She pointed at a roll of something. “And that’s bondage tape, not duct tape. It sticks to itself but not to the skin. Same thing. Ties you up but doesn’t leave marks. You have to either go to a kink shop—and there aren’t many of those in this town—or you order it online. Kidnappers don’t usually care about not leaving bruises.”

“So, he’s kinky or the world’s nicest kidnapper,” Cyrus said. “I prefer kinky.”

“You and me both, buddy.”

Cyrus started to reply when an older white woman stepped out of the front door of a pale pink shotgun house.

“That your car?” the woman asked.

“Lord,” Cyrus muttered before turning around and smiling at the woman. “No, ma’am. I’m a detective trying to find someone who might be missing. This is their car.”

“Who are you?” the woman asked Nora. She didn’t seem too satisfied with Cyrus’s answer.

“I’m the cocksmith,” Nora called back.

“What?”

“Locksmith,” Cyrus said, giving Nora the look she deserved. “Did you happen to see someone park this car here a few nights ago?”

“No, but it’s been there three days now. I was about to get it towed.”

“We’ll move it,” Nora said.

“You allowed to do that?”

“Is it your car?” Nora asked.

“What? No, it’s not mine.” The woman sounded more irritated than ever.

“Then don’t worry about it. We got this.” Nora raised her hand and made a “shooing” gesture. It appeared the woman was about to say something, so Nora shooed her away again. With a disgusted shake of her head, the women retreated back into her home.

“I got to try that someday,” he said. “You just…” He made the ‘shooing’ gesture. “And nosy old ladies go away.”

“I’m not sure it would work for you. And she’s probably calling the cops on us right now anyway.”

Cyrus laughed and pointed at the car. “What do you think? Hotwire it?”

“Hotwire it,” she said. “I need to dig through the bag a little more. Better not do it here if she is ratting us out. Where’s your place?”

“Across town. Twenty minutes.”

“I’m only a couple miles away. We’ll take it to my house.”

“Park it on the street. I’ll have someone pick it up and tow it tomorrow.”

“Can you follow me in my car?” she asked. “I can take you back to your car after.”

“Yeah, I’ll drive your car. But you’ll be lucky to get it back.” Cyrus took the keys to her Mustang.

It took three seconds for Nora to hotwire the car.

She pulled out into the street. Cyrus followed. She thought she lost him on the way to her house at one point, but a minute later, there he was behind her. The man knew how to tail.

They reached her house and she parked the Sentra in front. When Cyrus got out of her Mustang, he was on his phone again.

“Half an hour,” Cyrus was saying. “Home by eight.” Pause. “Yeah, I know. I know. Love you, too, baby.” A laugh. A smile. “Never again, I swear.” He hung up.