Marked in Mexico Read Online Free PDF Page A

she’d have to dodge.
    The balding man was Gilbert something. She remembered him because he had a loud mouth. He was always talking about real estate deals and was apparently very successful at it, because his wife was far too young and beautiful to tolerate him unless his wealth had clogged her ears and blinded her sight.
    She glanced over at Jack and their eyes met. She hadn’t paid attention before, but now noticed his lids were heavily lashed and his eyes a deep, dark brown that held little warmth. There was something dangerous and mysterious in the depth of the darkness which made her shudder. Unlike everyone else, there was no fear in his eyes, only contempt.

Chapter Four
     
    Jessica didn’t know how she could have managed it, but sometime in the middle of the night she’d fallen asleep in the van. When her eyes opened she was groggy and had no idea where she was. It was nearly daylight and they were surrounded by trees and squawking birds. Nothing looked familiar.
    An impatient hand grabbed her by the arm and forced her to the back door. Before Jessica could react and get her feet underneath her, the man released her and she tumbled from the van, hitting the ground with a shoulder-jarring thud and waking her up completely.
    Jessica struggled to her feet, a difficult task with her hands tied behind her back. As the man who had yanked her out of the van seized her arm and hauled her to her feet, the other four captives scramble to get out of the vehicle under their own power.
    The five hostages were herded toward a small house. Jessica could see a few flickering lights off in the distance, maybe a mile away and she figured they must be close to a village, but unless they were freed or could escape, that did them little good.
    They were ushered into the tiny building. Jessica spotted a table and chairs, but little else before they were shoved into an adjoining room. One of their abductors quickly slit the ropes binding their hands before backing out of the room and locking the door behind him.
    “I’m sure they just want money. I’ve got it and it must show. They probably figured you two have rich daddies.” Gilbert wagged a finger at Megan and Ashley who were huddled together. “But why they grabbed you two, I don’t know. Though, you do look a little familiar to me and you could come from money. Do I know you?”
    “I doubt it.” Jessica prayed he wouldn’t remember where he had seen her before and quickly turned her face from Gilbert as he continued to ramble on about how these hostage situations generally unfolded. She couldn’t imagine how he could possibly be such an expert on the subject, so took little heed of anything he was saying. She walked over to Jack, who still hadn’t said a word.
    “What do you think? Are they going to kill us?”
    “Big mouth may be correct and they intend to score some ransom off us, but more likely they plan to use us as a bargaining chip. Despite the old van, they’re not poor. The expensive sunglasses, jewelry, and name-brand American outdoor gear they’re all wearing cost more than my first car.”
    “The van is probably just a means of transportation for our large group and they plan to ditch it,” Jessica added.
    Jack nodded. The thought had crossed his mind and he couldn’t quite reconcile all he had observed. The men were confident and well-dressed, and seemed more like businessmen than kidnappers. They didn’t have the best weapons available, but then again, maybe they didn’t think they needed much to nab a small group of tourists.
    “I think we need to look, listen and try not to panic until we know for sure what they have in mind. But no matter what they want, I doubt letting us go is part of the grand plan,” he replied in a cool, steady tone.
    Jessica was scared to death and she couldn’t keep her voice from wavering as she spoke, so she didn’t understand how Jack could sound so calm. She wanted to be held, but didn’t know Jack well enough