Page 2 of Deuce

Heading over to the counter, I saw the server already holding out a fistful of wipe.

“Sorry, I can’t leave the till to come help you.”She gestured at the empty space beside her with an apologetic grimace.“My coworker is on break so it’s just me.”

“No worries.We can get it cleaned up.”I grabbed the rags and scurried back to the table.

George stood up and took the rags from me, wiping up the rest of the mess with surprising efficiency.Maybe import/export meant janitor in disguise?

“Sit down and enjoy your coffee.”He gathered up the wet rags and his empty cup.“I’ll get rid of these and get me a fresh coffee.”

Good plan.I could make short work of the coffee and then pretend I had gotten a text and had to leave.Watching reruns of some sitcom would definitely be a step up from this.

I took a mouthful of my coffee.Not the best brew I’d ever had, but at least it had cooled off enough to drink.There was a bitter taste to it.Probably the reason George had been going to add more sugar to his cup.I disliked sugar in my coffee though, so I’d just suffer through it.One cup of bad cup of coffee wasn’t going to kill me.

George returned with a fresh cup just as a wave of dizziness rolled over me.I must have made a strange face or something because he took one look at me and frowned.“You okay?You look a little pale.”

I managed a weak smile.“I’m fine.”I took another sip of my coffee.Probably just nerves.I wanted out of here.Away from George who, despite his superior cleaning skills, still sent shivers of unease down my spine.

A fresh wave of dizziness assailed me, and my vision blurred.

“You don’t look so good.”George sounded concerned, meeting my eyes for the first time since we’d met.“Some fresh air might help.How about we step outside for a minute?”

“Good idea,” I mumbled.My tongue felt too big for my mouth.What was happening?

I pushed myself to my feet, and George came around the table.Putting an arm around my waist, he helped steady me as I stumbled toward the exit.Thank goodness we’d picked a table near the door.The dizziness worsened, and I was having trouble seeing.

“Can I help?”It was the girl from the counter.“Should I call someone?”

By now, if George hadn’t been holding me up, I would have fallen flat on my face.

“Can you get the door for us?”George sounded confident, like a man who had things under control.“She just needs a little fresh air.”

“No problem.”

She opened the door and I staggered outside, leaning heavily on George.The fresh night air hit me in the face, but it didn’t make me feel any better.My stomach started to churn.Add nausea to the list of symptoms.

Someone wrapped an arm around me from the other side and helped George half carry me across the parking lot.I turned my head, attempting to see who the new person was but a fresh wave of dizziness assailed me.

“Parked the van over there away from the lights.”

That would be the new person.A guy.I didn’t recognize the voice.Deep.Possibly creepier sounding than George.I tried to pull away, but whatever was happening left me too weak.

We stopped for a moment, and the creaking of metal hinges sounded loud in the night.

“Up you go.”George grasped me by the waist.The touch of his hands grossed me out, but I was too weak to protest.

“Careful.Don’t want to bruise her up.Hard to get full price for damaged goods.”This comment came from the mystery man as I concentrated on keeping the contents of my stomach where they belonged.

“I know what I’m doing.Not like this is my first time.”

I felt myself being lifted and placed down on a pile of material that smelled like used motor oil.George’s presence disappeared, and I heard the metallic echo of a door slamming shut.

I rolled over, and the sudden movement increased the nausea.I pushed myself up on all fours, my head hanging down as I took deep breaths and tried to steady myself.The smell from the questionable stuff under me did not help with the nausea.

The floor shifted suddenly, and I lost my balance, falling to the floor.My stomach heaved in protest, and I vomited up the bitter coffee along with the lasagna I’d had for dinner before heading off to meet George.

Having emptied my stomach, I collapsed on my side, breathing heavily.The nausea and dizziness retreated to a manageable level.I opened my eyes cautiously.

I could see better now.It was dark, but as my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting I realized I was in some type of vehicle, and it was moving.I recalled the words of the mysterious second man.A van -- like a delivery truck.There was a wall.I couldn’t get up front to where the guys were sitting.And I damn sure I didn’t want to go where they were taking me.

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