My head throbbed whenI opened my eyes and looked around, no idea where I was.Lisa immediately came into view as she stared at me with something that felt like disgust.
“She’s awake,” she said to someone over her shoulder before stepping back and folding her arms over her chest.
“It’s about time,” a male voice answered.
I tried to sit up, my body weak and my head disoriented.Then he came into view, and my heart stopped as I realized who it was.He wasn’t wearing the uniform he had on earlier when he delivered the autopsy report, but his face was unmistakable.He was Officer Kearton’s partner.
“We don’t have much time.We need the passwords to the bank accounts, and you’re going to give them to us,” he said, standing in front of me as he stared into my eyes, his dark and narrow.
“I...I don’t have any passwords,” I stammered, looking from him to Lisa.
“Don’t fucking play with me,” he warned.
“I’m not.I have no idea what accounts you’re talking about.”
“Really?”Lisa asked, stepping forward and glaring at me.“Don’t play stupid, Poppy.It doesn’t look good on you.”
“I seriously don’t know what accounts you guys are talking about.I only have one bank account, and I’m pretty sure it’s overdrawn at this point.I can give you the—”
“Enough!”Officer Hughes boomed, his name coming to me as I recalled seeing it pinned to his uniform earlier.“Cut the bullshit and just give us the information!”
I held my hands in front of me, staring at both of them.I shook my head, then realized my whole body was shaking.It was no doubt due to the lack of food today, combined with the stress of being kidnapped and getting yelled at for something I didn’t have answers to.
Lisa grabbed a laptop and slammed it down on the table beside me.The room wasn’t very big, and I still had no idea where it was.But there was a lamp on the table beside me that was turned on, so wherever it was had electricity, which made me think it wasn’t just a random abandoned place in the middle of nowhere.She pulled up the online banking website and turned the computer to face me.
“Put the information innow,” she snarled, shoving it at me.
“Lisa, I swear to God, I don’t know—”
Before I could finish my sentence, she backhanded me across the face, sending my head back against the hard wall.The pain immediately flooded through me as I blinked and tried to focus.
“I’m notfucking playing,Poppy.Dale went in, removed himself and the other person from the account, and added you.I want to know why,” Lisa said, her face red with anger.
“I don’t know why he would do that.He never said anything to me about any of this.If I had the information, I would give it to you.But I don’t.”
“Then I suggest we call and get it,” she sneered, pulling out her phone and swiping her finger across the screen before pressing the speakerphone button.
A few seconds later, an automated message for the Coyote Creek Bank filled the silence.I watched as she pressed the button to speak to a customer service representative.
“When they answer, you’re going to tell them that you need to set up online banking for all of the accounts you’re listed on,” Lisa said quickly.“Do you understand me?”
I nodded, hoping that it was already past closing time and no one would be there this late on a Saturday.It had been forever since I’d gone into the bank, so I didn’t even know what their business hours were today.Unfortunately, luck wasnoton my side when a woman answered a few minutes later.
“Thank you for calling Coyote Creek Bank.This is Sasha.How may I help you?”
Lisa raised her eyebrows and shoved her phone toward me, demanding that I speak.
“Hi, ummm...yes, I need help...um...setting up...”I paused for a moment, too panicked to get my words out.
Officer Hughes pulled a gun out from behind his back and stepped closer, pressing it against my temple.I closed my eyes and felt my jaw tremble with fear.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite get that.What did you need help with?”Sasha asked.
“Online banking,” I rushed out, opening my eyes to find Lisa and Officer Hughes watching me.“I have a few accounts that I need to set up online banking for.”
“I can help with that.Do you have the account numbers?”
“I do not.Are you able to look me up by name?”
