Dangerous Surrender (11 page)

Shielding my eyes from the sun, I glanced at his handsome face. “You won’t even walk me to the door?”

Frowning, he shook his head. “This is as far as I go, Mattie.”

He couldn’t tell me anyway so I didn’t ask why. “What if they don’t believe me? I don’t have any ID and my phone’s almost dead.”

Tears threatened my eyes again, but I held them back.

“They’ll believe you. You’re a wonderful actress. And you’ll be safe in their hands – I wouldn’t release you to them otherwise.”

His words didn’t make me feel better, but what more could I do? I gripped his biceps and stood on my toes, leaning into him for one last kiss. Our lips sizzled as they met, my heart aching when I realized it could be our last.

“I’ll see you soon,” I said and turned onto the crosswalk.

“See you, love.”

When I reached the consulate and glanced behind me, Jack was gone. For the first time in Thailand – I was truly alone.

Taking a deep breath, I approached the guard.

10

I explained my story so many times I was almost hoarse by that afternoon.

Mr. White, the consulate staff member left to deal with me, smiled and pushed a bottle of water across the table. His receding hairline and blandly handsome face reminded me of Steven, but for once the memory didn’t hurt. If he hadn’t broken up with me, we’d be married now and I never would’ve learned Jack’s true feelings.

Funny how things work out.

“Let’s go over this one more time, and I’ll give you the proper paperwork for your replacement passport. Tell me about those men with guns?”

I took a sip and frowned. They already knew the story, and telling them again wouldn’t change it. Unless they thought I was lying. Could I go to jail for lying to the consulate? Shit!

“I was headed to my hotel--”

“Where?”

“The Four Seasons in Bangkok. I had reservations – you can check.”

“We’re on it, Ms. Tucker. Go on.”

I twisted the engagement band around my finger and sighed. “I was headed there when a group of armed men attacked me.”

“Attacked how? Were you injured?”

I wished I could tell them the truth, but Jack’s stupid mission was at stake! “No, but they took my suitcases and shot at me. I ran and got away.”

He raised an eyebrow and jotted it down on his notebook. “And you have reason to believe they followed you all the way to Chiang Mai from Bangkok?”

“Yes! I ran into a woman who spoke English and she said they were probably trying to steal me. She said they steal women and children then she told me to go get help at the consulate or embassy and tell them my story.”

No wonder they didn’t believe it, far-fetched at it was. But the truth wasn’t much better.

“Why not go to the embassy in Bangkok?”

Jack prepped me for this question too. “I was scared and didn’t know where the embassy was. Bangkok is a big city and since I was there all alone I didn’t know what to do. I hopped on a bus to get out of the city and made my way here.”

“Lucky running into this woman. Did she have a name?”

“After being shot at I didn’t ask,” I said through gritted teeth.

Mr. White nodded. “And you don’t have any money left?”

Frowning, I showed him what little baht I had. “This is all. Everything was stolen. I told this to the other man—“

He put up a hand. “I know. We just want to make sure we have your story correct. Do you have a photocopy of your passport?”

I frowned. “Yes, but it was in my suitcase. Which is gone!”

“Did you have travel insurance?”

I took a long sip of water to calm my nerves before I answered.
No wonder Jack didn’t want to come in here – these bureaucrats would drive anyone crazy!

“Yes, but that paperwork was all in my suitcase too. I already said this is all I have left,” I said and shook my purse at him.

“Very well. If you’ll fill out this paperwork we can work on finding you a place to stay for the night and get you a replacement passport.”

My heart stood still. “What about protection?”

“Protection?” he asked and stood up.

“From the men who tried to kill me?” I said, my hands shaking. What happened to protecting me? I didn’t travel halfway across Thailand just to get killed by human traffickers!

“Probably a robbery gone wrong. That woman was mistaken. You don’t need protection, Ms. Tucker.”

Standing up to face him, I put my trembling hands on my hips. “How do you know that? Those men could be human traffickers, and if they come after me--”

His eyes traveled up and down my frame, just like Steven used to, finally settling on my face. “Why would they want to do that? Human traffickers take young women and children in most cases.”

Fire flared over my cheeks and tears prickled the corner of my eyes again. Right. Just because Jack loved me, didn’t mean Fattie Mattie ceased to exist
.
I didn’t want to believe him – not after everything. Why couldn’t I stand up to assholes like that?

Well, Tilda, who says you can’t?

“You know what? I’m sure the ladies are lining up around the corner for your balding head and that beer belly. Am I right? I’d thank you for your help, but you haven’t given me any. I’ll fill out that paperwork now.”

Mr. White stared at me, a blush creeping up his skin and his hands brushed his stomach. “We’ll bring it to you right away.”

I nodded and sat back down. That’s a story I needed to tell Jack – if I ever saw him again.

After filling out pages of paperwork, they ushered me to a little hostel down the street. At least I got my own room and a bathroom with hot water. Thank God!

I locked the door and pushed a chair up against it, just in case.

While the hot shower refreshed me after the long day, the knots in my stomach tighten as I looked out the window at the shimmering lights of Chiang Mai. Sure, my vacation was ruined but I didn’t care about that anymore. Jack was somewhere out there, and I had no idea if he was even safe or not.

He was already wrong about the consulate offering me protection. What if he was wrong about more? I pushed the thought from my mind and tried to sleep.

The next morning, the consulate gave me a replacement passport and told me how to buy a train ticket back to Bangkok. Besides that, they offered me no further help. Standing on the street corner, I frowned and clutched my purse to my chest. If I went back to Bangkok without protection what would happen?

The consulate suggested I have money wired from home at a Western Union and finish the rest of my vacation. How could I do that on my own? I already looked over my shoulder every few minutes to see if anyone suspicious followed me. Dammit! I needed Jack more than even and had no way to contact him. Shit!

Instead, I called the airline and arranged to change my flight back. They had a seat for me, and as I hung up the phone the reality sunk in. I’d go back to America on my own with no idea when I’d see Jack again. Not only that, but I couldn’t even tell Cheryl the truth about her own brother!

She’d be furious he abandoned me in a foreign country a week into our trip, and I couldn’t correct her!

Thankfully, in a city as large as Chiang Mai, most people spoke English so getting around was easy. I hired a tuk-tuk and even bought a ticket on the night train without any problems.

Wiping my palms on my pants, I perused the local market near the station and bought a few souvenirs and a new outfit.
I can do this. Those men wouldn’t be looking for me on my own.

At least that’s what I told myself.

That evening, I boarded the train wearing my new clothes and settled into my cabin. I’d splurged on first class so I didn’t have to share with a stranger. The bed and seat were both comfortable for a train, and my nerves calmed as we pulled out of the station.

In less than a day I’d be back in Bangkok and headed home. If the men hadn’t come for me yet, they probably didn’t know where I was. I hoped they didn’t know where Jack was either.

The sunset burned red in the distance, over the jungle and grasslands. No wonder Cheryl insisted I travel with Jack – riding around alone was pretty boring!

I ate dinner in the dining car, and headed to bathroom to wash up before I tucked in. As I headed back to my compartment, a man approached me. He looked like most Thai men, dark hair and tan skin, but my heart clenched as Jack’s warnings went through my head.

Just let him pass and nothing bad will happen, Tilda!

I hurried to my door just as the man drew near.

Get inside and no one can hurt you!

My hands shook, my fingers fumbling with the lock.

Then something hard and barrel shaped dug into my back. I froze in place, my throat closing up no matter how badly I wanted to scream.

The man walked past without looking at me.

A moment later, the hand on my back shoved me into the compartment, and I tripped inside. Turning around, my eyes widened. One of Jack’s old business associates from the shoot out stood there.

“Hello, Jack’s wife,” he growled in heavily accented English.

“I – what?” How could I forget? They thought we were married!

He stepped closer, and I stumbled away. “Your husband is a stupid man for leaving you alone in a dangerous country.”

The window’s cool glass pressed into my back.
I needed to get away, but how? If Jack were here he’d probably suggest jumping out of the train.

“I’m not alone. When he finds you here he’ll--”

He raised his hand and I winced, closing my eyes just before the slap rang across my cheek. The reddened sting burned my flesh. No one had slapped me since I was ten and stole nail polish from Walgreens on a dare! And that was my mother.

“Turn around if you want to live.”

My mind swam. Every muscle in my body shook uncontrollably. I wanted to live – almost more than anything. Turning around, I pressed my cheek to the window and bit back a sob.

Jack. Where are you?

The man, his name slipped my mind, tightened something around my wrists and ankles before gagging me with a tie. At least he didn’t knock me out – that would’ve been worse. When he finished, he shoved me onto the bed and sneered.

Then he grabbed my chin in his hand. “If your husband tries to stop us we’ll sell you.”

Widening my eyes, I let out a muffled scream. Dammit! No one outside of the room would hear me at all.

“I’ll find him – if he’s on the train,” he said and grabbed my cabin’s key. “You’ll be a widow when I’m finished.”

He slipped out the door and the lock clicked in place. At least he left me alone, even tied up. Escaping would be much easier without him watching me the whole time.

How was I supposed to escape?

Calm down and think, Tilda! Okay. First things first. Get untied then get off the train.

If I went back to Chiang Mai maybe the consulate would believe me now. But what could they do? Escort me? Maybe – but it’d be wiser to find Jack. Where the hell would I even look?

And why didn’t he give me his cell number?

I wriggled in my binds, the soft pliable rope felt like nylon. Good. Cutting it off was an option if only I found something sharp enough. I sat up and scanned the room. Of course my kidnapper wasn’t kind enough to leave any knives around, but the metal at the edge of the bed looked promising.

Scooting toward it with both my hands and feet bound wasn’t easy. I nearly toppled off the damn bed twice and caught myself just in time. Finally, I positioned my hands above the sharp edge and rubbed. And rubbed. And rubbed.

Dammit! This works a lot better in the movies!

My heart slammed in my chest. Every sound startled me from my work. Rub faster! Faster.

Finally, the rope loosened as the binds broke down. I rubbed it against the metal harder, even as the friction burned my wrists. If the kidnapper returned what would he do? Kill me? Probably!

Every footstep outside the door froze my heart.

Please don’t catch me!

Pulling, wiggling and rubbing, the rope loosened enough to yank my hands free. Without wasting any time, I ripped off the gag and untied my ankles. A boy scout, that man was not. He didn’t even know how to tie a proper knot!

As the binds fell free, someone jangled the lock at my door. No! Back already. Shit!

Glancing at the window, my heart leapt into my throat.

It’s the only way to escape. You don’t want that guy killing you, right?

The glass slid open easily, the cool evening air whipping inside the compartment and blowing my hair back. Outside the dark landscape rushed by in a bluish black blur. Okay, jumping off the train wasn’t a good idea.

With trembling hands, I sat on the window seal and looked up. If I could climb onto the top of the train maybe I’d make it to another car and get the help I needed before they found me again.

The door slid open.

Without looking, I grasped the outside of the train and climbed up.

Suddenly, arms wrapped around my legs and strong hands pulled me down. I
was not
getting caught that easily again. Twisting and shoving, I pushed at my assailant with all my strength.

“Mattie, it’s me!”

“Jack?” I cried and ducked down just as he pulled me inside.

Sure enough, he stood in front of me, his hard chest heaving. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“I thought you were a bad guy. Look they tied me up and—why are you here?” My legs felt like wet noodles as I leaned into his powerful hold.

He pressed his lips to my forehead. “To save you, love. Those idiots at the consulate didn’t give you any protection, so I kept watch.”

“Why didn’t you come to me last night? Or this morning? I spent the whole day wandering around Chiang Mai on my own!”

I looked into his eyes, and he frowned. “I know, Mattie. I thought you’d be safer if I kept my distance. With your dark hair I wasn’t sure they’d recognize you, but I was wrong.”

“Say it again, please. This whole time we’ve traveled around based on a hunch that the consulate would protect me and--”