After finally snagging the handcuffs with the belt, J.T. secured them to the chain links of the enclosure on one end and through the belt buckle on the other. He pulled and jerked the fence inward. He was making slow progress and needed only a few links to weaken enough for him to snap away from the framework. If he could manage that, he’d bend and twist enough of the fence to fold over and out of his way. With any luck, he could slip through the opening and out into the warehouse. He wrapped the end of the belt around his arm for leverage and pressed his feet against the bottom of the fence to brace himself.
After several hours of effort, the fence had bent inward considerably. It wouldn’t take much longer.
I need to get out of this damn cage, find Julie, and make our escape before morning since I know what these monsters are capable of.
J.T. watched as the links began to pull away from the cross bar at the top of the fence.
Just a little more and it should come loose.
With every ounce of strength he could muster, J.T. wrenched on the belt, wrapped it around his forearm, and pulled again. One by one, the links bent away from the top bar as he continued to pull. They finally broke free.
He dropped the belt, wrapped his fingers through the links, and pulled that section toward him. The opening he created was four feet from the ground but wide enough to get out. He climbed the fence, reached around the opening, and pulled himself through.
The skin on his arms was torn and bleeding from the sharp edges, but even that didn’t deter J.T.—he needed to find Julie, and the sooner the better. First, he had to be certain the oversized thugs and the mystery man calling the shots weren’t anywhere in the building.
J.T. slunk through the shadows, trying to stay as quiet and inconspicuous as possible while passing under the interior overhead garage door. He looked left and right for movement before continuing on. Julie’s car stood directly in front of him. He approached cautiously and peered through the window with hopes of seeing her keys in the ignition. He knew that was only wishful thinking as he grasped the driver’s door and slowly opened it. He dropped down into the seat and patted the floor beneath him. Then he checked the console, under the floor mats, in the glove box, and behind the visor. The keys weren’t there. He held his breath as he popped the trunk. It opened silently. J.T. sucked in a deep breath of relief and searched the trunk with no results. He needed to move on and find his sister—and a way out of the building. He remembered Curt saying he saw Julie for a split second as he was pushed through the open door of the room she was in.
It was time to search the entire structure. J.T.’s ears were perked for sounds of anyone else in the building. He needed to be alert and careful as he pressed along the walls of the second floor and crept forward inch by inch. He’d clear the second level then search every room, closet, and alcove on the first floor. Julie had to be somewhere in that building.
He’d gone through all five offices on the second floor, and they were all vacant. J.T. retraced his steps down the stairs to the lower level and began at the west wall. Four rooms with closed doors lined that side of the warehouse. He pressed his ear against the first door—dead silence. With a careful twist of the knob, he opened the door and peeked in. The room was small, likely a storage area back in the day. Mice scurried at the disturbance from the door opening. J.T. didn’t see anything inside except an upended shelving unit on the floor. He pulled the door closed and moved on. He crept to the second room and listened. He pressed his ear against the door. He was sure he heard something on the other side, possibly muffled sobs. He turned the knob and pushed. The door opened, and inside lay a few pieces of strewn office furniture but nothing else.
My mind is playing tricks on me. I swear I heard Julie.
Only two rooms were left on that side of the building. He’d clear them and continue on to the bathrooms while making his way across the warehouse. He went to the third door and turned the knob, but it didn’t budge. He put his shoulder into it and pushed. The door was locked from the outside. He touched the center of the knob and felt a slot where a key would be inserted. That door was locked for some reason.
He whispered her name. “Julie? Sis, are you in there? It’s J.T. Answer me if you can.” He listened and heard the sobs again. “Julie, is that you?”
“J.T., you’re alive? Help me, please. I’m bound to a bed. We need to get out of here before they get back.” Her sobs became more urgent.
“Shh, I’ll get you out. Just stay calm.”
J.T. turned around and panned the darkened warehouse. His mind was going in a hundred different directions. Speed was necessary, but so was silence until he was sure the building was empty. He needed to find something he could use to pry open the door, but first he had to make sure the other rooms were empty.
“I’ll be right back, Julie, but please don’t make any noise.”
J.T. moved on to the next door and turned the knob. He peered in and saw a small room with a table, two chairs, and a twin bed. The blankets had been tossed back, and the room appeared to have been recently used.
I bet that’s where the thugs sleep when they’re here.
Only one room remained. J.T. inhaled a deep breath and took three steps. He stood outside the last door and listened. All was quiet. He grasped the knob and gave it a turn.