I dodge around a stray garbage bag.
The alley opens up into the back street and the man speeds up. For a thug, he’s pretty fast, but he won’t get away. I won’t let that happen. I pour every pain I’ve ever suffered, every ounce of passion for righting wrongs into my steps.
I come up a foot from him and leap. My body crashes down on his and we fall to the ground, punches already flying.
The faces of all the men I let down flash into my mind. I couldn’t avenge them, but I won’t let Lyndi down the same way. I drive my fist into his face, shaking with all the anger and helplessness I’ve felt over the years. This guy hurt the woman I love, and he needs to pay.
