I quickly pulled all the empty crates away from the shed door and reefed it open with a rusty screech. If I'd planned this better, oiling that door would've been on my list. The noise was a dead giveaway. Luckily, there was nobody around to hear it.
It was pitch black inside but I used the torch Tony had by the back of the store to look around. She'd moved the chair but got herself wedged up against some cartons of supplies for the shop. I really hoped Tony didn't put those supplies on the actual pizzas because they looked like they'd been sitting around in the shed for years.
The witch's head turned toward me.
"What are you looking at?" I said then laughed. Of course, she wasn't looking at anything because she was blindfolded. "Ha, I bet you were wishing it was Tex sweeping in like a rescuing hero. Well, sucked in. It's just me. And that's all it's going to be. Tex has dumped you. He's not that interested in having a crazy bitch girlfriend. Wouldn't want the press getting hold of information like that, would he. It'd not look good for him."
I wished I could see her reaction to that. It wasn't as much fun when I couldn't see her breaking down.
“He came around here, you know. Pretending to look for you but then we got distracted.” I giggled a little, thinking of the warmth of his body against mine. I’d cherish that moment.
She made a muffled sound. I wasn’t sure if it was a pang of jealous pain.
"I'm taking the gag off but if you make a sound, I'll bash you up the side of the head, get it? There’s no one that can hear anyway. The pizza shop is closed."
I removed the rag from her mouth, ready to stuff it back in if she made a noise. I took the blindfold off too. She didn't really need it on, stuck in this dark shed. Then I got the water bottle out and emptied into her mouth. She coughed and spluttered but I didn't want her dying from thirst.
"You really shoulda gone to Bali with your parents, Ruby. You could be laying around on a beach now, getting your hair braided and wearing a sarong. Hey, what's sarong with not going to Bali? You get dumped in this crappy shed." I laughed because that was hilarious but she kept choking on the water.
I wondered if I should give her something to eat as well but I had no idea how long it would be before Tony sent someone to board up the smashed window. Although, if they were a friend of Tony’s, it could take hours.
"I'm putting the gag in now and I'm going away but I'll be back. If you try to escape, I'll know and you'll end up with a few more bruises."
I stuffed the rag back in her mouth. She hadn't said anything, which was good. Then I got the car out of there. I'd drive around and figure out what I'd do with her. I wondered if I could sell her on the black market.
I mean, I didn’t actually want her to die. Not really. That would be bad. I just wanted her to disappear somehow so she’d be out of my way. Tex had proved that first night I’d met him backstage that I meant more to him than her. I was doing this to help him.
But, now I had her tied up and captive, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with her. Who knew that kidnapping could be such a bother?
Chapter 23
Ruby
She'd left the blindfold off me but it'd been better with it on. At least then it'd been fully dark. With it off, my eyes couldn’t adjust. I thought I saw pin pricks of light but then they'd move and I wasn't sure if I was imagining them or if they were real. Around me, there were shadows and I couldn't imagine what some of them were. They seemed to move too. It all made the panic rise up in me and I tried to push it back down so it didn’t overwhelm me. If I let the bad thoughts take over, I'd not survive.
The rustling noises got worse and that, combined with the red lights, made me freak that the place was filled with rats. My flesh crawled and the screams almost took over my body. I had to close my eyes and concentrate on exhaling and clearing my mind. All that hippy shit Mum went on about came in handy at times like this.
Was she telling the truth about Tex? I had no idea what was real and what was crazy fantasies she'd made up. She really thought she had some kind of relationship with Tex. But he hadn’t even known who she was. Did she really think Tex would go out with her if I wasn’t around?
All I had was the possibility that she might have a sudden flash of rationality. And that didn’t seem likely. I thought about the way she’d lured me to the shop. She had some kind of scheming brain going on but then she’d talked at me and offered me tiramisu? What was with that? Had she thought she could just ask me and I’d happily hand Tex over to her?
I was at the pizza shop still. I knew that much.
I heard a car drive away. She'd gone. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. I had no idea what she'd do to me but she was the only one who knew where I was.
The guy who owned the shop had to come in some time though. Did he even use the shed? It smelt like it'd been closed up for a long time. I had no idea of time. It seemed as if it was still night time outside and I kept getting colder and colder. I kept moving my legs to keep them warm but I had little energy.
I tried to sleep but, every time I started to nod off, my head fell at a weird angle. So I rocked the chair around a bit so that I could rest my head on the boxes. At least I could try to get some sleep that way.
As I drifted off, something tickled across my face. In my half-asleep state, I thought it was Tex and smiled then remembered where I was and screamed – tried to scream, a muffled scream through the stuffing.
I cried again. All I wanted was to feel Tex's arms around me. He'd said he'd protect me but he couldn't. He'd been here and he'd gone away and I was all alone.
It was becoming harder and harder to think those happy thoughts but I had to dig down deep inside me. Tex would come for me, he'd find me and I'd be safe but I had to stay strong until then. At least I was alone, that was a good thing. Maybe I could think of all the places that would be worse than this.
Tex would find me. I knew he would. Our love was stronger than anything. He'd not believe that I'd just up and leave him without even telling him face to face. I wasn't that kind of person. I'd stay and make things work until the very last minute. What we had together was too good to give up without a fight. Without a lot of fights.
Maybe I'd taken it for granted. I'd been so focused on what I was losing and how Tex's career screwed with my life that I'd lost sight of the good things. He added so much more than he'd ever taken away.
If I ever got out of this situation, I'd spend every moment of my life making it up to him. If he wanted to go on tour, I'd be okay with that. If he wanted the world to know about us, I'd agree. I couldn't let the crazies win. Being public might bring them out of the woodwork but I had to fight back.
If I survived.
If I survived, I'd tell Tex I loved him every single day. Even if he didn't say it back. I'd be brave and positive and try to be the woman who would bring him happiness. I made a pact with myself. If I got out of this shed – no, when I got out – I'd be the best girlfriend to him I could possibly be.
I tried harder to loosen the fabric around my wrists. It had gotten a little looser but I still couldn't get my hands out.
Maybe, if I concentrated really hard, I could send my thoughts to Tex. It seemed like a stupid idea but then I had nothing else to do. It wasn't like I was super busy.
As I focussed, it seemed like the shadows in the shed lightened and beams of light coming through the holes were brighter. It must be daybreak. What time did the shop open? How many more hours would I have to wait?
My bladder was about to burst. I tried not to think about that.
Tex would save me. He had to. I repeated that, like a mantra.
Chapter 24
Tex
“What do you mean you can’t do anything?” I slammed my fist down on the counter and glared at the officer.
“She’s only been missing a day and you said yourself that she sent you a message…”
“I said the message wasn’t from her. Someone has her phone and sent that message and I can t
ell you who it is.”
The man stifled a yawn and gave me a dismissive wave of his hand.
“Don’t you know who I am?” I hated myself for saying those words. I’d promised myself I’d never say them. How do you say something like that without looking like a massive tool? But this was a matter of life and death. If my rock fame was good for anything, I’d use it to save Ruby.
“No. Who are you?”
“I’m pretty damn well known in the rock industry, mate. And she’s my girlfriend. This isn’t a lover’s tiff. Something’s happened to her. Someone is trying to get to me through her. You’ll want to check into this because you are going to look like an incompetent cretin when it hits the major papers.”
The officer didn’t react. His lack of help made my blood boil. I wanted to jump the counter and punch him in the head but the counter had a massive security grill, probably for that exact reason. All I could do was rattle that grill like a damn chimpanzee.
There was nothing I could do. My head throbbed from the frustration of it all. I’d wasted precious hours waiting to report Ruby missing, hanging around the dingy waiting room when I could’ve been out on the streets looking for her. I’d not slept, I wouldn’t be able to sleep until I had Ruby beside me.
I searched in my pocket for my cigarettes but they were empty. I’d smoked the lot since I’d got home and found Ruby gone. I’d tried everything. Even that damn pizza shop. That crazy bitch had acted crazier than hell but Ruby hadn’t been there.
I knew that woman had done something with Ruby and it was all my fault. I’d had a bad feeling about her from the start. Even though Ruby hadn’t been there when I’d searched the pizza place, I was sure that woman knew where she was. Either she’d taken Ruby somewhere or had her hidden away. Or… I didn’t want to think of the other possibility. Ruby had to be saved. She was alive. If she wasn’t, I’d know. I’d feel the loss of her in the world.
The first glow of morning had hit the streets when I walked out of the police station. I shivered in the cold of dawn. Where was Ruby? Was she warm enough? Was she safe?
All this money, all this fame – it wasn’t worth a pile of shit. If I couldn’t use it to protect those I loved, what was the point of any of it?
I grabbed another packet of cigarettes from a nearby shop then paced the street outside the station, wondering if it’d be worth trying them again. Maybe I should just go back to the pizza shop and smash the place to make sure she wasn’t there.
I lit up a cigarette and leaned against the wall of the bus shelter outside the police station, trying to get my head straight.
The rage inside me welled up, frustration at that damn cop and his shitful attitude, at my own ineffectualness. Ruby would die and I wouldn’t be able to save her. That’s the way it was. That’s the way it’d always been.
The pain buried so deep. I kicked at the bus shelter.
A car pulled up beside me. I didn’t really pay it any mind. I swung my fist, wanting to break something just to hear the sound of it smashing.
Someone grabbed my arm.
It was Hannah and she wasn’t messing around.
“Get in the car, Tex.” She didn’t let go of my arm. “You punch that glass and you’ll never play guitar again.”
I tried to shake her off.
“I don’t care. What good is my stinking career? What’s the use of any of it?”
She put her arms around me in the most awkward hug ever but I let her do it. In a way, it was a relief to have someone with me. I choked back the sobs rising in my throat as Hannah patted my back.
“Come on, in the car.”
I got into the car. Maybe Hannah’d have a plan. I’d driven myself half-mad trying to come up with possibilities.
“The cops phoned me and said you’d been making a nuisance of yourself. You’d put me down as a contact on the missing person’s form.”
“What a joke that was. Those bastards wouldn’t do a thing to help. She’s gone. Missing. Who knows what the fuck is happening to her. And I’m wandering around like a lost puppy.”
My hands clenched into fists. It took all my strength to sit there quietly in the car.
“Are you sure she hasn’t just gone somewhere?”
“She wouldn’t. Not without telling me. That crazy bitch has her. I just know it.”
Hannah shook her head. “Do you have any proof? You can’t just go around accusing people of kidnap.”
I lit up another cigarette. Hannah glared at me but didn’t tell me to put it out. She just wound down the window.
I told Hannah about going to the pizza shop.
“She was unhinged. Totally fucking batshit. She acted like I wanted her. Like I was there to see her.” I shuddered, thinking about how she’d thrown herself at me. “I’ve been a damn fool. I flirted with her back stage, gave her fuel to feed the crazy fire. Now she’s done this. She said she hadn’t seen Ruby but I’m 100% convinced that she’s behind this.”
We pulled up at Brownie’s.
“Huh?”
“If the police aren’t going to help, you need some backup. I can’t have one of my band getting themselves in trouble.”
“You look a mess,” Lizzie said when I arrived. If anyone else had stated the bloody obvious like that I’d have snarled at them – or maybe punched them but you couldn’t do that with Lizzie. “Do you want a cup of tea?”
I shook my head. I didn’t want tea, I wanted a couple of dozen shots of whisky but I needed to keep my head clear. I went outside to smoke a cigarette. I drew so hard on it, it crackled and sparked, smoking up half a cigarette in one drag.
Then I went inside and saw Devon lounging on the sofa.
“What’s he doing here?”
“He’s helping. I called him,” Brownie said.
I glared at Devon. I needed help but I didn’t want it from him. It wouldn’t solve anything to punch him in the face but it might clear away some of this tension winding itself around me.
“Normally, I’d want to keep something like this out of the press but have you considered it? It might help if someone has seen anything. If we have Ruby’s photo all over the media, the police will have to help. And that woman wouldn’t be able to take her anywhere without someone recognising her.”
That made sense but I wondered what Ruby would want? She’d hate being in the press but then I bet she hated being kidnapped even more. I ran my fingers through my hair, totally unsure of what was the best thing to do. If it would save Ruby, then I was all for it. But would that help?
“You think she’s at the pizza shop, right?” said Devon. “So why don’t we just smash our way in there and get her out?”
“Yeah, exactly.” At least he talked some sense. Maybe I wouldn’t punch him after all. I needed to do something not just sit around and talk.
“No way. You are NOT doing that,” said Hannah. “For one, the lot of you will end up in jail and for another thing, if that woman is psychotic, it might not end well for Ruby.”
“Wow, wouldn’t it be great if there were some kind of service that did this kind of thing for people. Upholding the law and protecting citizens, that type of thing.” I couldn’t help but be bitter. I laughed, but the sound was chilling.
“We need to get hold of the owner of the pizza shop. He can legally let us in to search the place. I’ve got his number but he’s not answering his phone. We also need to find out where that woman lives and tail her.” Hannah gave me a searching look. “We should also look at other possibilities. Just in case it isn’t the crazy woman. Tex, do you have any contact details for her parents?”
I didn’t but I could probably get them. Ruby complained all the time about how freely her mother posted stuff online. I could contact her through Facebook or something. I didn’t really want to worry her parents unnecessarily but, if she’d gone to be with them, she’d definitely have let them know she was arriving.
Lizzie grabbed her laptop and did a search on Facebook. I hovered over her, knowi
ng how annoying that was but unable to stop myself. If Ruby’s parents could give us even the slightest clue, I needed to know. My hands clenched around the back of Lizzie’s chair. Maybe, somewhere in her computer, there’d be an answer.
“This looks like her,” she said. “I’ll send her a private message and also post on her wall to let her know it’s urgent.”
“Is there nothing else you can do?”
“Tex, settle.” Hannah put her hand on my arm. I knew she was just concerned but I didn’t want to settle. I couldn’t settle, not until Ruby was safe. I went back to pacing instead. I was so wound up inside, I’d end up striking out without meaning to and I couldn’t hurt these people who wanted to help me. I’d done that before and the regrets I had could fill the world.
I’d known this would happen. Not this exactly but that something would go wrong. When everything went well, the price had to be paid. That’d been my experience, anyway. Maybe some people got what they wanted scot free but I’d always had to pay. In loss and tears and heartbreak.
“She’s replied,” Lizzie said. “She wants a phone number.”
My heart jumped. She might know something. She might get us one step closer to finding Ruby. If she said that Ruby had left me and was going to be with her, I’d be the happiest man alive. I’d hate that Ruby had gone but having her safe somewhere in the world meant more than anything else.
I told her my number and Ruby’s mum called straight back, in a panic. She hadn’t heard from Ruby. That was like a punch in my guts.
“Should I get on a plane and fly home?”
The poor woman. Spending hours on a plane with no contact and not knowing if her daughter was safe or not. Maybe she’d be better off staying put until we knew more. I didn’t know what to tell her.
Cry For You Page 13
