Page 142 of Maddy's Justice

“Did you see someone?”

“A couple of cars that looked to be following me. I don’t know. I can’t be sure.”

Connie was tempted to tell him about Carvelli’s guys but stopped herself. She was worried sick about Maddy and had decided to trust Carvelli and not tell Marc. If she said anything about the guys watching him, she would have to explain why.

“I don’t know. I don’t know what to tell you. With the shit we wonder about our client being involved with, who knows? Maybe you are being followed. Maybe I am too. Keep an eye out for it.”

That same morning, almost thirty-six hours after her abduction, Maddy Rivers woke up. She was lying on a full-sized bed staring at the ceiling letting her brain begin to work again to take in her surroundings and recall the event.

Maddy was in, what appeared to be, a fairly large, comfortable bedroom. Facing the door, the bed was up against the right-hand wall. To her left, through an open-door, she could see a bathroom with a shower and a toilet. There was a table with two chairs in the opposite corner from her. On the table was a lamp with a shade. It was turned on providing the light in the room except for a small window above where she lay.

Maddy took a peek under the blankets and saw she was still dressed in the same blouse and jeans. Somewhat relieved at that, she threw back the covers and headed for the bathroom. After using the toilet, washing up, brushing her teeth with a new toothbrush left for her and brushing her hair, she went back to the other room. Feeling much better, she found a light switch for an overhead light, then took a few minutes searching for the camera she was certain was there.

The ceiling was at least nine feet and the small window was up at least eight feet. Maddy took one of the chairs and placed it along the wall made of concrete cinder blocks. Standing on the chair, she could easily see outside.

About thirty to forty feet from her was a well-built log cabin. While she watched, two teenage girls, carbon copies of each other, came out of that cabin and walked past between the two buildings. They were each wearing a two-piece swimsuit, one blue and one red. They also each wore a see-through blouse that came down almost to their knees. Both were stunningly beautiful.

What really caught Maddy’s attention were the two-armed men with them. One walked in front and the other behind the girls. Each man wore black clothing and carried, what appeared to be, an AR-15 with a thirty round, banana magazine. And both men were very serious looking.

“She’s awake,” Evan Carlin told his boss.

Odessa and the man were on the deck in the back of the main building. They had seen the twins go past with their armed protection heading down to the lake. From where they sat, they had an excellent view of the water.

“How does she seem?” Evan’s boss asked.

“Fine, no worse for wear,” Evan said. He had taken a seat and was pouring himself a cup of coffee. He took a sip and asked, “What do you want to do?”

“Why don’t you go down and see if she needs anything?” their boss said to Odessa. “Let her take a shower, get some food, a change of clothes.”

“Will do,” Odessa said.

“You go with her. Arm yourself and don’t get too close to her.”

“The day I can’t handle a woman…” Evan said.

“I’m sure you can, but she could make you sorry you did it. Be careful with her. If she gets a hold of a gun, you’re both gone and the rest of us will be in trouble. I’m telling you, take this woman seriously or she can make you regret it.”

Evan stood looking at his boss and was tempted to ask him how he knew this.

“What?”

“Ah, nothing, I guess.”

Evan slid the opening in the door aside and looked in. Maddy was standing on the chair looking out the small window. She turned and stepped down from it.

“We’re coming in,” Evan said. “Please sit down on the bed and we will not have to harm you.”

Despite wanting to rip this man’s eyes out, Maddy remained calm and did as he said. A moment later a man and a woman entered her room. The man was armed with a fully automatic H & K MP5. The man stepped to the side in front of the bed. The woman placed a plastic bag on the table.

“There is a new, clean change of clothes for you including socks and underwear. They should fit. There is also shampoo, soap, conditioner you can use to shower,” Odessa said.

“Why am I here? Who are you and why…” Maddy calmly said despite the ferocity of the look in her eyes and on her face.

“Get yourself cleaned up. We will get you something to eat and then take you to our boss who will explain everything,” Odessa replied.

Maddy looked at Evan Carlin and said, “Put the gun down and we’ll have a little chat right now.”

Evan bared his teeth in what was supposed to be a smile and said, “I was told you’re a spitfire. Be careful what you wish for, lassie, you just might get it.”

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