* * *
"Something like that," Wesley stated. Wesley wasn't discussing the events with asshole Richard. "Thank you for bringing food," Wesley said.
* * *
"You're welcome," Richard said.
* * *
Shelby is proud of Wesley. That is probably the most civil thing he's ever said to Richard.
* * *
"Katrina, will you help me with the rest of the food?" Richard said.
* * *
"I can help you with that," Tobias said.
* * *
"I got it. Thank you." Katrina smiles.
* * *
Katrina reaches in the car and grabs two bags of food.
* * *
"We have a victory but you’re looking like someone ran over your best friend. What's wrong?" Richard asks.
* * *
"Camryn. I can't get a reading on her" Katrina stated.
* * *
"What!" Richard said. "Doesn't trauma change the energy?" He said.
* * *
"Yes, but it's like ...a shield put up. She experienced something she doesn't want anyone on any level to share." Katrina said.
* * *
"Ah, yea she was tossed around by a tornado," Richard said.
* * *
"I think she knows about Minerva," Katrina said.
* * *
"Now you're panicking," Richard said.
* * *
"Can't you tell? She has awareness." Katrina said.
* * *
"So why hasn't she said anything?" Richard said.
* * *
"Would you just ask us? I wouldn't." Katrina said.
* * *
"You're overreacting," Richard said.
* * *
Wesley kisses Camryn's forehead before sitting next to her to eat. "Let me explain what's going on." He said to Camryn.
* * *
"You’re figuring out where you and I can go to rest reporter free," Camryn said.
* * *
"Yes. Kevin has property everywhere so were going to stay at a few of the places for a few days." Wesley said.
* * *
"Weeks." Camryn corrected.
* * *
"I can go a few weeks without working before business starts slowing down." He said.
* * *
"I have money. If I don’t do anything extreme, it could last a few years." She said.
* * *
"Brilliant, stunning and financially well off. Do you have a man?" He said.
* * *
"Yeah, he has a dorky name, but he's seriously smoking hot," Camryn said.
* * *
Shelby expects over the next few weeks Camryn will go through many emotions. She is in good hands. Wesley is a nurturer a trait rarely attributed to men that many men possess.
* * *
Wesley is careful not to say where he, Camryn and Moses are going. He didn't believe their friends have media contacts programmed into their phones but the potential of fame. Tobias repeatedly told him how stunned his celebrity clients would be when he reveals who in their inner circle leaked the story to the press. Wesley will not take any chances. His woman must rest and recover.
* * *
Tobias called a few public relations people to help Camryn. Tobias and Wesley knew Camryn is not considering the magnitude of what her new celebrity would entail or how her new celebrity would affect her life.
* * *
Wesley works on the initial ground work of other things so when she's ready, a few things will be in place for her.
* * *
It's his job to protect her. It's her job to heal.
9
Rain
LOUIS SLAMS A NEWSPAPER in front of Rosemary.
* * *
"Rosemary, stop talking to the press!" He yells.
* * *
"What?" Rosemary said.
* * *
"Look at this headline 'White woman says she was afraid of black woman'. I can send my kids to elite private schools based on your legal activity." Louis said.
* * *
"My husband pays you to defend me not offend me, Louis. What a stupid name." Rosemary said.
* * *
"Rosemary we are lawyers, not magicians. Stop talking to the press. We're trying to prevent charges. Stop giving the prosecutors ammo. "Marianne stated.
* * *
"Charges! Oh please. It's some hick trying to make a name for herself and some fat black girl. Who cares? I'm beautiful, wealthy and white in America. People like me don't go to jail." Rosemary stated.
* * *
"Yes, they do." Louis stated.
* * *
"Lenora Basso ...the hick with the high prosecution rate. That's not good for you. She's aiming for second degree attempted murder that's five years to life." Marianne said.
* * *
"What! For pushing some nigg...black girl out of a ditch?" Rosemary said.
* * *
"The only person injured from the tornado group was Camryn. Everyone on the tour heard you say and I quote 'you can die' to her." Marianne said.
* * *
"It was windy no one knows for sure what or if anything was said. What about Wesley?" Rosemary asked.
* * *
"You mean Metal of Honor recipient Wesley Hunter. He had a great track record as a cop and his Air force record with minor infractions. The same guy that every mother wants to introduce him to their daughters...that Wesley?" Louis said.
* * *
"He tried to kill me." Rosemary said.
* * *
"No one confirmed your version and no charges brought against him." Marianne said.
* * *
"What! But I push some fat black girl out of a ditch to protect myself and I could go to prison?" Rosemary said.
* * *
"Yes." Louis said.
* * *
"We've started researching Camryn and guess what we've found?" Marianne said.
* * *
"What she was a hooker, drug addict she abused foot stamps or had a lot of abortions? I would be so surprised to find that out about a black woman." Rosemary stated.
* * *
"She graduated with honors as a double major from Columbia University. She organized charity events like food and blood drives. Her parents tragically died when she was a child. She was raised by her grandparents whom where influential jazz musicians. So far the most scathing thing we've discovered people say she's weird and she has a credit score of 640. She is an apple polisher." Marianne stated.
* * *
"She's given water to service people on hot days. Gives Christmas cards to her mail carrier and garbage collector...compare to your two DUI's, three ex-husbands and a vehicular manslaughter conviction. Camryn is the poster child for good deeds...you are not. Now she's an instant celebrity with the world, not just America the world awaits her next move." Louis said.
* * *
"Her? But she's so …not pretty and black." Rosemary said.
* * *
"You mentioned her race like five times now. Rosemary, you're a bitch and a racist one. People don't like you. We don't like you but we're attorney's we are used not to be liking clients. It goes with the territory." Marianna said.
* * *
"I love my race that's how I was raised. I’m tired of it being a crime to be white or rich? I worked for it." Rosemary said.
* * *
"You married it." Louis said.
* * *
"So ask any stay at home Mom she will tell you its work." Rosemary said.
* * *
"Work for your maids." Louis grumbles.
* * *
"So if Camryn described you as an emaciated aging cracker...that's how she was raised. It's a generational thing and you people are just being overly sensitive." Marianna said.
* * *
Rosemary rolls her eyes. "None of those things are true about me." She said.
"I'm sure the way you describe Camryn... she would make a similar statement." Louis said.
* * *
"Stop talking to the press. You flop your jaws to one more reporter we don't care which ex-husband paying your bill. We will fire you as a client." Marianna said.
* * *
"What!" Rosemary exclaimed.
* * *
"Shut it or find another firm." Louis said.
* * *
Rosemary pouts. Marianna winks at Louis. She likes Rosemary when she's not speaking.
* * *
Tadhg watches Rosemary leaving her attorney's office.
Camryn rests her head on Wesley's shoulder. He rests his head against her head. Camryn listens to the nightclub singer and wonders if there is an unspoken rule for them to be terrible singers? She wonders.
* * *
Camryn wanted to curl up somewhere and hid. It's been impossible due to her recent induction into the bullshit world of celebrity. New York City has been the best option since her passport hasn’t arrived. She's been approached by reporters while buying coffee and walking down a street.
In Atlanta, she was on the toilet while having a reporter ask her questions through the stale door. Camryn wonders what that story title would be, 'Tornado survivor drops a load." She chuckles to herself.
* * *
Wesley appears relaxed. His eyes skims the crowd. He and Camryn have been on the move for three weeks staying ahead of reporters, scientist, family members, acquaintances and lookie loos who recognize the woman that survived the largest, deadliest and most destructive tornadoes recorded in US history. Three F5's all on the ground becoming one large tornado it tore through four states and killed over 850 people. Ironic Camryn was safer inside the tornado than most on the ground.
* * *
Camryn reviews weather reports every 15 minutes. She examined various weather trackers and devices before purchasing a few. She analyzes clouds and the sky looking for signs of a storm. She closes her eyes and can hear the howling wind. She is exhausted...but sleep avoids her.
* * *
Wesley returned from using the bathroom in Atlanta airport to find a woman screaming at Camryn.
* * *
"Why are you alive and my husband is dead? You were in the fucking tornado!" She screamed at Camryn.
* * *
"I'm sorry he's gone but that's not my fault. Camryn said.
* * *
"It's not fair!" She shouted.
* * *
"You know what else is not fair? Having some woman yelling at me about her husband's death. Like I was strolling along a field and thought hey here comes a tornado why don't I just hop on in?" Camryn shouted.
* * *
Security was called and the airline wouldn't allow Camryn to the connecting flight. Camryn sat in some office. She could hear Wesley's demanding to know why the woman that started the argument was allowed her connection and Camryn's not being allowed on her flight. Camryn knows the answer...
* * *
The room was small. The table is flimsy. She can't see the sky. Her items were taken. She can't check the weather report on her phone. There's no protection in this room…
She had to get out of that room!
* * *
She recalls looking into Wesley's blue-gray eyes before fainting.
* * *
Wesley helped her into the rental car.
* * *
"Take a deep slow breathe through your nose and slowly out of your mouth." He said.
The deep breathing wasn't helping, Camryn hums. Doing this is better for her. She feels better.
"I'm sorry. Oh God, you're going to dump me." Camryn said.
"Shh. I'm not going to dump you, sweetheart." He said.
* * *
"I don't know what to do." Camryn said.
* * *
"There isn't a checklist for this. We'll figure it out." Wesley promised. "We'll get a room tonight and drive to New York tomorrow." He said.
* * *
Kevin gave Wesley his company business card for purchases. They figured Camryn's and his credit card charges are being tracked. They stayed in Atlanta for four days for the first time in three weeks Camryn slept through the night. She slept on and off for two days.
Miyu gave Wesley specific instruction for how to support Camryn's healing body and the physical therapist showed her exercises.
Shelby text photos and videos of Moses so Camryn wouldn't worry about him.
* * *
Camryn wanted to drive. Wesley was concerned about another panic attack but agreed if they took the scenic toll-free road route into New York. Camryn drove three hours cracking jokes and laughing about various things along the way. Camryn had barely spoken the past few weeks so Wesley was glad to see some of her old sparkle.
* * *
Media with various footage from multiple citizens tracked Camryn through the storm. The more people attempted to prove the video and Camryn is fake the more they validated the event. He is relieved for tonight Camryn seems relaxed at the Jazz club. Maybe New York City is where they need to remain for a while.
* * *
"I have to go to the bathroom. The line ...I'll be a while." She said. Camryn never understands why the girl's restroom always has a long line. Do those many guys take a piss outside?
* * *
They had a trying day, Wesley wanted them to relax. The comedy club was a bust the comedians sucked. One spoke about the woman in the tornado how fat she is to need three tornadoes to pick her up. He was booed off the stage...but it’s already been ruined when he mentioned the tornado. Camryn didn't want to go dancing stating she's a terrible dancer. She loves Jazz so agreed to the club outing. He had a few women tell him he and Camryn were a lovely couple.
* * *
They spent the day with the FBI and worse Alison, Camryn's sister. Alison smiles only with her lips. Alison's pet Claudia and her henchmen Eugene everything about them screams we think were smarter than everybody. He hated Alison but kept that to himself. She's still Camryn's sister.
* * *
They attended church with Alison and her crew.
* * *
"Could we get some coffee or something later? I like to bounce something off you." Lance said. He looked at Alison and back to Wesley.
"Sure." Wesley said. If he's reading the signs correctly. Lance wants to speak to him about Alison. Wesley hopes he's not trying to get a date with her!
* * *
Camryn felt ill during lunch. Camryn told Wesley spirits were screaming around Alison. She thinks Alison killed people. He wishes he is surprised. Camryn has enough to worry with and Alison is one more item she can't add to her list.
* * *
The line to the women's restroom at least 20 girls waiting. She considers her odds going into the men's restroom.
* * *
"There's a tropical storm warning for New York. A few weeks ago those tornadoes! What the fuck! I told you global warming wasn't shit." A girl said to her friend.
* * *
Camryn wants silence around her. She could hear the light tapping of rain on the windows. She took deep breathes and looked around for a hiding place.
* * *
Wesley stood to stretch and keep an eye on Camryn. He notices a face he should not see in the crowd …the man he saw when he and Camryn left the hospital in Wichita Falls. He's following them! How the fuck did he track them?
* * *
Everyone stopped moving.
* * *
Everything is frozen. Camryn checks various people and no one but her is moving. This isn’t storm related….what the hell is this?
IF: Nowhere To Run (Camryn Morgan Series Book 1) Page 25
