Maddy and Ian were tense as 7 o’clock rolledaround. Town was eerily quiet. Many of the locals would be at themeeting, either supporting Chase or looking for the promise ofquick cash from Dylan and his associates. They distracted eachother reminiscing about some of the crazier moments of theirpartnership. Not much was going to beat the recent back alley blowjob.
Although, the bank robbery 3 months ago hadbeen pretty interesting. Perp had tried to escape via bicycle. Andwasn’t much of a biker. Maddy had only needed to tackle him at thesecond intersection, and Ian had come around the side and had himin cuffs before the light had turned green.
The radio interrupted, Quinn’s voice camethrough clearly, “Unit 3, we have a situation on Marsdale Road, areyou able to respond?”
Maddy picked up the radio, “Sure thing,what’s going on?”
“We have a report of a domestic dispute at334 Marsdale.” Quinn filled them in on the details as she knewthem.
“On our way.” Ian turned on the lights andheaded southeast, lights flashing and siren blaring.
As they pulled in, the house was dark. “Hmm,looks quiet. I hope everyone’s ok.”
Maddy nodded, “I hope so. Isn’t this whereMateo and Lucy Rivera live? I wouldn’t have pegged them for adomestic dispute. Let’s check it out.”
They parked on the street outside the house.The house was pretty isolated. The next houses down were notvisible through the trees with the sun setting. The house lightswere all off. Maddy rolled down her window to listen for sounds ofa dispute. A scream came from inside the house and the sound of aman’s voice yelling followed. They leaped out of the car, movinginto position.
Maddy was nearly to the front door, weapondrawn.
A few feet behind her, Ian hollered, grabbedhis chest and was down.
As she turned, she was grabbed from behind, afoul odor on the rag smothering her face. The world went dark inseconds.
33
“There, there. Let it out. Let it out my sweet.”
Maddy gagged at the sound of the hated voicetalking to her. Despite her confusion, not being able to see orhear, her head pounding, she lunged for the voice and spewed vomittowards his devious voice. She coughed and expelled the last of thefoul mixture.
She managed to open her eyes and stare rightinto Dylan’s eyes. Seemingly distant, she heard her own derangedlaugh echo through the room.
Dylan leaped up and hollered, “Bitch. You’lllearn your place.” He shook the vomit off of his hand, disgusted.With his other hand, he smacked Maddy across the face.
Her cheek stung from the sharp slap. Shetried to hit him back but found herself hog tied. She lookedaround, trying to identify her surroundings. She was on a mattressin a tiny room, angular and oddly shaped.
Once the nausea faded, she realized they werein a boat. She could hear the sound of waves crashing against thehull, the resonant roar of a sailboat engine.
“Madelyn, we have so much catching up to do.For now, you just rest. We’re heading for a nice tropical vacation,just the two of us. Just like you always dreamed.” He looked to hersoftly for a moment, then turned and shut her inside the room,alone.
She heard the scraping of a lock on theoutside of the door. When had she ever dreamed of a tropicalvacation with him?
She racked her brain, trying to retrace howshe had gotten here. Ian. Shit. She’d seen him fall just before shefell asleep. He’d been wearing his vest; she could only hope he wasok. Hopefully calling for back-up.
Maybe if he’d seen where she was taken? Whohad shot him? Had Dylan been alone? She hadn’t seen anything.
Maddy pulled at her bindings, trying to finda weakness. He’d used zip ties. Dammit. The room was bare exceptfor a sleeping bag on the bed and an analog clock ticking loudly onthe teak wall. She searched for a way out.
Even if she could get out of the room… evenif she could get out of the bindings, she was likely still headingout to sea and couldn’t just dive in and hope to find shore in thedark, especially when she was still foggy from the drugs he’d usedon her. She had to assume Dylan still had the gun.
She fought the overwhelming urge to cry.Later. She could cry later. When she was back home safe andsound.
***
Quinn answered the phone to hear MissHanson’s frantic whisper before she could even say hello.
“They’re here, there are bad men here. I’mwatching them break into Chase Anderson’s house as we speak.They’re up to no good, I know it. He’s not home. I think they’rewaiting to jump him.”
Quinn calmly, but quickly, asked Miss Hansonto stay on the line and notify her of any updates. She kept theline open while she called Andrea immediately. “Andrea, pleaserespond immediately.”
