Riding Tall: Fencing You In Part 20

Gage walked in with the three of them and they headed through the entrance, working their way past the crowd. Gage winced every time someone b.u.mped into his shoulder. They made their way through the kitchen and to the small office in the back.

Jo's hands looked like they were shaking as she sat in front of a monitor that flashed from one camera angle to another, for a total of three. She hit a few keys on the keyboard and the image stopped at the camera view outside the front entrance.

"She left close to ten," Megan said.

Jo studied the screen. "I'll back up the footage."

The images whirled backward until Jo stopped it at 9:45. She forwarded the tape slowly as they all stared at the screen.

"There." Megan pointed to the screen. "I see her coming out."

Gage's chest felt tight as Jo backed the tape up just enough to see Tess walk through with a man's arms around her shoulders. A man with a hoodie hiding his face.

Jo stopped the tape, sucking in her breath.

"Oh, my G.o.d." Megan's voice trembled. "That man's taking her."

Jo looked over her shoulder at John and Gage. Her face seemed paler than ever. "It looks like she's really leaning into him. Like she can't hold herself up."

"She looks drugged," Gage said as his gut churned.

"Are you certain it isn't anyone she knows?" John asked. "Maybe she was going to his place."

A growl rose up in Gage's throat and he wanted to slam his fist into the building. "She wouldn't go home willingly with another man."

John looked at Gage. "Are you dating Tess?"

Gage gave a nod. His heart was slamming against his breastbone.

John returned his gaze to the monitor. "Move it forward frame by frame." They watched and then he said, "Stop. Back it up a couple."

Jo backed it up two frames.

The camera had caught a portion of the man's face. Everyone leaned closer.

"Can you enhance it any?" John asked.

Jo enlarged the image, centering it on the man. Gage gritted his teeth. It was almost impossible to make out the man's features.

"Do you recognize him at all?"

Megan and Jo each shook their head, as they both replied, "No."

Jo added, "But it's hard to tell with it being so grainy."

Megan pushed her hair behind her ear. "And with his face partly covered by that hoodie."

Gage wanted to slam his fist into something repeatedly. "Do you have a camera covering the parking lot?"

Jo looked over her shoulder at Gage. "No, d.a.m.n it."

Gage pinched the bridge of his nose. "We need to get the police and sheriff's departments looking for her." He looked at John. "Don't give me any bulls.h.i.+t about it needing to be twenty-four hours for an adult."

"It's Tess we're talking about," John said, his expression grim. "And it looks like a possible abduction." He turned to Jo. "I need to take all of your security tapes in and we'll examine them. Maybe another camera got him."

"The b.a.s.t.a.r.d planned this." Gage said the words slowly. "That's why he's covering his face."

Megan's throat worked. "He must have put something into her drink." She met Jo's gaze. "When that man pa.s.sed out. Everyone was looking in his direction."

Gage frowned. "Someone pa.s.sed out?"

Jo nodded. "Tess left after I went to check it out."

"Maybe the guy in the hoodie slipped that man something so that he could draw everyone's attention away from Tess," Megan said.

"Yes." Jo added, "In order to drug her without anyone noticing."

"I want you both to come down to the station," John said to Megan and Jo. "You can probably identify some of the locals in the security tapes. We need to question everyone who might have seen her leave with someone."

Jo gathered the tapes. "Let's go."

Gage had never felt so d.a.m.ned helpless as he did at that moment. Someone had Tess. Someone had the woman he loved.

They had to find her and fast.

Chapter 33.

Tess moaned. Her head ached and throbbed and her limbs felt stiff and sore. She felt like her mind was shrouded in fog and her mouth was dry. The last thing she remembered was drinking a chocolate martini. She must have had too many and pa.s.sed out.

She tried to s.h.i.+ft in bed but found she couldn't move her arms or legs. For some reason she was lying in her bed spread-eagled. She tried to move again and felt something hard bite into her ankles and wrists.

What?

Her lids felt heavy as she tried to lift them. Gradually she was able to open her eyes and she squinted at an unfamiliar gray ceiling. Concrete. From the ceiling hung a large hook.

A chill went through her and she started to tremble as her body went cold.

The last thing she remembered wasn't the martini.

It was Harvey.

She'd been looking up at him.

From inside a trunk.

A scream rose inside her as awareness slammed into her like an icy wave.

"You're awake."

Tess cut her gaze to the left where the voice had come from and saw Harvey. He was walking down a wood staircase, smiling at her.

"Help!" She screamed as loud as she could as she struggled to pull her limbs free. "Help me!" She looked at her ankles and wrists and saw that metal cuffs and chains bound her from each metal bedpost. "Help!"

Harvey's smile broadened as he continued down the steps. "No one can hear you, baby." He gestured at the walls. What she saw was concrete. "We're belowground in a nuclear shelter."

She felt blood drain from her body as if seeping through the mattress she was lying on. She swallowed hard as her body trembled.

"Let me go, Harvey." She tried to keep her voice calm but she failed.

He reached the bottom of the staircase and she watched him as he walked toward her. He sat on the edge of the mattress and reached out to brush her cheek with his fingertips. She flinched away from his touch, tearing her gaze away from him.

When she looked back at him, he brushed his knuckles down her neck before sliding his fingers around her throat. His fingers tightened as she swallowed.

He relaxed his grip and moved his fingers down to her neckline. She realized she was still wearing the same dress she'd had on last night.

Was it just last night?

"How long have I been here?" Her mouth felt dry as she spoke.

"I've had you here a while." He raised his hand and ran her hair through his fingers. "I've always wanted to touch your hair."

She swallowed again. "Why did you kidnap me?"

"I wouldn't call it kidnapping." He pulled on a lock of her hair so hard it made her eyes water. "I just wanted your attention."

She tried breathing in and out slowly. Panic was going to get her nowhere. "You've got it. What do you want?"

"You." He smiled. "I know you were attracted to me before Gage came along." His smile turned into a scowl. "I could tell."

"I knew Gage a long time before I met you," she said.

Harvey narrowed his gaze. "But you weren't dating him. Or did you lie to me when you said you hadn't been seeing anyone because of your dead husband?"

"I didn't lie." She took a deep breath. "Please let me go, Harvey."

He shook his head. "Not until I know you'll stay with me always."

She pulled on her bonds. "Please let me up."

He put his hand on her thigh. "I figured this would make you feel right at home. Considering how you like bondage."

She frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"I watched you while you were with him." Harvey's eyes seemed to go dark. "I saw how you begged him to tie you up and f.u.c.k you."

Heat burned away the chill inside her. "You watched us?" She remembered the night that she and Gage had played tie-up games and they'd heard the noise. Gage had said he'd found a footprint beneath the window.

"You want bondage, baby," Harvey said, eyes narrowed. "I'm going to show you what real bondage is all about. I've been at it a long time."

"No," she whispered. "Please, Harvey."

"You will love me, Tess." His hand tightened on her thigh. "I think you already do." He squeezed her thigh so tightly that his fingers dug into her flesh and she knew he'd leave a bruise.

"I will never love you." She felt a part of herself snap. "You're delusional."

His expression went dark and he gripped her thigh hard enough to bring tears to her eyes. "Delusional," he repeated slowly and by the look in his eyes she knew she'd made a big mistake. "Don't ever call me that."

She cried out from the pain in her thigh. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

Before she even realized he'd raised his hand, he slapped her hard. Her cheek stung and a tear rolled from her eye, down the side of her face.

His jaw tensed and he looked like he was holding himself back from hitting her even harder. "Look what you made me do."

She tried to calm him down while attempting not to cry. "I'm sorry," she said again.

"I'm sick of your mouth." He stood and strode toward a set of shelves along one wall. It looked like canned goods and other supplies were on the shelves.

On the far side was a pile of what looked like leather and various objects. She couldn't tell what they were from where she was laying. He pulled something red and black from the pile and her throat constricted when she realized what it was. It was a ball gag with a red ball and black straps.

Her heart thumped as he reached her. "No." Her words came out in a rush. "Please don't. I'll be quiet, I promise."

He ignored her and pressed the ball against her lips and forced her to open her mouth then shoved it inside. She made a m.u.f.fled cry behind the gag when he pushed so hard that he cut her lower lip on her teeth. He not so gently raised her head and fastened the straps.

"That's better." He rested his hand on the side of her face and brushed his thumb over her cheek. "Now just listen to me and let it sink in. I do know what you want. Better than Gage." A contemplative look came into his eyes and he spoke as if to himself. "Trying to kill him didn't work. This will be better." He smiled as he looked at her again. "Killing two birds with one stone so to speak. I get you and I get my revenge on him."

Her eyes widened. Harvey had been the one to try and kill Gage?

Harvey abruptly got to his feet. "Are you hungry?"

She started to shake her head then realized he'd have to take the ball gag off. Maybe he's even let her go upstairs and she could think of some way to escape. She nodded.

"Good." He headed toward the stairs. "I'll make sandwiches. Do you like egg salad? It will be easier to eat while you're in bed."

Wasn't he going to let her up? Panic rose up in her again like a flock of birds. Don't leave me here, she cried out in her mind.

"I haven't even begun with you." He paused at the foot of the stairs and gave her a long look. "I have so much to teach you yet."

He turned and started up the stairs.

She made m.u.f.fled whimpers behind the gag and tried to move as if the cuffs and chains might give way.