Page 134 of For the Birds

I glanced at James before I looped my hand over the back of the chair, but his face had become unreadable. I dragged it as Merv tugged me backward.

He stopped after about twenty feet. “Nowsit.”

He was no doubt planning to tie me up, so if I was going to use my gun, now was the time. But Merv still had his weapon pointed at my temple. If I made a wrong move, I had no doubt he would shootme.

I stood behind the chair, still unsure about what to do, but Merv pressed the gun harder into my head. “You’d hate for James to have to see your brains splattered on the floor. Sit.”

My anger was growing stronger than myfear.

Still holding my arm, Merv dragged me around to the front of the chair and pushed me down until my butt was firmly planted onit.

“Skeeter,” Merv said. “Grab that duct tape on the floor and bring itover.”

James looked torn, but he wasn’t in a position to say no. After a second, he walked over to the roll of tape and squatted to pick it up, never shifting his gaze fromMerv.

“Now bring it over like a good boy. And drop your gun. I don’t like it pointed in this direction. I’d hate for you to accidentally shootRose.”

James started to put it behind his back, but Merv jammed the gun into the side of my head again. “Good try. Dropit.”

James tossed it onto the ground with enough force that it skidded toward Merv’scar.

“And the other one,” Merv said. “The one on your ankle.” He released a short laugh. “It sucks that I know all your tricks, huh?”

James didn’t answer, just squatted again with the roll of duct tape in one hand and pulled up his pant leg with his free hand, revealing the gun strapped to his ankle. He pulled it loose and dropped it on the floor.

“And the knife.”

James reached around to the other leg and removed a sheathed blade from its strap.

“Okay,” Merv said. “Walk over to Rose, and you’re gonna tie her up. And make sure it’s tight enough, or she’ll be the one to pay the consequences.”

James walked over and dropped to one knee at my side, still facing me as he set the tape on the floor. His eyes softened as they searched myface.

“Hey,” I said quietly. “Fancy meetin’ youhere.”

His mouth twitched.

“Get to tyin’ her up,” Mervsaid.

James glanced up at him with hate-filled eyes. “I’ll do it, but we both know this is probably the last time you’ll let me near her. Let me tell her goodbye.”

Uncertainty filled Merv’s eyes, but he nodded.

“Step back so I can talk toher.”

Merv laughed. “Begme.”

I suspected this was the first of many times tonight he planned to make James beg on my behalf. “Don’t do it,” I whispered.

James ignored me, looking up at his former friend. “Will you give me half a minute of privacy with Rose? Please.”

Merv laughed again. “You have twenty seconds.” Then he stepped back several paces.

James cupped the side of my face. His thumb traced below the cut on my cheekbone. “I’m sorry.”

I shook my head and threw my arms around his neck, leaning into his ear and whispered, “I have a gun strapped to my left thigh. Get it and useit.”

He whispered back, “Merv will shoot you. I have another plan to get you out of this. But you have to do what Isay.”

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