“He doesn’t. We talked.”

“What?”

“You didn’t tell me he’s got such a sexy voice. He—”

“Fucking bitch!” Bruce yelled. “Do you see her?”

“No!” another man shouted. “I think she disappeared somewhere in this area though.”

“I gotta go. I’ll call you when it’s safe.” Vanni hung up and made sure the ringer was off on the phone while she crouched behind the dumpster. It would be her luck that Beth called her back if Bruce’s number showed on the caller ID. She shoved it between her thighs and stomach to muffle it if it vibrated.

Heavy breathing grew louder. “I’m going to kill that bitch.” Bruce was close.

“You’re bleeding.”

“My tie slowed it down.”

“She’ll go to the police if we don’t find that cunt.”

“Gregory has that covered. Dr. Barns is going to say she suffered an emotional break after her rape. He’ll go in after her and take charge. She won’t be going to a hospital though. I’ll drop her off at the morgue myself. Do you know what it’s going to cost us if we have to get her that way?” He seemed to be breathing hard and sounded as if he were right on the other side of the dumpster.

Vanni closed her eyes, slowed her breathing and hoped he didn’t find her.

“Maybe she ran down that other alley. I’d keep booking it if I were her.”

“Go left. I’ll go right. The bitch stole my phone and wallet.”

“Can you track it?”

“Yeah. I just need a laptop to log in to my phone account.”

“There’s a laptop in the limo under the passenger seat. I play online games while I’m waiting to drive Gregory.”

“I’ll go use it. You check the alley. Give it four minutes and then get your ass back to the limo. We’ll track her that way.”

They separated because she heard the driver run farther down the alley and Bruce’s footsteps faded as he headed back toward the limo. Vanni opened her eyes and looked down at the phone. She needed to ditch it. She figured she had about three minutes before Bruce reached that laptop. It would take time for the computer to load and for him to log into the tracking system. She had maybe five minutes tops.

She peeked out and moved once she was sure they weren’t within sight. She went to the street, peered around the corner and saw Bruce about sixty feet away. A group of tourists passed and she moved ahead of them so they’d hide her if he looked back. She ducked into a coffee shop two stores down.

The waiting customer line was long so she entered their unisex bathroom and locked the door. Her hands shook as she stared at the phone. Gregory had a doctor on his payroll. Could they really just send him into a police station to say she was nuts and take her way? It wasn’t a risk she was willing to take.

She dialed and got information. “New Species Homeland.” She pushed the button to connect the number directly. It rang twice and a pleasant male voice answered.

“Homeland. How may I help you?”

“I don’t have a lot of time. I’m being tracked. My name is Travanni Abris. I’m the one in the video on TV. I’m in trouble. I need to talk to Smiley. Gregory Woods is trying to make me give an interview to the press to tell lies about him and New Species.”

“Right. Sure you are. Look, you can’t talk to him and you’re the fiftieth Travanni that has called in the past half an hour alone.”

She leaned against the locked door. “Brass was with Smiley. Brass is a big guy, scary, and wears his hair in a ponytail. The medics were Shane and Ned. I escaped from them at a truck stop. I’m really Travanni Abris and I’m in trouble. Gregory Woods kept me prisoner at his vacation home. I just escaped from two of his guards and they are searching for me. I stole a cell phone they are tracing right now. I have to dump it or they’re going to find me.”

The man’s voice deepened. “Where are you?”

She rattled off the address and the name of the coffee shop. “I’m hiding in the bathroom. I can’t stay here.” She bit her lip. “Can you help me?”

“We’ll send a team. Stay in the bathroom.”

“They could come in here and take me.”

“Do you know a nearby safe location?”

She didn’t know the town well but she’d seen a park on the other side of the shopping center when she’d driven through it. It had been memorable because of the large statues. “There’s a park. I can hide there, maybe.”

“We’ll send a team. They can be to you within twenty-five minutes.”

“Okay. I have to ditch this phone.”

She hung up and flipped it over but she couldn’t find a place to remove the battery. She entered the stall and dropped it in the toilet. It sank into the water.

Bruce had fifty-seven dollars in his wallet. She memorized his full name and where he lived. The cash went into her pocket and she dropped the wallet into the trashcan. She took a moment to dump paper towels over the top to hide it from sight.

It was terrifying to unlock the door and step out of the bathroom but she was more afraid to stay put in case the signal from the phone was still active. It would lead them right to her. The customer line was still long as she eased out of the room and glanced through the big windows at the street. Bruce and the driver weren’t within sight so she approached the door, looking for them. Only strangers passed as she exited.

She turned and walked quickly, trying to stay with groups. She wished she could change her clothes but all the clothing shops looked expensive. Fifty-seven dollars wasn’t going to get her an outfit.

She passed a T-shirt shop, paused, glanced at a sale sticker and entered. The friendly teen grinned. “Hi! Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Just browsing.”

She quickly assessed the racks and grabbed a baggy black T-shirt. It was on sale and she didn’t even take the time to look at what was printed on the front. She moved to the back of the store where they had men’s cotton shorts. She grabbed a medium that was marked down to ten bucks and strode to the counter. They had cheap flip-flops and caps. She snagged black ones, dropping everything on the counter.

The girl rang her up. Vanni winced, handing over most of the cash. “Do you mind if I change here? I’m running late for a workout session with my personal trainer. I can’t exercise in this.”

“Did you go to a funeral?” The girl gave her a sympathetic look.

Vanni looked down at the horrible shirt and skirt. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry. I lost my uncle last year. Who did you lose?”

She picked up her purchases. “Someone I barely knew.” That was partially true. She’d been wrong about Carl and he might as well be dead to her.

“There’s a bathroom right there.”

The skirt and shirt went into the trashcan and she put on the loose, ill-fitting clothes. Her hair was already up so she just pulled the cap over it, hoping it would help her blend. The heels followed the discarded outfit into the trash. She stepped into the flip-flops and exited the bathroom.

“Thanks!”

She didn’t wait for the girl to respond or comment if she noticed Vanni wasn’t carrying her things out with her. She checked the sidewalk, didn’t see the limo, Bruce or the driver. She tucked her chin, kept her head down and blended in with the crowds traveling in the direction of the park.

* * * * *

Smiley had been in Justice’s office arguing his case to search for Vanni when Flirt rushed in.

“Travanni Abris just called our main line.” He held a phone. “I downloaded the recording.” He hit play. Everyone listened to the exchange.

“We have to get her.” Smiley wanted to rush out the door and go to the helipad immediately. That was the fastest way to reach her. “Call the pilot to start the helicopter.”

Flirt glanced at him. “Already done.”

Justice frowned. “It could be a trap.”

“You heard the fear in her voice,” Smiley snarled. “Let’s get her. They held her against her will. It was just as her friend said. She is in trouble.”