Deadly Games - Cate Noble [34]
At first she hadn’t understood the dynamics at play. Her fears that no one would ever know what had happened to her had been allayed by the sound of Rocco’s voice.
Rocco would notify Travis, she told herself. And Travis would make certain that whatever ransom they demanded would be paid.
But as soon as the phone was snatched away, her anxiety had skyrocketed. Did her captors know she worked for the CIA, too? Would they try to force classified information from her?
While Rocco was still on the phone, one of her captors had begun tormenting her with a blue-flamed blowtorch, flicking it close to her face and eyes before finally dropping lower and burning her foot, clearly wanting Rocco to hear her screams. She’d complied and promptly fainted, coming to long enough to be drugged again. Not good.
How long had she been out this time? The whispers she’d heard moments ago ceased as soft footsteps approached.
Maddy opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She had been moved, but just to another room. To a small cot. Her hands were still tied, but they hadn’t gagged her again.
An older woman Maddy had never seen before leaned over her. A doctor, Maddy guessed, by the white lab coat and stethoscope. Without a word, the woman unwound the stethoscope. She listened to Maddy’s heart, then tugged her shirt up.
“You have been ill?” the woman asked in cautious English.
“A little,” Maddy lied.
She flinched as the woman’s hands palpated her abdomen. Dread churned in her stomach. Maddy had been sick during the flight—and every day since—but so far no one seemed to guess her secret. Until now.
“Bay-bee.” The woman mimicked the outline of a pregnant stomach with her hand.
“Baby.” Maddy felt tears slide down the sides of her cheeks. It was the first time she’d admitted it out loud.
The morning Maddy had been abducted, she’d used one of those drugstore tests. After getting a positive test result, she’d agonized over whether to go away for the week as planned. In the end, she had decided to go, to seek her girlfriends’ collective counsel. They were all trusted acquaintances who would offer sympathy as well as advice. But, of course, Maddy had never arrived at the beach.
A new worry bloomed. How would news of her pregnancy go over with her abductors? Would it put her in a more sympathetic light with them? Or had her admission just endangered her unborn child?
Would her captors increase their ransom demand, thinking they had two hostages? Whatever the amount was, she prayed the Agency paid it quickly.
The stinging of her burned foot reminded her that these men were capable of horrible deeds. The thought of what they’d do to make her scream the next time was terrifying.
“You brand new pregnant?” the woman asked.
At Maddy’s nod, the doctor tugged the plaid shirt back in place and stepped away. The pock-faced man who’d called Rocco came into view. Obviously he’d heard everything.
As the doctor spoke, Pockface leaned sideways and stared at Maddy, showing disdain at the news of her pregnancy.
Tugging out his phone, Pockface punched in numbers. Maddy broke out in a cold sweat. Were they calling Rocco again? Oh, sweet Mary, would she be burned again?
Pockface spoke in Thai, though she knew from hearing parts of his conversation with Rocco that he also spoke English. To Maddy’s surprise, Pockface handed the phone to the woman.
Maddy wished she knew what they were saying.
Or maybe not.
When the call ended, the woman continued speaking with Pockface, ticking off points with her fingers.
Then the woman moved back to Maddy’s cot. “You will be moved to new place,” the woman spoke slowly. “Do not fight. To cooperate is better for baby.”
Bay-bee.
“How long will they keep me?” Maddy asked.
Pockface moved in, cutting Maddy off before speaking angrily in Thai to the other woman.
The woman listened and nodded before turning back to Maddy. “He said to ask you where Dr. Rufin is being held.”
Dr. Rufin?
Maddy’s spirits sank as the significance of the question