Deserted - Auctioned

“What’s his name?” Jackie asked. “I don’t think you told me.”

Gray cracked his knuckles absently and phrased himself carefully. “There’s a reason for that, and it’s because the police can’t know we’ve been here when everything is over. The less you know, the better.” He met Jackie’s puzzled expression and elaborated. “We have no right to be here. My friend—” he nodded over at Darius “—has some connections we’ve used in order to find you faster. Faster than the authorities, anyway. And you know how the law works. We can finish them today, or we let the police handle it and there will be a trial. You’ll be the witness, you’ll have to face them again, you’ll have to relive—”

“Please,” Jackie choked out and shook his head. “I can’t, Gray. I can’t. Plus, I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

“Then you’ll have to stick to the story we give you,” Gray murmured, kindly but plainly. “Can you do that?”

“Anything. I promise.”

Gray took a breath and revealed the plan to him. “First of all, everything you’ve been through up until today is your truth. Give the police all the details you can and stay honest, because we’re all part of a bigger case.”

Jackie nodded in understanding.

“The rest, we’re keeping as simple as possible,” Gray continued. “We’re gonna make this look like a murder-suicide carried out by Chester. He’s demented enough and has no friends. So, he decides he wants to off himself, and he wants his made-up little family to join him.” It brought Gray some relief to see Jackie processing what he said without difficulty. Gray watched him nod along and how his blue eyes flickered. “So, for the first time since he locked you up in the cellar, he takes you upstairs, and you don’t know where Buck is. You don’t see him. You don’t have to worry about those details at all.”

“Okay. Is he gonna stay taped to the chair when he dies, though?”

“Yes,” Gray confirmed. “And if you accidentally let that slip—that you know he was duct-taped to a chair, you can easily cover it up by, A: feigning confusion, or, B: saying Chester told you. And remember that, Jackie. It’s okay to be confused. It’s okay to get minor details mixed up. In fact, if your story is completely flawless—that’s when the investigators might think there’s more to it. So, don’t overthink it too much. Backtrack a little and ask for a break. Apologize—even though you don’t have anything to apologize for—and say you don’t quite remember. It’s fine.”

Jackie exhaled nervously and nodded. “I get it. Chester brings me upstairs. I don’t see Bucky. Fuzzy details, as long as I don’t mention that you and your friend were here. And then what?”

“Then Chester will duct-tape you to a chair too, but he’ll do a poor job of it,” Gray went on. “And while he starts pouring gasoline all over the place, you manage to get free. And you bolt out of the doors right here as he sets himself on fire.”

Jackie shuddered and started biting his nails. “I hope he suffers,” he whispered. “Does that make me awful?”

Gray gave Jackie’s neck a gentle squeeze. “Does it make me awful for killing the son of a bitch?”

“No…” Jackie shifted closer, hesitating a bit, before he hugged Gray’s arm. “I can’t believe you and your friend came for me. I thought… Part of me still thinks I’m gonna die here.”

“You’ll have a lot of ups and downs,” Gray murmured. “By the way, are you on any social media? When we get home, I will send you a number you can call to reach me—day or night. And then we’ll add you to the group chat with the other survivors from the yacht. When you’re ready,” he was quick to emphasize. “I just figure, it’s going to be overwhelming to be reunited with your family, and you might want someone to talk to. It’s possible I’m speaking from experience.”

“I definitely wanna call,” Jackie said. He eased away a bit and reached for his water on the ground. “Oh my God, I’m gonna see my mom and dad again. And my sisters.” He set down his water again and covered his mouth with his hand. “I’m actually getting out of here.”

Gray smiled.

Jackie took on a pleading look. “I’m not gonna mess this up, and I don’t want you and your friend to get caught. Is there anything I can do? Something else? I can help, I swear it. I won’t lose my chance.”

“Hey, it’s all right.” Gray patted the guy’s arm soothingly. “There might be something, but we’ll wait to see how you’re feeling when those two shitheads are dead. Okay?”

“Okay, but whatever it is, count on me.”

A rush of hope filled Gray. Maybe this would work out, after all.