Stowaway by Emma Bennett Page A

think I’m going to haul
you in instead. I’ll call it resisting arrest or something.”
    “Or
something? What are you, the intern? You’re not even a real cop, are
you? Besides, we’re stuck here for the duration of this trip, remember? Where
are you going to take me?”
    He smiles knowingly,
and ignores my comments. Darn. I was hoping he’d take the bait and tell me who
he really is. Also, I’m surprised he’s not remarking on the dead body, then I realize he must not have noticed it before I slammed
the door closed. I decide to keep quiet about it for now. Since he’s here to
arrest me for something else, and all. No sense muddying the waters further.
    “Miss Swift, my
name is Lance Smith. I represent the federal agency that has been investigating
your former roommate’s fraudulent activities.”
    “Federal
agency? Which one?”
    “The
FBI. I announced that through your apartment door, remember?”
    I don’t. Then
again, I ran as soon as he banged on my door. I heard his tone, knew he was the
law and took off. Right then, it didn’t matter who he was with. It may still
not. So, I don’t answer. He sighs.
    “Look, Miss Swift,
I’m going to get right to the point. We know what your former roommate did and
that you are innocent. I’ve already spoken with your lawyer, who said she tried
several times to contact you.”
    Oh, right. My phone. I still haven’t checked any of the messages.
    “We really need
your help,” he is saying. “That’s what I’m here for.”
    “I’d love to put
that lying little…,” I start, snatching up my pepper spray. “You know what?
Never mind. She’s dead. Not a whole lot I can do about her now.”
    “Is that what you
think? No, Miss Swift. Rebecca is alive. She faked her
own death when the Mexican authorities came after her. That’s why I’m here. We
need you to testify against her for the prosecution. Help us make this case,
and your record will be cleared. And, I’ll see what we can do about restoring
some of your assets.”
    My mind is
spinning. Of course, I want this mess to go away and for Rebecca to get what
she deserves. Could we jump ship right now and swim to court? This is the best
news I’ve had all day.
    I tell Smith I
need to review the deal with my attorney once we reach shore, which makes his
face relax a little. He hands me the papers, says my attorney also has a copy
in review. I’m sure that is what some of the dozen voicemails from her are
about. I wish I had just checked them.
    For the first
time, I smile at Smith, extend my hand out for a shake to seal the deal. Just
as he reaches for it, he drops like a rock to the platform. He is out cold.
    “What the…?”
    “Go! Now!”
    There is a vice
grip on my arm, and I am being towed once again across this platform, this time
around the smokestack and back toward the ladder. In the dark, I can’t see who
it is. Mike’s voice is too nasally. No way he could have disguised it. That leaves one candidate.
    “Luke! You knocked
him out?”
    “Yeah,
yeah. Now hurry, before he wakes up! I’m just glad I got here in time.”
    I fight him, but
he pulls harder. There’s no way I can escape his iron grip. So, I do the only
thing I can think of. I throw my body to the platform and go completely limp.
If he’s going to kidnap me, he’s going to have to drag my limp weight around to
do it. I’m not helping him by staying afoot.
    “What do you think
you are doing?” he yells down at me.
    “Not
getting kidnapped, you idiot!” Whoops, probably not good to call killers
names.
    “I’m not
kidnapping you, I’m saving you. Now, let’s go!”
    “I don’t need
saving! That is Agent Smith’s job. He is with the FBI.”
    “With
what?” Luke says. He stops yanking, but doesn’t let my arm go. He must
assume, rightly, that I would jump up and bolt if given the chance.
    “It’s a long
story, but he just handed me this official paperwork saying I’m in the clear.”
    Luke snatches the
documents and