68. Nat

Time passes slowly in a windowless room with nothing to do. Jane and I don't say much to each other. We're both too traumatized. Very little happens down here in the basement. A man arrives periodically to shove some prepackaged sandwiches and bottles of water through a hatch in the door.

Aside from that, it's quiet.

Somehow, the waiting is the worst bit. Not knowing what's to come means my imagination is running wild. My mind keeps going over everything I know about Uriov and Mayor Kolanski.

Jane knows he's involved in people trafficking, but she doesn't know about the womens' shelters or the website. I'm keeping quiet about those. There's still a chance Uriov will let Jane go. He doesn't need her if he has me. At least I assume not.

Me being here has to be because of the story I've been researching. The mayor must be worried about negative press affecting his re-election prospects. From everything Mickey has dug up on him, he has a sweet thing going on. The man is more corrupt than a shady African dictator.

"How long have we been in here?" Jane asks for the millionth time. "My watch is dead."

It occurred to me that Jane's watch GPS location data might be useful if anyone is searching for us, but when she switched on the GPS function, nothing happened. The watch couldn't connect to a satellite.

"No idea." With no windows in this room, it's impossible to tell.

Just as she starts to say something else, we hear footsteps, and the lock disengages on the door.

"Hello, ladies! Are you enjoying your stay at Hotel Uriov? If so, please leave a review on Trip Advisor. Anything less than five stars will be unacceptable."

"Why are you doing this, Anton?" Jane stares up at our kidnapper, her eyes shiny with tears. I feel for her. She's struggling to reconcile the man she thought he was with the psycho standing in the doorway.

"Oh Jane, you poor sweet girl." He attempts to look sympathetic but it's clear he has no clue what an actual emotion looks like. "Blame Miss Rossi, it's her fault you're here."

"Why is it her fault?"

"Because she hooked up with my enemy. You know what they say, revenge is a dish best served cold. I've been waiting a long time to make him pay."

"Pay for what?" I'm beginning to see that our being here has very little to do with Kolanski's displeasure at the thought of an expose story in the press and everything to do with Max.

"For sticking his nose in where it wasn't welcome!" Uriov snarls. Then, almost as if a switch has been flicked, his demeanor abruptly reverts to calm and cheerful. "Now we've cleared that up, it's time for you two ladies to clean up a bit. Not wishing to be judgmental or anything but neither of you is looking your best."

"Maybe that's because we've been shut in here for fuck knows how long and forced to pee in a bucket!" I'm too tired and pissed off to watch my words.

"Tut tut," huffs Uriov. "Being disrespectful won't get you very far, my dear. I'd prefer not to damage the merchandise, but we can cover up bruises with heavy makeup. And besides, some of my buyers pay more for the feisty ones."

"Buyers?" Jane whispers. I reach out and grab her hand, squeezing tightly to remind her whatever happens, we're in this together. Her and me. Ride or die.

"Oh, did your friend not explain how my business model works? I assumed she had, given she seems to know about it."

Uriov smiles at me like a crocodile. "Never mind, I don't have time for this right now. Follow me."

He turns his back on us and walks away. For a mad moment, I'm tempted to ignore him but the moment we hesitate, two heavily armed men enter the room and drag us out after Uriov, who whistles a jaunty tune as he heads upstairs.