Andy hovered her hand over her firearm. "Roy, stop the car... Now." The rookie repeated once more.
The pair in the second row watched as the man's hands tightened around the wheel of the car, his leather gloves making an audible sound against the plastic of the steering wheel– No response came from the man. Before either of them could say or do anything, Andy saw something out of the corner of her eye. A white cloth came into view; a sweet yet bitter smell filled her nose which she then recognized to be the potent anesthetic, chloroform. A strong arm wrapped around Andy's neck, she struggled to free herself from the grip. Her hands left her sides to dig and scratch at the attacker's arms. She could hear and feel Miranda thrashing around, doing the same beside her. Andy chided herself for allowing this to happen to the older woman and herself. How could she be so foolish? She was supposed to protect the editor… At all cost. In a matter of minutes, dizziness and fatigue washed over the pair like a tidal wave; It wasn't long before the pair were knocked out cold from the attack.
~
Andy's eyes fluttered open and she sat up slowly from the cold hard floor. Her eyes adjusted to the dark room fairly quickly and she made out a figure lying on the ground. "Miranda?" She scurried across the floor over to the body. "Oh, God," Andy placed a gentle hand on the older woman's back, she scanned her up and down for any injuries. Her eyes widened at a small head wound on the back of her head– The dried crimson matted her iconic silver hair. "Miranda, are you al-" Before the rookie could finish her sentence Miranda jolted awake, sitting straight up.
"Fuck," Miranda grabbed the back of her head. Andy retreated her hand from the woman's back. "Wh-where are we?"
"I-I don't know," Andy's defeated tone sent shivers down Miranda's spine. "They used chloroform… I should've checked the vehicle before you ever got in it."
Tears began to fall from the older woman's eyes. "My girls.." She croaked out in a sob. Andrea's heart broke for the woman. She sat behind her then wrapped her arms around her. Miranda not only allowed but leaned back into the embrace. Her sobs slowed and her breathing went back to normal. Andy stood and started walking around the small dingy room. No windows… Only one door. She made her way over to the only exit and attempted to turn the nob. "Locked…Of course."
Andy keeps her face turned from Miranda's, she needed to make sure no panic could be read on her face. They were alive which was good. They could have easily gotten rid of both of them but it was clear after the dog they were dealing with a sadist. The man wanted Miranda to suffer and while Andy wouldn't allow that to happen, the promise of emotional or physical torture was the only reason they were still breathing.
After a few deep breaths, she turned around to see the older woman also attempting to pull herself together. Andy watched silently as the women looked her in the eye chin raised even as her blue eyes still held a glimmer of wetness.
"If he hurts my girls I'll kill him myself." Miranda's voice was cold her expression looking as if it had been carved from the ice itself and in it, Andy could see how she earned her nickname.
"As a sworn protector of the law, I think I'm supposed to advice you against that," Andy replies walking over to the woman who somehow managed to still look regal after being knocked out.
"And as Andrea?"
"You wouldn't go after them alone," Andy replied without even thinking but she had answered right if the slight quirk of Miranda's full lips was any indication.
Andy sat next to the women and they didn't talk for a while each lost in their own thoughts and fears but taking comfort in one another's presence.
Andy heard the footsteps first and she instantly straightened out her slumped before crouching protectively in front of Miranda. As soon as the door opened she kicked off and launched herself at a hulking figure she barely caught a glimpse of. The man was strong and while Andy had her own strict workout routine the force of her attack barely caused the man to stumble. She dug her nails into the skin of the man's neck, a knee coming up to hit his stomach. She took pleasure in the way he gasped in pain but it was short-lived. Suddenly there was a hand wrapped painfully in her ponytail and she found herself thrown across the room.
She landed with a thud, her jaw scraping against the cement floor.
"Andrea!" She heard Miranda yell out in worry.
"Stupid bitch." he mumbled and Andy rolled over her body aching but not willing to leave the other women vulnerable to whatever sick plan the man had.
Yet, the man didn't even glance at Miranda just threw a Walmart bag on the ground and turned swiftly exiting the room without a word. Andy didn't relax even as the heavy footsteps became faint, adrenaline still flowed freely through her body.
"You're bleeding…" Miranda was inches in front of her, soft manicured hands gently touching her cheek. The editor looked down at her own blouse and tore a piece of the fabric off, wiping away the blood from the officer's wound. "Silly girl." She sighed. "What am I going do with you.."
Andy shrugged. "I thought I could take him…" She trailed off. Waiting patiently for the latter to finish cleaning off her face.
Miranda's voice was barely audible when she spoke next, "Andrea we have to make a plan… Neither one of us can take whoever is on the other side of that door alone. Do you understand me?" The brunette nodded, watching as the older woman stood and grabbed the Walmart sack from the ground. "Just two water bottles," The editor shrugged. "The seals aren't broken… Here," Miranda handed a bottle over to her.
"Thank you," Andy took the bottle, opening it to take a sip. The older woman sat back down in front of the officer.
"What made you want to become an officer, Andrea?" Miranda inquired, surprising the latter.
"Well," Andrea laughed a bit. "Actually all throughout school I wanted to be a journalist."
This piqued the editors interest. "Oh really?"
Andy nodded. "I love writing…But I come from a long line of law enforcement and I was encouraged to do the same. Don't get me wrong, once I got my criminal justice degree and went to the academy I knew I had picked the right path." She paused for a moment reminiscing on the day she graduated from the academy. She couldn't believe with all her training she still got the pair into this mess. "What made you want to get into fashion?"
Miranda sat there thinking for a moment before replying, "My family was poor but we were devout Orthodox Jews, my dad struggled to make ends meet so we relied heavily on the community. I hated to see my father struggle, so when I turned sixteen I worked as an assistant to a famous British designer to help my family survive. It didn't take long for me to make a name for myself. Even then they said I had an eye for fashion." Miranda's mouth curved up in a small smile. "I studied French at night and was made junior editor of the Chic magazine in Paris. At 24 I changed my name, fixed my accent and worked for French Runway for ten years before I was transferred to American Runway.. I had my daughters and the rest is history."
"Wow…I would've never guessed any of that. I am curious though-"
"I know what you are going to ask and if I tell you- You are to not tell a soul."
"I promise I won't." Andy smiled, placing a gentle hand on the woman's leg. "Please." She shot the older woman a cheesy smile. "What's your real name?"
"Miriam," Miranda shook her head, pointing her finger at the officer. "Not a soul."
"What a beautiful name." Andrea cooed. "Your story is remarkable, Miranda- I don't know if this means much coming from me, but I'm so proud of you. You truly are an incredible woman. I thought so before but wow- I'm in awe." She squeezed the older woman's leg before pulling her hand away. "Please tell me more."
TBC
