Page 63 of Captive Hearts
Everyone began to talk among themselves. Greg and Sam were chatting about what would happen when they got out - they were very careful to emphasise the ‘when’ of it, rather than ‘if’ - and were making plans to go on a lovely, long holiday somewhere hot where Sam could work on his tan. Tina was watching Leanne, who kept demanding Tina move back and give her space to concentrate.
Ashley shuffled over to Gina. If this was the last moment they’d have before the madness of the handover kicked off, she was taking it. Even if it was within earshot of everyone.
‘Hi,’ she said.
‘Hello,’ Gina said. ‘So, how’re things?’ she asked wryly.
‘Been better, been worse,’ Ashley shrugged with a sad smile.
‘You’ve been amazing is what you’ve been,’ Gina told her.
Ashley sighed. ‘That really remains to be seen. But it’s nice of you to say.’
‘You should know. If nothing else, you should knowthat.’
‘I’ve done my best. I hope it was enough,’ Ashley said. ‘But… I couldn’t have handled Pete at all, if… if not for you,’ Ashley said hesitantly, touching the back of her neck, feeling a weird heat in her skin. It was ridiculous. In amongst all ofthis, why was she nervous to talk to Gina? Ten minutes from the possible chopping block and she was like some insecure teenager trying to chat up someone out of her league.
‘I didn’t do anything,’ Gina said easily.
‘You stopped Pete from, well, you know…’
‘Again, we really don’t know what he would have done. He was probably just trying to scare you,’ Gina dismissed.
‘Mission accomplished. I almost passed out with fear. Butyoudidn’t. You were brave. You’ve had my back all day, actually. That’s how I got through this,’ she told her. There might not be another chance to pay her this compliment.
‘Really?’ Gina asked. ‘Me?’
‘Yes. You. And…’ Ashley checked the small room, but people had their own stuff going on. ‘What happened. Inhere. That wasn’t… It wasn’t what I said to Pete, I hope you know. It wasn’t just stress relief.’ Ashley took the deepest breath of her life. ‘It was… special.’
A slow smile appeared on Gina’s face. ‘Yeah. It was.’ Gina slipped her hand into Ashley’s. Ashley took it gladly, caressing Gina’s palm with her thumb. ‘So, if this all goes alright, do you have any plans after?’ Gina asked with a nervous giggle.
‘God, this cupboard’s gay,’ Leanne muttered irritably to herself. Everyone ignored her.
‘Oh! Are you… are you asking me out?’ Ashley said, strangely taken by surprise.
‘Shit, did I misread?’ Gina asked, abruptly horrified.
‘No, no, god no… You’re not misreading. I mean, I think… I know we didn’t get off to a great start, but…’
‘Look, Ialwaysthought you were hot,’ Gina admitted. ‘Even when you were being mean to me.’
‘And I thought you were hot when I was being mean to you too,’ Ashley said with a warm laugh. ‘So-’
‘Hey, sorry to interrupt the love story in the corner, but I think I’ve just about got the lock sorted,’ Leanne called from the door.
Gina’s and Ashley’s heads swivelled. ‘What?’ they said in panicked unison.
‘Yeah, I heard something move,’ she said, still fiddling.
Ashley dashed over. ‘I don’t know if this is a good idea.’
A clink noise came from beyond the door. But it wasn’t the sound of a lock opening. It was in fact the sound of the key that was stuck in the other side of the door falling out of the lock. ‘Leanne, you fuckingidiot!’ Ashley hissed.
‘How am I an idiot?’ Leanne said from her knees.
‘Because you pushed the key out, the one Pete left in. And when he comes back…’
‘Hey, I just found a knife!’ Sam suddenly said, producing the penknife that Ashley had hidden hours earlier. Ashley gasped and grabbed it. ‘No, Sam-’
The door swung open, Leanne stood quickly, throwing her little pick away.
Pete appeared in the doorway. He was holding the gun, as ever. He was also holding the key. He studied the scene in the cupboard. Ashley with her knife. She realised immediately how it looked. Like she’d used the knife to poke the key out. Maybe intending to use the blade another way too.
Pete seemed disappointed and very angry. ‘I just found the key outside, and I was really hoping it wasn’t... After what happened earlier, I really thought you’d learnt your lesson, Ashley. Give me that knife. Now.’
Ashley handed him the knife carefully. ‘Pete, you’ve got it wrong…’ She began and then stopped. What she’d been going to say was that this was all Leanne. Only there was a slight problem with that. As much as Leanne was an utter dick, Ashley couldn’t quite bring herself to throw her to the wolves. Under the present circumstances, it was hard to know what that might mean. Though, obviously, it would be a bit weird for him to start shooting people right now, just as he was about to get away. But who knew?
So Ashley closed her mouth and waited for Pete’s thumb to swing. ‘You know, I was going to have to pick someone to be right up close and personal when we go out, a head to point my gun at. I was thinking of going with Leanne here,’ he said, motioning the gun to Leanne, whose eyes widened. ‘But youlovebeing in charge, don’t you? You’ve been controlling me all day, telling me what to do, picking my plans to bits. And now you’ve donethis.’ He inhaled through his nose, putting the knife in his pocket, glaring at Ashley in a way that made her blood run cold. ‘So I thinkyou’regonna be my wing-woman on my way out. Just like you’vehelpedall day. A final thank you, from me to you. That way, if anything goes tits up, you’ll be right there with me. Know what I’m saying?’
Ashley did indeed know what he was saying.
