Chapter Sixteen

Cecilia

My heart sank as he hit the disconnect button, dropped the phone to the gravel, and stomped on it. The phone shattered, crunching beneath the heel of his shoe. From the trunk’s light, I saw the blood splatter on his jeans and shoes. It was enough of a reminder that no matter what kindness he’d just shown me, this man was a killer.

Crouching down, he gathered the broken plastic and walking beyond the gravel and line of grass, threw the remains of the phone down into the ravine.

“Get back in the car.”

“Tell me why you won’t take me to my family?”

“I’m not sure what I’m doing with you,” he said. “Now, don’t make me repeat myself. Get in the car.”

There was every reason to be intimidated by this man. Perhaps if I’d been captured by him first, before the three horrible kidnappers, I would be. Instead of obeying his repeated command, I asked, “How much farther do we have to go?”