"Is he awake?" the officer asked as he joined me.
"I think he's waking up." I prayed he was waking up. I pounded on the glass again. I had no idea if he could hear me, but I had to try. "Abe!"
"Hey, Stan," the officer called out to his partner, "run out and get the glass cutter out of the trunk that we took off that kid last week. We need to see about getting this guy out of here."
I gasped as I looked up at the guy. "You have a glass cutter?"
I vaguely remember the officer mentioning that before, but it hadn't sunk in. I was really worried about Abe.
"Yeah, took it off some kid trying to do a B and E down at the local high school so he could sneak in and change his grade."
"And he used a glass cutter?"
"Yeah." The officer snickered. "Damn kid got it off the internet."
I could think of better things to do on the internet, but right now, I was grateful for the kid's tenacity. It might be the one thing to get Abe free without playing Russian roulette with the shock collar.
When Abe's eyelids flickered then lifted, I thought I would cry. I banged on the glass until Abe turned his head to look at me.
I smiled as brightly as I could. "Hey, I know you."
Abe smiled back, but I don't think he heard me. He frowned and then moved his lips. I knew he was saying something, but I couldn't hear him. I pointed to my ear then shook my head and then I laid my hand flat against the glass.
As slowly as I could, I said, "We are going to get you out of there. Just hold on."
Abe nodded.
I pointed to my neck, hoping he'd get the idea. "Can you take the collar off?"
Abe frowned until he felt the collar around his neck. For a moment, I saw pure panic enter his dark brown eyes.
I pounded on the glass until he looked up at me. "It's okay. We're going to get it off of you. Just hold on."
Abe gave one nod then dropped his hands from the collar and pushed himself into a sitting position. "What happened?" he mouthed. "Where am I?"
"Atkins kidnapped you from the hospital." I glanced behind me then around at the other cells before looking back at Abe. "Best I can tell you is we are under Atkins' house, in his basement. The police are here, though, and we're going to get you out."
There wasn't really anyway to explain the hell we'd found ourselves in, but at least there was light at the end of the tunnel. I just prayed this was all over and that light wasn't an oncoming train.
"Step back, please," the officer said as he walked up next to me. "I don't want any glass to get on you." He waved me back then told Abe to move out of the way as well.
I quickly scooted back when I saw that he had a glass cutter and a sledgehammer. I knew where he got one. I wasn't about to ask where he got the other one. I just hoped it worked.
The officer cut a wide circle with the glass cutter then swung the sledgehammer, hitting the circle. The sound of that much glass shattering was one I doubted I'd ever forget, but the sight of Abe walking toward me was one I was positive I'd never forget.
"Abe," I whispered as I ran into his arms.
Abe's arms closed around me, and he pulled me up against his chest. "Hello,liefling."
"I'd like to go home now. I've had just about enough of this crazy ass world."
I was done.
Chapter Fifteen
"How you hanging in there,liefling?"
I smile as I tilted my head back and looked up at Abe. "I'm good."
