“No problem,” he said as he got out of the car. Which told her he considered her a dead woman whether or not they found the stolen money and drugs.
Brock, please.
The car door opened and he dragged her out by her feet. She hit the dirt on her ass and tried not to cry out. The driver turned her over and opened the cuffs. By now, Brianna’s arms and hands had gone numb. She moved them gingerly as they filled with needles and pins. He untied her legs next but pinned her legs down. “If you try to run, I’ll shoot you.”
“Got it.”
He let her up and pulled off the blindfold. The night was black around them, the only sounds were crickets and a great horned owl hidden somewhere in the trees. She could barely make out the darker shape of the cliff against the deep blue sky. No other cars were parked along the road.
“Start walking.” She felt something poke the middle of her back. “Or I will shoot you.”
Brianna waded into the tall grass at the side of the road. If she went slowly, it might take them half an hour from here to the entrance behind the chokecherry.Ifshe pushed her luck. She hoped the driver was an awful climber. Actually, she hoped he’d fall and break his damned neck on the way up.
“How long?” he asked.
“Half an hour. Maybe more. It’s been a while since I’ve been up here and it’s the middle of the night.”
“Don’t fuck with me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Bam. He hit the back of her head and she went to her knees.
“I said, don’t fuck with me, smartass.”
Brianna stood up on shaky legs. She kept her mouth closed after that.
When they reached the entrance, she looked and listened for any sign of Brock. The cave inside was pitch black. The only sound was running water.
“This is it,” she said.
“Go in.” The driver shined his flashlight inside. “This better not be a fucking trap.”
“It’s not. Who would I have contacted since you took me?”
“Shut up and walk.”
Brianna ducked inside. Only the faintest light came through the holes in the cliff. Ravens clucked at her from above. The driver came in behind her with the flashlight. The beam bounced off the walls.
“I don’t see anything in here.”
“It’s just the first pocket. There’s a lot more.”
“Fuck. We’re gonna be here all night.” He shone the light at a group of boulders. “Look back there.” She looked around the cathedral room, behind every boulder, while the driver kept his gun on her.
“Nothing in here,” she said.And no sign of Brock.
“Then let’s keep moving.”
Brianna led him into the next space. The water was louder and the cave a little brighter from the cliff opening over the river. As the driver shined his flashlight, she held her breath, but there was no sign of Brock.
She was a dead woman.
Brock didn’t know where she was, or was looking for her in the wrong place, or would come too late. And that would be the worst.
Brianna went to the far side of the space, to the narrow passage that led to the graffiti-covered room. Maybe she could make a run for it, but would she be fast enough?
“I don’t see shit in here, either,” the driver said behind Brianna.
