Read Online Back on Solid Ground by Debra Trueman - Free Book Online

scene,”
she laughed.
    “Do me a
favor and don’t laugh while you’re holding a gun to my head.  It might go off
accidentally,” he said, moving the mouse around.
    “Guns don’t
just go off, someone has to pull the trigger.  And I’m not going to do that
unless you make me.  I don’t want to kill you, Eli.  I just want to get away
from you,” Stacy said.
    “We’re in e-mail,”
he said.
    “I’ll
dictate, you type,” Stacy said.  She was trying to think of people’s e-mail
addresses, and she realized she didn’t know many without her contacts.  “We’re
sending it to two people,” she said, and she dictated the addresses. Re:  Stacy
Trent.  Message:  I’m being held by kidnappers on an island,” Stacy stopped. 
“Where are we?”
    “In the Mediterranean.”
    “The Mediterranean!  You brought me to the Mediterranean ?” she said, bordering on
hysteria.  “ Where in the Mediterranean?”
    “I don’t really
know, I’m not good at geography,” he said lamely.
    She went back
to dictating, “on an island in the Mediterranean,” and then she added, “or
possibly the Caribbean.”
    Eli turned
and looked at her and Stacy shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t trust you.  Turn
around,” she motioned with the pistol.  “Have the authorities trace this
e-mail.  Love Stacy.” 
    She read what
he had typed over his shoulder.  “Send it,” she directed.
    Eli clicked
the send button and the message disappeared from the screen. 
    “Okay, let’s
see,” Stacy said, thinking aloud.  “I need some shoes.  And by the way, how did
I end up with no shoes?”
    “I don’t
know.  They probably got left on the plane,” he guessed. 
    “Let’s go
check out your closet.”  Stacy motioned with the gun for Eli to lead the way. 
“Don’t try anything stupid, okay Eli.  I really don’t want to have to shoot
you, but I will if you fuck with me.  You understand that, right?”
    “I have no
intention of fucking with you, Stacy.  Just don’t walk with your finger on the
trigger.” 
    “I already
told you that if I shoot you, it’s not going to be by accident.”
    They walked
down the hall into the bedroom and Eli opened his closet doors.  “They’re all
going to be huge on you,” he said.  “You’re going to trip and put a bullet in
my back!”  
    “Well, I
can’t go barefoot, so unless you have a better idea?” she said, waiting for
suggestions.
    “Consuela’s
shoes would probably fit you,” he said.
      “Who’s
Consuela, and where do we find her shoes?”
    “The
housekeeper; on the lower level,” he said.
    “Lead the
way.  And Eli” she said, “be discreet.”
    They left
Eli’s room and went down to the first floor, then Eli led the way to another
set of stairs that went to the lower level.  Stacy hadn’t even realized that
there was a lower level.  They walked down the hall to the last room and Eli
knocked on the door. 
    “Don’t try
anything stupid,” she said, pressing the gun up against his back.
    A small woman
answered the door. “Eli!” she said, giving him a hug.  “Como estas?”
    Eli picked
Consuela up off her feet and hugged her, then he put her back down and pointed
to Stacy’s feet.  “Necessita zapatos.”
    Consuela
looked down at Stacy’s bare feet.  “Si, si,” she said, disappearing into her
room.  She returned with a pair of huaraches, and smiled, offering them to
Stacy.  
    Eli took the
shoes.  “Gracias, Consuela.  Adios,” he said, smiling.
    “Adios,” she
said, closing her door.
    “Oh, they’re
perfect!” Stacy said, putting the shoes on her feet.  “I used to have some like
these.”
    Stacy stepped
around Eli so she could see his face. “You are such a liar,” she said.  “The Mediterranean .  I ought to shoot you right now.”  She shouldn’t have done the
tequila shots; she was having a hard time keeping a straight face.  Stacy
looked around.  “Where’s the closest exit?”
    “Right
there,”