Page 40 of Bitter Truth
Crap. That means I need to get free before the man returns.
“How long do you think we have until he comes back?” I ask. Squirming under the weight of my pack, trying to make enough slack in the straps to get my handsout, I realize my pockets are empty. That means no car keys, no phone.
I round my lower back against the floor. No gun. The acrid taste of fear makes my mouth pucker.
“He took the bike. He’s usually gone a while when he does that.”
I imagine him racing to the trailhead to move my car. The same way he must have after he snatched the girls.
“He’s not as bad as the other one,” the smaller girl says.
“The other one? There’s two of them?” I ask.
“Yeah.” The brunette’s voice trembles as she adds, “He’s the one we worry might kill us.”
The blood in my veins turns to ice, making my struggle against the straps binding me even clumsier. I stop a moment. Close my eyes. Draw several deep breaths while I give myself a silent pep talk. Then I renew my efforts, fighting even harder against my bonds.
Because if I don’t get free, neither do these girls.
“We’re going to get out of here,” I say, as much for myself as for them. “All of us.”
I remind myself that there’s two men I have to watch out for. Two men, two girls, and one me, weakened and with a headache to end all headaches. I’m not sure I can walk, much less run.
But maybe I won’t need to.
“How well do you know these woods?” I ask.
“Pretty good,” the brunette says. “I’ve been coming out here with my family since I was little.”
“Were you conscious when you were brought here?”
“Yes.”
“How do we get back to the main trail?”
“It’s to the east.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Can you girls climb?”
“What, you mean like a tree?”
“Yes.”
This time, when they exchange looks, I see something besides fear in their eyes.
“You better believe it.”
“Good. Because if one or both of the men are here when we get our chance, I want you to run away from the path, behind the cabin, and climb the first tree you can. Separate trees, so you won’t have to wait for each other. Can you do that?”
“What about you?”
“Don’t wait for me. If they’re here, I’m going to have to keep them busy long enough for you to have enough of a head start that you’ll be in your trees before they start looking for you. We need them to not realize they’re searching in the wrong direction.”
“Then what?”
