Chapter Thirty
Alone, Alice refused to look down as the wind swung her in the air. Hyperventilation hadn't helped her racing pulse. She squeezed her eyes tightly as she prayed. If she was to fall to her death, then it was cruel to hold onto hope. They were on the top floor of her new condo complex. If somehow she lived through this, she'd never step foot in a high rise again.
"You think you can get away with stealing my man."
Her heart hammered in her chest. Jennifer. She swayed which turned her around in the air. Alice kept her eyes closed, but she called out, "Help."
"Why should I help…." Jennifer's voice stopped midsentence, while Alice's heart thrashed in her ears. Then Jennifer called out, "Alice? Is this a joke? What are you doing here?"
Her throat was so dry. She kept her eyes closed as her head swam. "Please get me down."
"How did you get out the window?"
This was a cruel torture. Out of all people to save her, she had not expected Jennifer. She was going to fall to her death any minute. Her body convulsed. "Please, just help me."
"Hold on. Let me figure it out."
Her limbs tingled. This was her only hope. Alice swallowed, "Hurry."
The large industrial sound of a lever screeched in the air and Alice's heart raced. As she swung, she opened her eyes and plastic hit her in the face. She grimaced, but then she saw the apartment floor below. Her entire body felt weak. She would survive.
"I came to confront the girl sleeping with Peter," Jennifer said.
Now was not a good time for conversation. Alice's heart thrashed in her ears.
"I was kidnapped." Her feet tiptoed on the floor. Jennifer had saved her. She'd never say another bad thing about her again. Then without one plea, Jennifer reached above her and tried to untie the rubber. With a grunt, the actress opened her purse and found her keys.
"I have a pocket knife for the handcuffs. These are not police-issued. Give me a second."
Nothing made sense. The Spanish telenovelas were filmed in a nice area of town, so Jennifer wouldn't need a knife, not that she was complaining. With a few strikes, her new best friend freed her.
Alice collapsed to the ground as she tried to compose herself. Tears in her eyes welled as she gripped the floor. "Thank you."
"The girl sleeping with Peter kidnapped you?"
"I didn't see a girl. It was John's boss at the FBI."
Jennifer reached out to help her stand. Alice's legs were weak, but she found her balance as Jennifer said, "No wonder Rafe said the government database was giving him trouble."
Alice rubbed her forehead. "He told you that?"
Jennifer held onto her arm as Alice stumbled closer to the door and the elevator. They had to get out of here in case Smith, or his mysterious benefactress, returned. "I was in his office demanding a name on that DNA."
Adrenaline pumped in her veins. "Is Officer Soliz here?"
"No. I drove here myself."
Jennifer let her go so Alice could walk on her own two feet. A few steps later, Alice had her strength back. "Jennifer, can you drive me to the Morgan mansion?"
Alice went to open the door, but Jennifer grabbed her hand. "Escuchar. The elevator just dinged in the hallway."
Her hands shook. "We can't be here."
"There is no place to hide."
Alice stared at her feet and then at Jennifer. Her gaze returned to her new friend. "Take off your heels."
"What?"
