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I rushed over to her and began to untie the ropes.
'Please hurry,' she begged
'Who did this?'
'I don't know. Please hurry.'
I quickly freed her, hoisted her out of the trunk and made to lead her away from the car. She pulled back.
'No, take the car.'
'Forget the car,' I said urgently.
'No, they'll follow us. Take these.' She pulled some keys from her back pocket and handed them to me. 'You drive'. I hesitated for a moment then ran to the drivers seat. We both got in, slammed the doors and, after gunning the engine a few times, I sped off. For about five minutes I drove like a maniac, screeching round corners, checking the rear mirror and doubling back on myself with a number of hair raising U turns. Eventually we left the town. I slowed as we began to drive through a forest. There was no one on the road behind. Slowly I felt my pulse and breathing return to normal. I turned to her.
'What happened back there?'
'A kidnapping.' She seemed suddenly very calm as she spoke.
'Who was trying to kidnap you?'
'No one.' She smiled broadly as she said it. Too broadly. The hairs on my neck prickled very slightly.
'What are you talking about? You said 'kidnapping'. What kidnapping?' With almost leisurely ease she leaned forward, reached under her seat, and sat up, holding a small grey pistol which she pointed lazily at my head.
'This kidnapping....'