Cody has never been lucky in love. In fact, he isn’t feeling very lucky at all. Losing his job and all his money means he has to sell his home. He feels overwhelmed at having to start from scratch again.<br><br>Cody decides to get away from it all, and retreats to a secluded forest for some peace and quiet. But two days into his journey, he’s hit over the head as he’s emerging from his tent. When he wakes up, he discovers he’s tied to a chair in a dark room. He struggles against his bonds, and when he hears someone approaching, he begins to panic.<br><br>Who kidnapped him? What do they want from a man who has nothing left?

Tied Up In Knots

In the midst of his thoughts, he became aware of voices. Men’s voices.


He stopped dead in his tracks, his ears pricked to discern from which direction they were coming. And they were getting closer. His heart pounded. What am I going to do?


He ran towards the river, to an outcrop of rocks at the foot of the cliff. He found a crevice large enough to accommodate him, and slid in, bringing his fishing equipment with him. His heart continued pounding. Had he not been completely naked, he would have felt better. Felt less exposed. Less vulnerable.


He craned his neck as much as he dared as the voices grew louder.


“Is this the spot?” asked one of the men.


Chapter 20