I’m lying in wet. I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold myself much longer.
How long will he leave me here? Who is he? Is it Grant or a person he paid? If I can’t get out of this, I wonder what Grant will do. He’ll tell everyone that I have left them for the other man that he keeps accusing me of seeing. He loves attention and he’ll lap up everyone’s sympathy.
The way his mind works disgusts me. The other man. Yeah right. What happened at that party is my secret and I wasn’t ready to talk but Grant could see that I was hiding something from him. Now I’m angry. I try to kick and nudge but nothing is happening. My anger has failed me and has resulted in nothing more than a slicing pain in my wrists.
Shivering, I try to ball up a little in the hope of preserving some body heat. Darkness. What can that mean? Maybe I’m underground. I thought I might be in some sort of container but underground is worse. That thought makes me try to swallow but the gag keeping my mouth open has dried me out. Every time I clench my teeth over the material, it makes me cringe. The arid feeling in my throat is like nothing I’ve ever experienced and I can’t make it go away. I can’t fight my way out. There is no one here to fight. I have no voice in which to plead with. My mind is awhirl and a creepy sensation prickles my neck. What if there is a night-vision camera on me and this sicko is keeping me here for his own pleasure, watching and filming? Panic fills my chest. Maybe they’re making a snuff movie and I’m the star. Imagining that I’m being broadcast on the Dark Web, that people might be pleasuring themselves over, my misery sends adrenaline surging through me. I can’t breathe again. Gasping, I wriggle but I truly am stuck.
Then, there’s a bang. Someone is coming. My heart pounds again as I hear a thump against the side of whatever I’m in. The thought of not knowing what comes next is terrifying. I can’t see and that’s confusing. Another bang, then silence.
I know he’s out there. He knows I’m in here. Bang! I’m scared to death by what I heard and I know he’s watching and enjoying the show. That bang was too well timed.
Another bang. I jerk slightly then I hear a lock turn. Even with the door to my prison open, I can’t see. We are still in darkness.
I try to mumble under the gag but no words escape. I want to plead for my release. There’s a smell I recognise. It’s Grant’s deodorant, the same brand he’s used since he was a teenager.
Fingers touch my hair and I want to scream loud but I remain still. I can’t alarm him. I need him to let me go. Instead, I sink my head into his fingers and he strokes my hair. Then I feel a prick in my neck and the voice in my head starts to fade. I’m sinking down and down. I can’t fight it.
SIXTEEN
Gina went up to the desk at the gym with Wyre following. PC Kapoor had left to take another emergency call. The young man behind the desk continued typing and putting files into a pile without looking up.
‘Excuse me.’ Gina glared over the desk.
‘I’ll be with you in a minute.’ He opened a drawer and began fishing around for something.
She’d had enough of waiting and wasn’t about to indulge the receptionist any longer. She had a missing woman to find and the woman’s husband was a person of interest. ‘Police, we need to speak to whoever’s in charge.’
The man stopped fishing around and looked up. His polo shirt had a small logo of a weight and the name ‘Fit Gym’ written around it. His name badge told Gina that he was called Brad. ‘Okay.’ He grabbed the phone and asked for Phil to come to reception.
Within a minute a burly shaven-headed man appeared. His thick neck stood on an equally thick body. ‘How can I help?’
‘You have a member called Grant Braddock.’
The man nodded to Brad. ‘I’m not good with names. Check the files, will you?’
Brad nodded and began tapping away on the computer. ‘Yes, he was here this morning. I can see he used his pass to check in and out.’
Gina leaned against the counter. ‘What time was that?’
‘He arrived at ten fifteen and left at eleven. He comes at least four times a week. Times vary. Sometimes early in the morning, anytime at the weekend and occasional evenings.’
‘Do you have CCTV?’
Brad smiled and pointed to the camera by the door. ‘Yes. It covers reception and the main gym but it’s not that clear.’
‘May we take a look?’
Phil nodded and held out a hand, indicating that Gina and Wyre head to the room behind reception. ‘This is the control room and office.’
Gina entered first. The stuffy room had fans and a couple of computers running. A large server flashed away in the corner.
‘Take a seat in front of the screen.’ He grabbed an extra chair for Wyre so that they could all sit. ‘Brad,’ he called out, ‘go get three coffees, please. You want coffee, don’t you?’
‘Thank you.’ Gina pulled her chair in. The desk light wasn’t that bright and the main light had a whole strip out. Several protein drinks were stacked at the one end, along with several boxes of supplements.
‘Right.’ He began to click away until he came to the camera at reception. ‘Let’s just get to ten, see him coming in. There. Looks all normal. Gym bag over his shoulder.’
‘Can we flick to the gym room?’
