by Laura Payeur
brow. "Are you all right?"
"A little too much excitement for me." She forced a laugh. "Am I to understand there's been a tragedy here?" Her stomach tumbled knowing she was speaking of a friend.
"'Fraid so," he said, releasing her hand. "A young woman in the room beside yours. You didn't happen to hear anything, did you?"
"I heard something," Macey admitted. "I didn't realize..."
He snorted a half-laugh. "Who would?"
"Beg your pardon?" She didn't have to ask what he meant. The look on his face was enough. Colorado was a hooker, prostitute, call girl...whatever the hell they were going to call her in the papers.
"Its just...well... she wasn't exactly an upstanding citizen." His face reddened.
Macey bent her head to hide her own guilt. "I get it."
"Anyway." He cleared his throat. "Did you happen to hear anything?"
"Sure. I mean, of course. I'd have to be deaf, you know?" She forced a smile. "But I don't think I can help you much. I didn't see anything."
Hooking his fingers through his heavy belt, the officer stood up straighter. "Is there anything you can tell me that may be helpful?"
"I'm afraid not, Officer." She lifted one shoulder. "I try to mind my own business. You know?"
He nodded. "This isn't exactly the best place to stay, Miss...?"
"Haversmith." Good. It wasn't a memorable name. "I can see that."
Six
The bus ticket cost her half of the money she had in her pocket. Well worth every penny, she thought. Macey rested her forehead against the cold glass. Probably not the most sanitary place, but she had things on her mind. Colorado's death was on her head. She was sure of it. They were similar in height and features. It wasn't outrageous to believe her friend had been mistaken for her. Remi wouldn't have stooped to dirtying his own hands. She'd bet he was wishing he'd done the job himself.
"Anybody sittin' here?" A petite elderly woman was motioning to the seat beside Macey.
"No." Macey took her bag from the seat and tucked it between her feet on the floor. "Have a seat."
"Thank you." The old woman smiled, flashing yellow stained dentures. "I'm Bess."
Macey smiled back. "Maggie," she said, unsure of why she lied.
"Where're you headed, Maggie?" Bess dug a package of cheese crackers from her tattered handbag. She offered Macey one, who quickly shook her head. Black smoke puffed from the bus as it pulled out of the station.
"Home," she told Bess. "You?"
"Goin' to visit my son." Bess gave an affirmative nod. "Just had a new baby."
"That's nice. Is it your first?"
"Oh my, no." Bess snorted when she laughed. Her eyes rolled up toward the ceiling as she thought. She smiled proudly. "This is twelve. Got five of my own. Even got two great-grandchildren."
"Big family."
"Yes, it is." The old woman nibbled her crackers. "What about you, dear? Any kids."
"No." She found herself fidgeting with the zipper of her jacket, suddenly feeling very tired. "I don't want to be rude, but I'm pretty beat. I'm just going to take a nap."
"You go right ahead, dear." Bess reached over to pat her hand. "Feel better."
Macey gave her a faint smile and leaned her head against the window. She doubted very much she was ever going to feel better. At least not any time soon. She closed her eyes, fighting back images of Colorado. Yes, it was going to be a very long time.
You could have stopped it. You could have prevented it. The voice nagged. Being in pubic, surrounded by strangers, she wasn't likely to respond. She decided to try to ignore it for now. As much as that would work.
Seven
Macey's package arrived mid-morning. It was a small brown package. Something inside jingled. Carly hesitated before opening it. What if it was drugs? Drugs don't jingle, she told herself. After staring at the package for ten minutes, she finally decided to open it. Inside she found a key and a handwritten letter:
Carly,
I know you're going to have a lot of questions. I hope I can manage to be around to
explain everything. There's a key in this package. I need you to take it to the bank.
The address is on the keyring. I made sure to put your name on the box, too. Once you
open the box, you'll understand more. Give T.J. a kiss for me. And I hope to see you
soon.
Love, Macey
Carly ran her fingers over the rough edge of the key. This was still very far from an explanation. What in the hell had Macey gotten herself into this time? Lucien wasn't going to like this, which made her consider keeping it to herself. Only she didn't like keeping secrets. Not from him.
Eight
Her head rocking back and forth on the glass, a bit of drool on her chin, Macey was awakened by Bess' gently shaking.
"We're here, dear," Bess whispered. "Last stop."
Macey's eyes sprung open. Shit. She hadn't meant to sleep so long. Hadn't meant to stay on the bus for so long. She groaned, swiping at her chin. "Thanks."
Stepping off the bus into the dull blue hue of dusk, she glanced around. Most of the other passengers had gotten off and were either heading inside the terminal or hurrying off to awaiting friends or family. Sucking in a deep breath of the moist Southern New England air, she started for the terminal. Having fallen asleep had taken her fifty miles from where she wanted to be. She wasn't sure how much it was going to cost her to get another ticket. And she was hungry.
Can't stick around here too long.
"No, shit," she mumbled.
"You say somethin'?" Bess shuffled along a foot or two behind her.
"Just frustrated." Macey smiled. "I wasn't supposed go this far."
"I'm sorry. I would have woke you up." The old woman's already wrinkled forehead folded over as she frowned. "Where you goin'?"
"Hell," she mumbled, knowing she'd said too much as it was. There was no need for her to drag anymore innocent people into her nightmare. Macey shrugged. "Couple stops back. I think."
"You might be better to take a city bus," Bess suggested.
"Maybe," Macey agreed. Only the city buses were on the other side of the terminal and she wasn't sure they'd still be running as far as Purgatory.
Nine
The sun had dipped below the tree line on Morton Boulevard. T.J. sat in his highchair, giggling and kicking his feet. Carly placed a small plastic plate of chicken pieces and diced carrots on his tray. The package she'd tucked away in the cabinet behind the cat food haunted her. When it came to Macey, she never knew what to expect.
It had to be something illegal, she thought. Her sister wasn't exactly known for staying out of trouble. She was known for many other things, though. Most of them were not good.
Lucien's car pulled into the garage. Her stomach tightened. What was she going to tell him? He couldn't risk knowing anything. He could be disbarred. If its actually illegal, she reminded herself. The chances that it wasn't illegal weren't very good.
Not much that came along with Macey was good.
The kitchen door slammed. Carly jumped.
"Everything all right?" Lucien asked.
"Sure." She forced a smile, feeling the heat rising in her cheeks.
"What's wrong?" He shrugged out of suit jacket and draped it over the back of a chair. "I know that look."
"Its nothing." She shook her head, allowing a few loose auburn curls to shake free from behind her ear and fall over her face. He pushed it back in place.
"You really are a horrible liar." He laughed. "Macey?"
She nodded. "There's a package behind the cat food. Its a key to a safety deposit box."
"All right." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "So, what's in the box?"
"I don't know."
"You haven't checked yet?" One bark brown eyebrow shot up.
"I'm afraid to." She thought he must have felt the same way.
"Macey wouldn't send you anything bad." He took her hand. "She's smarter than that."
Carly looked at T.J. "Maybe you're right."
Ten
The other side of the terminal seemed like it was hundreds of miles away. Macey said good-bye to Bess and hurried off. She wanted to get back on the road as soon as possible. Her feet were heavy as she moved through the brightly lit lobby. Without warning a uniformed officer was standing before her.
"Ms. Larue?" His voice was deep and authoritative.
"Excuse me?" Her stomach tightened.
"Macey Larue," he said. "I need you to come with me."
"I'm sorry. I don't know anyone by that name." She attempted to get around him. He moved with her. She was trapped. Lucien must have sent them. Carly had suspected she would come home and he was going to stop her.
You didn't expect to run forever, did you? That damn nagging voice again.
"Ms. Larue," he leaned in closer, "don't make this harder than it has to be."
"I don't know what you're talking about." She laughed nervously. "My name is Maggie. Maggie Haversmith."
"Let's not add resisting arrest."
To what? As far as she knew she wasn't wanted for anything. Whatever reason Lucien had found for having her arrested, she didn't want to add to it at all.
"That son of a bitch," she mumbled.
"Please come quietly." He took hold of her upper arm and led her back the way she had come. Through the glass doors and out to an awaiting patrol car.
"I don't understand," she protested. "What did I do?"
"You'll understand soon enough." A roguish grin spread across his stubbled face. He opened the back door for her. There was something unsettling about the look on his face. Only she didn't realize why until he closed the door. He hadn't taken her bag. Hadn't frisked her. Although he would have needed a female officer for that.
