“Eight months.”
Eight months. I’ll be at SolomiChem for a month.
My shoulders sag as the enormity of the task ahead of me presses upon my bones. Kane told me they were expecting me to cause enough PR damage to cripple SolomiChem financially. As a last resort, they want to use my evidence to pressure the public into forcing SolomiChem to investigate alternative testing methods.
“No matter what,” Justin says, “you can’t free the animals.”
I can’t help my pause before I agree.
He pounces on my hesitation. “You liberate them and they’ll just be replaced with another batch. In this case, it’s better if we expose SolomiChem, force them to stop the experiments altogether.”
“I understand.”
He stands and grabs his helmet and jacket. “We’ll meet later this afternoon.” He names a local park. “Some free advice—never meet twice at the same place.”
“What time?”
“Let’s make it four.”
I bite my lip. “I have a doctor’s appointment at four. Can we meet tomorrow instead?”
“Do you have a life-threatening tumor?”
“What? No.”
“Cancel your appointment. Your work at SolomiChem takes priority over everything else.”
I glare up at him. Even though it’s only a routine checkup, I booked this appointment months ago. It’s obvious Justin wants to see how far he can push me. Not trusting myself to speak, I simply nod.
He gives me a mocking wink. “See you later. Four sharp.”
I remain seated. If I stand, politeness dictates we walk out together. Not that I can detect a polite bone in his body, but I might catch him in a weak moment.
I watch Justin stroll away, watch as numerous eyes track the path carved by his compelling figure. Oh, what it must be like to be born so good looking. All my life I’ve lived in the shadow of my plainness. Brown hair, brown eyes, a body continually at war with itself over expansion rights. There’s nothing striking about me and I can see that truth reflected in Justin’s eyes.
I get to my feet and set off in the direction of the parking lot, uneasiness dogging my steps. I can’t escape the disquieting notion that even though we’re on the same side against SolomiChem, I still sense in Justin a dangerous adversary. And I wonder if I’ll be able to shore up enough armor to protect myself.
7
AMY
––––––––
Monday, July 12
I wake up with the nearly overwhelming urge to throw up. My breathing comes in a succession of rapid, shallow pants.
Calm down, calm down.
I’m lying on my back in a single bed, staring at a blurry ceiling, the lights too bright. I blink and roll onto my side.
And I seehim.
Fear engulfs me and I let out a hoarse scream.
My kidnapper doesn’t flinch. He’s sitting on a chair, a black ski mask over his head, watching me, not saying a word. He’s as big as I remember.
“Water,” I croak out.
