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“Our neighbor.”
Ah, the neighbor. I remember her. In fact, it’s all coming back to me now. The first bomb that went off somewhere in the lower floors of The Red. Then, another above us. The dust and chaos. Frantically searching for Andie and finding her in the hall that leads to the restrooms. Then another… bomb? A smaller one?
This is where things get hazy. Did Andie drag me out of the building? No, she’s not strong enough. I walked. I recall watching my feet move in a disassociated way. Like they weren’t my own.
So, she took me outside and what? We got in a car. Who’s car?
Next thing I know, we’re here and a girl that pricked me with some drug, this Miri, I’m sure. What kind of neighbor helps someone abduct their boss? Better yet, what kind of person has injectable sedatives at the ready?
I look at Lola. “How did your mom get me here?”
Lifting a slender shoulder, she says, “Momma borrowed a car.”
“She borrowed a car? Who lent it to her?”
“No one. She just started it the way she does ours sometimes when the key part doesn’t work.”
Hesitant, I ask, “How does she start your car?”
“With the wires.” She mimics touching two ends.
“I see.” It shouldn’t surprise me that she can jack a car, but it does. “She stole it.”
“My mom is not a thief.” Lola scowls, obviously angry that I’d call Andie that. “She already took it back.”
That surprises me too. “Miri. She gave me medicine that made me sleepy.”
“Probably because you were sick. You looked really bad.” She makes a face that tells me just how bad she thought I looked.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She gives me a thousand-watt smile. “But Miri is a nurse, so she made you better. You do feel better, right?” Her eyes narrow as she looks me over, as if she’s not so sure I am better.
“My head hurts.”
“Do you want more medicine? I can get Miri.”
“I’d rather you didn’t.” I scan the room once more. Crumpled up in a corner by the bed is what appears to be my suit jacket. And laying on top of it, my cell phone. “Lola, you’re ten, right?”
She straightens her spine. “A very mature ten.”
“I bet you are. You seem really smart.”
“I am.” Her statement doesn’t contain a shred of doubt and I find myself impressed.
It doesn’t mean I won’t still try to manipulate her into helping me. “That means you can tell when something isn’t right. Like someone kept against their will is wrong. Illegal too. You wouldn’t want your mother to get in trouble, right? Help me get out of this, and I won’t tell anyone,” I promise.
The skepticism that fills her expression would be comical if I wasn’t desperate for her to believe me. “Momma has never tied up a man before. She wouldn’t have done it unless you deserved it.”
“If it will make you feel better, leave me tied up, but let me make a phone call. You see my cell down there?” I motion with my chin to the floor.
Peeking at it, she frowns. “Who do you want to call?”
“My friends. I need to find out how my casino is. Did you mom tell you about it?”
“No.”
“Some really bad guys broke in. Like, really bad. That’s how I was hurt. How your mom was hurt. I need to find out if everyone else is okay. Will you help me?”
