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She’s astounded but recovers quickly. “Hey. I didn’t know you were coming to the office today. I thought you were done with your section in this issue?”
“Maddie wanted to go over some stuff. Emailing back and forth wasn’t cutting it.”
“Ava,” the barista calls.
Ava smiles at him before moving forward to grab her cup. “Maddie didn’t tell me anything.”
“We only decided late last night. A last-minute thing. I actually have everything in my car. Do you mind helping me?” She glares at me suspiciously, but I act ignorant. “Come on. I’m parked at the back.”
“Okay,” she finally relents.
As we tread to the back exit door of the coffee house, we share idle chitchat. “So, how are you? How are the kids?”
“They’re fine. Growing up too quickly. How about you?”
“Nothing new.”
She seems on edge when we reach my car. It’s so unlike her.
What has Viktor done to her?
I don’t want to hurt her, but I might have to use the ketamine to get her in my car after all. She doesn’t look like she will willingly come with me.
I take advantage of her standing on the passenger side of my car.
“What do you think about the upcoming issue so far?” I ask, trying to buy time by distracting her.
While she ponders a response, I open the back door on the driver’s side where the box is, then fill a syringe with a sedative. “It’s great. What do you need me to carry?”
When she walks toward me, I shout, “It’s on your side.”
She sets her coffee on the hood of my car. “Okay.” Once she opens the passenger side and leans in to where I have some folders, I pounce. I take the syringe out of my pocket.
“I’m sorry, but this is for your own good,” I murmur before I inject her with the ketamine. She tries to fight me, but it’s useless. Her body quickly gives in to the ketamine, and she goes limp in my arms.
After glancing around to make sure no one sees us, I open the back door and put her inside. According to Diana, Ava should be knocked out for a while. I close the door before looking around again. There is no one to be seen. I’m clear to go.
Grinning, I slip behind the steering wheel, then take a deep breath. I can’t believe I did it. It’s the right thing to do, but I have to remind myself of that when I put the gearstick into reverse and drive out of the lot.
* * *
It’s been a few hours since I brought Ava to the cabin. She didn’t wake up until five minutes ago, which had me in a frenzy. Especially as I couldn’t call anyone to check that I didn’t give Ava too much ketamine.
“Max, let me out!” Ava screams, banging on the door for the second time.
“I was beginning to get worried. I’m glad you’re awake.” I prop my shoulder on the doorjamb of my bedroom.
“You’re fucking crazy. Open the door. Let me out!” She keeps banging on the door.
“I will, but only once you’ve calmed down.”
“Calmed down? You locked me in a bedroom…yourbedroom.” I’m pleased she remembers my bedroom in the cabin. It’s been a long time since we were here.
“I don’t want you locked up. I just want to talk. I need you to listen to me.”
“Okay, we’ll talk. Just open the door, please?”
When I unlock the door, she lunges forward and slaps me hard across the face.
