Complete and utter panic surge through Audrey as a gun--a terrible and deadly piece of well-crafted metal--is showcased before her her very eyes, and then hidden away again. Her big gray eyes darken, and all color drains from her cheeks. Looking up at the man in control, she no longer smirks or smiles up at him. Still as a gazelle finally sensing the danger, she realizes--knows--that she is in far deeper trouble than she realized.<br/><br/>His question is lost to her mind as soon as it is asked, she can't help it as others race to the forefront of her mind. Is this man a killer? Is he going to hurt her? Just what does he plan to do with her?<i>To her?!</i>Her blood feels as though it is turning to ice, and the goosebumps tug painfully at the tiny hairs on her arm.<br/><br/>Audrey blinks slowly, and silently prays that she will survive this catastrophe. For the first time in her life, she is truly afraid. Her life is in the hands of a criminal--and not just one who threatens with her own socks. He was capable, and willing to truly harm her. There was nothing she could do to help herself. Not now. There was no reason that she could see in his severe, piercing gaze--simply a drive to be in control and to own a stupid little dutch painting. Nothing was worth all of this. Fine. He could have it. Done. Audrey could bide her time for a few weeks, devise a few false leads and then mark the painting as lost. In less than a month the entire thing would become a cold case. Forgotten. Moving on. No possession was ever worth a life.<br/><br/>Never.<br/><br/>Sighing, Audrey knew trying to break free now would be a horrible idea. Thackery has a gun. He is dangerous. Unpredictable. Quietly, she closes her fist around the pin, keeping it as hidden as possible--he could find it at any moment, however. Blinking back tears, she prays again that she will be allowed to live through the night.<i> It's just a stupid painting.</i><br/><br/>Neither can this man see how much he's scared her. She needs to get back some measure of control--be strong! With renewed effort, Audrey struggles against the ropes and cuffs. With every muscle she has, she fights to try and sit up. She needs to sit up and look this man in the eye, rather than lie her like some poor wrangled rodeo animal. One way or another she was going to look this man in the eye and show him just how she wasn't afraid of him....<br/><br/>And again, she struggles until she is breathless, and still she finds herself no better off than she was a minute ago. So terribly infuriating! She glares up at the man hoping her gunmetal gray eyes prove to be as dangerous as that gun. "Only two types of thieves carry guns, Mr. Thackery. Amateurs, or cowards. I wonder, which are you?"<br/><br/>Audrey frowns and looks away from him then as if to count the fibers in the rug in the small space between them. her brow furrows as she digs deep for grace and resolve in equal measure. He would certainly make good on his promise to "silence" her: if not by socks, then by that gun. Either way it was going to be unpleasant.<br/><br/>"Look," she finally whispers, the first tear trickling down her temple, "if you're going to kill me, please make it quick. And civilized."