SC 01 Hazardous Duty by Barritt Christy

Author:Barritt, Christy [Barritt, Christy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy Mystery
Published: 2006-10-10T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

A happy song cut through the murkiness in my mind. My eyes slowly fluttered open. Darkness surrounded me.

My head throbbed. Wherever I laid vibrated, hummed.

And that happy song kept playing, over and over.

My cell phone.

I tried to reach for it, but felt tape around my wrists. Everything rushed back. Tears pushed into my eyes.

I was in the Escort. The car was running, but not moving.

I closed my eyes. The garage door was shut, probably.

Carbon monoxide would kill me in this car. The mechanic would find me in the morning, if at all. With my supplies put away, why would he think I was still here?

My van was out front. He’d check if he saw it.

But what if it wasn’t?

Despair bit into me.

The hum of the motor was interrupted by the sing song ring of the cell phone again.

I was supposed to meet Riley. Was it him calling now?

I strained against the tape, trying to reach my phone. My fingers stroked it, but I couldn’t grasp the plastic edges.

My arms went slack. I gulped in a breath. My heart raced. The phone was my only hope. I had to keep trying.

My wrists ached as the tape cut into them. Gritting my teeth against the pain, I pulled my arms forward.

The phone teased my fingers. Just one more inch. The tension of my arms made them feel like they would snap. With one last jerk, I tried for the phone.

The ringing stopped.

My body went slack as my mind raced.

Curling into a ball, I brought my knees forward until they pinched the rag in my mouth. I tugged it out then licked my lips.

There had to be another way to use my cell phone.

Think, Gabby. Think.

Using my leg, I pushed against the phone, trying to nudge it from its clip. My thigh rubbed it. I had to turn my legs, get the phone closer to my knee.

I twisted. Finally the phone snapped off and skidded against the carpet.

Now I had to figure out how to pick it up.

I turned over and arched my back. My fingers scrambled over the carpet, searching for the plastic.

There it was!

I grasped the phone and felt until I hit a button. A soft, mellow light filled the car.

Straining my neck, I looked behind me. Carefully, I dialed 911 and pressed send. Placing the phone on the floor, I turned and scooted as far down as I could, in order to speak into the phone.

I vaguely made out a “9-1-1, what’s your emergency?” “My name is Gabby St. Claire, and I’m trapped inside a car on

Granby Ave. and Eighth Street in Norfolk. Please send the police. The car’s running, and I’m stuck in a garage.”

The dispatcher said something I couldn’t make out.

“Please, I don’t know how much more time I have!” I said.

I inched my way up and turned. My fingers fumbled over the phone. I hit end and attempted to dial Riley’s number. There was no answer. Using the last of my energy, I tried Sierra.

Sierra’s loud voice echoed through the trunk.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.