She ran toward the sidewalk in the opposite direction of the limo so the driver couldn’t rush after her. He might throw it in reverse to give chase but he’d hit the man she’d just pissed since his car was in the way.
People stared as she ran. She turned her head when more horns blared. The limo driver was out of the car and she heard yelling. She faced forward, barely managed to avoid slamming into a pedestrian, and turned into one of the alleys between the buildings. She kept going until she glimpsed a dumpster.
It was a good place to hide so she got behind it. She was out of breath from her mad dash and leaned against the brick wall as she studied the cell phone. Please don’t be password protected! She tapped the button and the screen lit up. She hit the phone icon and the Woods Church number displayed. She tapped again for the keypad and it opened. Her finger trembled while she dialed home.
It rang four times until the machine picked up. God, please be home! It played the automated message and beeped.
“Beth! Pick up the phone. Now, damn it.”
“Vanni?”
She’d never been so relieved to hear her friend’s voice. “Listen to me. You’re in danger. Gregory has a man on his way to our apartment. He’s going to kill you. Dial 9-1-1 and wait for the police. Get out when they get there!”
“What?”
“We don’t have time for this shit. Grab your cell and dial 9-1-1. Do it!”
“Okay. What is going on?”
“They kept me locked up. They are going to kill you. I escaped so that man is going to go after you. When the cops get there, you go stay with that guy who loves Elvis. Don’t say his name. You know who I mean.”
“Are you okay? Hang on while I call.” As she waited she heard Beth’s call to 9-1-1. “Yes. I have an emergency. I think someone is breaking into my apartment.” Beth rattled off the address. “I’m here alone. Send someone fast. He might have a gun.”
Vanni pulled her ear away from the phone, listening for any sound of the driver or Bruce. The alley was quiet, the only noise coming from the traffic down the street.
“Vanni? Vanni?”
“I’m here. Are the police on their way?”
“Yeah. What happened? Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
“We don’t have time to talk. I have to go. They are probably looking for me. I’m okay so far though. Dump your phone and go to Elvis. I remember his address. Don’t trust anyone and tell my parents to get in the RV. They need to get out of town. I never took Carl to the cabin. He hates the outdoors. I don’t know if Gregory plans to go after them next.”
“Are you serious?”
“They are nuts. You have no idea.”
“I can guess. I told you something was seriously wrong with that family. I’ll meet you at Elvis’ place. How long until you can get there?”
“I can’t. I’m too far away.” Vanni peeked out from behind the dumpster. She didn’t see anyone coming down the alley. Yet.“Tell me where you are and I’ll come get you.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“Bullshit,” Beth spat. “Where are you?”
“I’ve got a killer hunting for me if that bullet to his thigh didn’t cripple him.”
“You shot someone?”
“I don’t have time to explain. Grab your shit and don’t open that door until the cops arrive. Get out of there and leave your phone so they can’t find you. Ditch your car after you get a few blocks away and have Elvis pick you up. I’m probably being paranoid but they have money. Don’t use your cards. No trace, okay?”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far ahead. I can call the police and tell them everything.”
“Go to Smiley. The police wouldn’t even take a report when I told them something was wrong. You need protection and Homeland is somewhere no one can get to you.”
“He thinks I drugged him.”
“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.