“You really screwed the pooch last night.” Lieutenant Martin’s voice interrupted Maggie as she was shoving the last of her personal effects out of the metal locker and into a shopping bag. He’d insisted on following her around to make sure she didn’t try anything. Whatever. She knew that was standard procedure and she didn’t take it personally.
She didn’t say anything in reply, just dropped the bag on top of the box that held her meager belongings from her desk and then lifted both into her arms. “I’d say it was nice knowing you, Martin, but I’d rather not lie.”
He barked a cold laugh. “One of these days that mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble, Boone.”
“Yeah, probably.” She shrugged. “I’m done here. You walking me out or gonna get a uniform to do it?”
Martin shrugged. “I’m already here,” he answered and swept his arm in the direction of the door. He walked her as far as the exit, waved goodbye like he’d see her again the next night, and ducked back inside.
Maggie rolled her eyes at his retreating form, hoping she’d never lay eyes on Lieutenant Martin again and then she started the walk out to her car.
Salt crunched under her feet from the parking lot having been treated. They were calling for the first big dump of snow sometime tonight so everyone was hunkering down and preparing.
Maggie actually smiled to herself, happy with the knowledge that she had someone special to curl up under a warm blanket with while it snowed outside.
She was looking forward to spending the night with Anatoly and showing him that she was really doing okay. It would probably take more than a night for him to believe it, but she knew he’d see this was the right choice in due time.
As she reached the car, Maggie shuffled the box to under her arm and fished the keys out of her pocket. She had just pressed the unlock button on the fob when a chilling voice froze her in place.
“Tsk, tsk… Your first day off the job and you’ve already let your guard down.”
She spun, dropping the box which landed on the pavement and toppled over, spilling its contents. Out of habit she reached down for the sidearm that for years used to ride on her hip, but now it was gone.
“Who’s there?” she demanded, wondering if she could get inside the car and grab the .38 special that was in her glove box before whoever jumped her. No sooner had the thought entered her mind than her attacker made himself known.
In a flash, he was there in front of her, shoving her back against the door of the vehicle with such force that it knocked the air from her lungs. Gasping and trying to breathe, Maggie threw her arms up out of pure instinct hoping to somehow protect herself as much as possible.
She was rewarded with a sinister laugh that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Still trying to suck in oxygen she couldn’t make any further demands, but a dozen questions ran through her mind. Chief of which was wondering if these were her final moments.
“Maggie Boone…” The voice said her name with a note of contempt. “Your superiors botched your investigation, didn’t they? And what did you do? You ran away…”
Air finally rushed back into her lungs and she coughed on it, trying to suck in more even as she attempted to assess the situation. Wherever the assailant had gone she couldn’t see him now.
“Who are you?” she choked out, her hand sliding toward the door handle.
“A big fan of your work,” came the chilling answer. “Does that surprise you, former detective?”
Maggie grasped the handle and started to rip the door open, but the attacker was once again on top of her in the blink of an eye. He tore her away from the car, throwing her in the direction of the trunk. This time she hit the pavement, rolling a couple feet until she came up on her hands and knees.
She was certain she’d have bruises when this was all said done and she nearly laughed. She’d have to survive first. Escape was the only thing on her mind. Escape so she could see Anatoly again.
“Fuck you,” she ground out through the pain, pushing to her feet with the intent of running.
Again, he came for her and this time, as he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her backward, she let out an involuntary scream of pain.
“Ah ah! Be quiet now, my dear Maggie. We wouldn’t want our fun to be interrupted, now would we?” His voice was by her ear, cold and sinister.
For the first time in a long time, a shard of fear like ice wedged itself in her heart. She started to fight back, her training kicking in, but nothing she tried worked. He was too fast, too strong. Every effort she made seemed futile, but she didn’t stop.
“Enough!” He slung her again, this time into the back fender.
The last thing she thought before hitting her head and going unconscious was that she was going to be late to meet Anatoly.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Maggie was late. Anatoly checked his watch again, frowned at it, and resumed his pacing. Maggie was very late. It had been an hour past when she said she would pick him up and still she hadn’t shown.
Dread settled into the pit of his stomach. The certainty that something had gone wrong filled him. He had tried calling her and she hadn’t answered. Then texted and gotten no reply. It was unusual for her. She was punctual, responsive, and if she’d needed space from him, she would have simply told him so.
