Chapter 20
The dinner was at a local specialty restaurant in S City.
When Evelyn arrived, Luna Jones and Kate Hughes were already there at a window seat, talking quietly.
Luna still had her sharp pixie cut, wearing a simple gray hoodie, her eyes bright and alert. Kate was drowning in an oversized plaid shirt, her gaze behind black-framed glasses a bit shy, fingers unconsciously tapping the table.
"Eve!" Luna waved with a smile. Kate looked up too, pushing her glasses up and giving a slightly bashful smile.
The three sat down as steaming dishes arrived at the table.
Though they hadn't met in person much, the atmosphere between them was completely relaxed.
"Seriously, I couldn't have done this without you both." Evelyn raised her tea cup like a toast, her gratitude genuine.
Without Kate's hacking skills, she never would've gotten that damning dirt on Johnson and "Mr. Murphy." Without Luna's connections in the local system, things wouldn't have moved so fast.
"Don't be so formal with us." Luna waved her hand breezily. "When you took that hit for me back then, you weren't this uptight about it."
She was referring to a street incident years ago when they'd met while doing the right thing.
Kate shook her head, her gaze sincere. "Without your financial help, I never would've finished college. This little favor? It's nothing."
Warmth spread through Evelyn's chest.
Her mother always said to build bridges wherever you go.
These past years in the workplace, she'd been cautious and low-key, never brown-nosing, but she'd genuinely helped people when she could. Made a few real friends.
Now it seemed those small kindnesses had become solid support when she needed it most.
She raised her tea again. "Anyway, thank you. Really."
The three clinked cups. The warm tea went down smooth with a subtle sweetness.
Friends by her side, problems solved, a new life growing inside her.
This might be the most relaxed moment Evelyn had felt in a while.
---
Dinner ended around nine.
Luna and Kate lived in the same direction and planned to walk back together to digest.
Evelyn's hotel was in another district—she'd need a cab.
"You sure you don't want us to walk you?" Luna asked, concerned.
"I'm fine, it's just a few steps to the corner. Easy to catch a ride." Evelyn smiled and shook her head. "You guys head back. You both have work tomorrow."
"Be careful, and text when you get there." Kate reminded her.
"Will do."
Evelyn had just pulled out her phone when a black sedan parked nearby suddenly opened its doors.
Two men got out quickly, closing in on her from both sides.
Alarm bells went off in her head. She started to back away, but a damp cloth clamped over her mouth and nose.
She struggled twice before her consciousness rapidly blurred. They roughly shoved her into the back seat.
---
She didn't know how much time passed. Through the jostling, Evelyn struggled back to some awareness.
Her eyes were covered with a black cloth, hands and feet bound with rough rope.
She was lying in the back seat, able to hear the two men talking up front.
"...Mr. Murphy, don't worry, we got her. Nice and easy."
"Yeah, heading straight to the old warehouse... Johnson? He's waiting there."
"Got it, we'll make her cough up everything she took!"
Mr. Murphy. Johnson. Kidnapping.
Those words snapped her fully awake.
Evelyn's heart hammered in her chest, cold sweat instantly breaking out on her back.
They were pissed about the site situation. Too scared to go up against the Perkins Group openly, so they pulled this crap in the shadows.
She bit down hard on her tongue, forcing herself to stay calm. Can't panic. Panic and it's over.
She started carefully adjusting the angle of her wrists bound behind her back.
The rope cut into her skin. She ignored the pain, searching for gaps in the knots, anywhere it might loosen.
After a bit, her fingers found her small purse still on her.
The kidnappers hadn't bothered with it—probably thought a purse was harmless.
She struggled to hook the zipper open with her fingertips, fumbling inside until she found the small fruit knife she kept there.
Her heart nearly jumped out of her throat.
Holding her breath, she carefully gripped the handle and slowly angled the blade to saw at the rope.
Her movements had to be subtle—couldn't alert the guys up front. Sweat dripped from Evelyn's temples, her wrists burning with pain.
But before she could cut through, the car stopped.
The two men got out cursing, footsteps coming around to the back door.
"Hurry up and get this bitch inside! Mr. Murphy's coming to question her himself!" a rough voice said.
Evelyn immediately stopped, tucking the knife into her sleeve, letting her body go limp again.
They dragged her roughly out of the car and half-carried her inside.
The air reeked of rust—this must be the "old warehouse" they'd mentioned.
They shoved her into an open space, then pressed her down in a corner to crouch.
"Stay put!" the man growled threateningly before his footsteps retreated.
Silence fell around her.
This was her chance!
She immediately started working her wrists again, sawing at the rope. The pain intensified, but she pushed through.
Almost... almost there...
"Man, I gotta piss so bad," one voice said.
"Make it quick. Me too." another replied.
Footsteps headed toward the far side of the warehouse.
Now!
Evelyn gave one final burst of strength. With a soft snap, the rope around her wrists finally gave!
She quickly ripped off the blindfold. Ignoring the stinging in her wrists, she immediately worked on the rope around her ankles.
The rope came loose and she stumbled to her feet, scanning her surroundings.
An abandoned old warehouse. Huge space, with only a small high window letting in some moonlight.
Near the entrance, the two men's footsteps were getting closer.
Can't let them in! Her gaze quickly searched and locked on a target!
She grabbed a metal pipe and sprinted toward the heavy iron doors at full speed!
She beat the kidnappers' reaction time, jamming the pipe hard through the door's metal loop!
"Shit! What was that?!"
"That bitch! She got loose?!"
Panicked shouting and running footsteps came from outside.
Then—BANG! BANG! The door shook violently but held firm.
"Open up! You bitch! You can't get away!" Insane pounding and cursing continued.
Evelyn leaned against the cold wall, breathing hard, palms drenched in sweat.
She was trapped.
The door was holding for now, but not for long. And there was no other exit.
Moonlight fell through the high window, illuminating her pale face and pressed lips.
She forced herself to calm down, eyes rapidly scanning the abandoned warehouse.
It was huge, filled with rusted machine parts and discarded crates, with beams crossing overhead. The only light source was that miserable moonlight from the high window.
The door wouldn't hold much longer. She had to think of something else.
She pulled out her phone. The screen was cracked but still worked.
Battery almost dead—the red low-power warning glaring.
The first person she thought to call for help was Kevin.
He was in S City, and he was Matthew's friend. Maybe he could help.
She dialed. The ringtone echoed harsh in the empty warehouse.
But... right now Kevin was drinking at a nightclub.
He'd been handed several drinks, surrounded by noise.
His phone lay face-down on the table, its ringtone completely drowned out by the chaos.
The pounding outside got heavier. The iron door was starting to warp.
One bar of battery left. Enough for one more call.
Evelyn took a deep breath, hesitated a moment, then found Matthew's number and dialed.
Each ring made her heart sink further.
It connected!
Evelyn's throat instantly tightened, her accumulated fear nearly spilling out as tears—until she heard a voice that made her freeze.