All the Way Read Free

drugs—he’d seen enough strung-out victims of addiction while investigating his current story to know a druggie when he saw one.
    Another police car and a fire truck sped by. Adriano thought of Jake again. If anyone could take care of himself, it was Jake. He hadn’t sent a distress call. Knowing his partner, he was probably taking advantage of being the first reporter on the scene and copping two stories at once: the informant’s tale, and whatever had the hotel buzzing with police and rescuers. Working on his own exclusive, Adriano would play this out with the anxious woman in the back seat.
    He waited until they were outside the nucleus of tangled Uptown streets before he spoke again. “Where am I driving to?”
    The woman tried, unsuccessfully, to steady her hand.
    â€œYou carjacked me for some purpose, I assume.”
    Her teeth chattered in response.
    â€œMaybe I can help you.”
    The right side of her face moved into the light, and Adriano was able to make out more of her features: full lips, straight nose.
    He tried another approach. “Do you want money? You could’ve asked for that without kidnapping me.”
    She didn’t answer.
    â€œYou do know this is a marked news truck.” The Chicago City newspaper logo was tattooed on both rear doors and the hatch. “Once my partner reports me missing, it won’t take but a second for the police to track us down.”
    â€œDrive me to the airport.”
    â€œThe airport?” Adriano’s humor with the request tumbled past his lips in a deep laugh.
    â€œWhat’s funny ?”
    â€œLady, if you plan to make a quick getaway by jumping on a plane, it won’t happen tonight. The tropical storm in Florida is causing bad weather as far as Atlanta. And it’s heading up the coast this way. All flights out of Charlotte have been delayed. It’s supposed to be a hell of a storm.”
    She made a noise that resembled a desperate sob.
    â€œLooks like you should’ve called ahead and checked.”
    The woman’s grip on his neck slipped when he took a corner. All he needed to do was keep her talking, make a sharp turn, and then end this madness.
    He kept talking, hoping to distract her. “Besides, the traffic in Charlotte is worse than in Chicago. How’d you think you’d outrun the police?”
    No response.
    He glanced in the rearview. “So you’re running from the police. What did you do?” No response. “When women find out I’ve been kidnapped, they’ll send the armed forces out to get me back.”
    â€œThis isn’t funny!” she shouted in his ear.
    â€œListen, lady—” Fed up with the flashlight bumping against his skull, Adriano turned the steering wheel hard to the right, bringing the SUV onto the side of the road. The woman flew in the opposite direction, landing with a thud against the door. He slammed on the brakes, cut the engine, and jumped into the back of the truck. Before the woman could right herself, he was wrestling her down in the backseat.
    â€œGet off of me!” The woman fought him with all of her strength, but once he pinned her small frame to the seat, she couldn’t do anything more. He wrestled away her “gun,” the flashlight rolling underneath the front passenger’s seat.
    â€œStop it, lady. This is over.”
    â€œLet me go!”
    â€œYou tried to carjack me with a flashlight? ”
    â€œGet your hands off me!”
    â€œCalm down.” The frantic woman put up a good fight, but she couldn’t win. Not against his brawn and lightning-quick moves. She was fiery; he’d give her that much. Not a woman who would cower in the corner and cry at the first sign of trouble. She’d have his back when he needed it. Rare to find this type of woman in his circle—most of the women he encountered wanted a hookup, doors opened into the industry.
    â€œCalm down,” he repeated.