Page 57 of SEAL's Sunshine
“No, we need proof of life.” They were going to ransom her again? Didn’t they remember how it went the last time? Or was it just a ruse?
The American put Miranda in the chair with a newspaper held against her chest. After a few photos with the paper and a few without, the American dumped her on the floor and took the chair.
“Can you cut me loose? I’m in a freaking box, where am I going to go? And can I have some water?”
“Don’t push your luck. Go ahead, cut her loose. But if you try to escape, you’ll die. I told you, I don’t care if you’re alive or dead, but I will have fun cutting you into pieces.”
Just the thought of being carved up again made her shiver. He saw her movement and laughed. Where did they find these guys? Did they advertise for cruel sadists with knives who want jihad?
“You’re just going to leave me here?”
“For now.” And that was it, he backed up and the door slammed shut. Then she heard the latch click into place.
Rubbing her ankles to bring the feeling back, at least they weren’t bleeding. But her wrists were a mess. Even without being able to see them, she could feel the stickiness of the blood and the smell of it permeated the stale air of the container.
Reaching under her shirt and into her bra, she dug out her phone. Then pushed the button to check to see if she had a signal. It still had sixty percent battery left but no signal at all. She shouldn’t have been surprised since she was in a big metal box.
She turned on the flashlight to check her wrists and see if there was anything in the container she could use as a weapon. But found nothing. Afraid to leave the light on for long and drain the battery, she checked her wrists again. They were chaffed and bloody. She tried to rip part of her shirt to wrap them. Holding the phone in her mouth so she could see, she tried to tear off the bottom of her shirt.
Then she heard the latch, just before the door was opened. She tried to hide the phone but wasn’t fast enough. The man grabbed the phone and checked to see if she’d called anyone. Then he punched her with such force, she slammed against the wall and slid onto the floor. Then he kicked her in the ribs.
“You’re a sneaky bitch, aren’t you? Ishmael will not be happy. Here he took pity on you and sent me to bring you water. Where did you have this hiding?”
Miranda didn’t say anything as tears slid down her cheeks. It was her one lifeline and she’d lost it.
“What’s going on?”
“I found this, the bitch had it when I opened the door.”
“Where did you have it? I should have kept you naked. It would have been harder to hide anything. Strip her down.”
“No. I don’t have anything else.”
“I warned you. You didn’t listen.”
The American pulled her to her feet, and she kicked him in the balls. They might kill her, but she wasn’t going to make it easy for them.
“You fucking cunt, you’re going to pay for that.” He punched her in the head, and she crumpled like a rag doll.
* * *
Jake’s phone rang,and he hit the answer button in the truck. It was Rafe.
“We lost the signal about twenty minutes ago. Tex hasn’t been able to get it back.”
“Where did it drop?”
“At the Port.”
“Fuck. She could be anywhere.”
“No, she’d have to be someplace that blocked the signal, unless the phone went dead.”
“We’re about ten minutes away. Where are you?”
“Outside the custom’s terminal.”
“Copy that.”
