She felt her ankles. Plastic ties secured them together. Painfully tight. Her running shoes and socks were gone. Taking several deep breaths, she ran her shaking hand over her body, and a small moan escaped. Her fear ramped up tenfold as she felt bare legs, bare midriff. They’d stripped her exercise pants and tank top off, leaving her in her bra and panties.
She pulled her knees up, wrapped her free arm around them, and rested her forehead. She was shivering almost violently. Probably a combination of shock, the temperature, and whatever drugs they’d injected her with.
Deciding to risk making noise, she whispered, “Is anyone with me?” There was a noise to her left, a shaky inhalation. “Are you the woman from the van?”
In a scratchy voice, the woman whispered back. “Yes. I just woke up. Are we alone?” she asked frantically.
“I think so. We’re maybe in a basement. Are you handcuffed to a pole?”
“Yes. Feet are tied too.”
Rowan heard the woman’s breathing escalate, and heard her cuff rattle against the metal of a pipe. She wasn’t cuffed to the same one as Rowan, but she wasn’t too far away either. Probably far enough that they wouldn’t be able to touch.
“They took my clothes,” she whimpered.
“Mine too, except for my bra and underwear.”
“Same,” the woman answered, voice wavering. “Are you from Houston?”
“Tulsa. Who are you? They mentioned William Stanton when they took me.”
“Oh God. I’m Katy Stanton. Will’s ex-wife. Do you know Will?”
“I’m Rowan Byrne. My sisters and I own an interior design business in Ireland. We are originally from Oklahoma and split our time between the two places. I’ve been in Tulsa for several weeks working on a job,” she whispered back. Rowan paused, not wanting to fully admit how well she knew her ex-husband. She decided on, “I’m well-acquainted with his aunt, Diana Gaines.”
Silence greeted her words. More sniffling. “Don’t lose hope, Katy. We will get out of here. My family will never give up looking for me.”
“You are Will’s girlfriend.”
It wasn’t a question.Shit. There was no time for subterfuge. The more information they knew, the better chance they had of figuring out what in the hell was going on. “We went on a few dates, yes, but…well, the man I love came back into my life. We are completely committed. My…sisters are married to his two sons.” She choked on the last part. It was hard to think of what her sisters were going through right now.
“I saw pictures of you and Will kissing. You both looked so happy…and in love.”
Katy said the last so low, that Rowan almost didn’t catch it. She was obviously still very much in love with her ex. If the situation was reversed, Rowan would be equally devastated. “We were never in love. My heart has always been Hugh’s. I am sorry, Katy. I won’t lie to you. We did kiss a few times. Only kiss. Ibelieved Hugh and I would never be together. I came to Tulsa for a job, yes, but also to nurse a broken heart and attempt to move on.
“William was my attempt at moving on. When Hugh showed up, I called Will and let him know that I would no longer be seeing him and why.” Katy’s cuff clinked. She must be adjusting her position.
“Thank you for being honest. It’s been a tough couple of years. Suffice it to say, I made a huge mistake, just not the one he thinks I made. I’ve tried to stay hopeful. When I saw those pictures,” she paused, “I thought…I believed I might need to finally let go.”
“Don’t give up. If he thinks you did something that you didn’t do, then explain it to him.”
“He refuses to speak to me. Even at family things, he won’t even meet my eye.”
“Stubborn men. We must have chosen the two most stubborn men alive to love. When we get out of this mess, don’t allow him to have a say. Force him to listen.”
“Who are you seeing?”
“Hugh O’Faolain. I imagine you know him. William does.” A sharp intake of breath followed her admission.
“I’m glad he found a woman who loves him. He deserves it. I knew Helen. I…oh God, as if it matters, we’re handcuffed in a basement, but I think Will cheated on me with her.”
Rowan winced. Helen certainly enjoyed hurting others. “Only Will can answer that, but I can tell you that Hugh believes they only flirted and that it went no further.”
“You know, I’m beginning to see that my marriage might have been much different if I’d spoken up. If I’d demanded answers and demanded respect, but enough of that. It’s nice to meet you, Rowan, though I wish it was under different circumstances. Let’s figure out what’s going on.”
“Did the people who took you say anything?”
“No. I walked outside to water my roses, and a man grabbed me from behind. I didn’t know at the time, but the pinch in my neck was them giving me a shot. I woke up in the trunk of a car. A man with a mask on took the tape off my mouth and had me drink some water, gave me another shot, and shut the trunk lid over my head.
