Free Sweet Arrest by Jordyn Tracey Page A

with it. But that was a moot point if he didn't find her. As he left the station, he prayed she was okay, that the guy hadn't hurt her.
    * * * *
    A'isha came to consciousness at the sound of something cracking. A blindfold covered her eyes, and her hands and feet tingled indicating she was tied up. She tried not to move to keep from alerting whoever might be around. Dragging in a deep breath, she choked on the musty scent in the air. The cracking stopped.
    What she assumed was a chair scraped back. Footsteps echoed around the room, coming closer. Her ties were checked. “You're awake. Good.” A woman? Never in a million years would she have thought it was a woman.
    "Do I know you?"
    She got a smack for that. “Shut up. I will ask you questions, and you will answer.” An accent she couldn't place reached her ears. “Got it?"
    She nodded.
    "Good.” Her voice came down near A'isha's ear. “Now, where are the papers?"
    "I don't know what you're talking about. What papers?” A'isha struggled against her bonds. The result was more pain. She wondered what permanent damage could be done with no circulation in her hands and feet.
    "Don't play games with me!” She took A'isha by the shoulders and shook her. A'isha's head snapped back and forth until she cried. “Tell me where, selfish bitch."
    Selfish?
    "Please, I don't have your papers. Trust me, if I did, I would give them to you.” The woman released her, and she tilted her head to the side, waiting for the spinning to stop. She wanted to ask if Connor was safe, but didn't dare. If this mad woman had him tied up, A'isha didn't want to provoke her to hurt him as a way to get A'isha talking. What could possibly have given this woman the impression that she had anything of value beyond the crap that filled her small old house? If she was the one that had trashed it, she already knew that. She searched for an idea that would get her free.
    "I can help you,” she offered. “If you tell me more about what you're looking for, maybe it will jog my memory, and I can go get the papers."
    The woman didn't answer.
    "Hello?"
    "You don't need to know anything more. You already know what I'm talking about, and if you don't tell me where to find them, I'm going to take it out on your boyfriend."
    A'isha cried out, tears springing to her eyes. “No, don't hurt Connor. I don't know where the papers are. I—"
    "Stop lying to me!"
    The slap sent her head to the side, her cheek stinging. She must have bitten her lip, because she tasted blood. This woman wasn't going to listen to reason. And if A'isha couldn't escape to find Connor, they might both end up where Cammie was.
    "All right. You win."
    She heard the smile in the woman's voice. “I knew you would see it my way.” She patted A'isha's cheek. “Better to talk than to end up like your friend, huh? I made sure to get the finger pointed at you just in case, but who knew you were such a whore, sleeping with the investigating officer. Now, tell me."
    "I can't tell you. I have to show you.” A'isha thought fast. “There's a secret hideaway no one knows about at my bakery. My mother had it put in many years ago when I was a child. I know you tried to get into that one closet, right? It's in there, but you'll have to take me with you, because there are a series of steps to take to reveal the compartment.” She pressed her lips closed. Someone had once said if you were going to lie, keep it simple. Her story had run close to revealing itself to be fantasy. Holding her breath, she waited for the woman's response.
    Okay, we'll go. Tonight, when it's dark out.” Something cold ran along A'isha's cheek. “But if you're lying to me, you're dead."
    * * * *
    Something ground like metal against metal, and A'isha imagined a warehouse door sliding open. Cool night air bathed her warm face. Her captor shoved her forward into the night. As they marched along, A'isha tried to take in her surroundings with reduced senses, but fear seemed to clog