Deadly Little Lies by Jeanne Adams Read Free Book Online Page A

added. “I need to lie down, or lean on something before I fall down,” she said, her voice normal once more. She scooted around to put her back against the side of the plane, and then helped him do the same. “Hey, look. My purse is here, so’s your coat.” The last was said in an easy, conversational tone. The shift and weave of Carrie’s emotional state was almost as disturbing as their current difficulty.
    â€œReally? Where?”
    â€œOver there.” She gestured with her bound hands. He wondered if he dared try to get his hands in front of him. He decided not to attempt it yet. There was nowhere to go, no one to fight in the middle of the air, in the dark.
    â€œThe plane seems to be flying fast and level,” he observed, forcing himself to think about the situation, rather than worry about Carrie. If he kept worrying about her, he wouldn’t think, not constructively or logically. If there was any chance of escape he had to be rational to see it, to plan. “We’re not close to wherever we’re going yet,” he said slowly, thinking it through, trying to get past the panic, the fear for Carrie. “If we hear anything though, like the pilot or someone is coming back here, you need to put the bag on my head. I’m guessing they don’t want me to see anyone. Let’s make sure I don’t. If I’m not supposed to see them they may only be out for ransom.”
    â€œThen why did they take the bag off my head?” Carrie asked, and there was further panic in her voice. “They don’t think I’m worth ransom? They’re going to kill me, aren’t they.” She made it a statement, not a question. “Or worse.”
    â€œI don’t know, Carrie, but here’s what I do know,” he said softly, forcing her to listen by the very softness of his voice. He moved closer to comfort her, bumping his shoulder against hers for the human connection. If his hands were free, he would hold her. For now, this was all he could do. “Look at me.”
    She hesitated, turned his way. He could make out the glint of her frightened eyes. Even in the gloom, he could see that her pupils were so dilated there was barely a rim of the rich blue showing. “What?”
    â€œCarrie, just focus on me, on my voice. You’ve been drugged, you’re scared. Eh-la, you know all that. It may be that they were counting on your still being out, unconscious.”
    Her eyes flickered away, darting around the dark cargo hold as if searching for answers, or villains. He could see the trembling in her shoulders. Whatever sense she’d made earlier was being subsumed by the fear, and the drugs were making it worse.
    â€œI’m cold. Where are the blankets?” she said fretfully. She was struggling now, struggling to get up, to move. If the plane banked again, she’d fall and hurt herself.
    â€œHere, come sit with me, darling,” Dav crooned, coaxing her to sit down again. She’d struggled to her knees, trying to rise. “I’ll keep you warm. I’ve got you.”
    Encountering an air pocket, the plane dropped briefly. Carrie rocked over from her kneeling position, falling awkwardly onto his chest.
    â€œOw!” she exclaimed, and he barely managed not to cry out with the pain.
    He’d wanted her next to him, imagined her in his arms. It would be nice if her falling into him hadn’t hurt so much, but he’d take what he could get.
    With her body pressed to his, he realized how cold he was. The imprint of her warmth was a dramatic contrast. He briefly wished the coat she’d spotted weren’t so far away. They could use it for warmth. Even the breath mints in the pocket would help ease the nausea that still lurked in his gut. With grim humor, he wondered how long they could survive on mints and whatever she had in her purse.
    The warm silk of her hair brushed his neck, and he realized that for both their