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“And please welcome Nathan Wood, author of They Live Among Us!”
Nathan stepped out onto the small platform with a weary smile on his face. He hated book signings anymore. Thankfully this was the last one he’d have to do for this book. He couldn’t wait to go home and curl up on the couch with a glass of sherry. But that wouldn’t be for at least two more hours.
“Nathan, hi!” The owner of the bookshop was someone Nathan had noticed before, a pretty, curvy woman in her early thirties. Nathan hated to admit it, but she reminded him a little of Cyn. That alone made him want to avoid her.
He smiled politely as he lowered himself into the folding chair with a grunt. “Hi, Suzanne.”
Annoyingly, she didn’t go away even after he’d seated himself.
“How are you?” Suzanne leaned over the table, pressing her arms together to make her already-generous cleavage look even saucier. “Say, feel like a trip to the pub after this?”
A trip to the pub did sound good, but Nathan wasn’t in the mood to socialise. He wanted to go home and wallow in whiskey and self-pity. Even though he’d enjoyed the success that They Live Among Us had brought him at first, it had gotten old and stale months ago.
“Maybe,” Nathan said with a noncommittal shrug. “I’ll find you later, Suzanne.”
He nodded, hoping to dismiss her. Instead, she sat down on the graduated steps of the floor, beaming up at him with adoration. It was almost funny, when he thought about it. One of the reasons why he’d published the book (not to mention the damning blog post) was because he’d wanted Cyn to see what she was missing out on, really show off his abilities as a writer. The success, the short-lived fame, and the women that came with it were nothing but an annoyance. He was sick of women kissing up to him because he was a semi-famous author of púca lore. He wanted Cyn. She was the only woman he’d wanted kissing anything. And he wanted his friends back. I’m just so bloody lonely.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, Suzanne closed the shop and winked at Nathan. “Now how about that drink?”
Nathan wet his lips. “You know, you go on without me. I’m fagged. I’m going home.”
Suzanne raised her eyebrows and put her hands on her hip. The resemblance to Cyn really was uncanny, even if Nathan didn’t want to see it. “Nathan, you’re a good mate, and I can’t let you go without a drink.”
She was already putting on her sweater and handbag.
“Okay,” he said finally. “One drink. And then I’m going right home, you understand?”
Suzanne winked at him and walked toward the door, sashaying her hips in a manner that Nathan had to admit he found arousing.
“Sure,” she purred. “Come on, there’s a pub right down the way.”
Nathan knew exactly which pub they were going into—it was one he’d frequented many times over the past year, alone. Since They Live Among Us was published, he spent all of his time promoting his book and drinking the proceeds. His whole body ached. I really should have gone back to my flat. But that realization was too late now that he was sliding onto a barstool with a curvy Cyn look-alike right next to him.
When they were seated with their drinks, Nathan turned to Suzanne. “How’s business?”
She shrugged, looking bored. “Fine. About as bloody well as can be expected.”
Nathan took a slug of his pint.
“No one buys books anymore,” she continued. “Unless they’re as saucy as the things you write. I saw your interview on the telly. So, tell me about the next one you’re writing.”
He frowned. “What?”
“Don’t be daft,” Suzanne said. She waved her hand in the air and took a long gulp of ale. “Your next book! You mentioned it the other day, I saw you on the telly. Channel 4 and everything!”
Nathan sighed. “Oh...that.” He flashed back to his ransacked office, then glanced at Suzanne. “Nothing much to tell. I mean, only vague plans at this point.”
“Nathan, you’re such a tease,” Suzanne purred. She put her hand on his arm and squeezed. “You can tell me. I swear...mum’s the word.”
Nathan stared at her. He couldn’t tell if she was doing all this on purpose. Was she flirting, or did she have more sinister intentions? He couldn’t be sure. Nathan reached into his pocket and slid some coins across the counter.
“I’ve really got to run. I’m knackered from the signing.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re not going to finish your drink?”
Nathan shook his right hand in the air for effect. “See,” he said, pointing to his fingers. “I’m all swollen up.”
“Poor thing,” Suzanne cooed. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it with her own. Nathan jumped back, and she stared at him. “What the bloody hell is this about? Why’re you acting like this, Nathan?”
Nathan stumbled backwards before turning and darting out of the pub. What a bloody horrible day. She probably thought he was a nutter. Maybe he was being paranoid after the break-in, but he wasn’t really up for company and he didn’t care what she thought anyway. He hurried quickly down into the Tube. A train was coming and he had to run to catch it.
“Finally,” Nathan said to himself as he slid down into a seat. The train lurched around a corner and he slid across the seat.
Three stops later, Nathan climbed off the train and stretched as it took off down the tunnel with a gust of sour air. He wrinkled his nose and headed toward the stairs. The station was practically deserted, and Nathan glanced around nervously. There was one person behind him; a small, slim man dressed in black.
“’Ello there,” Nathan said. “Quiet night, eh?”
The man glared at him and stepped forward, darting past Nathan and up the stairs.
“I’m going barmy,” Nathan muttered as he began the climb up to the surface. “No wonder he legged it out of here.”
Nathan heard footsteps behind him, and he ducked to the side to allow the person to pass. But instead of passing, the footsteps slowed. As he turned around, there was a sharp pain in his back, and he realised that someone was grabbing him from behind.
“Hey! Oi!” Nathan yelled.
His arms were held fast behind his back.
“What the bloody hell d’you think you’re doing? Take my money, whatever’s in my wallet. I—” His speech was cut off as a bag rapidly descended over his head, making the world go black.
Nathan stumbled, but the person gripping his arms was strong, so he didn’t fall. He was being dragged up the few remaining steps and then across a concrete surface. Something shoved him hard in the ribs and he let out a yelp, tumbling forward. Panic rose in Nathan’s throat as he tried to reach out and break his fall, but his arms were still held fast behind his back. He cringed as he landed on a soft surface.
“Go!” Nathan heard someone growl before an engine started. I’m in a bloody car. He was growing more panicked by the second. Someone bloody kidnapped me. It was the last thing he thought before a sharp blow fell on his head, knocking him unconscious.
* * *
NATHAN OPENED HIS EYES. Everything was pitch black. He thought he was outside, until he tilted his head up and realised there was no moon or stars. His hands were bound tightly behind his back, but at least the bag was off of his head.
“Where the hell am I?” Nathan asked.
He was leaning against a cold wall in a damp, dank room. The surface beneath him felt like smooth concrete, or something equally hard. The room smelled musty and unused. As he tried to tip forward, he realised that whatever was binding his hands was somehow locked to the wall.
Some git is going to be unpleasantly surprised when they see they’ve got the wrong bloke. A tremor of fear coursed through him. Unless they meant to get me. Then what the bloody hell are they going to do with me? I don’t have any money.
Suddenly, a bright yellow rectangle of light appeared. A door, at the top of the stairs. Nathan sucked in his breath and waited as a large, bulky figure began descending towards him.
# # #
