“Overpopulation is a challenge,” she said, feeling her way around the man’s ego and firmly planted beliefs. “Wouldn’t providing contraceptives be a little less aggressive?”
The man sat back in his seat across from hers and waved a hand. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. The same goes for humans. You can provide contraceptives, but you can’t make them use them. So we lead them to the water they can drink.” He smiled. “So much less complicated.”
So, what had happened in Paraguay, Bangladesh and Uganda hadn’t been an accidental contamination of a supply chain delivering clean water solutions to poor, isolated communities.
“Mr. Teuling, do you really think you can get away with poisoning water supplies without anyone noticing?”
The man’s gray eyes narrowed. “How do you know my name?”
“It took me a minute, but I recognize you from your photographs in the news,” Marta lied. “Your non-profit has been helping people access clean water they’d otherwise have no access to. You’re quite the compelling speaker.”
The man’s back straightened at her praise. “I believe in helping the planet.”
“But not the people?” she said.
“Don’t you see?” He leaned forward, his eyes brightening again with manic enthusiasm. “By thinning the population, I am helping both the planet and the people.”
The guy truly believed he was helping, which made him scarier than Vasquez and his thugs. There was no reasoning with crazy. She just had to go along with him until she could find a way to escape or until Crusher and his team came to her rescue.
Her heart ached at the thought of the man she’d fallen in love with so quickly. He’d seen them dump Marsh out of the van. He’d know she was in trouble. The man would feel responsible and come after her because that’s what he did. He was a protector. And she was the asset.
He’d said so as she’d walked away with Marsh.
Asset delivered.
Those words had nearly broken her heart. She hadn’t had time to dwell on it when the driver slowed, the van door opened, and Marsh was pistol-whipped and shoved out of the van.
When she’d tried to dive out after Marsh, the men on either side of her had grabbed her arms, holding her back as another man closed the door. She’d screamed for Crusher, but he’d been on foot. He hadn’t been able to catch up with them.
Then one of the men pulled out a syringe.
Marta had fought, kicked and bucked, to no avail. The needle had gone in, and she’d blacked out. She couldn’t let that happen again.
“I understand you want to use science to help save the planet.” She tried not to grimace at the harsh reality of his plan. “It’s a noble cause.”
“Yes,” he said. “Noble. Long overdue.”
Demented, better described his plan, but she wasn’t in a position to argue. “I don’t suppose you could remove the tape from my arms and legs so that I can use the toilet?”
His eyes narrowed.
Marta cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t worry. I can’t escape at this altitude. Plus, it’s hard to have an intelligent conversation while I’m bound in a prone position.”
For a long moment, Teuling stared at her. Finally, he motioned to someone else behind her in the cabin.
One of the men who’d helped take her from Marsh pulled out a wicked-looking knife, brandished it, and made a slicing motion across his throat. He bent over her ankles and sliced through the tape holding them together. Then he grabbed one of the cut ends and ripped the tape off, taking a layer of her skin with it.
“Bunson burners!” Marta cried out, her ankles stinging where the tape had ripped her skin.
Teuling chuckled. “Wilhelm is a bit on the dramatic side, don’t you think?”
Wilhelm touched the tip of the knife against the tape holding her arm to the armrest.
“Do be careful of the upholstery, Willie,” Teuling said.
The man’s thick brows descended as he eased the blade between her arm and the white leather armrest.
She winced when the tip of the blade nicked her arm.
