Page 40 of Actually Yours

“I guess we should look at the ransom note the kidnappers left behind?” I say to get the ball rolling; the sooner we get out of here, the sooner I can get away from whatever Hank has going on.

“We’re running out of time!”

My date looks like he’s about to lose it and I scramble to figure a way out of this mess. As far as I can tell, we have two hours to get out of here—to ‘save the Prime Minister’—and no one to step in to help us. We’re on our own.

“Why don’t you take a seat?” I guide Hank to the plush armchair in the corner of our room, gently pushing him into it. “Conserve your energy while I try to decipher the first clue.”

He looks at me, his bloodshot eyes blinking frantically, and then before I can blink back, he’s asleep.

Why is this happening to me?

“Hank?” I shake him. Hard. “Wake up!”

Nothing. My would-be partner in this escape plan is now passed out cold and it’s up to me and me alone to get us out of here (and to save the Prime Minister, of course).

“You can do this,” I give myself a little pep talk, reading the first clue. Which is a lot of numbers and a few symbols on a page. It’s something I obviously need to de-code, but I have no idea where to start.

“Hank!” I try one more time to wake him, a snore the only response I get. “Grrr.”

With no other ideas and also because I’m not hating having an excuse to call him, I dial the number of the smartest person I know (and it’s not Julian the scientist!).

“Amelia?” Jake’s shocked voice over the phone brings me a level of comfort I tuck away to examine at a later date.

“Jake,” I reply, my voice breathless with the weight of emotion I’m feeling at just hearing his voice. “I need your help.”

“Of course.” His reply is immediate and sure. As reliable as he is. “What do you need?”

Chewing on my bottom lip, I contemplate what to tell him. “I’m on my date with Hank the carpenter.” I stop when I hear a growl from his end. At least I think it’s a growl. “Do you have a dog on your lap?”

“What?” he asks, confused. “No.”

“Oh.”

“So, you’re calling me from your date. Do you need me to come get you? Are you OK?”

“I’m fine,” I hasten to reassure him. The concern in his voice is like a weighted blanket for my growing anxiety. “It’s just that I’m in this escape room with Hank.”

“Pfft, Hank,” he mutters and I smile.

“And, well, you see…”

“Spit it out, Amelia.” He’s grumpy now.

“He fell asleep.”

Silence.

“Jake?”

“He fell asleep?”

“Um, yes?”

“Where on Earth are you finding these guys?” he groans. “How is he asleep?”

I’m as baffled as he is. “He may be drunk? And now I need help to get out of this room, or else I’ll be stuck in here with sleeping beauty for the next two hours before anyone comes to rescue us.”

“That is quite the situation,” his dry voice makes me giggle. “What can I do to help?”

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