Text (Take It Off) Read Online Free PDF Page A

lucky.
    I fully intended to walk away with full pockets tonight.
    I hit the message button and shot off a quick text to Lex.
    You’re late. U coming?
    Hopefully he would reply with a yes or no and we could get on with the game. And someone could make a damn beer run.
    How Jinx could have that bar and no beer was beyond me. ‘Course, last weekend we were all here watching football so I guess I kind of knew where the beer had gone.
    I dumped the phone in my lap and picked up my cards as the game began. I grabbed up a handful of peanuts and tossed them into my mouth, crunching away as I studied my cards. Not a completely worthless hand . I could work with this.
    A few minutes later , the basement door opened and Lex came into the room carrying two paper sacks, which he set on top of the bar. A series of “heys” and “what ups” sounded around the room.
    “Beer’s here!” Patton called and elbowed me.
    I grinned and laid my cards facedown on the table. “No peaking,” I told him.
    He snorted and started talking smack. “Please. Your mom could play a better hand than you.”
    I grinned because he was right.
    Lex was pulling out a case of Miller Light from the bag as I approached. “Thanks, man ,” I said, reaching in to grab one.
    “Sorry I’m late. Traffic was a bitch and the liquor store was packed.”
    “No worries,” I said, popping the top and letting the beer flood my mouth. Ahhhhh.
    Lex grabbed a beer and chugged about half the can in one gulp. I eyed him. He seemed a little fidgety, not quite as steady as he usually was. He was usually more friendly, more prone to smile.
    “Everything okay?” I asked him.
    “Hmm?” he said, pulling the beer away from his lips. “Yeah, totally. Long day at work is all.”
    “I hear that ,” I said and saluted him with my beer. “TGIF.”
    Lex grinned. “Deal me in!” he called , and then we both went over to the table to start the game.
    I completely forgot about the text I sent him…
    Until a few moments later when I got a reply.

7
     
    Honor
    The sound of beeping woke me. I jerked awake, blinking against the dark as reality came crashing over me. I scrambled to my feet, looking up toward the top of the hole. The sun was no longer in the sky. It was dark. It was night. I was in the center of the woods.
    Even down in this hole , I could hear the wildlife singing in the night. I heard the rustling of leaves and wondered what was up there, praying it wasn’t him .
    The beeping sound cut through the darkness again , and I noticed how the screen on the phone illuminated the hole, casting a bluish tone over everything.
    It was a text.
    My knees sagged in relief , and I felt my lower lip wobble. Finally, I would be able to get help. I glanced at the screen, hungry for contact with the outside world. There was no name for the person texting, only a number. The area code was one I didn’t recognize.
    You’re late. U coming?
    I had no idea what kind of person my kidnapper could be friends with, but right about now I’d take my chances with anyone.
    Please help me.
    The signal was still very low and it took the text forever to send. It took so long that I began to lose hope. I began to think it wouldn’t go through. But then the phone made a little whooshing sound and the message posted.
    It took even longer for the person to reply than it did for the message to send. I waited, clutching the phone, praying I would get an answer.
    What’s wrong? Shitty hand?
    I was kidnapped by the owner of this phone. Plz help me. Call 911.
    That’s a sick joke.
    I’m not jkin! I swear! I typed furiously. My stomach churned. What if this person thought I was just pulling a prank? What if they thought the man who owned this phone was being funny.
    I swiped an angry tear off my cheek and cleared out of the texting screen to pull up the keypad and dial 9-1-1. The phone rang.
    “9-1-1 , what’s your emergency?” said a calm voice over the line.
    I gasped, so grateful it