Revealing Annie - Freya Barker Page 0,84
too, but you didn’t listen. Why wouldn’t you listen?
“I did the right thing. Gave you some space, patiently waiting and watching. Then I noticed that guy across the road watching you too. He even looked like the other one. It was easy to get into his place, leave some things behind, set the fire. I had to make a statement, send a message.”
It’s eerie, almost like he’s talking to himself, as if I’m not even here.
I’m wedged in my tight confinement, unable to properly test the tape at my wrists, when I feel the van slow down. It makes another sharp turn and then stops.
“I’ll be right back,” I hear him say. “Picking up a surprise for you; don’t move.”
He follows it up with a strange giggle that has every hair on my body stand on end. As soon as the door slams shut, I know if I don’t do something now I may not get another chance.
Since my ability to move is limited, I use my weight to rock the bin from side to side until the momentum tips it over. With my arms no longer wedged, I’m now able to pull at my restraints, finding I don’t have a lot of movement. One side of the van has shallow metal shelving, with L-shaped poles screwed into the floor and ceiling.
I manage to sit up, slide my back to a pole, and frantically feel around with my fingers for a rough edge. I find it where a crossbar is attached with a simple screw instead of a bolt. Separating my wrists as far as the tape will allow, I rub it against the tapered back of the screw.
In what feels like an eternity but in effect is probably only a minute or two, I feel the tape ripping, and with a little added force I’m able to get my hands free. With the use of my fingers, the tape around my ankles is not that hard to remove.
There’s nothing like a handle or something to open the back doors, so I dive between the seats to the front, peeking out the side window. It looks like we’re parked at the back of the Walmart store. I don’t see anything other than the trees bordering the back of the parking lot and two containers about ten feet from a loading door.
With no one in sight, I try the door, which opens easily. Ignoring the pain in my hip, I lower myself from the cab. I freeze for a moment, unable to decide whether to try and make it to the front of the store where I can find help, or run the opposite way and hide in the trees.
Then I realize I have a third option.
28
Sumo
It’s tearing me apart.
“Sumo, he wants to talk to you.”
Blue hands me the phone, and I try to throw Bryce a reassuring smile to alleviate the worry in his eyes as I put it to my ear.
“City Market van?” Tony barks.
“That’s what he said. Guy from the bakery.” I close my eyes and try to picture the man I’ve seen less than a handful of times. “Dirty blond, light eyes. Maybe six one…or two. Average. Fuck, I can’t think.”
“You’re doing fine. Name?”
Shit, I’m positive she mentioned it before. I remember the girl, Jenny, but I can’t think of…
“Ken, I’m pretty sure… No, it’s Ted. Yeah, Ted; I’m sure of it.”
I hear Tony relay the information before he’s back on the line.
“Keith is already pulling up to the City Market. We’ll get him.”
The line goes dead and I look over at Bryce, who winces when we hit a bump.
“He’s in pain,” I tell Blue, handing her back her phone.
“Already gave him something. Give it a minute to work.”
“Coming up on Mercy,” Cheddar calls from the front.
“Dad, you should go find her.”
I take his hand and kiss it.
“I’m not going anywhere, kid.”
“What about Annie?”
Fuck, ripping my heart right down the middle. I want to go out there and find her so badly, but I know my place is here.
“Cops will find her, Son.”
“Are you sure?”
Hell, no, I’m not sure. Whoever has her has been able to fly under the radar for a couple of years already. Christ, he’s been right under our noses the whole time.
Still, I lie to my child.
“I’m positive.”
Annie
The smell is overwhelming.
When I flung myself over the edge of the dumpster, I landed in a pile of rotting produce, but I’m afraid to move. I’m not sure how long it’s been, but it feels