The Arrangement [Box Set]

by Abby Weeks

  She looked at Jack. He was checking his watch. It was about one in the afternoon. Jimmy came out and April saw him take two handguns and a wad of money from the top shelf of his locker. He handed one of the guns to Jack.

  He saw her watching and said casually, —You want one?

  —Damn right, I want one, she said, and took the heavy, steel gun he offered.

  —You know how to use that? Jack said.

  —Yes, she lied.

  V

  THE ROAD OUT TO GREENWOOD SPRINGS was windier than April remembered it. She was sitting between Jack and Jimmy on the bench seat of the pickup. She looked out at the bare branches of the trees and remembered the Sunday afternoon she’d come out this way with Walter and the girls. It seemed like a lifetime ago. So much had happened since then. She didn’t even feel as if she was the same person any more.

  Looking out at the passing fields she thought of her daughters. For her entire life, she’d done everything in her power to avoid getting them into the kinds of situations she’d been in herself as a child. She’d made sure they always had a secure and stable home. She thought she’d married a good father who would be a provider. That was basically the beginning and the end of her attraction to Walter. She’d thought he would be a good and caring father, someone who provided for his family and ensured their safety. Things hadn’t exactly turned out that way. Financially, he’d done better than she ever expected, but the decisions he made since becoming rich were not anything she could have foreseen.

  They pulled up outside the imposing school gates. There were pillars on either side of the entrance and the road up to the school was lined with old-fashioned iron lamps.

  —How are we going to do this? Jimmy said.

  —I’m pretty sure if I just walk into the office they’ll call Herb, or Walter, April said.

  —What if Jimmy and I go in? Jack said.

  —What will you tell them?

  —I don’t know. We could pretend to be maintenance or something.

  —And then what?

  Jack shrugged. April was so nervous she could hardly hide it. They hadn’t thought it through and they had no way of getting the girls out of the school. She knew Herb and Walter would have alerted the school and made sure she couldn’t get anywhere near the girls. Even if she snuck into the school she had no way of finding them. She didn’t know where their dorms were, or which class they’d be at now.

  Jimmy turned the ignition and started driving slowly through the pillars onto the school driveway.

  —What are you doing? April said.

  Jack put his hand on her arm.

  —April. Time is the only thing we don’t have.

  —What do you mean? They’re going to see us.

  Jimmy kept the truck at a slow, steady pace, giving them enough time to look at the school and get an idea of its surroundings as they approached. By the time he reached the end of the driveway they’d been able to get their bearings, find out where the reception and office were from April, and determine that nothing unusual was going on outside the building. They’d been afraid they might find a line of police cars or something.

  —Wait here, Jack said to Jimmy. Then to April he said, You ready?

  She nodded and followed him out of the truck and up the steps leading to the main office of the school. They went through the solid oak doors and into the entry hall. There was a receptionist at a desk and she was on her feet even before they were halfway across the hall.

  —Where do you think you’re going? Jack said.

  He had his gun drawn and the blood drained from the receptionist’s face. She looked so pale she might faint. The poor girl was terrified. April had a feeling of immense satisfaction as the receptionist sat back down on her seat. This was the person who had knowingly prevented her from speaking to her children on numerous occasions. She didn’t understand how someone who did that could live with themselves.

  April reached into her pocket and took out the black handgun Jimmy had given her earlier. She didn’t know the first thing about it but she held it as if she was ready to use it and tried to look as menacing as she could.

  —Tell her who we want? Jack said.

  —Lucy and Mary Masterson, April said. Where are they?

  The receptionist didn’t waste a second. She hit her keyboard and hammered out a few words as if her life depended on it. She looked nervously back at April.

  —Released, this morning, two hours ago.

  —Released? What does that mean?

  —They were picked up. By their parents.

  —Their parents? April said, struggling to contain herself. I’m their mother and I wasn’t here to pick them up.

  The girl looked down at her screen and then back at April.

  —It says here they were taken by Herb and Kit Kingsley.

  April struggled with the rage and fear that was building up inside her. Even now, free of Walter, she was still under the control of the firm. How would she ever be able to get her children back and live a normal, happy life? It simply didn’t seem possible that she would ever be able to.

  —Let me see that, Jack said.

  He leaned over the counter and looked at the screen.

  —Where did they go?

  —I don’t know, the girl said.

  April pointed her gun at her.

  —You might remember me, April said. I was the woman who called a few hours ago, begging to speak to my daughters. You said I wasn’t on the pre-approved list.

  The receptionist didn’t know what to say. It was a struggle for April to even look at her, she was so angry.

  —Do you have any idea what it feels like to have someone at a desk tell you that you can’t speak to your own children?

  —I’m sorry, the receptionist said. I was just doing my job.

  Jack ripped the phone cord from the wall.

  —Let’s go, he said.

  They ran out to the pickup where Jimmy was waiting with the engine running. Within minutes they were back on the highway headed toward the city.

  VI

  THEY TOOK AN ALTERNATE ROUTE back to the city. When they reached Fairfax, Virginia, Jimmy pulled into the parking lot of the Twenty-Nine Diner.

  —We’ve got to talk, he said.

  They got out of the truck and entered the diner. April felt like they were a group of criminals on the run. The afternoon was growing cool and there was a chill in the air. They got a booth overlooking the parking lot and a waitress brought them three menus.

  —We’ll have three coffees, Jack said and she left them.

  There was a gas station across the street and Jack looked out at it.

  —Wait here, he said. I’m going to get a map. You two need anything?

  Jimmy checked his pockets and asked for some smokes. April shook her head. She sat with Jimmy and they both watched Jack run across the street.

  —He’s really got a thing for you, Jimmy said.

  —What? April said.

  —I’m not kidding. He’s smitten. I can tell. That’s why he’s helping you.

  April looked at Jimmy. He wasn’t bad looking either. He was a little taller than Jack, with a mess of blonde hair that curled every which way. He was looking at her kindly. He was a nice guy. He was a few years younger than Jack, maybe twenty-five. She was grateful to both of them for their help, there was no way on earth she’d have been able to get away from Walter and Herb and stay ahead of them this long without their help. She wondered though, if maybe they expected something from her in return for their assistance. They had shown her nothing but kindness and hadn’t hinted in the slightest way that they expected anything from her for their help, but she still wondered. She’d been so used sexually these past few weeks that it was hard for her to imagine men doing anything at all for her other than out of some form of expectation. The firm had given her everything she ever could have dreamed of, but there had always been a high cost, sexually. She had always been expected to perform for her reward. C
ould it really be that different with Jack and Jimmy? Were they only with her so that they could get inside her pants just as Walter and Herb and Frank had done? She didn’t know.

  —And what about you, Jimmy? Are you smitten?

  Jimmy looked embarrassed.

  —I won’t lie to you, April. I’ve been around a lot of beautiful women.

  April didn’t doubt that. With his looks and cool charm, Jimmy wouldn’t have much trouble finding a date for a Saturday night. He looked straight at her.

  —But I’ve never seen anyone quite like you.

  She was surprised. Was Jimmy flirting with her? She didn’t know. All he knew of her was that she was in serious trouble. She’d also been a complete mess since the moment he’d met her. She was dressed now in Jack’s gray sweats and hadn’t had a chance to put on much makeup or anything.

  —There’s something about you, April. I’m not trying to hit on you. I’m Jack’s friend and the way I see it, he saw you first. But there sure is something about you.

  She smiled at him. She was relieved when he’d said he wasn’t hitting on her. Jimmy was a great looking guy, he could drive better than anyone she’d ever even heard of, and sleeping with him would be a small price to pay in exchange for his help getting her children back. But she didn’t want to do it. Not because of herself, but because of Jack. She felt like she owed Jack more loyalty than that. She knew he would be upset if she did anything with Jimmy and even though they’d never spoken of it she felt some sort of commitment to him. It was all crazy to think about, she was married and they’d had guys shooting bullets at them just a few hours ago. But even still, she almost felt as if she was starting some kind of a relationship with Jack, something that would last and lead somewhere. Where it might lead, she had no idea.

  Jack came back from the gas station with a pack of Camels for Jimmy and a box of matches. He’d also bought a road map of DC and the surrounding states.

  —There’s a map just like that in the glovebox, Jimmy said with a wide grin.

  —What? Why didn’t you tell me? Jack said.

  —I wanted a moment alone with April, that’s why.

  —Oh, Jack said.

  It seemed he wasn’t sure what to make of that.

  —Relax, Jimmy said. I didn’t ask her to marry me or anything. I just told her you had the hots for her.

  Jack said nothing. April felt the moment was incredibly awkward. If she was completely honest, she would have to admit that she had a bit of crush on Jack too, and Jimmy brining up the subject was embarrassing.

  —Don’t mind Jimmy, Jack said. He gets a kick of creating awkward situations.

  All April could do was smile back at Jack. And then she slid over on her bench to make room for him beside her. It was a small gesture but one that meant a lot, both to her and Jack, and she knew it.

  The waitress came over with their coffee and Jimmy asked for cream. Then Jack asked her if she was hungry and she said she was and he asked if she liked bacon and she nodded.

  —Three BLTs, he said to the waitress.

  April found it endearing that he ordered for all three of them, as if they were a family. She also liked the way he held up three fingers when he ordered the three sandwiches, like a kid at a ball game calling the score.

  Sitting there with Jimmy and Jack, waiting for their sandwiches with the map spread open in front of them, April realized she’d never felt this way before. There was something so comfortable and natural about the way the three of them sat together. They were at home with each other. She’d never had that feeling with men before. She imagined that was how it would feel to sit in a diner with two brothers, if she’d ever had any.

  When they were done eating, Jack leaned over the map and asked April exactly where The Oaks was located. She showed him and he put a circle around it on the map.

  —What’s the security like? he said.

  —There’s a gate and a guard. After this morning there might be a few extra guards around.

  —And there’s just four houses in there?

  —Yes, one for each partner.

  On a corner of the map she drew out a rough sketch of the layout inside The Oaks. It was basically a single road in, which split into four separate driveways for the four houses. The houses were more or less in a line along the contours of the valley they overlooked.

  Jack and Jimmy looked carefully at the map.

  —What’s this road here? Jack said.

  —I don’t know, April said.

  There was a thin, red line indicating a small path just below the four houses, slightly lower down in the valley. When she looked out from her balcony over her view of the valley, it would have been down in the trees beyond the property line.

  —I never knew it was there, she said.

  —Well, Jimmy said, maybe we could park down there and approach the houses from the back.

  —Maybe, April said.

  —If we can get to the houses, will you be able to find the girls?

  —I don’t know, April said. I don’t even know that they’re there.

  —Ok, Jack said. It’s still our best shot.

  April nodded in agreement.

  —There isn’t anywhere else the girls might be, is there?

  —Not that I can think of. If Kit took the girls my guess is that they’re either in her house or with Walter.

  —Ok, Jimmy said. So this is the plan. We’ll see if we can park on this lane and sneak into the houses from the back. We’ll try your house first, April. If they’re not there, and if we haven’t been discovered, we’ll try Kit’s house.

  —I have a better idea, April said.

  She thought of Midge. She really didn’t know how well she could trust her, she had never been in a situation like this before in her life and there was no telling how people would react. But her gut told her that Midge was a true friend and that she could rely on her.

  —I have a friend. In the second house.

  She pointed to the Prentiss’s house on the plan she’d drawn.

  —I know she’ll help me. If you could get me to her house, no one will be expecting us there. It should be easier. I’ll find Midge and ask her if she knows where the girls are. That way we can sneak into the right house and we’ll have a better chance of getting away.

  —Who is this friend? Jack asked.

  —She’s the woman I was with at the Saint Regis last night.

  —So that would be the same woman who left you with your psychopath husband?

  —She wouldn’t have known he was going to do that. We can trust Midge. Believe me.

  VII

  IT WAS GETTING DARK WHEN they found the turnoff from the highway. It brought them onto a dirt track that went through the valley just beneath the four mansions inside The Oaks. April looked out across the valley at the glow of the city. It was the same view she’d enjoyed from her balcony on the few peaceful nights she’d had since moving into The Oaks and it saddened her to see it like this. That life was over for her now. She’d never be relaxing by the pool again with servants to wait on her. She wouldn’t be receiving surprise packages of shoes and dresses and coats just in time to get into a limo and go out to a fancy hotel.

  She’d been immersed in that life for such a short time but it was amazing how quickly she’d gotten used to it. She wondered for a brief moment if maybe being within the arrangement was worth the drawbacks. She had to have sex with whoever they told her too, she had to endure such deep and total humiliation, but she also got to live in complete luxury with nothing to ever worry about.

  She’d never been able to enjoy it, though. First of all there was Walter. He’d been the one to bring it all to an end, not her. He’d tied her to a bed and tried to mutilate her. Then there was the fact that Herb had hidden her children away, out of her reach, where she could no longer have access to them.

  She looked to her left and right, at Jack and Jimmy, and decided that whatever happened, she would rather be with men like these,
men who tried to do the right thing and help people. Even Frank had let her down. She knew he’d had feelings for her. Something about her reminded him of his daughter and when they’d made love there had been such a deep connection that she had treasured it. He’d made her feel safe and secure. But when the time came to step in and protect her all he’d done for her was leave the room. That wasn’t the kind of courage that would ever make her feel safe. Frank had never mistreated her but he’d never really stepped out of his comfort zone to stick up for her either. He’d watched what Herb and Walter were doing with her, with Midge, and let it all pass. Something told her that Jack and Jimmy wouldn’t stand by while people were being treated like that.

  They knew when they were outside of The Oaks’ property line because of the high, redbrick wall that surrounded the property. It skirted along the side of the track they were on.

  —How big is the property? Jimmy asked.

  —I have no idea, she said.

  They drove along by the wall till it rounded a corner and went back up the slope toward the highway.

  —How far was that? Jack asked.

  —About a mile.

  —Which house does your friend live in?

  —Hers is the second, April said, remembering the place where the four driveways leading to the four separate mansions separated.

  —If the houses are all overlooking this view, they should be in a fairly evenly spaced line, would you say?

  She nodded. She wasn’t sure of the positioning of the houses within the property but the way Jimmy was trying to figure out the location of Midge’s house seemed to make sense. They drove back about half a mile and he cut the engine.

  —Ok, Jack said. Whatever happens in there, the plan is for all of us to make it back to this car, is that clear?

  She nodded.

  —We don’t know if they’re expecting us. We don’t even know if your daughters are in there for certain. All we know is that it’s our best shot. We’ll try to get to your friend, Midge. She can tell us what she knows and we’ll take it from there. Are we clear?

  —We’re clear, April said.

  Jimmy took out his handgun and showed it to April.