Jill Monroe - Share the Darkness

The ding of the elevator signaled its arrival, ending her decision. She entered with a grateful quick step. She fluffed her shirt to cool a bit. The building maintenance obviously had the air-conditioning on efficiency mode.

Ice cream. Cold, melting ice cream would help cool her off. Too bad she wouldn’t be able to eat it on her balcony as the sun set. Her favorite time of the day.

The temperature would probably still hover around the ninety-degree mark. But it did remind her to stop by the grocery store. She’d need to stock up. No telling how long she’d have to stay holed up in her apartment.

The doors had almost closed when a large, masculine hand pried them apart. Hannah moved until her back pressed against the cool, faux wood.

“I see I’m not alone in waiting until the last minute,” Ward said.

Her hand automatically went to her purse, and she wrapped her fingers around the comforting presence of her Taser. One thing she’d learned in these last four years on the run, life did have its ironies. Thirty minutes ago, she’d entertained pirate thoughts about the man. Now she wondered if he were sent here to find her and bring her to Kyle. That burly-looking friend of Ward’s, Brett, had that capable rough appearance about him. As did Ward.

He turned away. She switched the Taser safety off with her thumb. Just a few more seconds and the doors would slide open, and she could head for her car.

With a slow swoosh the elevator came to a stop. The jerk of the emergency brakes engaging knocked her slightly off balance. She dropped her purse to the floor. A small red emergency light fluttered in the corner for a moment, then puttered out.

Utter darkness draped them.

The electricity had shut off early.

She chased her purse to the floor. Panicked, she felt the floor for the spilled contents. The Taser was her only weapon. She heard it rolling on the floor. “Why’d that red light go out?” she asked.

“Damn building maintenance.”

A high-pitched ringing filled her ears. Had Ward and his friend rigged the elevator? Now would be his chance. His chance to bring her to Kyle. Or bring her body.

Beside her, Ward cursed. “This is all I need.”

She sucked in a deep breath and tried to take a cue from Ward. He only sounded irritated. She counted to ten.

Then to twenty.

Though he didn’t act or sound like a man who was ready to kill her, she didn’t plan on sticking around to find out. She silently recited the mantra she’d been given. When confronted, act .

Swallowing her anxiety, she quelled the shaking of her hands as she felt her way along the wall to where she hoped the emergency phone was.

Bingo! Her fingers brushed over the bumpy Braille on the buttons. She moved lower. The cool, smooth metal beneath her fingertips indicated she’d found the control panel. Usually, the emergency phone lay below.

Her nails clicked on the metal handle. She yanked it open. The cordless receiver fell to the floor with a clunk. “Oh no.”

“Don’t tell me that was the phone.”

Taking a deep calming breath, she patted the floor for the useless device. His voice didn’t sound threatening. Take it easy. Maybe he’s just a normal guy. A guy with bad luck…just like you . “Yes. Maintenance strikes again.”

She heard him fumble in the darkness. “I have my cell phone. Hope the battery is charged.”

He laughed. She prayed that was his idea of a joke and not a real worry. But she did breath a little easier. If he and his buddy had rigged the elevator, he’d be subduing her right now, not trying to find a way to get out. Right?

A rush of relief filled her as she heard the beeps on his phone. She could handle being inside their steel cage as long as she knew it would be for just a few minutes more.

“Damn it.”

Her heart began to pound. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m getting nothing but static. Can’t get a signal in the middle of all these steel office towers. Being inside an elevator doesn’t help.”

A nauseating sense of apprehension invaded her, but she wouldn’t sit there like a helpless victim. She had to do something.

Hannah stood and felt her way to the elevator doors. She balled up her fists and began to pound. “Hey, someone. We’re trapped. Help!”

Her fellow captive joined her. How long they stood together pummeling the door, she didn’t know. Soon the force behind his blows weakened, and her voice grew hoarse.

Her legs wobbled, and she sank to the floor, sliding along the smoothness of the elevator wall. “This is useless.”

“Yeah,” he said. “Everyone is long gone.” The silence stretched between them for a moment. “Hey, look on the bright side.”

“What?”

“The phone’s buttons provide a little bit of light.”

She licked her dry lips. “You’re taking this too calmly. Who knows how long we’ll be here tonight.”

“Brett’s expecting me, and he knows where I was last. When I don’t answer my phone, he’ll come to find out why.”

Maybe Ward was just the head of security. Maybe Brett was just a buddy. Maybe.

“What about you? Anyone waiting for you at home?” he asked.

That was a loaded question. Was he trying to size up the enemy or was he simply forming a plan?

The memory of his long, hot stares assaulted her. Maybe he was asking out of a personal interest. Her heart beat faster at the thought. Dare she tell him the truth?

She closed her eyes and shook her head. No one.

“Hannah?”

“What?”

“Is anyone expecting you?”

Did she trust Ward? Could she trust him? “Uh, no, sorry.”

Silence stretched between them. Had she miscalculated? Was he preparing to swoop down on her? The smooth glide of fabric sliding against the wall filled the compartment. The wall opposite her. Ward must have decided to sit on the floor, too. “I don’t want to think what kind of germs are on this floor.”

Sweet relief poured through her, causing a cooling sweat to break out on the back of her neck.

She rubbed her eyes wishing for something to appear. “I can’t see a thing. Why won’t my eyes adjust?”

“Your eye requires light. The light rays send electrical signals to the brain where the image is then decoded.”

“Translation please?”

“Your eyes won’t adjust, it’s too dark.”

“Great. How’d you know that?”

“Spent many a night in the jungle as a Marine.”

“Really?”

“Hoo-Raa.”

Hannah allowed herself to smile. He wouldn’t be able to see her anyway. Ward was what he appeared to be. A former Marine and the head guy of security. Her pirate image flashed again. Yeah, Marines did a lot for water.

“Don’t worry, once it gets dark, Brett will know something’s wrong,” he said.

She exhaled a slow breath. “Today’s the summer solstice. The longest day of the year.”

“So I guess our wait will be even longer.”

“It’s kind of ironic. From our more pagan past, the solstice was a celebration of light.”

Ward laughed. “And we’re stuck in the dark.”

Disappointment layered on top of her apprehension. “Some people believe it’s a time for renewal.”

“There’s a joke there somewhere.” The man beside her sighed. “We might be here for a while. What can we do for fun?”

One thing about pirates. They sometimes had wicked ideas. Or in this case, inspired them.

“You’ll feel better if you take off a few clothes,” Ward said a while later. He’d already shucked his shirt, shoes and socks.

Perspiration rolled down her temple. She gave a nervous laugh. “I think I’ll hold out as long as I can.”

The elevator had become a steamy box and she felt like a wilting, hothouse weed. She pulled the wispy material of her skirt over her calves. She couldn’t read her watch, but guessed there were still several hours of daylight left. No telling how much longer they’d have to sit here.