* * *

  “What are thinking?” Plaid shirt guy was saying to flip-flops dude. “Why’d you bring them here? It’s not my fault you’re paying for this now! Don’t bring the cops to my place looking for you and your problems.” They were both about mid to late thirties and looking as if life hadn’t been real kind to them. Both of them had scruffy faces and tattooed arms. I liked Plaid shirt guy’s looks better than our apparent abductor’s. He had the face of one who regretted a lot, and those kinds of people are usually nicer to have around than Flip-flops over there. He looked as if he regretted nothing but maybe the fact that Marti and I were alive. At least, we were alive for now. I swallowed, the back of my tank top sticking to my spine. It was hot in the garage. The two men weren’t whispering anymore and Plaid shirt guy was starting to foam at the mouth. “Get them out of here.” He shouted, swearing loudly. I winced at the word. The man with the gun looked back at us angrily.

   “Fine. You two,” He jerked his thumb toward the Jeep. “Get in.”

 

I stifled a cry. Marti’s eyes were blazing---could it be with anger? I poked her arm and our eyes met.

Don’t do anything stupid!  My eyes begged.

Marti turned away and struggled to her feet. I did the same, feeling as if my body weighed about two tons. My head throbbed, and swum. I swear the only thing that got me up on my feet and to that Jeep was the jab of that revolver against my back. My pulse was racing through my wrists and when Marti took my hand to help me up I could feel hers doing the same.

Flip-flops turned away again. I took the opportunity to whisper to Marti.

  “Why are we here? Who are these guys?”

  “I don’t know. I—I think they’re here because of some people I contacted while we were up at Dad’s.” She bit her thumbnail.

  “What people?”

  “Prison people. Don’t worry, we’ll get out of this.”

 

How the heck was she so calm?!

  “Marti there’s a flipping gun to our heads!” I hissed. “If you want to get out of this than you better start thinking and fast.”

  “I’m working on it!” She hissed back, her voice gravely.

  “Well you better. I guess I better too.” I replied.