Once Erin finished getting dressed and ran her fingers through her hair in the passenger seat as Yates drove them to New York, he remarked, 'I'm surprised you're obeying orders, Detective,' while running his hand over her cheek.
The brunette quickly shifted away from his touch and warned, 'Keep touching me, and I'll bite your hand.' Yates chuckled, withdrawing his hand back to the wheel.
Erin leaned her head against the window, gazing outside. It was ten at night, and they had been driving for about three hours. 'Will you explain why you're doing this?' she inquired, turning her hazel eyes to Yates, who met her gaze.
'Would you like to know the reason?' Yates responded, fixing his gaze on the road ahead. 'If I didn't want to know, I wouldn't have asked. So, what drives you to torment women?' Erin asked pointedly, clarifying, 'I am not interested in riddles.'
Erin gritted her teeth as Yates moved his hand back to her thigh. She despised the black dress he had forced her to wear before they departed the cabin, and she detested how he frightened her each time he touched her.
'Perhaps if you behave, Detective, I might share part of the story with you,' Yates remarked as he ran his thumb along her exposed skin. Although Erin wanted to move her leg away, she thought it wiser to play along, hoping it would help her escape once they reached New York.
She simply nodded at his words and reached for his hand, prompting a chuckle from him. 'Ah, does the Detective finally know her place?' he taunted as he tightened his grip on her hand.
Erin remained silent, gazing out the window as she heard him chuckle. Yates reached to turn the radio on, tuning in to the news. Erin buried her face in her hand, saying through gritted teeth, 'Turn it off or at the very least insert a CD.'
Erin opened her eyes and cast a disapproving glance at him as he chuckled, 'You don't like the news, Detective? But it's about you,' Yates said with a smirk. 'Shut up!' Erin snapped, biting her cheek when she felt him pinch her thigh hard.
'Watch your mouth, missy,' he warned, then inserted a CD from the car. Erin sighed, relieved that the case was something she could handle.
Erin allowed her eyes to close again once she had formulated a plan to escape from Yates and reach the Special Victims Unit building. Feeling something drape over her shoulders, she opened an eye to find that Yates had thrown her jacket over her.
'We wouldn't want you to get sick, Detective,' he remarked, but Erin ignored him and went back to sleep.
The next few hours passed quickly for them, and they eventually reached the New York border. Erin slowly opened her eyes as she heard the car engine turn off, and she raised her head to see that they had arrived at a small diner.
Yates alighted from the vehicle and proceeded to the side where Erin was situated, opening the door," What is our purpose for being here?" inquired the brunette as Yates extracted her from the car," to dine, naturally."
Upon being escorted inside the dining establishment, Erin emitted a groan as Yates directed her to a booth," I am certain you must be famished, Detective," Yates initiated as he settled her in the booth," You have not consumed anything since our departure from Chicago."
The brunette acknowledged he was correct, although nourishment was the least of her concerns. She surveyed the dining area, noting the scarce presence of patrons likely due to the early hour.
Erin contemplated this as an opportunity to flee once Yates turned away, Invisalign her escape strategy. Her musings were abruptly interrupted by the waitress," May I take your order?" queried the young waitress.
"Ah, yes, how about a serving of your pancakes and eggs, accompanied by a cup of coffee," Yates stated, casting a glance at Erin who remained focused on her menu," What would you like, ma'am?" inquired the waitress, addressing the brunette.
Erin glanced at the waitress and calmly stated, 'A coffee would be sufficient,' upon observing the disapproving look from Yates. The waitress acknowledged her request and proceeded to take their orders.
Once the waitress moved away, Yates whispered to Erin, 'You should eat something, Detective, as another dose will be prepared for you soon,' while discreetly holding her hand under the table.
Erin nonchalantly replied, 'I'm not one for breakfast,' and quickly located the restroom in the diner. As she stood up from the booth, Yates inquired, 'Where are you off to?'
Erin responded, 'I need to use the bathroom, after hours of driving without a break, it's necessary.' Hoping Yates would allow it, she reassured him before leaving.
'Alright, I won't be long, we can depart once we finish eating.' Yates warned her, 'Don't take too much time, as we will be leaving soon after eating.' Erin leaned down and planted a soft kiss on his cheek, 'I will return,' she promised.
After Yates released his grip and returned to drinking his coffee when the waitress brought back their drinks and Yates' food, Erin proceeded to the restroom.
Inside, she entered a stall, leaned against the wall, and whispered, 'Okay, the first part of my plan is going well.' Glancing around, she searched for a possible escape route through a window but realized none were large enough for her to fit through. Contemplating her next move, she was startled as the bathroom door opened.
Upon seeing the waitress, she considered seeking help but decided against it to avoid placing the waitress in danger.
After quickly completing her task, Erin joined the waitress at the sink, washed her hands, and attempted to disregard the curious gaze she received from the blonde woman. When the woman whispered, 'Hey,' Erin was taken aback.
Erin observed as the waitress assessed her appearance before expressing regret for startling her. "Apologies for that, but you bear a strong resemblance to the woman featured on the news," the blonde insinuated quietly. Erin attempted to maintain a composed demeanor. "I am not familiar with what you are referring to," Erin untruthfully stated.
Despite her appreciation for the blonde's offer of assistance, she was reluctant to involve the young woman in potential danger. "I believe you may know more than you are letting on. I do not intend to pressure you, but please feel free to confide in me," the blonde murmured.
"My employer may also be willing to assist if we disclose the situation to him." As Erin gazed into the blonde's blue eyes, she voiced her concern. "I am hesitant to put you at risk with this individual," Erin whispered, flinching at the sound of a knock on the bathroom door.
"Miss Yates, it is time to depart," Yates called from outside the door. The detective inwardly cursed at the use of her last name by Yates, understanding that he resorted to such a tactic to deceive onlookers, particularly given the evident bruises that Erin bore.
Erin could not help but gulp as Yates knocked again. She shared a glance with the woman who looked at her with concern.
'I must leave,' she said, stepping back from the sink. 'Wait,' the waitress began. 'I can assist if you allow me. This man is dangerous, and if I am able to help-' Erin interrupted the blond by pushing her jacket into her arms.
'If you wish to help, please call my team in Chicago and show them this jacket. Inform them of my whereabouts,' she whispered, realizing this could be a chance to meet the team at The Special Victims Unit building. The blond nodded as she took the jacket.
'What should I tell them?' she inquired. 'Inform them that once I escape, I will be meeting them at the Special Victims Unit,' Erin whispered. Yates banged on the door again.
'Sir, please refrain from that,' Erin heard an employee say from outside. 'I must leave,' Erin said as she hurried to the bathroom door and walked out, almost pushing Yates aside. 'Apologies for the delay; I really needed to use the facilities,' Erin said.
Yates glared at Erin while she observed him, the brunette nervously hoped he did not suspect her plan. "Let's depart," he declared, seizing Erin's arm and disregarding the disapproving gazes they received as he forcefully escorted her out of the diner.
Erin nervously bit her lip, praying that Yates had not discerned her scheme; knowing the man was not foolish, she tried to speak but was abruptly struck by Yates across her face upon reaching the car, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground.
The brunette winced as her limbs scraped against the rough gravel; as she struggled to rise, Yates forcefully kicked her down, admonishing, "You took an eternity in the bathroom, Detective Lindsay," he growled, delivering a harsh blow to her stomach.
Attempting to stand amidst escalating fear, Erin's heart pounded loudly; "I informed you that time was of the essence," Yates stated, lifting the Detective by her hair, "I detest delays when we have appointments to uphold; we are meeting an acquaintance in a few hours," he murmured menacingly into her ear.
Erin coughed up blood onto the ground as Yates dropped her, whispering, 'I... I'm sorry... I had to clean up.' She then looked up to see Yates's expression change into a calm look. 'It shouldn't take you that long to get washed up,' Yates said, pulling her up roughly by her arm and shoving her in the back seat.
However, he was stopped with a sharp blow to the back of his head, not hard enough to kill him but hard enough to make him fall over the brunette. Wide hazel eyes watched as Yates was pulled back and thrown to the ground. Erin was too shocked by what happened to notice the blond waitress helping her up from the seat.
'Come on before he comes to,' the blond said as she assisted Erin and led her back to the diner, instructing the owner to lock the door.
'This way,' the older man whispered as he put the 'closed' sign up. Erin bit her lip as she let the blond guide her to the back of the restaurant. 'You shouldn't have done that,' Erin whispered as she slumped against the counter once they were in the kitchen.