Hostage Read Online Free Page A

December, 1.58a.m.
    ‘Wait.’ The Officer checked his notes. ‘So did you or did you not know this boy?’
    Tully nodded and shifted in her seat. ‘I told you. I’d seen him ... around. I know him from school, but I didn’t know know him.’
    ‘Can you tell me his name?’
    ‘But I already told you before. When we first came in—’
    ‘Just for the record.’
    ‘His name is Griffin. Griffin Sorenson.’
    ‘Then please refer to him by his name. It makes things easier.’ The officer nodded towards the tape machine. ‘So you didn’t try to get out of the car at this stage?’
    ‘I couldn’t open the door. Like I said.’
    ‘So he dragged you to the car, locked you in and drove off?’
    The girl nodded, licking her lips. ‘Can I get, like, a drink or something?’
    ‘Did you try to elicit help?’ the officer continued.
    ‘What?’
    ‘Did you try to attract attention? Bang on the car windows? Scream?’
    ‘Yes. Of course. I told you. No one took any notice. Except maybe a dero and he couldn’t do anything.’
    ‘So you have a witness—’
    The girl laughed. ‘You’re kidding, right? A dero. They all look the same. Even if we found him, he’s not gonna remember.’
    Tully felt her aunt shift beside her. It felt like a warning.
    ‘So you drove around the city for an hour, banging on the car windows, screaming for help, and no one took any notice?’
    The girl nodded. ‘It’s the city. What do you expect?’
    ‘And what did your abductor do?’
    ‘Do?’
    ‘While you were trying to attract attention.’
    ‘He ... I don’t know ... he drove.’
    ‘Did he threaten you with bodily harm? Did he strike you? Drive in a dangerous manner?’
    ‘No ... I don’t know ... can I get a Coke?’
    ‘Tully, I need you to concentrate—’
    ‘I’m thirsty. Please?’
    ‘I am sure we can arrange something. Could you please continue?’
    Image 1

08
    Tully’s Story
    ‘Hey, where are you taking me?’ I asked him.
    He didn’t answer.
    It’s not like I was expecting him to. I was just making small talk while I tried to work out what kind of mood he was in. And I was wondering if I could kick my way through the windscreen, but that only worked in movies. The glass looked really solid and had some kind of tinting to keep the sun out. And prying eyes. I thought about my phone that was charging at home next to the microwave. I was supposed to keep it with me at all times. Bamps’s rules.
    ‘Where?’ I tried again.
    He shrugged.
    ‘Dumb,’ I muttered.
    ‘What?’
    ‘Dumb,’ I said louder. ‘You’re dumb. This is so dumb. Why don’t you let me go—’
    ‘Shut up,’ he said.
    He was looking kinda jittery and I figured he was starting to get the jumps from not having his medication. I’d seen that happen before.
    I looked around for some paper—a parking ticket, anything to write on. I was thinking I could write a note for help and hold it up to my window without him seeing. Somehow. The car was clean. Laney’s car always has lipstick tubes and parking receipts and used tissues lying on the floor. Bamps doesn’t have a car and Mum’s cars are always halfway to the wrecker. They are more like a mobile home, filled with photos and clothes and suitcases and anything Mum can’t bear to live without. But this car ... this car was clean. It even smelled clean. I made a list of things I could use. An empty gum wrapper. Check. Three one dollar coins. Maybe I could trick him into swallowing them and while he was choking I could climb over him and get out.
    Or not.
    One plastic drink bottle—empty. Maybe I could break the bottle and slash at him with the jagged plastic.
    Unlikely.
    I wondered if I could fog up my window and write a backwards message to whoever pulled up next to us in the traffic. I spent time thinking about writing the letter ‘e’ backwards.
    ‘Where are we going?’ I asked.
    He was a good driver. The traffic wasn’t too bad considering it was Christmas Eve, although it was still