Survive the Night by Riley Sager

INT. VOLVO—NIGHT

Charlie hadn’t forgotten about Josh’s handcuffs. They were always present in her thoughts, cold and flat in the front pocket of her jeans. She just didn’t know when—or how—to use them.

It wasn’t until Robbie pushed her under the water that she finally knew.

And as she clicks the other end around the steering wheel, Charlie’s glad she waited.

She emerges from the water into a car that’s almost completely filled. There’s about eight inches of air left. Just enough for Charlie to tilt her head back and speak.

The same can’t be said for Robbie.

Thanks to the handcuffs, he can’t keep his mouth above the surface. The waterline is now even with his nose as he uses those big, Bambi eyes to stare up at her. Mere hours ago, that expression would have melted Charlie’s heart. Seeing it now, she feels only anger.

Robbie keeps looking at her, though, beseeching. It’s clear he thinks she has a key to the cuffs.

He’s wrong.

Even if she did know where the keys are, she sure as hell wouldn’t use them to set Robbie free.

“That was for Maddy,” Charlie says, knowing he can still hear her.

She holds up the pair of pliers she’d grabbed off the floor while underwater.

“And this,” she says, “is for Marge.”