Kidnapped

Chapter Three

I had been kidnapped by accident. These people got the wrong person.

"Omigoshhh," I said, sitting down abruptly.

"Come on already! What is it?" Victor snapped.

"You meant to kidnap Audrey Filatson?" I said, like it was half a question, and half a statement.

"Yes. Duh. Let's go."

"I'm not Audrey Filatson," I whispered.

Victor rolled his eyes. "Of course you are! Stop messing around and come on."

"I'm Aubrey! Aubrey Thomas!"

Victor raised an eyebrow.

"Audrey looks a lot like me! She has auburn hair and green eyes and our names are practically the same! She goes to my school, she's the most popular girl there, her dad has a lot of money, it all makes sense now! You meant to kidnap her!" I blurted out all in one breath.

I couldn't tell what Victor was thinking.

"Wow," Jake said, coming over from the couch. "You...sound like you're telling the truth."

"It sounds like it's the perfect opportunity for her to escape," Victor said coldly.

"Or maybe we made a mistake," Jake said.

"I think it is very unlikely she has a look-alike who she only just now mentioned when it was convenient for her," Victor argued.

"But it's true!" I cut in.

"Shut up," Victor said, turning back to Jake.

"What address are you sending the note to?" I pressed.

"Tell me your address first," Victor demanded.

"Stony Lake Apartment Complex, 613 Haymill Way, room 233," I recited without hesitation.

Jake and Victor exchanged a look.

"That's not where Audrey Filatson lives," Jake pointed out.

"She could be making this whole thing up," Victor said.

My heart sank. "So...you aren't gonna let me go?"

Victor looked at me like I was stupid. "No."

"You aren't even gonna, I don't know, try to prove me wrong?" I cried desperately.

"No." Victor clucked his tongue. "And none of you will be looking into it, either!" he added sharply as Jake opened his mouth. "That's what Audrey gets for making up a whole story to try to escape."

"Yes, sir," called Evelyn and Brick from the living room.

"I wouldn't have anyway," I heard Evelyn grumble to herself.

Jake insulted Victor under his breath.

And I was furious.

"Where are you sending the note?" I managed to ask without yelling, before he could reprimand Jake.

"I think I'll send it to your house and the apartment," Victor grinned. "Then I will get ransom money either way, perhaps even double if both places send it. This is all assuming you weren't lying about the apartment, which I know you are, so the people there could be pretty confused when they get the note. Now come on!"

Victor dragged me down into the basement, but Jake followed close behind.

"I wasn't really worried about you trying to escape before, but now that you realize your story isn't going to work on me, you might try to get away," Victor went on, shoving me onto the small bed. "And that wouldn't be too great for you, because..."