Page 51 of Filthy Liar

Reversing course, I sprint back up to the second floor and take the back stairs instead, bursting out into the side alley—and headlong into a solid wall of muscle.

Before I can scream, a hand clamps over my mouth and I’m wrenched around, my backpack giving whoever has grabbed me a good wallop as they drag me backwards.

The next thing I see is Jason’s stony face, scowling at me as he shoves me into the passenger seat of his car.

18

Jason

By the timeI get around to the driver’s side, Ellie has her backpack off and unzipped. My heart stops for a second when I see she has a Glock in her hand, but she’s not pointing it at me.

Small miracle.

I shove the car into first gear and reverse out of the alley, barely coming to a stop before I take off. As the car rights itself, I glance across at her. “Why do you have a gun?”

“Things got a bit messy this morning.”

I don’t like the way she says that. What the fuck doesmessymean? “Put that away. Guns are dangerous.”

She stares at me incredulously.

“They are,” I point out blandly, trying to maintain some control over the conversation.

“Jesus, Jason, now is not the time to be ethical.” She shoves the Glock at me. “You can have this one. I have another in here.”

Great, she has an entire arsenal. That doesn’t make any sense at all. “Why?”

“Seriously, someone tried to kidnap me and you’re asking questions?”

“Yes. Top of the list is, why did someone try to kidnap you?”

She doesn’t answer that directly. “How did you find me?”

“At your apartment? Where you live?”

“Coming out the side door.”

“I didn’t like the look of those guys in the front. I’m taking it they’re the potential kidnappers?”

“This isn’t funny.”

“I’m definitely not laughing.” I hold up my hand as I place a call to Wilson. “We’re five minutes out. Might be coming in hot.”

“For real?”

“Yeah. Unfortunately.”

“All right. Cole and Tag will be on the lookout.”

I end the call. “We’ll be safe at the office. What do I need to know before we get there?”

She’s looking out the back window. “I dunno.”

“All right. What don’t I know?”

“I can’t properly answer that question right now.”

“But you can give me a gun.”

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