Free The Registry by Shannon Stoker

signed the marriage certificate, or, as Grant saw it, maybe the death warrant. Grant slid the check over and signed the license before folding it up and pocketing it.
    “Well now, I’m a married man!” Grant said. “Aren’t some congratulations in order?”
    “Congratulations!” David said.
    “Now, tell me everything about my wife’s disappearance.”
    L ifting the yellow tape, Grant felt a rush of excitement as he entered the roped-off area. Just the chance to hunt someone down was worth every penny. Grant enjoyed the chase more than anything else. He felt excited by the piles of lopped-off hair. The two RAG agents did not look pleased as he crossed into their crime scene. He decided to introduce himself before he was removed.
    “Hello, gentlemen. You might not know who I am but I assure you your boss does. One of you get on the phone and tell him you are looking for Mr. Grant Marsden’s wife. Also tell him I would like to speak to him personally.”
    “This is a closed-off area, sir.” One of the RAG agents started toward him. He was a slim, dark man about Grant’s age, maybe a year or two younger.
    “I hear so far there are two girls missing. They both cut off their hair and stole a car. I take it you put out an alert for the model? Any hits?” Grant asked.
    The slim agent reached Grant and placed his hand on Grant’s chest, attempting to push him back behind the tape. Grant reacted with lightning speed and twisted the young agent’s arm till he heard a pop. With his other hand he reached under the agent’s jacket, pulled out his firearm, and pointed it at the second agent. The first yelped in pain and Grant released him. The agent fell to the ground, choking back screams. Grant lowered his weapon and let out a laugh.
    “It’s been so long. I really missed this,” Grant said with true happiness. He signaled to the RAG agent still standing. “So any hits on the car?”
    “No.” The agent was uneasy. “We have checkpoints on the major highways all over the area with descriptions of the girls as well as the vehicle information.”
    “Good boy!” Grant said. He turned his attention toward the agent on the ground. “Now, I think it’s time you made that phone call. Tell your boss I want to see him.”

Chapter 14
The outside world is dangerous; not all men are capable of becoming husbands. Those who do not qualify are openly hostile toward females. It is important for a girl to remain in the safety provided by her male guardians, as they always have her best interests at heart.
—The Registry Guide for Girls
    M ia didn’t know whether she was more tired of walking or of the lack of conversation. She had never thought her big escape would be so boring. The trio had been moving along a dark stretch of road in complete silence for several hours. Andrew still wouldn’t acknowledge her and Whitney was starting to get nervous.
    “Do you think they are looking for us?” Whitney asked. “Is it safe to walk so close to the road?”
    “It’s so dark out here we would see a car long before they would see us. It would be easy to jump and hide in the ditch,” Mia said, proud she knew that at least.
    “Where are we?” Whitney’s voice was starting to get a bit of a whine to it. “Where are we going?”
    “We are going south. That’s all that matters right now,” Mia said in a whisper.
    “This is ridiculous,” Whitney said. “He has no plan. He is probably trying to get us caught and sent back.”
    “Why don’t you ask him what the plan is and maybe he’ll tell you?” Mia said, but Whitney immediately shook her head no.
    A flock of birds flew across the night sky. Mia wished she could move as quickly as they did. She remembered chasing the ducks around the farm, always laughing and never catching them. It had been an easy way to spend an afternoon. But then her mother noticed. She’d yelled at Mia and said running around and getting dirty wasn’t ladylike. That her energy should be spent