In Plain Sight

IN PLAIN SIGHT A DI SCOTT BAKER CRIME THRILLER JAY NADAL Published by Inkubator Books www.inkubatorbooks.com Copyright © 2023 by Jay Nadal Jay Nadal has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work. ISBN (eBook): 978-1-83756-076-9 ISBN (Paperback): 978-1-83756-077-6 ISBN (Hardcover): 978-1-83756-078-3 IN PLAIN SIGHT is a work of fiction. People, places, events, and situations are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher. Previously published by the author as Captive. CONTENTS Inkubator Books Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Inkubator Newsletter We hope you enjoyed this book Also by Jay Nadal JOIN THE INKUBATOR MAILING LIST You will be the first to learn about new releases plus the many FREE and discounted Kindle books we offer! bit.ly/3fPBwVA PROLOGUE The cold of the metal chilled her skin. Condensation raced down the sides of the metal box that held her. It was dark. Black. Blacker than coal. Hailey Bratton pushed harder against the sides, seeing the tiniest fleck of light above her. But her effort wasn’t enough. An overpowering stench assaulted her nostrils. An oily stench that brought tears to her eyes. She desperately needed to pee. The more she tried to avoid thinking about it, the more her bladder spasmed its annoyance. Her hands were numb; her palms pressed together had all but lost all feeling; the plastic tie cut into her wrists. Hailey wanted to scream, but the duct tape over her lips prevented her, allowing only the smallest of whimpers to escape. With her legs pulled into the foetal position, she tried to move, but every muscle hurt and ached from being cramped for so long. Each time she tried, she pushed against the sides of her prison. Each time her efforts were met with the immovable barrier that cocooned her. She’d lost count of how many hours she’d been here. It felt like days, but it had only been less than twenty-four hours. Time stood still as she waited, not knowing how long she’d be held prisoner, or when someone would come for her. Thoughts of dying a slow, painful death alone raced through her mind. A throbbing pain banged in her head. Stress, dehydration, and panic all contributed to the symphonic sounds. She violently shook her body again, hoping that the box would move or her efforts would attract attention. She didn’t know her location, but wherever it was, it was neither busy nor remote. The rumble of the odd car engine gave her hope, quickly followed by defeat as each sound faded into the distance. Hailey hopelessly clawed at the sides. A new wave of panic washed over her. She needed to get out quickly before he came back. How was another matter. Her mind was a fog. Every time she breathed in, a musty, cloying, bitter odour enveloped her senses. A heavy mix of stale air, oil and sweat. The sound of a metal door scraping along its runners shocked her back into the present. She froze. Was she finally going to be freed? Was a rescue imminent? Her heart pounded against her chest. Her pulse throbbed in her temples. She frantically shook her body again and banged and thumped the soles of her bound feet against the end of the metal container. Please help, help, I’m in here, she recited over and over in time with her muffled screams. Slow, steady footsteps grew louder. What felt like minutes elapsed between each step. All her senses were on high alert as she heard the sound of a padlock springing open. An orb of light, like a white halo, crept in as someone gently lifted the lid. She screwed her eyes and pulled her hands up to shield her face when the light temporarily blinded her. She cranked her head in a vain attempt to focus. As though this were a lunar eclipse, a dark figure cast a ghoulish shadow over her. An ice-cold bolt of fear sent shivers through her body when she finally saw. Her breathing grew rapid, her eyes fixed wide in terror. This wasn’t a rescuer at all. The light bounced off the silver edge of the knife he held. Waves of nausea rippled through her as her belly heaved. She swallowed hard, sending the bile back down; the acidic taste stung and burnt her insides. Hailey stared, paralysed with fear. * * * “I’m going to take good care of you. You’re a precious commodity,” said the figure as he gently wiped Hailey’s flame red hair from her sweat-drenched brow. He softly ran a finger down from her temple to her face. He followed the edge of her jaw down to her chin in a lover’s caress. He savoured every sensation he felt through his finger. “So beautiful, so delicate, like a china doll,” he whispered as he licked his lips. His finger trembled in his anticipation and excitement. “I have no idea why so many find redheads so unappealing. You’re unique, a heavenly creation by the Lord Almighty. Sent to stand out from the crowd, and you, my dear, stand out. Oh, you certainly do with your pale skin,