Yanking Nancy to her feet, her captor led her up the aisle a few feet and turned right. Nancy had checked out the theater and the surrounding area just after she parked her car. She was sure the man was taking her out a side door to an alley. When a soft breeze brushed past her cheek and ruffled her hair, she knew she had guessed correctly.
She heard a car door opening. “Head down,” the man barked, and pushed her forward. “On the floor, and no tricks.”
Moving carefully, Nancy wedged herself into the space between the front seat and back seat. Then her captor slammed the door.
The floor felt gritty, and the interior smelled musty and old. Nancy struggled to find a more comfortable position.
“Hope you’re cozy back there,” the man said nastily. “I don’t want damaged goods—yet.”
Nancy’s mouth went dry. Her mind was racing. Who was this guy? Nancy decided he couldn’t be the same person who had given Ann that first tip. Ann said she didn’t know who that man was, so she was not a danger to him. He’d have had no reason to kidnap the reporter. Ann had just believed him when he said he was the same person.
The engine coughed, rattled, then roared to life. Nancy waited until she was sure there was no one else in the car with them. Then she began to rub her temple stealthily against the edge of the back seat, trying to move the blindfold enough to see a little. It seemed like ages before she got a glimpse of the worn rubber mat she was lying on. It wasn’t much, barely better than nothing.
Then she went to work on her bonds. The man had done a sloppy job. One of the knots gave a little, freeing a six-inch length of cord between her wrists.
Suddenly a radio crackled to life, and Nancy froze. After a few seconds, Nancy realized it was a CB. Her captor began talking so softly that she had to strain to hear.
“Lucked out. Granger didn’t show, but guess who did? Drew’s daughter.”
“His daughter! Hey, wait, Wes—”
“No names! The kid’s not deaf.”
“Oh. Yeah. Are you sure taking her is smart?”
“Very. When we call him and offer to exchange his baby girl for the name of Granger’s source, what do you think he’s going to do?”
Nancy stiffened. How stupid she had been!
“Suppose Granger hasn’t told Drew the name?” the voice on the radio said. “Reporters are funny about stuff like that.”
“If she hasn’t, she will now. Especially if she knows this kid’s life is in her hands.”
Nancy wasted no more time. She hadn’t been sure why she was being abducted—now she knew. There was no way she’d allow herself to be used against Ann and her father. She had to get her hands free and escape!
Face up on the floor, Nancy arched her spine until she was supporting her weight on the back of her neck and shoulders and the balls of her feet. She lowered her hands past her thighs until her fists were behind her knees. That was the easy part.
Then, knees to her chin, she inched her hands under her feet and over the toes of her running shoes. After a few minutes of struggle, her hands were in front of her at last.
“Stop that wiggling around back there, or I’ll stuff you in the trunk!” the man said, warning her.
She’d have to move more cautiously. Gently Nancy tugged off the blindfold, then stripped the tape from her mouth. She had been right about the condition of the car. The fabric on the back seat was split in several places, and the shield over the ceiling light was broken in half.
Using her teeth, she loosened the remaining knots at her wrists. Then it was just a matter of waiting for her chance.
After several minutes the car slowed. Nancy’s heart began to pound. If her abductor had reached his destination, and there were others around . . .
Inch by inch, she lifted her head just enough to peek out the front window. He had just been caught by a red light! It was now or never.