Page 96 of Murder in the Tea Leaves

But after twenty minutes of squirming and banging against the cement, rubbing their knuckles and elbows raw, they hadn’t made much forward progress.

“I’m starting to get worried,” Theodosia said.

“Wait a minute. Do you have your cell phone?”

“It’s in the pocket of my slacks. I tried to reach it but…no luck.”

“Let me try.”

They squirmed and stretched as if they were playing a game of Twister, but that didn’t work, either.

“We got nothin’,” Drayton said, sounding dispirited.

“All I’ve got…” Theodosia wiggled around, tugging hard at her bindings and managing to slightly loosen one part. Which gave her hope. Sticking two fingers into her jacket pocket, she said, “The most I can probably manage is to reach that stupid key to the Sea Witch.”

“Say what?” Drayton said.

“The key fob with…”

“Can you wiggle it out of your pocket?” he asked, a note of excitement coloring his voice.

“Maybe. But what good’s it going to do us?”

“Indulge me.”

So Theodosia struggled and strained some more until she was able to worm a hand all the way into her pocket. Finally, using her forefinger and middle finger, she was able to pluck out the key fob.

“You think we can saw our way out with this? It’s just a big fake plastic key.”

“Give it to me.”

Theodosia passed the key fob to Drayton. He worked it around one-handedly, poking and prodding at one end. There was a soft click, then a small blade popped out one side of the key fob.

“Whoa, is that what I think it is?” Theodosia asked.

“It’s a kind of penknife,” Drayton said as he began sawing at his ropes. “And lucky for us, camouflaged as a key fob.”

“Fantastic!” Theodosia was suddenly energized. Maybe they really could get out of here.

Drayton sawed the small knife back and forth, working at his ropes. He cut through one in a matter of a few minutes, untangled some of it, and continued sawing.

“How are you doing?” Theodosia asked, anxiety gnawing at her now.

“Still working at it.”

“Maybe…work harder?”

Drayton did renew his efforts, and ten minutes later, they were both free from their bonds!

“We gotta book it and get out of here,” Theodosia said. “Those goons are going to be back any minute.”

She’d hardly uttered the words when they heard the crunch of gravel outside.

“Oh my Lord,” Drayton said, clapping a hand to his chest. “They’re here. Now what?”

Theodosia glanced around, looking for a weapon. A tire iron, a rake, anything they could use to fight their way out. All she saw was Tony’s motorcycle.

Quick as a fox she jumped into the saddle. She held in the clutch, hit the start button on the right handlebar, then twisted the throttle to give it some gas. A split second later she was rewarded with a loud whomp followed by a nice throaty rumble.

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