The Big Bad Wolf

CHAPTER 31

ANOTHER OF THE CAPTIVES, Audrey Meek, watched her obscene, deviate, possibly

insane captor as he calmly and coolly fixed her breakfast. She was bound by rope loosely,

but she couldn’t run. She couldn’t believe any of this was happening, had happened, and

presumably would continue happening. She was being held in a nicely furnished cabin

somewhere, who knew where, and she was still flashing back to the incredible moment when

she had been grabbed at the King of Prussia Mall, when they had yanked her away from

Sarah and Andrew. Dear God, were the children all right?

“My children?” Audrey asked again. “I have to know for sure they’re all right. I want to talk

to them. I won’t do anything you ask until I speak to them. Not even eat.”



An uncomfortable silent moment passed, and then the Art Director chose to speak.

“Your children are just fine. That’s all I’ll tell you,” he said. “You should eat.”



“How could you know my children are all right?” She sniffed. “You can’t.”



“Audrey, you’re in no position to make demands. Not anymore. That life is behind you.”



He was tall, maybe six-foot-two, and well built, with a bushy black beard and dashing blue

eyes that seemed intelligent to her. She guessed that he was around thirty. He’d told her to

call him Art Director. No reason for the name, not yet, anyway, nor any other explanation for

what had happened so far.

“I was concerned myself, so I called your house. The children are there with your nanny and

husband. I promise. I wouldn’t lie to you, Audrey. I’m different from you in that respect.”



Audrey shook her head. “I’m supposed to trust you? Your word?”



“I think it would be a good idea, yes. Why not? Who else can you trust out here? Yourself, of

course. And me. That’s all there is. You’re miles and miles away from anybody else. It’s just

us two. Please get used to it. You like your scrambled eggs a little soft, right? Fluffy? Isn’t that

the word you use?”



“Why are you doing this?” Audrey asked, getting braver, since he hadn’t actually threatened

her yet. “What are the two of us doing here?”



He sighed. “All in due time, Audrey. For now, let’s just say it’s an unhealthy obsession. It’s

more complicated, actually, but let’s leave it at that for now.”



She was surprised by the answer he knew he was a freaking nutcase, didn’t he? Was that

good or bad, though, that he knew exactly what he was doing?

“I’d like to keep you free like this as much as possible. I don’t want you kept in bondage, for

God’s sake. Not even the ropes. Please don’t try to run away or it won’t be possible. Okay?”



He seemed so reasonable at times. Seemed. Christ! Wasn’t this the most insane thing? Of

course it was. But insane things happened all the time to people.

“I want to be your friend,” he said as he served her breakfast the eggs cooked just so, twelve-grain toast, herbal tea, boysenberry jam. “I’ve cooked all the things you like. I want to treat you

like you deserve. You can trust me, Audrey. Start by trusting me just a little bit. …Try your eggs.

Fluffy. They’re delish.”