Source One

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 a room paneled in wood.
    They descended stairs into a basement. Sumner carried her across the floor and dropped her onto a bed. Old furniture was scattered across the floor.
    Amber winced as Sumner drew a knife out of his pocket.
    She kicked out her legs. Made contact with his arms.
    Sumner cursed loudly. He stalked around the bed, grabbed her shoulders and shook her hard.
    “I’ll cut you if you try anything like that again. Turn onto your side,” he growled.
    The rope around Amber’s wrists pulled and then loosened. Sumner and Michelle dragged her arms to the bedframe a moment later. They handcuffed her wrists against the brass bars.
    Then they moved away from the bed and went back up the stairs.
    The light switched off.
    Amber moaned and struggled against her bonds.
    ***
    The basement door opened. Footsteps sounded on the staircase.
    Early morning light illuminated Sumner and Michelle’s forms.
    Amber’s heart seized. Were they coming to kill her?
    Panic clawed at her chest .
    Sumner and Michelle stood over her seconds later. Sumner was holding a gun.
    Amber squeezed her eyes shut.
    When she opened them, Sumner was cutting the rope off her ankles. Michelle was uncuffing her wrists.
    Sumner held the gun to Amber’s head. “You can use the bathroom. Don’t try anything stupid.”
    Amber sat up and rubbed her wrists. The gag was still in her mouth.
    Sumner gestured to the bathroom with the gun. “Hurry up.”
    Amber got up. She stumbled as she moved forward.
    Michelle stood in front of the bathroom door