Page 16 of Halloween in Sleepy Hollow
If the walls of the vault are made of concrete, I’m not sure if the signal would get through.
I sneak a look at Ari’s ears when our captor’s back is turned. But she’s wearing feathered earrings to match her pigeon costume and not the small studs Blade and Arrow gave her so many years ago.
Then I turn to look at Shea.
Gold glints from her ears.
Hope fizzes up.
She notices me looking and gives me a tiny nod.
Yes. They’re the earrings.
Under my breath, I ask, “Did you get to trigger them?” Because the earrings aren’t just good for passive tracking, They can be used to signal for help if the center of either one is pushed.
Shea flicks a fearful glance at Headless Horseman. But he’s not paying attention for once. Instead, he’s setting out black pillar candles in a circle in the center of the room, muttering to himself as he arranges them.
“I couldn’t,” she replies quietly. “I wanted to. But…” Her gaze dips to her crossed legs. “I was too scared.”
Guilt darkens her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she adds in an undertone. The gun… But I should have.”
“No, you did the right thing.” I wish I could pat her arm, hold her hand, dosomethingto comfort her. But tied up like I am, all I can do is give her a weak smile. “It’s okay. The guys will find us.”
Somehow.
They have to.
By now, Ben, Cash, and Oliver must have called for reinforcements. Kane for sure, since he’s Oliver’s partner. Grant, most likely, since he’s already there. And Oliver would call Cole Mitchell with Blade and Arrow Security, since his sister, Maya, is married to him.
So that’s a lot of people looking for us, really. Smart people. People who’ve trained to rescue captives from dangerous situations. People who can find pretty much any information they need on the computer, like Ben.
Surely they’ll find us soon.
All we need to do is stay alive until then.
Then we can go home. Kiss our husbands. Cuddle our kids. Come up with a non-frightening reason why we disappeared in the middle of the Halloween festival?—
Elias’s sweet face comes to me, bringing with it the prickle of impending tears. My throat goes thick. My chest squeezes.
What must Elias be thinking?
Is he wondering where I am?
Does he think I deserted him?
And what about Laila? Did she call from the party? Text? Is she having a good time, or does she want me to come get her?
And Ben.
My Ben.
I have to see him again.
I want so badly to feel his arms wrapped around me, his comforting presence reassuring me that everything’s okay. That I’m safe. That?—
A tear trickles down my cheek, hot and stinging on my chilled skin. Another follows. And another.
Ari clears her throat quietly, drawing my attention. Compassion softens her gaze.
