Source One by Allyson Simonian Page A

opened it. It was filled with files. Probably thirty of them. She took out the first one and skimmed through.
    Amber found nothing in the first ten files. Then her stomach knotted as she picked up a page.
    Her bank account number was scribble d across a white sheet of paper. There was another number listed below it. Most likely Brian’s.
    Amber set the page down on the desk. With renewed determination, she continued her search.
    Eight more files in, there was a file stuffed with papers she recognized.
    At the end of most weeks, Jim, Brian’s software head, brought Brian a written summary of what they’d worked on that week. Brian would sign off on the papers. Months’ worth of those papers stared up at Amber.
    Michelle was often the last to leave. She must have copied these and brought them to Sumner.
    My God.
    “What are you doing, Amber?”
    Amber jumped. Her body trembled as she slowly rose.
    Sumner was standing in the doorway. His eyes were narrowed.
    “I-I never got to finish the work for the city on Friday. I was looking for the file.”
    Sumner backed away from the door and was back a second later.
    He held up a folder. “This? The file right on your desk?”
    He looked ready to pounce.
    Amber sucked in a breath. Her heart ratcheted against her chest.
    She knew she should say something else. Offer another explanation. But she couldn’t think. She could only hear the blood rushing in her ears.
    “There’s a security camera in here, Amber. I know what you’ve been doing.”
    Amber backed away as Sumner closed the door behind him and slowly advanced toward her.
    The look on his face made her heart pound even faster.
    Run! Get out of here!
    Amber circled around him and ran to the door. She was fumbling with the doorknob when he snaked an arm around her waist and covered her mouth with his other hand.
    “You’re going to be very sorry you were in here, Amber.”
    Amber let out a muffled scream.
    Sumner took his hand away from her mouth a moment later.
    His other arm was still locked around her.
    “No! Help! Help!” Amber screamed as loudly as she could.
    His hand quickly returned to her face. This time, he covered her mouth and nose with a rag.
    The odor of the rag was overpowering. Amber struggled with renewed determination, but she was powerless. No match for Sumner.
    “No one’s here to help you, Amber.” His voice was a taunting whisper in her ear.
    She cried into the rag as he pressed it tighter to her mouth. The room was fading from her view. Her eyes closed.

CHAPTER 24
     
    Amber woke slowly.
    Her heart began to hammer as she remembered what had happened.
    She tried to move. Her wrists and ankles were bound. There was a gag in her mouth.
    She looked around wildly. She was in a moving vehicle. A van, by the look of it.
    She had to get to the door of the van. Had to open it.
    Sumner was going to kill her otherwise.
    Amber started to drag herself across the floor of the van.
    “Stay where you are, Amber.”
    Amber fell back at the sound of Michelle’s voice. She turned her head until she saw Michelle’s form seated in back of her.
    Amber closed her eyes. She tried to calm down. Tried to think.
    The van stopped long minutes later and the driver’s door slammed.
    Michelle moved to the sliding door in front of Amber and opened it.
    Sumner had come around the van. Amber’s screams were muffled as he dragged her out.
    He set her on her feet and crouched down. Grabbed her thighs and dug his shoulder into her waist.
    Her feet left the ground as Sumner lifted her up.
    Amber screamed again. She struggled hard against the ropes that bound her.
    “Stop it,” Sumner hissed. He dug his fingers into the jeans that covered her thighs.
    Amber lifted her head and tried to make out what was around her. The area was dimly lit. She could see trees. A lot of them.
    A second later, Sumner was climbing steps. Michelle opened a door and Sumner carried Amber through. Amber bounced against his back as they walked through