When Eileen walked out of the campus student center, she was surprised to see Hector standing by the front steps. Her first instinct was to turn and walk back inside, but it was too late for that. He had already seen her and had obviously been waiting there for her.
"Eileen, wait."
"I told you to stay away from me," she said firmly and started to walk past him.
"Just let me ask you something. Why haven't you turned me in?"
Eileen froze in her tracks for a moment, startled, "I don't want to talk to you. Leave me alone," she shook her head and tried to get away quickly, but Hector stopped her.
"I think I know why," he persisted. "You still have feelings for me, don't you?"
"No . . ." she answered, but with less certainty. Seeing Hector was awkward enough, but his line of questioning was making her completely uncomfortable.
"Why then?" When Eileen hesitated, he knew there was no other explanation, "Fine. You don't have to admit it. I just want you to know that my feelings haven't changed. And if you would be willing to give me another chance and take me back, I know I could be a better person. But I don't think I can do that without you."
"I don't want to hear it," Eileen turned away. "I-I've got to go."
As she walked away, a slip of paper fell out of her book. Hector picked it up, intending to give it back to her, but by then she was already hurrying down the sidewalk. He shrugged and unfolded the piece of paper. When he saw what it was, he was stunned. Thinking the information might be useful later, he decided to hold on to it for awhile.
Lauren closed the apartment door firmly behind her and made sure that it was bolted shut. She thought she lost that car that had been following her, but she wasn't sure and she didn't want to take any chances. She took a moment to catch her breath and steady her nerves before going into the bedroom to check on her guest.
"How ya doing in here?" she asked sweetly.
Audrey, bound and gagged, squirmed in her chair and mumbled a muffled reply.
"Well, don't worry. You won't have to stay here long. We're going to have to go for a little ride."
Lauren frowned as she looked around the room and tried to figure out the best way to get Audrey out of the apartment without any fuss and without being seen. It would have been better to wait until dark, but with Lawrence and Chad asking questions, she couldn't afford to wait.
"Why? Why do you have to be so much trouble?" Lauren ranted as she paced back and forth like a caged animal. "You couldn't just do what you were told and stay out of my way? No! Now I've both of your stupid little boyfriends on my case."
Lauren pouted and glared at Audrey with hatred burning in her eyes. "It's not fair. Why do all the guys always throw themselves at bimbos like you? You've got them falling all over themselves to come to your rescue. And the one time just one of them pays the slightest attention to me, you can't stand it, can you? Can you?" she shouted. "I hate you! I HATE YOU!"
Suddenly, Lauren grew quiet. Audrey watched her anxiously with wide eyes. She had no idea what Lauren might do next and knowing that she was unable to escape or defend herself terrified her.
With a renewed calm, Lauren said, "I have to make sure you don't get in my way ever again."
Audrey whimpered helplessly as she struggled with the ropes that bound her.
"Oh yes, I'll make sure of it," she nodded thoughtfully, trying to think of a feasible plan.
Her thoughts were interrupted by someone beating on the front door. Lauren looked up quickly. For a moment her heart nearly stopped. "Oh no," she gasped. Someone had followed her. They'd found her. "No, no, no, no," she mumbled, tearing at her hair in frustration. She willed the pounding to stop, but it didn't.
Audrey tried to call out, but her voice was silenced by the gag.
"Shut up," Lauren hissed at her. "I've got to answer the door. And while I'm gone I don't want to hear a sound out of you! Not one sound! Got it?"
"Just a minute. I'm coming," Lauren called out cheerfully as she closed the bedroom door. She took a moment to compose herself before unlocking the door.
As soon as the door to the apartment was open, Chad pushed his way inside.
Lauren stepped in front of him. "Excuse me? What are you doing barging into my home? I didn't invite you in."
"Tell me what you know about Audrey. Where is she?"
Lauren shrugged and tried to look innocent. "How should I know? I don't know who you're talking about."
"Don't play dumb. You overheard the conversation I had with R.J. earlier. And I saw you run away from Lawrence a few minutes ago."
"Then why don't you go ask R.J. and Lawrence," she said, urging Chad towards the front door. "And stop bothering me about it."
Lauren had forced Chad nearly to the doorway, when she heard a thumping sound coming from the next room.
"What was that?" Chad asked, stepping forward.
"Nothing! Nothing. Just the cat, probably. She likes to knock things off the dresser."
When he heard the thumping sound again, Chad shoved Lauren out of the way and ran towards the bedroom door.
"Wait! You can't go in there!" Lauren called out after him. "I mean it! I want you out of my apartment right now!"
Chad ignored her and opened the bedroom door. In the middle of the room, Audrey was struggling to move in the chair that she was tied to. She had managed to wiggle far enough to make the back of the chair hit against the wall, causing the thumping sound heard from the front room.
"Audrey. Thank God, you're alright," Chad cried out in relief, as he started to untie the ropes.
Audrey looked up with alarm as she saw Lauren sneak up behind Chad. She frantically tried to warn him, but the gag prevented her from speaking.
"Hold on. I'll get you out of here."
Audrey let out a muffled scream as Lauren hit Chad in the back of the head and sent him falling to the ground, unconscious.
"Great, now I have two of you to get rid of," Lauren complained as she looked down at Chad's motionless body. "I told you to leave!"
Lauren's rant was interrupted by the sounds of sirens. She gasped and looked wildly around the room. She was out of time. They were coming for her. There was nothing she could do now but run for it. She bolted from the room and ran out of the apartment, hoping she could get away before the police arrived.
Audrey struggled to get loose. Chad's brief attempt to untie her had loosened the ropes enough that she was able to free herself. She pulled the gag from her mouth and knelt down next to Chad as the sirens grew louder. "Chad. Wake up, Chad. Please wake up."
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