Page 66 of Under the Radar

Mo exhaled a relieved breath. “I can’t feel my feet. Please untie them.”

“I can’t do that, but I won’t hurt you. Let’s sit you up. I’ve got a wheelchair here, and we’ll roll to the bathroom across the room.”

The woman slid her arms under Mo’s shoulders and lifted her into a sitting position. Then she picked up Mo’s bound feet and swung them around so they hung off the bed.

Mo listed from side to side for a few seconds. A shooting pain shot up her cheek, and her head and neck throbbed in unison. “What’s your name?”

“I can’t tell you that. I got babies upstairs. They’ll hurt them if I tell you anything. Help me now, I’m gonna pull you up into a standing position. Don’t try to walk because you’ll topple over, and then I’ll have to get one of the men to get you off the floor. We do not want the guys in here.” She slid her arms around Mo and lifted.

Mo howled with the pain. “The pins and needles in my feet. It’s excruciating.”

“I can only imagine, honey. The chair is right behind you.” She slid the chair against Mo’s knees. “That’s it. Here we go. Sit.” She wheeled her across the room.

Another creaky door opened and the woman applied the brake on the wheelchair. “Please help me. Is there anything sharp in this bathroom to cut these bindings off?

“Not a damn thing, honey, just a roll of toilet paper. I ain’t getting fresh with you, but we gotta get that underwear down so you don’t soil yourself.”

“Okay.” The humiliation was almost more than she could bear. Mo swallowed at the lump in her throat. “Are you sure there isn’t a medicine cabinet or something?”

The woman pressed her down until she sat. “I’ll give you some privacy. This is no time to have a shy bladder. Don’t try to stand on your own. You might hurt yourself, and I don’t want those men in here messing with you. I’ll clean up the mess on the floor by the bed. Betcha got sick from the chloroform. That’s some nasty stuff.”

Desperation raced through Mo’s mind. There had to be a way out of this situation. “Miss? I’ve got money, lots of it. If you help me, I’ll get you out of this place with your kids, set you up somewhere safe, pay your bills, whatever it takes for you to help me.”

“That’s a mighty tempting offer, miss, but it’s a dream. I wouldn’t make it off the block with my kids before they’d gun me down. I’ve seen it before. And then there’s no one to raise my kids. I know you’re wealthy. They unpacked your suitcase in the living room. A couple of them are out enjoying some of that cash. It makes me wonder what a pretty thing like you is doing with that kind of bank. Down here, the only ones with that much money are the pimps and drug lords.”

“You don’t understand. My father’s a wealthy man. He’d pay a lot to have me returned safe and sound.”

“I can’t do it. Now stop asking. I live with a pack of animals. They’re pigs. I’m not anything to them. Just a hooker they took in and use every now and then.”

Mo listened to the sound of a scrub brush on the floor. “Thank you for cleaning up my mess. You shouldn’t have to do that.”

“Well, we do the things we gotta do, and I won’t have you laying in here smelling vomit. I’ll get you some water as soon as I’m done, and an ice pack for your face. Hush, I hear one of ‘em coming.”

The door swung open. “What’s taking you so long, bitch?”

“I’m cleaning up a little mess. The girl’s on the toilet. I’ll be done in a few minutes. Just let me set her to right and help her lay down again.”

“Hurry up, Alice. I think we’re moving her soon.” The door slammed shut.

Alice whispered, “I’ll be right back with some water.”

Mo’s heart raced in a fast staccato. Moving me where?No! This Alice woman might help her.

Alice returned, adjusted Mo’s clothes, and wheeled her back to the bed. The water bottle clicked open.

“Here, drink this. I’ll hold it against your lips. Give me a nod when you want me to tip it up for you.”

Mo sipped, swished it around her mouth and swallowed. She released a shaky breath. “Since you won’t tell me who you are, I’ll tell you about me. Try to remember what I’m going to say. My name is Mo Reardon. My father is Charles Reardon of Reardon Industries. If something happens to me, please tell him that I love him. Tell him you were good to me. He’ll help you if you want.”

The woman poured another sip of water into Mo’s mouth. “Your ear’s all bloody. You lost an earring. You want me to take the other one out for you?”

Mo groaned mid-swallow. Who cares? Omigosh. The earrings…Mac was listening. Maybe he knew where she was and was on his way. Her heart soared. “Leave the earring in, it’s sentimental. Is the other one on the bed? I’d hate to lose it.”

Alice patted the surface of the bed. “No earring here. It probably got lost before they brought you in. The missing earring is on the same side where you took a punch in the face. Your ear’s ripped a little. I told you I live with a bunch of animals.” She tipped the bottle against Mo’s lips again and slipped a tiny paring knife into Mo’s bound fist. “Don’t you get your hopes up, miss. My babies need me.”

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