Page 10

NINE

Victoria lies still, slowing her breathing, listening. But she can only hear the wet sound of her breath coming through her broken nose. She doesn’t know how long she’s been here. One day? Two? She’s beyond feeling humiliation at being naked and lying in her own excrement. She hasn’t been offered any water or food and she’s thirsty and hungry. She’s slept randomly, jerking awake with a whimper and curling into a fetal position. The sides of her mouth and her tongue are raw from her muffled screams.

She thinks, I’m still here. I’m still alive. But she doesn’t know how much more she can take. The sinus drainage of snot and blood runs down her throat and causes her to retch painfully.

She knows she has to do something, anything, if she’s going to be saved. If she could talk to them, she could plead with them. Give them whatever they want. Promise not to tell anyone. She’ll tell Jack that she was mugged and left unconscious. Regardless of how they want to do this, she’ll make sure they get their money and that will be the end of it. She’ll refuse to cooperate with the police. She just wants to live.

Her breath comes in hitches. She sucks in air around the gag and is about to cry out in despair when something stops her. She hears the sound of footsteps coming from somewhere.

Victoria lies perfectly still, feigning unconsciousness, praying they can’t hear her heartbeat pounding. She’s surrendering to her death and prays to God that her Rebecca is safe.