Faint of Heart Read Online Free Page A

isn't going to make me go away," he informed her. "It's only going to make me angry. I dismember when I get angry." He'd thought of that line a couple of years ago, and used it whenever he could.
    She opened her eyes.
    "Sit up and get the spare tire out of there for me. And hurry up."
    "I can't move my arms," she said.
    "Yeah, well, it's your own fault that you had to leave without a coat. I'd suggest that you get your circulation going pretty damn quick."
    He kept the gun pointed at her while she moved the sack of garbage out of the way and lifted the spare onto its side.
    "Push it out of there," he said. She was obviously too petrified to try anything, but Alan wasn't taking any chances.
    She rolled the tire over the rear of the trunk, and let it bounce off the bumper and onto the ground. Alan was surprised that the bumper didn't snap right off of this piece of crap car.
    "Now the jack," he said. "Don't throw it."
    She picked up the jack and dropped it onto the ground.
    "Very good. Now curl up like you were before. That was adorable."
    She ducked back down as he slammed the lid shut again.
    He got the tire changed without anybody driving past and without the car falling on his foot. See, good karma for not squishing the cat.
     
    * * *
     
    Rebecca had forced herself not to cry (again, at least) for the first few minutes of being a prisoner, but really, what good would that do? She needed the release. The stench of rotten garbage made her want to throw up, but she did struggle to avoid that particular release, since she didn't know how long she'd have to remain in the trunk.
    She'd sobbed and sobbed until the car went out of control. And when the man had opened the trunk, giving her a potential (if extremely remote) chance to escape, she'd done nothing. Not a thing. She hadn't even opened her eyes until he forced her.
    She was dead. And so was Gary.
    Not that there was much she could do with a gun pointed at her, but she hadn't tried anything . She hadn't even thought of a plan. She wasn't just scared. She was a coward.
    She deserved to die in this cold, dark trunk.
    But Gary didn't deserve to die. She had to be strong for him. Keep herself alive long enough to think of a way out of this.
    She gently blew on her fingers, trying to enjoy that tiny bit of warmth.    
     
    * * *
     
    When the car stopped again, Rebecca had no idea how long she'd been in there, except that she had no tears left and had to go to the bathroom so badly that it was painful.
    Somebody knocked on the trunk. "You alive in there?" asked the kidnapper.
    "Yes."
    "Then close those eyes. If they're open when I lift the lid, you lose 'em."
    Rebecca closed her eyes. The trunk lid opened, letting in even more cold air.
    A different man with a deep, scratchy voice spoke. "Why is she in there without a coat? And you didn't even empty the garbage first?"
    "I forgot about it."
    "It's good to know that I'm paying somebody who's so attentive to the small details," said the second man, with a snort of contempt. "Get her out of there and bring her inside before she freezes to death."
    "Yessah, massah."
    "Don't be racist. It's not cute."
    "Whatever."
    Rebecca felt a cloth sack drop over her head. "I've got a gun pointed at your skull," said the man who'd kidnapped her, tapping her hard on the forehead with it. "So be nice, Becky."
    He took her hand, and helped her as she climbed out of the trunk. She lost her balance on her frozen feet, but he steadied her before she fell.
    "Whoa, Jesus, is she rank!" said the second man. "Even in the cold that stuff reeks. See what happens if you forget the small details? You see?"
    "I'm serious, man, I'll shoot you. I'll do it."
    The second man's voice turned deadly serious. "Don't threaten me. Not even if you're kidding."
    "Yeah, yeah, whatever."
    The first man led her inside, where it was much warmer. In fact, it felt like they had the furnace on full blast. He led her across a wooden floor, and then gently eased her down onto a