Page 83 of Abandoned

Zara nodded.

Miley attached her hands, then Brett reached across, inserted the key, and started the engine. He told Miley to put it in gear.

He directed Zara where to go and yelled at her when she got a little too fast. They turned into an older neighborhood where it looked like a quarter of the houses were abandoned or at least were owned by people who didn’t care about curb appeal.

He made her turn into a driveway toward the end of a street at the back of the neighborhood. “Pull around back.”

She obeyed and parked the car behind the house. The fence and trees were tall, and the neighboring houses were short. No one would see them.

“Miley, put the truck in park.” Brett took the keys from the ignition and shoved them in the pocket of his jeans. He took a knife from the glove compartment, flipped it open, and handed it to Miley.

“Cut her hands free.”

Miley did it. Brett then had them switch places.

As soon as Zara was beside him, he shoved the gun into her side. She zip-tied Miley’s hands to the wheel but not too tight. Maybe Miley could slip her hands free while Brett took care of Zara.

She whispered to Miley, “Stay alive. I’ll find you.”

Miley blinked, moisture pooling in her eyes.

“Let’s go!” Brett grabbed Zara’s ponytail and pulled her back toward the door.

Pain coursed through her scalp. “I’m coming.” She caught up with his pulling and managed to get her feet to the ground.

Once again, Brett pressed the gun against her ribs. “Walk.”

He pushed her toward the house, around a bush, and to a small window well. Not a window well. It was the entrance to a crawlspace.

Oh no. Please God, don’t let him put me down there.

“Don’t move.” Brett let go of her hair but kept the gun pointed at her. She’d never be able to move fast enough or find cover in this empty backyard before he put a bullet in her head or back. Survival had to be her goal at this point. Don’t do anything stupid. Or he’d kill them both outright.

But what could she do? No one would find her down here. No one even knew she was missing. If she’d come while still on duty, then dispatch would have at least known she was at Miley’s home.

While Brett stepped slightly ahead of her, she searched her pockets and found a receipt. Without looking she knew it was from her favorite smoothie place and had today’s date and listed her favorite drink. She flattened it out and let go. The wind caught and carried it down the driveway a bit. Shoot! That wouldn’t tell anyone exactly where she was.

Brett squatted down by the house and removed a cover to a crawlspace. She reached back into her pocket and pulled out the ring Will had given her. The orange and white twisty-tie was so small, and with the ground wet, it would probably never be seen again, but she prayed that somehow Will would find it and then her.

She dropped it to the ground just before Brett turned and shoved her into the crawlspace.

Her body involuntarily shivered at the creepy coldness of the space. Cobwebs littered the wooden beams and extended to the dirt floor. It was cool, damp, and dark. So dark.

The gun poked her in the rear end. “Crawl faster.”

“I don’t know where you want me to go.” The rough gravel floor bit at her already cut-up legs.

“Straight ahead. There. Stop.”

Brett reached around her and grabbed something. A chain.

“Give me your hands.” He slapped a pair of cuffs that was attached to the chain onto her wrists.

“Now it’s time for you to die. Down here. All alone. No one will find you here. When the house is torn down next month, you’ll be good and dead, and I’ll be long gone.”

With that he turned around and left.

Zara shook. Was this really happening?