Page 2 of Held Firm

Nick’s bluff held the ring of truth. He had close ties to the force. He was also in great shape. Taking down the offensive man would be child’s play, and they both knew it.

“Okay, I’ll tell you this much,” the detective said reluctantly. “She’s a key witness in an important case, and it’s my job to keep her out of harm’s way, but she’s not making it easy. I need to get her back inside before anyone sees her, and now, thanks to your interference, I’ll have to move her again.”

Nick laughed.

“What’s funny?” the man asked angrily. “You think this is a fucking joke?”

“Who’s going to see her? Look around. Do you see anyone? This beach is deserted, not to mention the five homes here are empty, except mine, of course.”

“Why do you think we chose it?” the detective retorted, pulling out his wallet and flashing his badge again. “See this? Regardless of what she might have told you, she’s under police protection and I have to take her back to the house. It’s a crime to interfere with an officer doing his duty. I can call for backup, and I will if you don’t get out of my way.”

As the wallet disappeared back into the man’s baggy white shorts, Nick’s mind raced. The girl was truly terrified, and while the cop’s credentials appeared to be genuine, something wasn’t right.

“Detective Anderson—”

“I told you, call me Matt.”

“Okay, Matt,” Nick said, wondering why the detective wanted to be on a first-name basis. “Breaking the law is the last thing I want to do, but she’s extremely upset. Give me a minute to talk to her. I think I’ll be able to calm her down.”

“What makes you think you can manage that?”

“I’m not sure I can, but don’t you think it’s worth a try?”

“Okay. Just don’t take all day. It’s getting cold out here, and there’s some nasty weather coming in.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“And don’t let her bullshit you. She’s here for her own safety. Understood?”

“Understood,” Nick replied, thinking the more the detective claimed he was trying to protect the girl, the more contrived he sounded.

Turning to walk back to her, Nick found she’d moved further away. Even though he’d told her to stay where she was, he was glad. If they kept their voices low, they wouldn’t be overheard. Hurrying up to her, he stood directly in front of her, purposely blocking Matt’s view.

“You’re not going to help me?” she whimpered, staring up at him, her huge green eyes brimming with tears.

“I didn’t say that.”

“But I can tell. He’s told you a bunch of crap.”

“Exactly, and I know that’s what it was. Crap. My name’s Nick Vincelli. What’s yours, and what’s going on?”

“So you are going to—?”

“Just tell me,” he murmured urgently, cutting her off.

“My name’s Bianca, and things are bad, really, really bad,” she replied in a hoarse whisper, “but I can’t possibly explain it in sixty seconds.”

“Your last name?”

“Uh…”

“For fuck’s sake, tell me.”

“Albertini. Bianca Albertini.”

Her name was vaguely familiar.

“Listen,” she continued quickly, “if I manage to slip out tonight, can you take me to a hotel someplace away from here? Far away, like an hour or two. You can just leave me, you don’t have to stay.”

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