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She hadn’t gone this far just to watch Bob die at the finish line.
“Inside, please.”
Zbirak held the front door open for her, and she stepped through the entrance. The house was old but clean. There was that smell of bleach again, and she had to wonder how many people had entered this house on their own two feet and left in a body bag. If they even got a body bag. Maybe they left in pieces, shoved into a trash bag like garbage.
Cassie stood in the middle of the empty living room and watched as Zbirak locked the door behind them. “Where’s Bob?” she asked.
“Downstairs.”
“Is he still alive?”
“Yes, of course. I’ve kept my word.”
“Not exactly.” Her heart played a drumline when he looked at her with a questioning eye. “You said you’d let Bob go and take me instead. Now you have both of us. You tricked us.”
“Ah, so I did. I apologize for that, Rose.” He took her gently by the elbow and led her through the kitchen, over to a door that led to the basement. “My offer still stands, however. I just need to know what you’ve told your friends. And make sure you understand what will happen if you talk on matters that aren’t yours to discuss.”
“I promise, I won’t—”
“Please don’t make promises you can’t keep. That is the quickest way to make me angry.”
Cassie clamped her mouth shut, allowing Zbirak to lead her downstairs. She took the steps one at a time, as though making sure to be extra careful not to trip and fall. Her captor never rushed her, and even gave her a gentle pat on the hand when she reached the bottom before leading her through another door and into a second room.
This room was darker, and all the tiny windows along the exterior walls had been boarded over. A single light hung from the ceiling, which Zbirak clicked on, as though his muscle memory knew exactly where it was.
The sudden influx of light made Cassie squint and turn away from the bulb. Once she could see again, she turned back and took in the figure of Bob Sherman, slumped over in a chair, his hands bound behind his back.
She gasped. “Is he—?”
“No, no. He’s alive.”
Zbirak took the man’s chin in his hand and lifted it, so Cassie could get a look at his face. It was beaten to a pulp. His eyes were swollen, his nose and lips were bleeding, and there were deep purple bruises along his cheek and jaw. She saw him swallow, but when he tried to speak, nothing much came out.
“Stay quiet, Mr. Sherman. I’ll bring you water in a moment.” Zbirak gestured to an empty chair beside Sherman. “Please, take a seat, Rose.”
Cassie hesitated. This was it. The point of no return. If she allowed herself to be tied up, there was no running from that. She’d have to resign herself to waiting for Harris to track her down.
Then again, hadn’t she already hit the point of no return? As soon as she’d gotten into the man’s van, it had been over. Now, there was no choice but to comply and keep up the ruse.
Cassie nodded and sat down in the chair. Zbirak smiled like he was proud that she had seen reason. It sent shivers down her spine. This man might be polite and gentle, but that scared her even more than someone who raged with violence. Zbirak was a cold-blooded killer. He was whip smart and calculating.
It wouldn’t be easy to escape.
Drawing a rope from the ground behind her, he looped it around her wrists, securing them to the chair. But unlike Bob’s restraints, he tied each of her hands to the legs of the chair rather than together. She assumed it was to keep her and the baby more comfortable.
When Zbirak walked around to face her, he brought another rope and looped it across her chest, keeping it well above her belly. His arm brushed her stomach, and she gasped. Zbirak froze. What if he felt the difference? What if he knew it was just a pillow?
“Did that hurt?” he asked.
“Y-Yes. Just a little. I’m sorry. I’m very sensitive right now.”
Staring down at her for a moment, he nodded. “I’ll endeavor to be more careful.”
And he was. He finished looping the rope around her and tying it to the back of the chair without getting close to her stomach a second time. Then, without another word, he walked back up the stairs, closing the door behind him.
Cassie tested her restraints. The knots were tight, but they weren’t constricting any blood flow. She could even wiggle back and forth, which meant there was room to slip out if she could loosen the parts around her hands. She just needed Zbirak to stay away long enough for her to work on escaping. The likelihood of that was low, but it at least gave her a glimmer of hope while she waited.
Maybe it would be enough.
