The car slowed and came to a stop with a slight squeal. Whoever the driver was he was surprisingly gentle with the brakes. Perhaps they expected her to still be out cold and didn't want to wake her up. Surely they'd be expecting her to make a racket if she did.

Kicking off her one high heel, Alexandra gripped the sheet in her hands and made sure she wasn't lying on any part of it. It would do her no good to trip herself jumping out of the trunk. She wasn't even sure they'd check in on her at this point. For all she knew they were just getting gas. Still, she had to treat every stop as a possible opportunity for escape.

Listening intently, she could hear nothing besides the usual opening and closing of the heavy car doors. Two of them. Alexandra grimaced at the thought of having to try to escape two people. And on bare feet too…

As she concentrated she thought she could hear faint ocean waves, bit it was difficult to be certain over the pounding of her heart in anticipation of the danger ahead.

"Rhonda said dump her in the ocean," one of the men said in a rough voice.

"Yeah, well make sure she's still out cold first or she'll swim back and I sure don't want to have to try to kidnap her again," retorted the other. His voice was not nearly as deep and had an accent from back east. "I'm gonna go scout out the area while you do that. It's night time, but there could still be somebody who could see us."

Alexandra's blood ran as cold as the ocean they were talking about dumping her in. Her life literally depended on how well she executed her plan.

"Bossy son of a…," her captor mumbled as her rounded the back of the car. She could hear him fumbling with the keys and not for the first time did she consider stabbing him, but it was Hamilton's pocket knife and had his fingerprints on it. She'd only use it if her original plan failed.

After what felt like an eternity, she heard the key being inserted into the lock and turn.

The trunk popped open and Alex flung the sheet around her captors head and jumped out of the car. Using all of her weight and strength, she pushed him so he'd bump into the rear bumper and fold over halfway into the trunk. He growled at her and hurled obscenities as he tried to pull the sheet off of him. Slamming the trunk door on him for good measure, Alexandra turned and ran as fast as she could for somewhere to hide in the little seaside town. She'd try to find the police station or a phone when she was convinced she'd lost them.

Wmwmwm

Newport Beach.

At least she wasn't too far from home, she sighed as she read the sign.

Her nerves were shot and her senses were on high alert. Every unexpected sound near her shot a new wave of panic and fear over her. It was nauseating almost to the point of vomiting and her hands were still shaking with Hamilton's knife in it.

Alexandra wanted to just fold the knife up and put it back in her pocket, but she was terrified she bump into her captors while trying to find help. Or at least a phone.

Surely they had to be scouring the area looking for her.

And it was quiet this time of night.

Except for the fairly noisy bar across the street.

It was a double edged sword. Phone she could use. Likely. Where her captors would figure she'd end up looking for a phone since the bar was still open. Also likely.

If they found her, at least there would be witnesses, she thought. Unlike hiding here in the shadows.

Hurrying across the street she entered the bar.

First call she made was to the police. The next was to Della.

Wmwmwm

Alexandra nodded tiredly at the police officer as Perry, Della, Paul, and Hamilton entered.

Della rushed over to her and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Oh good heavens, Alex, are you alright?!" She asked with concern.

"Still alive," Alex shrugged, still trying to process it all. She was only now reaching a point where the adrenaline was wearing off and exhaustion was sinking in. Her entire body felt heavy and her eyes wanted to close against her will. It was only then that she remembered she'd been hit hard in the head. She probably should go to the hospital.

"One of them hit me hard over the head and I'm having a hard time staying awake now. I guess the adrenaline is wearing off.

She glanced over to find the men discussing the situation with the police officer.

After a short while, the officer left and the men joined Della and Alexandra.

"Oh Perry!" Della said urgently. "I'm worried about Alex. She said she was hit over the head by one of her captors and now she can barely stay awake."

Alexandra barely registered Della's voice or the strong arms that caught her as her world faded to black.