Chapter 46
Effie couldn’t help but knit her brows. Was she… kidnapped?
She forced herself to stay calm.
Shifting her aching body, she tried to get her bearings. Her wrists were tied tightly behind her back with coarse rope, her ankles bound so she couldn’t move. The air was heavy with a damp, moldy stench, laced with the sharp, chemical bite of ether that made her stomach churn.
“Who… who are you? Why did you bring me here? I don’t have any money,” Effie croaked, her voice hoarse.
She took a shaky breath, willing herself not to panic.
One of the kidnappers, a bald man, snorted. “Cut the act, sweetheart. We know all about that fat stack of cash you just got your hands on. Think you can trick us? You’re not nearly clever enough.”
Effie’s heart lurched. The only ones who knew about the money from selling her shares were Mitchell and Suzan-or so she thought.
The payment had only come through yesterday, and now here she was, kidnapped the very next day.
That was fast. Too fast.
Effie pressed her lips together and put on her best pitiful face. “You guys must have the wrong info. Just look at me-my clothes, my bag-together they’re not even worth thirty bucks. I just got fired, too. Do I really look like someone with money?”
The two men exchanged a glance.
Then the other one-the one with the scar across his cheek-pulled a small knife from his pocket. Its blade gleamed coldly in the dim light as he slowly brought it up to Effie’s face.
He growled, voice rough and menacing, “Don’t play games with us, lady. We’ve done our homework.”
“Fine, believe what you want,” Effie said, trying to keep her voice steady. “But if there’s no money, then I guess my life just isn’t worth much.”
Her heart hammered in her chest, but she forced herself not to look away as she met the scarred man’s eyes.
The two men were clearly unsatisfied. “What about your family? Surely someone would pay up for you.”
Effie let out a faint, bitter sigh. “I don’t have anyone left. My mom’s gone, and my dad-well, he never cared much.”
The bald guy grunted, impatient. “Enough with the sob story. If there’s no cash, there’s no point in wasting our time. Maybe we’ll just have our fun with you instead. That’s worth something.”
The scarred man nodded, leering. “Yeah, it’s been a while since we’ve had a good time.”
His gaze drifted down to the neckline of Effie’s blouse, lingering on her pale skin. He swallowed, his intentions clear.
Originally, they’d only been hired to take some compromising photos. But now, if there was no ransom, they figured they’d get paid another way.
Effie felt a wave of cold terror crash through her, her blood freezing in her veins. She hadn’t expected them to be this depraved.
Stay calm, she told herself over and over. Think. What do I do?
As the two men started closing in, Effie suddenly spoke, her voice soft and sweet. “Wait. Tying me up like this isn’t much fun, is it? Why don’t you untie me?”
She was stalling, hoping desperately that Lyman would realize she was missing and come looking for her.
The bald man eyed her suspiciously. “Trying to pull something?”
Effie put on her most innocent expression. “Come on, guys-there are two of you
and I’m just one woman. You really think I could get away?”
The scarred man nodded. “She’s got a point. Wouldn’t be any fun if she just lies there like dead weight.”
The bald man considered, then shrugged. “Fine.”
He untied her.
Effie swallowed hard, trying to figure out how to buy herself more time. Silently, she prayed that Lyman would realize something was wrong and come for her.