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“Don’t make this hard, Bri.”
She was done obeying orders.
It was time to create some noise. Perhaps an armed ranger or hunter in the area would hear her and come to investigate. Even if it was too late to save her, they might catch Travis. The crime wouldn’t go unpunished.
Bracing for a bullet, she let loose with a piercing scream.
Instead of firing, Travis cursed and hurled himself toward her.
Without letting up on the scream, she swiveled around at the edge of the concrete platform. But Travis was on her before she could jump off.
He grabbed her, slammed his hand over her mouth, and twisted her arm behind her back.
The more she tried to resist, the more he bent her arm.
She was sunk.
But at least she’d sent a distress signal, if anyone other than a few deer was within earshot.
Propelling her toward the bunker, Travis didn’t loosen his hold. Only after they were inside did he release her, shoving her away from him with such force she face-planted while he secured the door.
He clicked the flashlight lantern on as she struggled to her feet and fought back a wave of nausea while the suffocating blackness outside the small perimeter of light clawed at her windpipe.
“Don’t get any ideas about venturing into the dark where I can’t see you, Bri, or I’ll have to use these.” Travis waved several zip ties at her.
No worries on that score. She was drawn to the lantern like a moth to light.
“Move farther back in the building.”
Creeping forward, she skirted a few boards, a coil of fencing, several cardboard boxes, and the edge of what appeared to be a sink—all of which suggested that the bunker had become a junk repository.
“Stop there. Sit on the right side, by the wall.” He motioned with the lantern.
Bri found a cleared area and eased herself onto the concrete floor.
Once she was seated, Travis set the lantern on a box near the opposite wall, about twenty feet away. Her breath hitched as shadows engulfed her, and dampness from the concrete seeped into her slacks.
Her silence seemed to spook Travis—and loosen his tongue.
“Why’d you get so quiet all of a sudden? You were always the mouthy type.”
Was that a tremor of trepidation in his voice? Like his nerves were kicking in? If so, could she use that to her advantage? Get a few answers to her questions, even if she couldn’t escape?
“Tell me what you know about the list.”
“What list?”
Unless he was a better actor than she remembered, he was genuinely confused.
“The list that got me to the farmers’ market.”
“I don’t know anything about a list.”
She shoved her tangled hair back and swiped at her bloody nose, trying to make sense of his comment.
“Aren’t you working with Alison?”
“Who’s Alison?”
