Free Perilous by Tamara Hart Heiner

neck. “We could buy a house.”
    “It’s not true,” Amanda interrupted, shaking her head and waving her hands. “He kidnapped us. We’re just trying to get home.”
    “ Quoi? ” Natalie said.
    “She’s right,” Jaci said. “In fact, I’m surprised you haven’t already seen us on a missing person’s report or something. It was The Hand. Have you heard of The Hand? We’re from—where are we, anyway?”
    “Canada,” Natalie said. “Victoriaville. Close to Montreal.”
    “I was right,” said Sara.
    Natalie looked at Rachel. “Did you find the phone?”
    Rachel trotted down the stairs and came back with a cordless phone, slapping it into Natalie’s hand.
    Natalie held the phone out to Amanda. “Not everyone pays attention to the American news, you know. Call your parents.”
    Jaci shook her head. “We don’t have time. We have to go.”
    “Why?” Amanda frowned.
    “Amanda, I don’t feel safe. We have to go.”
    “You’re safe here,” said Natalie. “Nobody knows you’re here. I won’t call him.”
    “Do I have to dial anything special?” Amanda asked, staring at the phone.
    Natalie shook her head. “No. It’s a more expensive call, but you make it the same way.”
    She turned to Rachel. “Get the phone book. I want the phone number to the RCMP.”
    Jaci jumped up. “No. We have to go now. ”
    Rachel came back into the room with the phone book. She tossed it to Natalie just as the cell phone attached to her belt rang. She silenced it, staring at the girls. “There’s the number for the RCMP.”
    “Is that the police?” Sara asked, yanking a strand of hair around her finger.
    Natalie shook her head. “ Non, ma cheri. It’s the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It’s like the FBI.”
    Jaci stared at Rachel, something tugging at the back of her mind. Rachel met her gaze, then blinked, turning her eyes away.
    “You called them, didn’t you?” She forced herself in front of Rachel. “You told them where we are. They are coming here now.”
    Natalie’s eyes widened. “Rachel?”
    Throwing her arms up, Rachel launched into a lengthy tirade in French.
    “Forget it,” said Natalie. “They must be on their way. We leave now. And you are coming, Rachel.”
    They all hurried down the stairs, back to the small red sports car parked in front of the building.
    “Where are we going?” asked Amanda.
    “My house,” Natalie said. “Rachel’s house has been compromised.” Natalie backed down the driveway.
    Rachel’s cell phone rang, and she grabbed it with a gesture of annoyance.
    “ Bonjour? Oh oauis, salut, Chris. Ouais, elle se trouve ici. Nat. ” She handed the phone to Natalie. “Speak fast. The battery is running out.”
    She turned and stared out the window, her expression flat.
    Natalie took the phone. “Chris, I cannot talk—what?” There was a pause, and her brows knit together. “Oh, no, Chris, these men are bad.” She hesitated. “You gave my address? No, don’t call them. I—no. We have to go now. Meet me at Den Lou’s in ten minutes.”
    She closed the phone and glared at Rachel.
    “What is it?” Rachel asked. “Are we going to eat at Den Lou’s?”
    “They have my address.” She pulled back into the driveway, slamming the car into park. “They know this car. Rachel, get the key to your roommate’s car.”
    Rachel jumped out of the car and ran back into the apartment.
    A small gray SUV was parked in the driveway. Dirt caked the hubcaps, and paint flaked from the doors. When Rachel returned with the key, they clambered inside.
    “What’s going on?” Jaci asked as Natalie squealed out of the driveway.
    “We’re going to Den Lou’s,” Natalie said. “About twenty minutes ago, two men showed up at Chris’s door. They told him I was in danger and they needed to secure my house. He said they were looking for my car, and he gave them my address. So we’ll meet Chris at Den Lou’s, and we’ll figure out what to do from there.”
    “The diner