Page 35 of Hidden Chance

She turned to focus on the path in front of her and let the terror push her forward. But right before she made it out into the open, his hand grabbed her arm, and he yanked her around. The last thing she saw was his fist swinging toward her head. Then the lights went off.

Chapter 10

Hannah’s earswhooshed as she fought the fog of a dream. She couldn’t remember falling asleep. She couldn’t even remember going home. All she could remember was finding Robby in her office. Or was that part of the dream? That couldn’t have been real. He attacked her. He accused her of having a scam going in Burma for her own benefit. It must have been a bad dream.

Steadying her breathing helped as full consciousness returned, and she blinked awake in the dark. Had she fainted? A muffled thrumming surrounded her, along with a vibration. She tried to roll over but couldn’t. Her knees banged on something as she came fully aware of the tiny space around her and threw her arms out in alarm, hitting the roof inches from her head.

She sucked in fast breaths as her memory fully returned and she realized she was in the trunk of a car. The nightmare was real.

Her hands pressed against the sides of her prison asshe focused on keeping her panic under control. Her body tingled as shock crept in. The last thing she wanted was to pass out, but the fear continued to turn her stomach in violent circles, and she blew out slow breaths to settle it.

“This can’t be happening. Please, God. Don’t let me die.”

She ran her hand along the sides and bottom of the cabin, searching for anything she could use as a weapon. Her finger found the space in the cover where the spare tire was kept, but it was impossible to lift it with her body on top of it. She twisted, pressing herself as far back as she could go, her neck protesting in pain at the movement. She touched it and found it was tender. The hit that knocked her out was beyond her memories, but that would explain why she’d been unconscious.

As she tried to lever the cover out of the way, the car turned and stopped, and she frantically yanked at the panel, bending it against her body. But it was no use. The car door opened, then closed, and she pulled herself into a fetal position with no idea what her fate was from here.

When the trunk opened, Robby was there, his face drawn in worry and his eyes red and swollen from the pepper spray.

“I’m sorry about all this,” he said. “It isn’t how I wanted things to go. You feeling okay?”

She didn’t know how to respond. His concern sounded genuine enough to ease her fear, but what did he expect her to say in return? That everything was fine, and he shouldn’t worry about it?

“I won’t hurt you,” he said.

“You already did.” She reached for her neck.

He rubbed his own. “Yeah. Like I said?—”

“You’re sorry. I heard.” She sat up, and he took a step back.

“But I did warn you. Everything about this mission is highly sensitive. I couldn’t risk you getting away and warning the others.”

“What others?”

“You can give up the act. I know there’s no way you could do this all on your own.”

“I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“We’ll see. You can climb out now.”

“What if I like it where I am?”

“You’re going to make me use force again?”

“I’m sorry for not being cooperative with your kidnapping.”

“I’m not kidnapping you.”

“What do you call forcing someone to come with you against their will?”

“You can consider yourself a POW for lack of a better term.”

“Prisoner of war? Great. So I have some conspiracy nut taking me hostage. No wonder you think I’m guilty of some imaginary crime.”

“I’m not a conspiracy nut. I told you I work with the federal government.”

“And I’m supposed to just believe you? What war is it you think I’m a part of, anyway?”

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