Page 6 of Kidnapped By the Boss

“That’s been happening around here lately right?” Annie asked. “Is it the same people?”

“I believe so,” she responded.

“”What are their names again?” I said. “The Crushers or something?”

“The Wreckers,” the clerk said.

“Have the police been able to find out anything else about them?” Annie asked. “It’s so scary that they’re just attacking people indiscriminately. Do they even live in this area?”

“I’ve been told they’re likely somewhere not too far from here, but they haven’t been able to determine where. I hope they find them soon, because coming to work every day has become quite terrifying.”

“I can only imagine,” I told the clerk. “I’m sorry about that.”

She smiled at me. “Thank you. You’re very kind.” She finished writing the information then handed the ID back to me, sliding over the paper. “Okay, if you could sign and date at the bottom there for me. I’m going to take this back and get your dress a hanger number, and I’ll be right back and have you on your way.”

“Thank you very much.”

She grabbed the dress and walked away, and I signed the bottom of the ticket, not looking up as I said quietly to Annie. “Anything standing out to you?”

“No, not really. There aren’t many cameras, and it doesn’t really seem like anyone’s hanging around. She’s clearly spooked so I don’t think she’s with them or anything.”

“That’s what I was thinking too.” I frowned. “I was hoping she’d have more information, but maybe she’ll know more when we come back to get the dress in a few days. I have a couple more leads that we can follow from—”

Mid-sentence, the door jingled behind us and some stepped into the cleaners. Both Annie and I looked behind us, but it was an innocent looking young man, about my age, with naturally bronze skin, cropped hair, and a goatee. He smiled at me and nodded. To be friendly I smiled back, but didn’t say anything. He got in line behind us and we stood in silence while we waited for the clerk to come back.

Finally, she returned, noticing the man behind us, and smiled just as brightly at him as she did at us. “Hello. I’ll be right with you.”

He held up a hand. “Take your time. I’m in no rush.”

“Okay.” The clerk added a three-digit number to the only blank left on the ticket and said, “Your number is 323. You or whomever else can come and pick the dress up by Tuesday, but they have to have…” She ripped the top ticket off the tablet, then separated the carbon copy and handed it to me. “Thisticket, or I can’t give them anything. Even if you come back in here yourself, unless you have that, I can’t help you, so make sure you have it when you come back.”

I handed it to Annie. “It’ll be well kept up with, I assure you.”

She nodded. “Alright then. It’s a pleasure doing business with you, Miss Seffrey. We’ll see you in a few days.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Turning around, I excused myself past the gentleman behind us and started for the door. Annie ran ahead of me to grab and open it, but before I could get out I heard, “Excuse me, Miss Seffrey?” It wasn’t the clerk, however, but the man who’d been in line behind us. I turned around and he smiled at me.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to waste any of your time, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I think you are the most beautiful of the beautiful.”

I gave him a friendly smile. “Thank you very much.”

I tried to continue out the door, but he took a step towards me and said, “I don’t suppose I could convince someone like you to join me for a cup of coffee sometime?”

“I’m sorry,” I said, holding up my hand with my new wedding ring and band on it. “I’m married.”

“Of course you are. How could someone like you not be?” he responded, holding up his hands and stepping back. “I respect a rejection. Thank you for your time.”

“Have a nice day,” I said.

“You as well.”

We finally left the dry cleaners and got back in my car, preparing to head to the next destination when Annie said, “That was weird.”

I tilted my head. “What? The guy?”

“Yeah. He showed up right in the middle of us talking about The Wreckers and he didn’t have any clothes,” she said.

“Maybe he’s picking up,” I told her. “The clerk didn’t seem frightened by him or anything, but she also didn’t seem to recognize him. Don’t be paranoid. I think he was just a hopeful shopper.”

“Hmm.” Annie stared off into space as she put her seatbelt on. “I’m always paranoid. It hasn’t steered me wrong yet.”

“I think it just might in this case,” I told her. “We were careful coming and I used a fake name. I doubt that there’s any way that guy could have known who we were.”