"You want to explain?" Lea asked incredulously. She finally felt her senses coming back to her. Her voice rang out louder and stronger than moments before. She just couldn't believe she was in this situation now, when moments before her biggest problem seemed to be which pajamas she'd be pulling on for bed. She continued her exclamation, furious at this point. "By all means, please do. Please, explain to me why you threatened to kill me, knocked me unconscious, dragged me to some abandoned warehouse who knows where and tied me to a chair, all against my free will!"
"Hey, this isn't all our fault. You're the one who was sticking their nose where it didn't belong," said Dylan as he shoved his hands into the depths of his pockets.
Jade slammed her foot on top of his to quiet him. "You're not helping," she reprimanded.
"Sorry," he sighed and then looked back at Lea. He was obviously not too good with the concept of apologies. "I'm sorry you got caught up in all of this. I thought you were a cop, and I didn't think we could take any chances. We never actually wanted to hurt you, but then you decided to run, so--"
"Again," Jade repeated, with a little more conviction. "Don't go there." She looked over at Lea, who was still fuming where she sat, tied to the chair. "Look, we want to let you go but we're going to have to ask you for something first."
Lea couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her kidnappers actually needed something from her? They actually had the audacity to ask?
She rolled her eyes dramatically.
This should be good.
"You're going to ask me for something?" Lea asked, almost laughing. "What makes you think I'll do anything for you? After everything you put me through tonight, why do I owe you anything?"
"You don't owe us anything. We realize that, but--"
"But we're hoping you're a good enough person to hear us out," Dylan interjected and earned a nod from his sister. "Please, hear us out?"
"I don't really have a choice, do I?" Lea responded, referring to her hands that were still bound tightly behind her back. Then she sighed. "Whatever...I'm listening..."
"We're harmless, we promise," the smaller sibling began. "But we are on the run, from the law."
"If you pay any attention to the news, you'd recognize us," Dylan continued. "The Hernandez siblings? The brother and sister duo who escaped from the state prison two weeks ago?"
Lea's eyes widened instantly. She never had time to watch the news because she spent all her time at the restaurant. But she vaguely remembered overhearing some gossip about that story between two of her co workers. "You two are escaped felons?" she asked.
It was crazy. She knew she should feel sheer, utter terror after having this bomb shell dropped on her, but she didn't. She didn't feel threatened at all by the people who had kidnapped her hours before.
"We've been planning this escape for a while now," Dylan answered her. "You see, we're kind of on a mission...to clear our names."
"We've been in prison for two years now, doing time for a crime neither of us committed. Three years ago, Dylan and I were convicted of murder. We were sentenced to life in prison because we were framed...for the murder of Dylan's ex girlfriend - Sofia."
"We broke out with one purpose. To find Sofia's real murderer. To clear our names, and to put her soul to rest once and for all," said Dylan. Lea noticed the look in his eyes had changed. They now blazed with determination, and she could tell he still loved her. Even though he couldn't have her...even though physically the love between them was completely lost, his feelings for her were just as strong.
Sofia.
It was a feeling Lea was familiar with, and sent shivers up her spine.
"What do need me for?" Lea asked them, still obviously confused. "I really don't think I can help you."
"Yes you can," Dylan answered. He took a step toward her and looked directly into her eyes. "You can turn a blind eye. Please, if we let you go now...if we let you walk out of this warehouse, you can't go to the police. We have to find Sofia's killer. I know you don't owe us anything, and I'm sorry about the distress we've caused you tonight...but if there's any shred of humanity in you, you'll keep quiet about this whole thing."
More shivers racked Lea's spine and she nodded. She didn't know why, but she didn't even have to think twice about agreeing. Maybe it was something about the way Dylan looked at her that made her want to believe them, or maybe it was something else entirely...but every bone in her body was positive that she did believe the Hernandez siblings. Her next words slipped out with ease.
"I won't tell," she said.
"Do you promise?" Jade asked, raising an eyebrow. "You have to understand how important this is to us."
Lea nodded again, this time with more conviction. "I promise, I won't tell."
Eventually Dylan untied Lea from her restraints. As he did so, he leaned in to whisper a simple, "thank you," in her ear.
Before long Lea found herself outside again. As she walked down the sidewalk and tried to decide if her experience that night had been reality or nightmare, she became sure of only one thing.
She had every intention of keeping her promise.
