Page 3 of Between the Lies

Shah eyed her. ‘You’re past security.’

‘Yes, but if someone sees this—’ She showed him the outline of red-brown around her nails, then her palm, where a few streaks still marred her skin.

‘No,’ was his only reply.

Nina sat back. That tactic wouldn’t work. She needed to think of a better escape plan.Think, Nina!

Fifteen minutes later, she stretched up, then kneaded her knees. Shah cast her a warning glance then resumed his perusal of the airport.

Nina continued her stretches, bending and twisting before sitting back in her seat, ‘I really should use the loo.’

Shah shook his head and tightened his legs around her backpack.

‘I’m not kidding. I’ve got to go.’

He turned to her, his dark eyes so opaque, she couldn’t begin to guess what he was thinking. ‘Working in a prison with worse people than you, I’ve heard better excuses than a bastard needing a piss. You need to go, go.’

‘Where?’

‘Here.’

Nina blinked at him. ‘Here? You want me to… go in my chair?’

‘Aye.’ He’d lost interest in her and had resumed looking at the people on the opposite side of the waiting area.

Nina squeezed her legs together. ‘Please let me go. You’ve got my backpack, my tickets. There’s nowhere I can go without either of those.’

This time he didn’t even respond.

‘Please,’ Nina tried again. ‘Please.’

‘No.’

Nina kept breathing through her mouth, then squeezed her legs tighter. ‘I can’t hold it anymore. I’m about to… about to…Please.’

Pratt looked up from his solitaire. ‘Let her go, Shah.’

‘Both of you, shut up. And you, don’t threaten me. You want to go, do it here.’

Nina gritted her teeth and imagined jabbing this man. Instead, she squeezed her legs again and felt it – the first trickle. Right there, in a crowded airport, Nina wet her trousers. If that eight-year-old saw her now, he’d have things to say.

The liquid spread around her, and Nina shut her eyes. The last thing she needed was eyes on her, judging her. Her trouser legs were quickly soaked, and the liquid spread lower, lower until?—

‘Oh, sweet Jesus!’ Pratt jumped up. ‘Fuck!’

Shah blinked out of his stupor and turned to see what Pratt was pointing at. His eyes widened when he saw Nina sitting in a pool of liquid.

Nina shrugged. ‘Now can I go to the loo and at least clean myself up?’

‘Let her go, Shah. Shit! I’m not sitting next to her!’ Pratt shouted.

‘Shut up!’ Shah growled, looking around to ensure no one was looking. He stood up, making sure his coat didn’t brush against Nina’s chair.

The drip-drip-drip of the liquid sounded painfully loud to Nina, her ears amplifying the sound just to drive the mortification home.

‘Please,’ she whispered. ‘This is humiliating enough. Haven’t you had your kicks yet? Let me go to the loo and clean up. I have a spare set of clothes in my backpack.’

Shah studied the floor again. The liquid was now forming a puddle under her chair. He cast a glance back towards the rest of the waiting area.

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