Page 39 of The Captive Missing

“You were definitely somewhere.” Charlie’s voice was easy and quiet. “Two more, then you can take a break.”

“What’s their plan for me?” Val pushed through the pain before collapsing onto her stomach. She shifted her face to the side to watch his expression.

“You really want to know?” Charlie grimaced, hazel eyes flicking away.

“I do.”

Rolling his shoulders, he pushed up to standing and walked casually away from her. Val lay still, watching him.

He stopped at a small table that was pushed up against one wall and grabbed two water bottles off its surface. Twisting the caps to loosen them, he glanced over at the guard. The man sat as he always did, nose poked in a book, legs crossed at the ankle in front of him.

After taking a sip, Charlie recapped his bottle and walked back over to Val.

“It’s treadmill time,” he announced.

Looking down at her, Charlie extended a hand and waited. Val analyzed his face, wondering at the careful patience that seemed to dominate every move he made. Reaching up, she placed her hand in his and felt him lift her easily to her feet. They walked together over to the line of running machines where four other captives jogged along, shoes slapping at pedals, arms pumping in a disjointed dance.

Charlie chose two treadmills at the far end, away from any listening ears. Stepping up on the first one, he punched at a series of buttons, then leaned over and set up the same program for Val. She took her place beside him as the wide black tread began to rotate.

It was a slow pace, as if they were going out for a casual stroll. Through the wall of windows, they could see the pool. Kids screamed and ran, splashing together in the blue water. If Val craned her neck to the left, she could just make out the edge of the elementary school playground. Small children sat in a sandbox, or rolled around on a patch of grass.

“Cambric’s been advertising something they call The Val Experience.” Charlie’s voice was low. “As far as I can tell, they plan on renting you out for a day at a time. It’s set up for high-rollers only. The price is substantial.”

“How do you know that?” Val’s stomach twisted, but any fear was dampened by the drugs in her system.

“I have my sources,” Charlie supplied, then seeing her face, he added. “If I tell you how, and you rat me out, then I’m done for.”

“I won’t tell,” Val assured him. “No matter what they do to me.”

They walked in silence for a while. Both of them watched the goings on outside the window. A little boy ran across the wet cement and just made it to the edge before launching his flailing body high over the water. Instinctively, Val had held her breath, waiting any moment for the child to slip and fall. But he didn’t. Instead, he soared in an arc that ended in a glorious splash. When he surfaced, his friends clapped him on the back, encouraging him for more.

“I have a monthly client list,” Charlie began finally. “Three of the women I’ve seen for years.”

“I thought you were permanent placement?” Val interrupted.

“I was marketed that way at first but after Gabe sold, Cambric decided to keep me.”

“Why?”

“Does it matter?”

“I guess not.”

“Anyway, my regulars are sympathetic to my situation. One is a widow and the other two are married. The whole arrangement is really discreet, but that’s beside the point.”

Charlie paused to look quickly around the room before resuming. “They have me for an entire day, but mostly they just want attention. We watch television, I get to read anything I want and I get unrestricted access to the internet. They like to talk a lot. So, I mostly listen.”

“And you get some news from the outside.”

“I get all the news from the outside.”

“Do you share it?”

“I tell certain people, and they tell their people and so on. The information gets around. So far no one’s gotten busted for it.”

“So…” Val sucked in a breath. “The Val Experience is all over the internet?”

“It’s everywhere.” Charlie’s frown eased. “And so is your scary screaming husband.”

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