I look for anyone who’s out walking. Normally this time of night the streets are filled, but of course everyone is at home. There’s not a single person nearby so I could roll down the window and yell for help.
“Why are you negotiating for me? I’m not rich, so I fear you won’t get much out of me.” He’d have been better off taking me up on my offer to get in the safe.
Kevin shakes his head a small amount, his hands gripping the steering wheel tighter. “Ridge wouldn’t let the poor new little brunette bakery owner die on his watch. He has too much pride. Plus, it’s his fault I owe the Zanetti family.”
I actually snort. Just more proof I’ve actually lost my mind. Not only did I get in the car with a madman, but now I’m laughing at him. “No one is going to pay that much money for me.”
See? Absolutely crazy. Who tells their kidnapper they aren’t worth enough money?
“We’ll see about that.”
I keep watch outside the window, but at no time are there any black SUVs racing on the road to save me. As we drive, I develop a great plan where I open the door, roll out in the road, and make a mad dash for it, but Kevin passes the welcome to Pelican Bay sign and increases his speed on the country road before I work up the nerve to try.
He turns off the main road out of town and heads north. “Have you decided on a name yet?”
“What?”
“For the bakery? I see you don’t have a sign.” He asks the question calmly like we’re having a normal everyday conversation. Two people out for a stroll in his drivable dumpster.
So this is what we’re doing then? “No. Not yet.”
“Hopefully Ridge pays me fast so you get to live and pick one.”
Each time he threatens my life, I notice it in my stomach. The nerves tightening. I grab on to the door handle reconsidering my jump out plan if he slows down.
We drive for another few minutes before Kevin turns off the main road onto a dirt pothole-filled one. He doesn’t slow, his car bouncing in and out of the holes, and gravel sprays on either side of the car. When we turn again it’s down a long driveway, tall grass and a few small trees growing up along the sides.
At the end of the dirt track is a clearing with an obviously old and hopefully abandoned cabin. Ridge has commented about these old forgotten family hunting cabins that are scattered across the county, but this is my first experience seeing one firsthand. I’m not impressed.
“Time to go,” Kevin says, not giving me time to object. Again, he’s the one holding the gun. I guess he gets to decide when we leave and where we go.
The wooden porch steps creak and moan as we walk up them. The middles bend and I worry about falling through, but Kevin runs up them directly behind me not at all worried. Inside the cabin is empty. Old dusty cobwebs have settled in all the corners, and our feet leave prints as we walk across the floor. At the end of the large open space I assume to be a living room is an open area leading to a small kitchen. To our right a set of steps leads upstairs.
“Sit.”
I don’t ask any questions or argue but sit on the dirty floor. More of the deep breaths I’ve perfected get me through the dirt caking my jeans.
Kevin paces a few feet in front of me. He walks in one direction, turns on a heel, and walks in the other. He mutters to himself. The few words I’m able to hear make no sense at all — things like I swear he says “big fluffy kitten” and “happy clouds.” Like a demented Bob Ross. When the pacing stops, Kevin pulls out a phone from his back pocket.
“Fingers crossed Ridge thinks you’re worth it.” His fingers pound on the phone keys. He brings it to his ear, waits a minute, brings it down, and stares at the screen. “You’re fucking kidding me?”
Every bone in my body wants ask what, but I’m not stupid. When his gaze falls to mine, he holds the phone at me like I’m somehow responsible. “It’s dead.”
“I’m sorry?” He’s obviously looking for some kind of acknowledgment despite my newest plan to go unnoticed.
Kevin walks into the kitchen backward never taking his eye off me as he stops at the counter and plugs his phone in. I cannot believe they would have electricity running to this place. The whole cabin is kindling from the wood floors to the walls to the holey ceiling. I’m surprised it’s not on fire right now. It takes but a second and then he’s back in the living room, pacing again.
This time he makes a wider loop before turning. The murmurs to himself become louder and more insistent.
“The whole thing planned out and this is what happens.” His anger grows each time he talks. “Kidnap the girl, call Ridge, and collect the money. A three-step plan. It was supposed to be easy.” By the time he finishes, he’s yelling and I scoot away until my back is against the wall. I wrap my knees up bringing them close to my chin to make myself as small as possible.
It’s 6 o’clock at the latest. The fireworks are not slated to start until after dark, which means I have hours before anyone will notice I’m missing if they weren’t watching the cameras.
Kevin’s pacing picks up, his steps faster as he mumbles louder and louder, screaming at himself now. The dire situation I’m currently in finally hits me and a few tears trickle down my cheeks. My heart is beating out of my chest.
The whole situation is crazy. My life is crazy. My kidnapper pacing and berating himself for being stupid and me on the floor of the room crying into my hands is crazy. As he gets louder my cries increase as well, using my hands to stifle the sound. Until I sniffle.
Kevin, realizing I’m in the room, turns on me. His eyes narrow. He pushes his hands through his hair gripping the ends and pulling. “Shut up! Shut up! Can’t you see I’m trying to think?”
