forget about the journal, but it doesn’t work. He picks it up anyway and flips through just like he had the red books. He doesn’t seem to spot anything of interest because he tosses it aside with the rest. Or maybe I’m right, maybe he can’t read.
I’m wondering what’s going to happen next, now that they’ve discovered nothing of interest in my bag. But an object in the pile catches the attention of the brother searching through my things. He stoops to retrieve it and then laughs as he holds it out for his partner to see.
My pulse quickens. It’s the picture frame. The glass is now shattered, but our faces are still recognizable. They speak to one another in what sounds like German, and the tone makes me more than a little nervous. They seem self-satisfied, as though they are just putting together the pieces of who I am and what I’m doing here. Worst of all, they seem to recognize Jason and I’m pretty sure I hear the name Barron in their conversation.
I had been hoping they would just let me go when they realized I didn’t have the jewels, but now my hopes fade. Not only that, my worst fears have now been realized, if they recognized Jason that could only mean one thing, they had him.
They’re both turning away from the picture now, tossing it aside with the rest of my stuff and stepping back toward me.
“What have you done with him?” I demand, more out of desperation than courage. But they just chuckle ominously as they take hold of my arms and spin me in the direction of the bustling crowd at the other end of the hall.
“Why don’t we take you to your boyfriend so you can see for yourself,” one hisses in heavily-accented English.
As they lead me down the hall I feel a surge of hope. Surely there is no way these two savage-looking men will get away with kidnapping me in broad daylight. If it came down to it I would kick and scream until someone noticed. Besides, I’d rather be tackled by a group of TSA agents then let these two take me. The brother on my right seems to read my mind. Tightening his grip on my arm he shakes his head and pulls back his jacket, revealing a gun tucked into the waist of his jeans. My chances of getting away have just dwindled to nothing.
As we near the end of the hallway I realize suddenly there is someone standing there. Because of the relative darkness of the hallway, and the brightness of the airport beyond, all I can see is a silhouette. But I recognize the shape of his hat immediately. As quickly as my hopes soar, they quickly crash to the ground. I was hoping for a rescuer, and the kindly old man from the café isn’t exactly who I had in mind. Then again he had helped me break into an impound lot. In my current situation he’s better than nothing.
“I’m going to have to ask you to let the young lady go,” Peter says as he steps into the dim light of the hallway.
My two captors pause and look at one another while Peter’s eyes lock with mine. I half expect them to laugh and push him out of the way. Or worse, hurt him. Instead they speak nervously to one another. I feel a rush of hope again.
Peter speaks again, in German this time, and there is a forcefulness in his voice that surprises me.
Reluctantly they release their iron grip on my arms and with one final sneer in my direction they push past Peter and disappear into the crowded airport. Suddenly my legs refuse to hold my weight and I sink to the floor.
Peter walks past me and I’m not sure why until he hands me my backpack with all my belongings back inside.
I take it and clutch it helplessly. “What did you say to them?”
Looking up at him I see he is smiling slightly, unfazed. “Oh, I just reminded them of who they would have to answer to if they hurt you.”
“Who’s that?” I ask, feeling confused.
“Why me, of course.” He reaches down to help me to my feet.
My arms are sore from where they held too tightly and I’m sure there will be bruises in the morning. I must be in
I’m wondering what’s going to happen next, now that they’ve discovered nothing of interest in my bag. But an object in the pile catches the attention of the brother searching through my things. He stoops to retrieve it and then laughs as he holds it out for his partner to see.
My pulse quickens. It’s the picture frame. The glass is now shattered, but our faces are still recognizable. They speak to one another in what sounds like German, and the tone makes me more than a little nervous. They seem self-satisfied, as though they are just putting together the pieces of who I am and what I’m doing here. Worst of all, they seem to recognize Jason and I’m pretty sure I hear the name Barron in their conversation.
I had been hoping they would just let me go when they realized I didn’t have the jewels, but now my hopes fade. Not only that, my worst fears have now been realized, if they recognized Jason that could only mean one thing, they had him.
They’re both turning away from the picture now, tossing it aside with the rest of my stuff and stepping back toward me.
“What have you done with him?” I demand, more out of desperation than courage. But they just chuckle ominously as they take hold of my arms and spin me in the direction of the bustling crowd at the other end of the hall.
“Why don’t we take you to your boyfriend so you can see for yourself,” one hisses in heavily-accented English.
As they lead me down the hall I feel a surge of hope. Surely there is no way these two savage-looking men will get away with kidnapping me in broad daylight. If it came down to it I would kick and scream until someone noticed. Besides, I’d rather be tackled by a group of TSA agents then let these two take me. The brother on my right seems to read my mind. Tightening his grip on my arm he shakes his head and pulls back his jacket, revealing a gun tucked into the waist of his jeans. My chances of getting away have just dwindled to nothing.
As we near the end of the hallway I realize suddenly there is someone standing there. Because of the relative darkness of the hallway, and the brightness of the airport beyond, all I can see is a silhouette. But I recognize the shape of his hat immediately. As quickly as my hopes soar, they quickly crash to the ground. I was hoping for a rescuer, and the kindly old man from the café isn’t exactly who I had in mind. Then again he had helped me break into an impound lot. In my current situation he’s better than nothing.
“I’m going to have to ask you to let the young lady go,” Peter says as he steps into the dim light of the hallway.
My two captors pause and look at one another while Peter’s eyes lock with mine. I half expect them to laugh and push him out of the way. Or worse, hurt him. Instead they speak nervously to one another. I feel a rush of hope again.
Peter speaks again, in German this time, and there is a forcefulness in his voice that surprises me.
Reluctantly they release their iron grip on my arms and with one final sneer in my direction they push past Peter and disappear into the crowded airport. Suddenly my legs refuse to hold my weight and I sink to the floor.
Peter walks past me and I’m not sure why until he hands me my backpack with all my belongings back inside.
I take it and clutch it helplessly. “What did you say to them?”
Looking up at him I see he is smiling slightly, unfazed. “Oh, I just reminded them of who they would have to answer to if they hurt you.”
“Who’s that?” I ask, feeling confused.
“Why me, of course.” He reaches down to help me to my feet.
My arms are sore from where they held too tightly and I’m sure there will be bruises in the morning. I must be in
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