Page 50 of Detective Daddy Next Door

"Yes, he's the one who introduced me to it."

Wow, I would never have suspected bald-headed Ben. Is that why they were close? My mind goes back to the night at Micha's party when they were dancing together. That night I'd pointed them out to Myles on the dance floor after he just got back from creeping around Micha's house. If only Myles had known the people he was looking for were right in front of him.

"I agreed to work with him and his squad members in other states."

So, I was right, there's a squad. This sounds bigger than I thought.

"The first payment I received blew me away. I’ve been settling my debt. I never meant to steal from anyone, but you have to understand that I need to get out of this situation. I have just one payment left, and I'll be free from debt. And you think I'll let you stop that? I intend to save up enough to leave the country and start a new life somewhere else. I won't let you destroy the life I envision for myself. Ben has suggested we kill you and look for whoever you're working with ourselves if you refuse to talk. I'm sorry, we just might have to take drastic measures."

She gets up and puts the gun in her pocket before taking the tray of food into her hands and opening the door. But before going out she turns and says, "I'll be going to Ben's soon. I'm just telling you in case you need to use the bathroom. I won't be around."

When I need to use the bathroom, I knock on the door with my foot. But using the bathroom is the last thing on my mind right now. I want her gone so I can saw at the rope again. When she’s out and the door is closed, I push away the thought that she didn’t let me eat much. My stomach, which had little hunger pains in it just minutes ago, is full. Not from the little food I ate, but from the hope rising inside of me right now.

A few seconds later, I realize I'd not heard the familiar click that signifies the locking of the door. Is she trying to set a trap for me? Does she want me to wander out of the room so she can shoot me? Is there someone standing outside the door waiting to take me out? She has never forgotten to lock the door before. Why now? Then I hear her footsteps above me walk back to her room from the kitchen. I listen carefully. After a short while, she comes out of her room and walks toward the front door. I wait to hear it unlock, then she shuts the door and locks it. Is this some type of trick? Why did she tell me she was going to see Ben? She's never told me when she was going out before. I wait and listen for footsteps walking back into the house, but I hear none. Then I hear the roaring of a car engine. She's actually leaving. But I have to be cautious. It could be part of the plan.

I sit in silence for a few minutes, waiting for the door to fling open at any second. My heart is racing, and my hands are going numb from the diminished blood flow.To hell with this,I say to myself, and slide down the bed to the floor. I shift impatiently to the bed leg with the sharp edge, put my wrists to it and start to saw with all my might. I saw and saw and saw and lose track of time. I feel like I'm living in a loop. Sweat is running freely down my face. I still have on the same clothes from three days ago, though my hoodie had been taken off the first night I got here. It lies at the foot of the bed. My shirt is soaked with sweat, making me realize that I've been at it a long time. Then I hear a sound. Rope untangling. I start to saw faster. Faster and faster and faster and faster until my hands suddenly break apart.

I'm in disbelief for a few seconds. I sit with my hands still behind me, afraid to bring them to the front. But then I snap back to reality. I don't have much time. I push myself up with the aid of my hands, pain searing through them as I press against the floor. But I don't let it stop me. I snatch my hoodie off the bed and head for the door. I hesitate for a second; all the fears from minutes or hours before are coming back. What if there’s someone at the door? I open it anyway and slowly peek out. The passageway is dark, but I don't see any shadows. I don't shut the door behind me, but rush out of the room and up the narrow stairs, into the upstairs hallway, bumping into things as I run to the living room and race to the front door. But it’s locked and requires a key to unlock it.

A phone. I need a phone. If I don't find one then I'm certain I won't be getting out of this alive, because if Daisy comes back to see the rope off my hands, I'm toast. I run around the living room looking for a phone. A landline. A mobile phone. Anything. I'm still futilely searching when I hear the sound of a phone coming from somewhere. I follow the sound. It’s coming from the couch. There’s a scarf on the couch. Surely, it’s under the scarf. As I draw closer, I see a dim light peering through. I yank the scarf up and see a phone on the couch. I pick it up and wait for it to stop ringing. When it stops, I wait a few more seconds while tapping my left foot on the floor impatiently. When the phone doesn't ring again, I dial Myles's number. I focus hard as I dial, trying to remember the correct number. When I'm sure it's correct, I press call.

It starts to ring.God, please let him be with his phone.It rings and rings and rings and stops. I'm on the verge of crying now because I hear someone outside. I run toward the window and pull the curtain aside. I'm not even trying to be discreet anymore. It's not Daisy, it’s a neighbor from the opposite house taking out the trash. I try to scream to get his attention. Maybe he can call the cops. But the lump in my throat stops me. I can't make a sound. I'm numb. I watch as he goes back inside. I'm sobbing now. I quickly dial Myles's number again. This time he picks up, but I'm crying so hard that I can't say anything. I don't have to say anything because he recognizes my voice.

"Bria? Bria!" he screams. "Where are you, Bria?"

"I…" I say, hyperventilating. "At Daisy's," I say, with little hope because I know Myles doesn't know where Daisy’s house is. The time it’ll take to describe it to him might make it too late for him to come get me in time. But I'm not discouraged. "It's at…" I continue.

"I know where it is. I'm on my way," he says, then hangs up.

He knows where Daisy's house is? We've never come here together. But I'm relieved he does. I go back to the couch and sit on it with my heart thumping. I don’t drop the phone. I'm holding it in my hand in case Myles loses his way and needs directions. I'm still not sure how he knows where the house is. I tap my feet on the floor edgily, the seconds going by like hours. The seconds slowing down the longer it takes for Myles to get here. Then I hear a car. I see the light shooting in through the living room window. I'm shaking hard. Daisy is definitely here. Myles couldn't have gotten here so fast. If he was coming from home, it would be impossible. I walk toward the window with my knees buckling. The phone falls out of my hands when I see…when I see Myles's car. I jump to the door and try to open it, but it's still locked. I start to pound on it.

"Bria!" Myles shouts from the other side.

"Yes! I’m in here," I scream.

I hear him try to open the door.

"It's locked and Daisy will be back soon."

"I'll need you to step back from the door, okay? Step back. I'll try to break it open."

I step away from it. “Okay.”

I hear a loud bang, but nothing happens. I hear another bang. I move to the window to look. I see him go far away and run into the door with his right foot up. But nothing happens. He moves back and kicks at the door again. Then I hear a crack. I want to run to the door, but I stay put with my heart jumping into my throat. Then I hear a loud bang that sends the door flying. I run to the door and meet Myles rushing in.

"Oh my God. Oh my God," I cry.

He doesn't say anything, but whisks me to the car. When I'm in the passenger seat he runs to the driver's side, and soon we're pulling out of the street. We're only maybe two minutes from Daisy’s house when I look down and see the deep cuts on my wrists.

Chapter 20

Myles

Ipullthecarout of the driveway and head out to the store. It's been four days since Bria was found. It's been four days of intense relief for me. But Bria's been living in fear because she thinks Daisy and their other colleague, Ben, will come for her. Since she came back from the hospital yesterday, she's been at my house. She refused to go to her home. I was the one who went to get her clothes and necessities. She's also told me everything she went through.

That night, while I was racing down to Daisy’s house to save her, I did not have the time to call the police. But when we were safely out of the house and far away from the street, I called them and gave them the address. I also called Jon and told him to meet us at the hospital I was headed to, where we had Bria's room protected by an officer. There’s no telling what these people are capable of.

I pull into the parking lot of the grocery store. When I get out of the car, I look around and put my hand on my gun in the holster around my waist. I walk quickly until I get to the door and push it open. I walk down the aisles. We ran out of food this morning. Although Bria's not been eating much, Ellie will be expecting a full meal when she gets home from school. I get the things I need and go to the cashier to pay. Everyone looks suspicious to me, even the old woman pushing a cart. I can't pay and get out fast enough.

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