Free A Twist of Betrayal by Allie Harrison Page A

then? Or the FBI? They get involved in kidnapping cases.”
    He chuckled. “I doubt I need to worry. I’m sure your husband will make sure that doesn’t happen.”
    “Why would he do that?” she was terrified to ask.
    “He’s wanted by the FBI as much as I am.”
    “What?”
    This man was obviously out of his mind. Dan was an honored officer of the police force. He couldn’t be wanted by the FBI.
    “Hold that thought,” he said, not answering her question as he slowed the van. “I have to pull over. We’ve got a cop with his lights flashing behind us.”
    “What?” she asked again. Her heart raced at the idea of being rescued and he slowed down. He didn’t appear worried. Maybe this would be her chance to jump out and run. Could she run with her hands bound? She certainly planned to give it her best shot.
    “What are you going to do?” She did her best to keep her voice even and calm, but her heart was racing in her throat and it was nearly impossible. And since she was lying on the floor, she couldn’t see what was happening and she couldn’t be seen.
    “What I do depends on you, sweetcakes. If you make a sound, do anything at all to alert him, I’ll have no choice but to kill him.”
    He turned in his seat and looked down at her with a cold smile. “His life is in your hands, and he doesn’t even know it.”
    “You can let me out right now and drive away.”
    He chuckled as he watched in his rear view mirror. “Sorry, not an option.”
    “The truth is the longer you keep me, even though I’m unharmed,” she added quickly, “the worse it could be for you. The best thing you can do to help yourself and simplify this situation is to let me go right now. You could even tell this cop you picked me up and saved me.”
    “Somehow, I doubt he’ll believe that. I’m sure he’ll think I just kept your hands tied because you look good that way. Now here he comes, so shut up,” he said slowly as he rolled down his window. “Is there a problem, Officer?”
    Justine looked up and saw the brown of a leather coat, but from her angle on the floor, she could not see the officer’s face or even begin to guess if he could see any part of her if he looked in. Fear for this innocent man was enough to make her press her lips firmly together, even though it took all her willpower not to scream out for help.
    She didn’t dare take the chance. Because if her abductor shot him, there would be no help for either of them.
    “There’s been a situation in the area,” the officer said, his voice deep and filled with authority, although calm. “May I see your license and registration for this vehicle, please?”
    “Of course.”
    From her position on the floor, she saw her kidnapper move and wondered if he were really pulling out his license.
    She heard the officer let out something between a gasp and grunt, and saw him fall away from the window as her captor swung the door open.
    “What did you do to him? I didn’t make a sound. I couldn’t even see him from here!” she cried out, trying to sit up on the floor. The motion along with her smashed nose, made her dizzy for a moment.
    He slid open the side door, and Justine could then see everything—the lonely, empty highway, the bare field beyond it, the officer with sandy-colored hair unconscious on the pavement. Quickly, her assailant grabbed him by the arms, hoisted him up, and dumped him unceremoniously onto the floor of the van. Then he climbed in and slid the door closed, casting them into the darkness. Without hesitation, he used the officer’s handcuffs to cuff his hands behind his back, and slid the officer’s gun from his holster.
    “What did you do to him?” Justine demanded as he stepped over her and climbed back into the driver’s seat.
    “I tasered him. Don’t worry. He’ll be fine.”
    “You could have left him there,” she suggested, trying to move closer, to make sure the man was breathing.
    “What? So he could wake up in a few