"The Briefcase"
It was tax-free week in New York City, and I decided to go to the mall and shop until I dropped. My plans were quickly grounded to a halt by a not-so-minor inconvenience. As I approached my car, I noticed that one of my tires was flat. To make matters worse, I had forgotten how to change a flat. What the hell could I do now?
Standing in front of Macy's, there was a very handsome gentleman: tall, dark, and muscular with distinguishing features. He was dressed in a tailored black Gucci suit with a neatly-pressed, white-collared shirt. He wore a medium red tie and black Oscar de la Renta shoes with a gold Movado watch. He was without a doubt the most handsome executive I have ever seen.
It was getting dark, so I took out the jack. I fumbled around on my knees with the thing, trying to figure out where to put it under the car frame, when I heard steps behind me.
"Ma'am, let me help you with that."
I turned to find the handsome man I had been eyeing a moment ago, leaning down to help me. I couldn't believe it.
"Did you put your emergency brake on?"
"No, I forgot." His eyes bore into me. They were hazel and his facial features so perfect, I didn't want to drag my eyes away from his gaze.
"Okay. I'll do it for you. Just relax, I'll take care of everything." He leaned inside my car to yank on the brake.
I couldn't believe my luck. This guy was not only drop-dead gorgeous, but kind and generous as well. I couldn't take my eyes off him as he stepped back over to the jack.
"That should be it. I'll just put the last bolt on."
"Thank you, ... uh ...".
"Bill ... Bill Smith," extending his hand. "And your name?"
"Karen Ross."
"Are you from the area, Karen?"
"No. I'm originally from St. Louis, Missouri."
"It's a small world; so am I."
"So what brings you to New York, Bill?"
"Well, I'm a systems administrator. I'm here on a long-term assignment. And you?"
"I'm a model. I relocated to the Big Apple because of the opportunities here."
"How do you like it?"
"I love it! I just got a contract with Revlon."
"I can see why. You're very beautiful."
"Thank you."
"Well, it was nice meeting you, Bill."
"Likewise."
He walked away and forgot his briefcase, so I picked it up.
"Bill ... you forgot ...".
"I know ... I forgot my briefcase."
"Wow, it's heavy."
"There's some computer equipment in it."
Then he picked up the briefcase and hesitated, "Karen ..., by the way, do you mind driving me back to my car? It's just on the other side of the mall. I have to return back to the office, and I'm running a little late."
I felt a little uncomfortable about it, but it was the least that I could do. After all, Bill was nice enough to fix my flat.
"Sure. Hop in."
"Thanks, Karen."
I signaled to make a left into the parking lot, then suddenly I felt something sharp poking me in my side.
"Make a right at the intersection," Bill ordered.
"A right? But the parking lot is on the left."
"You heard me, damn it! Just do it!"
I glanced down and saw a shiny knife in his hand. I realized I had made a terrible mistake. How could I have been so stupid? Suddenly, his face no longer appeared handsome. There was a vile sneer on his lips and his eyes looked downright demonic.
We were heading for Interstate 95, and I had a bone-chilling feeling that this man had more on his mind than just a simple joyride. He was probably going to rape me.
"Get off at the Mystic exit," Bill said.
I could feel the blood draining out of my face and down to my feet as I steered toward the exit ramp.
We drove to a fast-food place in an isolated area. There was a black Range Rover with tinted glass parked on the far side of the lot.
"Karen, get into the Rover."
"Bill, please, don't...".
"Shut up and get in - on the driver's side."
Reluctantly, I did what I was told. There wasn't a soul in sight to help me, and by now, it was dark outside.
"Now put these on." He tossed a pair of handcuffs in my lap.
I hesitated.
"Put them on and stop stalling!"
Tears rolled down my face.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you, sweetheart," he said, stroking his fingers through my hair. "We're just going to have a little fun."
I was totally speechless.
"You don't say very much, do you?"
"No-o-o."
"That's good. I like quiet women ... I don't like women with big mouths!"
Gently, he put his hand on my thigh and started inching his way up to my crotch. My stomach felt queasy. I don't know if it's because I was nervous or if I had gas.
"See what kind of fun we're going to have, Karen?"
We pulled up in front of a white trailer home surrounded by woods. Then he pulled out a set of keys and took the handcuffs off.
We went into the house, and to my surprise, there was junk everywhere. The dishes were piled up to the ceiling, clothes were stacked up like mountains, and roaches walked around like they paid the rent.
Bill threw the keys right on the counter, something I thought was kind of strange.
"Karen, I'm going to take a shower. Make yourself comfortable, and don't try anything."
He walked into the bathroom and closed the door. If I was going to do anything, I knew I'd better do it now. I looked around for a phone, but I couldn't find one.
I remembered I had some mace in my pocketbook. That's it! I'll spray him in his eyes, kick him where it hurts, grab the keys, and run like a bat out of hell.
I opened up my pocketbook, but couldn't find it. Then I threw everything on the counter. Oh, my God! I forgot - I switched bags.
I finally spotted an outlet on the wall near the kitchen cabinets. The wires from the outlet led to a cordless phone. I immediately dialed 911.
"Hello, this is 911, Lori Brown speaking. How may I help you?"
"Hello, my name is ... Karen Ross!"
"Okay, Karen. Can you calm down and repeat your last name for me again?"
"It's Ross ... Operator, please hurry! I've been kidnapped and I'm being held hostage."
"Don't worry, everything's going to be alright. Do you know the name of your kidnapper?"
"Yes, his name is Bill ...".
Quickly, I threw the phone under a pile of clothes. Bill was out of the shower and going into the bedroom.
"Come in here, Karen."
I didn't move. I knew if I went into that room, I would never come out alive. Then he came out of the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, and one of his hands behind his back.
Lord, he's going to kill me.
I hurried and grabbed my perfume bottle and cigarette lighter. Then I aimed them at Bill's face.
The flames scorched him.
"You whore! Tryin' to burn me!"
Damn it! I only nicked his eyebrows.
Then I dropped everything, grabbed his keys, and flew out the door. I jumped into his car and turned the key, but the car wouldn't start.
"K-a-r-e-n, you're not going to get very far without this."
He held up a container of gasoline and started pouring it all over the car. I slid over to the passenger's side, but the door was jammed.
"Please let me go; I won't tell anyone."
"I know you won't," he stood there flickering my lighter.
No, I thought to myself, I don't want to die like this.
All of a sudden, I heard the sound of sirens.
Thank you, God!
"All right, Mr. Smith," a voice boomed out, "drop the lighter and put your hands up!"
Immediately, Bill dropped the lighter. The police quickly overpowered him and cuffed his hands behind his back.
"She's a whore! Just like the rest of them."
"Sir, you have the right to remain silent, ...".
"Ma'am, are you okay?" the officer said.
I nodded. "I'm just a little shaken up."
"The ambulance is on the way, Ma'am."
"Thank you."
Another policeman quickly approached.
"Excuse me, Lieutenant Weiss ...".
"Yes, Officer Johnson."
"These are items that I found in the briefcase."
The lieutenant made a quick check of the items.
There was a butcher knife, hammer, masking tape, ropes, plastic bags, and a poster that read: Wanted: Dead or Alive.
"Yes, he's definitely our man, Johnson. And we have all the evidence in the briefcase."
Copyright © 1999 by Kim Broussard
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