Page 35 of Seeking Evil

She tried again to get her foot to guide the tray closer. This time it inched a smidgen forward.

Don’t rush it.

She pulled in several breaths and inched her foot beneath the tray. It moved closer to her hand. Inch by inch she worked. The pace was excruciatingly slow and went against every instinct in Sierra’s body. She was a take-charge person.

Zeke was always telling her she needed to ask questions first before she reacted when working a case. That wasn’t her. Maybe that was one of the reasons why she and Zeke had struggled with their relationship. She knew she loved him. Knew she wanted a future. Didn’t want to wait a second longer for that future to start.

He, on the other hand, needed to think things through from all angles. She understood that was because of what his father had done to the family by leaving them. Zeke had to grow up quickly. He told her once he didn’t want to make any mistakes. She’d told him she understood all that, but did she really? She’d tried to steamroll him into agreeing with what she wanted instead of waiting for him to catch up with her.

“I’m sorry, Zeke. I see what you need now.”God, please give me the chance to tell him.

Tears flooded her eyes, blinding everything. She turned her head to wipe them away on her shirt.

Get free. Then cry.

When her fingers reached the tray, they shook so much she was terrified she’d turn it over and out of her reach. Sierra forced herself to steady them.

“How are you doing in there, Dawn?” she asked while pulling in several calming breaths.

“I have it. I have the brick.”

“That’s great. I know it won’t be easy, but try to get your restraints free.” Sierra understood it would possibly mean Dawn would end up injured in the process. She hated that. The young woman had been through enough as it was. But time was running out. If the person working with Henry showed up here to finish off Sierra, they’d find Dawn. Both would end up in those barrels.

Get it together. Her hands weren’t shaking now. She stretched her fingers out and grabbed the first tool she found. It looked like some type of scissors.

Sierra glanced down at her wrists. Henry had double-locked them to the table. She went to work on the first lock. Using scissors was far different from the paperclip. As she stabbed one blade into the tiny lock, the point broke off.

“No!” She tried not to fall apart. Using the unbroken part of the scissors, Sierra eased up on the pressure she put on it. Still, the tip was too big to get inside the keyhole.

She studied the instrument tray. Another set of scissors came to a thinner point. She pulled the tray over close. It hit the side of the table and almost turned over. “No, no, no.”

She waited for the rocking to stop before she tried again. They were just too far away. She’d never be able to get to them.

Don’t you dare give up!

She steadied her breathing and took stock of what she had on her person. Earrings. The sapphire earrings Zeke gave her for her birthday. The post would fit the key lock.

Sierra leaned over until her fingers could reach the backing of the earring. Getting it free was challenging. When the earring dropped free, she caught it before it fell off the table.

“Okay, okay, let’s do this.” Sierra positioned the post between her thumb and forefinger and went to work.

Using such a small tool made it difficult to get her rhythm down.

Picture it as the paperclip. She closed her eyes and listened as she worked the lock. The unlocking sound was the sweetest of all. Tears filled her eyes. She fought against giving into them. There was still work to do.

One down. She started on the second lock. Now that she had her cadence down, it didn’t take long for the second one to release.

With her hand free, it made it much easier to work on the rest of the locks.

A bloodcurdling scream interrupted her work on the ankle locks.

“Dawn, are you okay?”

More screams followed. “My wrist. I think I broke it.”

“Hang on. I’m close to getting free. I’ll come help you.”

Muffled sobs were all Sierra heard. “Come on.” The last lock on her ankle was the hardest. It took multiple tries before it finally released.

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