I dipped my chin.“Which is why I’m leaving it for you.”
I heard kitchen noises through the walls.The beep of what I assumed was a microwave, even though I hadn’t seen one earlier.The muffled sound of pots or pans clanging were heard, then it fell quiet.
A few minutes later, Ivy said, “Oh, no.”
“What?”I asked.
“It smells like bacon.That’s cruel and unusual punishment,” she muttered.
At her words, the scent registered and my empty stomach rumbled.
She was right – it was cruel.Until then, I’d been able to ignore my empty stomach.Filling this shithole with the smell of food made my hunger impossible to deny.
“Do you think they’re going to feed us?”
I sighed.“I’m tryingnotto think about food at all.”
She nodded.“But that might be our chance.Two of us to one of them.”
“You don’t know there’s only one, and since there were two of them earlier, we shouldn’t assume there’s only one now.”
She pouted her plump lips as she thought about it.“Sounds that way.”
I quirked my lips skeptically.“We thought we were alone five minutes ago also.”
She threw her hands up.“Okay, I get it, but we should be ready even if we have to play this by ear.”
I nodded.“You’re right.”
Before I could say more, the sound of heavy footsteps approached the door.
“Food’s comin’.No plates, just a pan and two forks.”
Ivy nodded at the door.“Okay.Thank you.”
My mouth dropped open with my disbelieving look and I heard the footsteps move away.“What the hell are you thanking him for?”I hissed.
A devious grin made her green eyes sparkle.“He doesn’thaveto feed us and he gave us info.”
I closed my eyes and fought for patience.“We have to be a team, so this is no time for you to be enigmatic.What are you getting at?”
Her expression shifted to solemness or even disappointment.“As much as I hate to sacrifice what smells like good bacon – he shows up with a pan – I can take it and hit him in the head with it.”
“I don’t have a good feeling about that.”
She lowered her chin toward her shoulder.“He won’t expect me to attack, Ry.”
I liked hearing her shorten my name, but I couldn’t let that distract me.“I know that but how many times have you hit someone with a skillet?And a hot one at that?”
She looked abashed.“Do you have a better idea?”
Reluctantly I said, “Unfortunately, no.”
“Well, say a prayer because I think he’s headed our way.”
A key scraped in the lock and I hurried to the door.
Ivy gestured for me to stand against the wall near the door.I paused long enough to widen my eyes at her while mouthing ‘be smart,’ before I pressed myself against the wall.
