Page 51 of Two Favors Repaid

“I’m sorry,” Emma said, picking up the pan. Rob saw her go through the motions of making scrambled eggs and toast. The domesticity of the moment frightened him. He’d hoped for many mornings making eggs and toast with her. Now, the only thing he wanted was to find a way to keep her alive. If he had to die to make that happen, that was a trade he was willing to make.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” he said.

“How much of a fool do you take me for?” Ford seethed. “Feel free to pee yourself if you need to, but I’m not untying you. And if you ask me again, I’ll tie her down as well.”

Rob let his shoulders sag dejectedly. He needed Ford to think him as weak as possible.

Ford sat down to eat the food that Emma put in front of him. With one hand he held the fork, which he used to shovel food into his mouth. With the other hand he held his knife, waving it in front of Emma’s face with every other bite.

Emma stood very still by the kitchen cabinets, keeping her eyes down.

Good girl.

“Not bad, Emma, angel, not bad. At least compared to prison food. Though not as good as what I expect I’ll be eating every day from now on,” Ford said. There was a faraway look in his eyes.

Rob filed that nugget of information for the future, when there was something he could do about it.

When he was done, Ford pushed away the plate. He stood up, stretched, and looked at his watch theatrically.

He’s waiting for something. What’s he waiting for?

“Well, I’ve enjoyed this, wish we could have spent a bit more time together today, but unfortunately I have things to do, places to be.”

His huge hand circled Emma’s wrist, and he tugged her towards him.

“Don’t touch her!” Rob growled.

“No!” Emma cried out. “Please!”

“The more she struggles, the more I enjoy it,” Ford laughed. He said something softly in her ear and she blanched, going very still. They disappeared up the stairs together.

It seemed like a lifetime later but was probably only a minute later that Ford appeared back in the doorway, looking pleased with himself.

“It’s your turn now, Hope.”

Rob’s rage reached boiling point. “If you’ve hurt her, I will—”

“Relax, Chief Deputy. Emma’s upstairs. She’s fine. Now if you give me any trouble, I will go upstairs and start slicing.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I’m going to take off the cuffs and untie you. When I tell you to, I want you to move towards the top deck. Slowly, very slowly.”

This is my chance.

Rob waited for the right moment to act, knowing that he would only have one chance. His adrenaline spiked as Ford released one of the cuffs. The pain was excruciating as he moved his arm forward. Then his other arm was released. But he was still tied down to the chair. He had to wait.

Untie me.

Ford pulled Rob’s hands forward with a violent tug. He brought out a thick rope.

“You didn’t think I was really going to let you go free, did you?” Ford gloated. “I just don’t want you to take my good set of handcuffs.”

The rope went around his wrists in what seemed to Rob like a modified handcuff knot.

“Surprised?” Ford asked. “I learned a lot of things in the short time I was in prison. Met some really interesting people.”

Psychos like yourself, I’m sure.