A Snow Covered Nightmare: Refuge Series Book Two

by Debbie Zello

  Briah exited the plane, having no problem picking out her dance partners. They resembled the Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones characters in Men In Black. Both wore black suits, high and tight haircuts, and sunglasses. The neon signs above their heads flashed Federal Agents. She simply stood at the window and let them approach her.

  “Hello, Miss, I’m here to take you dancing,” Tommy Lee said.

  “Okay, where are we dancing?”

  “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you.”

  “After you,” she said, nervous about the James Bond feel of the whole thing. The two men walked her through the terminal to a gate. The destination read Burlington, Vermont. “I’m going to Vermont?” she asked Will Smith.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Briah stared at him. He was at least her age and maybe older and he had just ma’amed her. She hated that. Ma’am was for married women or older ones anyway. “We have this for you and I need your driver’s license and any other credit cards or anything with your name on it,” he said holding a large legal sized manila envelope towards her. She stuck the envelope under her arm and took out her wallet.

  She quickly began to hand him the cards and her license. Her fingers found a business card that Aiden had given her at their first meeting. It didn’t have her name on it so she left it where she found it. “What’s my name now?”

  “I don’t know. The envelope is sealed. Don’t open it until you are alone. I suggest the bathroom on the plane. Please give one more look through your pocketbook for anything with your name on it. Any scrap or anything. Finding it later and simply throwing it out could jeopardize your life,” he cautioned.

  “No, there isn’t anything else,” she said pushing her things around in her purse.

  “Very well. Here is your boarding pass for this flight. Good luck to you and it’s been a pleasure dancing with you,” he said smiling at her.

  “The both of you dance very well. My compliments to your instructor.”

  Her flight was called and she boarded the plane. The envelope was burning a hole in her fingers. She was curious as to what might be inside. She could feel some kind of a short key and some hard plastic that she guessed were credit cards or a license.

  As soon as the seatbelt sign went off, she was up and headed to the bathroom. She tore open the envelope carefully, so she could seal it back together when she was done. She certainly didn’t want to lose anything.

  The first thing she pulled out was a credit card. Her name was Cherie Ames. That was okay. The next thing was the key. It was the kind of key that went to a locker at the airport. A paper inside read to find the locker and open it. More information would be inside. There was some cash and a new iPhone. She put it all back in the envelope and went back to her seat.

  As soon as she was off the plane, she went in search of the locker. Once she had found it, she looked around before she opened it. Inside was another similar looking envelope. She took it out and headed for the nearest bathroom.

  She soon discovered that this envelope had several things in it. Her license, checkbook, savings account statement, social security card, birth certificate, keys, and a letter with instructions. It read that her car, a white 2017 Chevrolet Malibu was parked in the lot and waiting for her. It gave her the approximate location and the plate number. The car’s GPS was programmed to bring her right to her new residence. Just press the star button on the rear-view mirror to begin.

  The letter also suggested that she change her appearance with a stop at one of the many salons that she would pass on her drive home. She thought about that for a moment. Her very long blonde hair was something she loved. She had it trimmed regularly but hadn’t cut it since childhood. Was she ready for that?

  She decided to find her home first and think about the hair tomorrow. The time difference and the long day of flying had her worn out. She found her luggage and then found the car by pressing the unlock on the keychain. That was easier than looking for the license plate. The car’s lights came on and Cherie put her suitcases in the trunk.

  The GPS led her to the highway, Interstate 89 headed south. Being from Colorado, the lush, green, tree covered mountains of Vermont stood in a complete contrast to the Rockies of the west. The drive was a very pleasant one. If this was where someone picked for her to live, as far as she was concerned they picked well.

  The voice told her to take the next exit at Waterbury. Take a left at the end and continue on Route 100 heading north. She passed a small shopping center and then the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory. This was getting better and better.

  At a stop sign in the middle of the town of Stowe, the voice said to turn left onto Route 108 heading north. Briah was almost giddy as she looked around at the little shops and restaurants that made up this mostly ski town. The road she entered was covered with motels, spas, restaurants, and ski shops. Nirvana for the ski-bum in Briah.

  The voice continued its directions, turn left, turn right, turn left, and you have reached your destination on the right. Briah pulled into the driveway of the most adorable Swiss-style cottage she had ever seen. It was painted a medium yellow color with white trim. A wide porch covered the front with a railing detail that she loved. And two large, comfortable-looking rockers were set on either side of the door.

  Briah put the extra key on the key-chain in the lock on the door and turned it. The door popped open and she walked in. Briah smiled for the first time since she put one over on David’s attorney, the first day of the trial. The inside was just as quaint as the outside. The hardwood floors were light and shiny. The walls were painted cream with light-stained wood trim. The furniture had an understated Victorian feel. A wood-burning fireplace was in the corner.

  The kitchen took up the entire back of the house with a large eating area on one side. The second floor consisted of a master suite and a spare bedroom suite. There was a small loft area on the third floor that could be another bedroom or an office, but no bathroom. Her meager furniture mixed in with some beautiful pieces as if a designer planned the whole thing out. Every color and pattern was something she might have chosen for herself. It was perfect.

  Back down in the kitchen she found another envelope on the counter. She sat at the table and opened it. Inside were school transcripts, employment files and references from former landlords. A passport, the deed to the house and one more letter were the last things in the envelope.

  Miss Ames,

  You begin work at Mount Mansfield next Monday at eight AM.

  Ask for Stu Dunn in the main lodge. You will be a general office worker until the season begins and then the supervisor of the ski patrol and manager of the rental shop.

  You own your house and car free and clear. I wish you luck and good health.

  It wasn’t signed. Someone really paid attention to what she liked to do. She would have the best of both her worlds. The ski patrol meant she could be on the mountain, free of her tangled web of a life. Then grounded in the business world that she also loved.

  She had a week to acclimate to her surroundings. That was going to start right now with a bath and then bed.

  The morning brought a light rain. It cleaned the air of the pollen that plagued Briah’s nose. Before leaving to find a salon, she checked her cupboards and fridge and found both full. Having the government move you definitely had its perks.

  She drove back to where she turned onto the Mountain Road aka Route 108, this time turning left back onto Route 100. The rest of Stowe was just as picture perfect as the first part. Briah drove past dairy farms complete with cows and lots of fresh manure. It was roll up the windows time. Cornfields and Christmas tree farms passed by on either side.

  Briah drove into another town, Morrisville. She turned left at another stop sign, staying on Route 100 so as not to get lost. Yes, she had a GPS but you had to know how to program it and so far, she hadn’t mastered that. On the right-hand side, soon after the turn, she saw a sign for the Head Shed. Figuring that must be a salon, she pulled in and par
ked.

  Briah walked in and a pretty blonde woman said, “Hi. Can I help you?”

  “I hope so. I’m thinking about cutting my hair. But I don’t know how much or have any idea what I want,” Briah said, chewing on her lip nervously.

  “Well, come over and we’ll see what we can come up with. My name is Michelle.”

  “I’m B…uh Cherie Ames,” Briah said almost ruining everything. Most hairstylists know everyone in town, starting off saying she was Briah could be disastrous for her.

  An hour or so later, Briah left the salon with a new shoulder length hairstyle, one that she could still pull into a decent ponytail yet she looked very different. She made another appointment to have some low-lights put in that would add depth of color to her blonde hair.

  She got back in her car to look at more of the town. She found a pizza place and a movie theater. No Starbucks but a Dunkin Donuts so she could get her latte fix when needed. Turning around, she headed back towards Stowe figuring she should take a look at the mountain she would soon call her refuge.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Aiden pounded the steering wheel of his car, nearly bending it. He wanted to hit someone, kill someone, but it was the steering wheel he punished. She was up there crying, alone in that hospital bed. He could feel her sobbing.

  The look on her face when he delivered his blow to her nearly killed his resolve. As much as he hated to admit it, she was better off in protection than with him. He couldn’t protect her from someone hell bent on killing her.

  When he had calmed down enough to drive, he started the car and backed up. As he left the parking lot, he had one thing in mind. He desperately needed a drink. Not that he was much of a drinker, but some situations simply required it, and this was such a case. He pulled up to the first bar he saw.

  He walked in and looked the occupants over before he sat down at the bar. When you’re a cop, you tend to size up everyone you come in contact with. He had every intention of drinking enough to be completely shit-faced and didn’t want to have any trouble doing exactly that.

  “What will it be?” the bartender asked.

  “Grey Goose, straight up. And keep it coming, please,” Aiden answered.

  “Women trouble or the job?” he asked.

  “Both,” he said as it was really both. He would have never met her if it wasn’t because of his job. He would have never loved her and now lost her, if he had never met her.

  “Here you go,” he said setting the shot glass down in front of Aiden. “To your health!”

  “Thanks,” Aiden said placing the glass against his lips and tipping it back. The clear liquid slid down his throat leaving only its burn behind. It hit his stomach and he felt the warmth spread there. He set the glass down and the bartender filled it again.

  “I think you’ve had more than enough, buddy,” Aiden heard through the dense fog that had formed in his head. “I’m going to look through your phone and call someone to come and get you. Anyone in particular you want me to call?” the voice continued.

  “Pete, he’ll come. Pete’s a good man,” Aiden slurred.

  “Pete it is,” the bartender said searching through his phone for Pete.

  “Aiden, what the hell happened?” Pete said taking the seat at the bar next to him. “Blain has been calling you. I’ve been calling you. Then I get a phone call from a bartender that you’re here, drunk and you can’t drive. You have a death wish or something?”

  “Maybe I do. So what?”

  “I heard what happened from Blain. It sucks, but I would have done the same thing, under the same set of circumstances.”

  “Easy for you to say. Easy for Brice to tell me I’m doing the right thing. For Blain to agree with both of you. You didn’t see her face, and you don’t love her.

  “You and Blain can go home and fuck your wives and Brice can fuck whoever it is he fucks. Briah was mine, and I love her. This whole thing has been one giant clusterfuck right from the beginning. Why did she go to work that day?” Aiden said groaning.

  “First of all, I’ll forget you said anything about my wife. I hope that was the booze talking. I believe you know that I don’t fuck my wife and neither does Blain. I’ll give you Brice, because only God knows what he does.

  “Secondly, if she didn’t go to work that day, you wouldn’t have ever met her. You wouldn’t have had these last few months with her. A small piece of the pie is better than no pie.”

  “I’m never going to see her again. I’ll never speak to her again. It’s like she died. But I have no grave, no place to mourn. She was just plucked away from me.”

  “I know. Let’s get you out of here, Aiden. Maybe tomorrow will be better,” Pete said, helping Aiden up from the stool and half carrying him outside. He managed to get him into the car before saying, “If you think you’re going to be sick a minute or two in warning will be appreciated so I can pull over. If you get sick in my car, I’ll kill you myself.” Aiden tried to give Pete a disgusted look but failed and began laughing instead.

  “You said you’d kill me. That almost makes me want to get sick, my friend. You’ll put me out of my misery.”

  “Aiden, right now, you’re as low as anyone can go. Your heart is broken and your mind is drunk. In a few days, it will be better.”

  Pete was wrong. The next morning, Aiden was sure that Sasquatch had taken up residency in his head and was stomping around. Even the sound of the water running so he could brush the hair from his teeth, sounded like Niagara Falls. Calling in sick, he spent that day on the couch with his arm over his eyes.

  He went in the next day and apologized to Pete for what he had said. Then he thanked him for being his friend and not leaving his ass at the bar.

  Aiden went to the courthouse and testified at the trial. He told about meeting Briah. How distraught she was and scared to death that David would hear about her. Aiden testified as to her helpfulness in sitting with the artist to get the drawing done.

  He tried to focus on Blain and not look at David. For in fact, it was David, that had set this whole thing in motion. He should go to prison for that alone, Aiden thought. Staring at David would be interpreted as being hostile. Aiden didn’t want anything to happen to this prosecution. No point from which to appeal. Aiden would exact his pound of flesh.

  “She is leaving tomorrow. I thought you might want to know,” Blain said.

  “Thanks, but today, tomorrow, what difference would it make?” Aiden said.

  “I am so sorry it all turned out this way. I thought once she had testified, there would be no point in hurting her. I was wrong. I’m sorry, Aiden,” he said sadly.

  “Did you sum up yet?”

  “Tomorrow. I doubt it will take more than a day or two at the most. The case is solid, thanks to you. Jeanette is leaving tomorrow, too.”

  “Okay. We’ll have a drink after the verdict.”

  “I’d like that. Take care.”

  “Good luck tomorrow,” Aiden said. He hung up and put his head in his hands to scrub his face. He looked up to see Pete staring at him.

  “What’s up?” Pete asked.

  “That was Blain. She’s leaving tomorrow. He thought I might want to know.”

  “And do you?”

  “I don’t know where she is now. So I guess it doesn’t really matter where she is tomorrow.”

  “I know you haven’t been sleeping ‘cause you look like shit,” Pete said.

  “Thanks, you always could cheer me up.”

  “To quote an old song, ‘We gotta get you a woman,’” Pete said.

  “I have one,” Aiden whispered.

  “I mean one you can touch.”

  “I don’t want one.”

  “Fine. Maybe I should mind my own business.”

  “That’s probably a good idea.”

  Briah answered the knock at the door. She could see through the window that it was a woman standing on her porch. “Hi,” she said.

  “Hi. I’m Cindy Frost from next door. I
saw the movers a few weeks back, so I knew someone was moving in,” she said, smiling.

  “I’m Cherie Ames. Won’t you come in?” Briah said.

  “Thanks. I made a coffee cake. Do you happen to have coffee? If not, I’ll go back and get some.”

  “No bother, I’m all set. Have a seat,” Briah said, taking the offered plate. The two women walked to the kitchen. Cindy sat at the table and Briah made some fresh coffee.

  “How do you like it?” Cindy asked.

  “The town is lovely. I’ve met Michelle at the Head Shed, and she is wonderful. And now you,” Briah said placing plates, forks and a knife on the table.

  “You did an amazing job on the house. I love everything you’ve done. I kept looking for the owner but you were never here when I was,” Cindy said cutting a piece of cake for each of them. Briah thought quickly. What woman would not be involved in the decorating of her house?

  “I had the designer send me pictures every day of the progress being made. I wasn’t here until a few days ago. I think they did a great job.”

  “You did this long distance? I couldn’t even get my bathroom remodeled correctly, and I was living there. Where did you live before this?” Cindy was on the edge of her seat. Briah was going to have to start to keep notes on what she told people. The only thing a liar needs is a good memory. If your lies really were the nails in your coffin, as her mother had told her, Briah would be nailed shut, no doubt.

  “Florida. I lived in Florida.”

  “What in hell are you doing here? Every Vermonter I know dreams of moving to Florida and lying on the beach all day. You must like snow and mud because we have both in abundance,” she said laughing. Briah laughed with her. She liked Cindy and was glad she lived next door to her.