You Can't Run by Hope Davis (best way to read books .txt) 📗

It had been much easier than he anticipated with the soup. Vance had eaten almost all of it. About an hour later, when he had started not to feel well, Mark had helped him to his bed.

That had been hours ago.

Mark wanted to look in on him and make sure he really was dead, but he also didn’t want to miss Naya returning. The minute she was almost to the door he would have to get his rag soaked in ether and get into a position where he could get it over her mouth before she could fight.

She was a cop. And she was armed. This would be his most difficult abduction yet.

It was almost midnight and he knew Kevin had called him because she would be back late, but he was starting to get a bit anxious and wished he knew just how late.

Whatever. It would be fine. After all, luck had been on his side so far. Kevin had not been here tonight for the first time. Then again, Kevin had no reason to not trust him.

Well, not yet.

After he got Naya in the truck he would need to restrain her. Tape her mouth. Get her on the floor so she couldn’t signal. Then he would need to ditch his phone. He had another set of plates in the cab for his truck, he would put them on before they crossed state lines.

He already had another Airbnb lined up in Kansas.

Now, all he was missing was his specimen.

CHAPTER 28

NAYA

It was midnight and they had reconvened in the car.

“Anything?” She asked, exhausted.

He shook his head. “According to both of the RunTracker runs, he had abducted the women by now. But I don’t think we missed him.”

“Remember he took Alia on Tuesday morning.” Naya closed her eyes and leaned against the headrest for a second.

“Yeah, but I feel like that was an opportunistic victim, not one which he selected. But maybe I’m wrong.”

“Good point.” Naya felt her eyes becoming heavy and quickly snapped them open again before she could fall asleep.

Atlas still noticed. “As soon as the night watch pulls up, we will head for the station.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, both beat from having knocked on doors all evening. Eventually Atlas started the car.

Their welcome call came over the radio. “There they are.” Atlas quickly pulled forward so they could take the spot he and Naya had been occupying, once the radio call came confirming that they were officially on watch Atlas pulled away, headed for the station.

“I know it’s late, but what do you say to a seven-a.m. start?” He asked as the city lights blurred outside the window. Naya hadn’t been this tired in a long while.

“Sure. I’ll just grab a shower and a couple hours of sleep and come right back.” As long as she got four to five hours, and about a gallon of coffee, she would be good to go. She felt bad that she wouldn’t have time to spend with Vance, but he would understand. Once they caught this guy, he would have all of her attention for a  couple of weeks.

When they got to the station they switched from the squad car to their personal cars, wishing each other a safe drive and headed home. Naya was so tired she was a bit scared to drive, but she kept some candy in her center console for this exact purpose, and quickly popped a few pieces in her mouth to chew to keep her mind awake.

When she pulled up in front of her house, she noticed a truck parked right out front. For a second she was excited, thinking it looked a bit like Kevin’s, but after a closer look she realized it was Trevor’s instead.

So, something really was bothering him then.  Him avoiding her seemed so out of character for what she knew about him. She was going to have to confront Vance and find out what their talk was about.

She unlocked the door and stepped into the front hall. The house was quiet, she assumed Vance was in bed and Trevor must already be passed out on the couch. She leaned down to slip out of her work boots.

Before she understood what was happening and react there was a body pinning her to the ground and chemical smelling rag over her mouth. Her mind immediately sprang into action to figure out what was going on, her body started running on autopilot and she tried to move her arms to reach for her gun, but whoever was on top of her was strong and had a size advantage, they had her completely pinned. So, she stopped breathing.

She struggled feebly for a few seconds to no avail, they wouldn’t budge.

When the air ran out in her lungs she was forced to breathe again, knowing full well what was about to happen. She tried to make out the identity of whoever was on top of her, but he was purposely keeping his head out of headbutt range. He knew all the self-defense tricks.

That was the last thing she thought before sliding into unconsciousness.

CHAPTER 28

KEVIN

He could hear his phone buzzing on the bedside table.

It was probably work. He had called out for the entire week, but they had spent all of the previous day calling him for approval and instructions for random things.

It could also be Naya, but it was only about seven in the morning and he figured she would just be waking up if she was awake at all.

Kevin felt bad for stonewalling her, he really did, he just wasn’t quite ready to talk yet. But he was feeling better today than he had the day before, maybe he could go over and at least visit with Vance today before