The moment the Captain announced that we had reached our cruising altitude, I opened up my laptop and began searching for information on the NLC. I also opened up another window for the facial recognition software to run my official airport greeter’s face through. I scanned through my email, checking for something from Sean. Regardless of how many times I told Sean I didn’t need to know nor did I care, he usually kept me apprised of all the new hires. And sure enough an email had landed in my inbox from Sean with the subject “You’ll Never Guess”. My stomach tensed as I became one step closer to confirming that Hannah was indeed working at Buttons. I clicked on the message, which brought up Sean’s new hire confession. It had taken seven years, but he no longer felt that all blondes were the devil’s spawn. Things were looking up. Too bad he was going to have to fire her.
I hit reply and began typing a message back to Sean congratulating him on his breakthrough while encouraging him to reconsider his latest hire. My blood was pumping harder as I thought about when she was going to start and how to get her out of there if she already had. I could literally taste the fury pulsing through my veins when I thought about other men looking at her. But just as I was about to hit send, it occurred to me that Buttons was safe. Membership was exclusive. I could watch her, keep her safe, and get her to trust me. I was always rational and this was the rational thing to do. So why was I so impulsive when it came to Hannah? There had to be something to it, and I was sure if I wanted to enlighten my shrink about it, she’d have a field day with it. But I was smarter than that. These feelings would be going nowhere. I would be telling no one.
I took the last swallow of wine and motioned for the flight attendant. I needed a beer. Scanning the news articles about NLC was quite informative. They had done a good job of keeping a squeaky clean image. But one thing was quite concerning. A series in one of the smaller newspapers was conveniently stopped when the journalist passed away. There was no explanation as to why the last two articles were never published. It was as if the series never existed beyond the first three articles. I took note of the journalist and kept scanning information that led nowhere rather quickly. What if the journalist had figured something out? But that wouldn’t explain why the newspaper wouldn’t finish up the series. I rubbed my fingers along my temple as I thought about how to infiltrate a tight-knit community like the NLC.
An email from the detective came over. He must’ve gotten my message. I quickly opened it up and wasn’t surprised at the formality. It was a typical bland email, going over the events that had transpired and the steps that had been taken. As I read through the report listing what the man had said to Hannah, it became apparent that whoever was after her had no intentions of stopping. They wanted to find out what she knew, and after they found that out, she’d be discarded. That much was clear. From what I read, Hannah didn’t tell the officers anything from her past so that had put them at a definite disadvantage. If she was unwilling to trust the police, why did I think I’d be able to gain her trust? This was going to be a lot more difficult than I’d imagined.
I closed the detective’s email and began looking up the individuals who’d been affiliated with the NLC. I didn’t have the luxury of time to find the pieces to the puzzle. If one person already knew where Hannah was, they all did.
Hannah
Somehow I’d managed to stuff the chair and the last of my boxes into Rikki’s car and was on my way over to the new place. It was almost nine o’clock at night, but I was fighting the clock for a reason no one knew but me. I wanted to be situated in my new place with no ties to my old one before Donald Jamison was let out of jail. I’d decided to call in my truck to the city for impound as well. It was eight-hundred dollars down the drain, but I couldn’t afford to be seen in it now, especially since he was going to be out of jail. I said my goodbyes to everyone at the house, and Rikki was sweet enough to let me use her car to go back and forth. After this trip, I was going to drive back to the house one last time and ride the bus back. As paranoid as it sounded, I didn’t want anyone, including Rikki, to know where I would be living. Fortunately, or unfortunately, she understood completely.
Mia was thrilled that she wouldn’t need to sleep another night alone in her too big for her house, and she promised she was a night owl and that I wouldn’t be disrupting her by moving my stuff in tonight.
I got out of the car and Mia was already down the steps, ready to help with my last haul.
“Hey, girl. Welcome home,” she said. “What can I help with?”
“The chair?” I asked, pointing to the backseat.
“Okay.” She opened the door and slowly maneuvered it out of the tiny space, and I grabbed two boxes and slammed the trunk. That was it. I just needed to drive the car back to the house and catch the bus back.
“Follow me,” she said, climbing the steps. “I emptied your new room out. It’s all ready for you.”
“I told you not to do that,” I said, laughing and shaking my head. Once she had her mind made up, there seemed to be no changing it. My boxes that I’d dropped off from my first trip were no longer in the foyer, either.
“You hauled my things up by yourself?” I asked in disbelief.
Mia had decided the room she was initially going to give me was too small, which baffled me since it was twice the size of the one I’d just left. Her bedroom was on the top floor and mine was on the second.
“I figured if I didn’t already put your stuff in the bigger room, you’d try to argue me out of it,” she laughed.
“True, and thank you.”
I put one of my boxes on the floor and followed her up the stairs to the family room and kitchen area. It was all one big, open space that overlooked the large deck and ocean. My room was down the hall to the right.
The place was absolutely beautiful, and I was bummed that I wouldn’t be able to stay longer. There were photographs of different beach scenes lining the hallway as I walked behind her to my new bedroom.
“These pictures are gorgeous,” I said, stopping to take a better look.
“Thanks. My brother will be thrilled to hear you say that. Although, he’d never show it,” she laughed.
He sounded like a real treat.
She made it into my room and set the chair down. “I’ll go grab the other box.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I said, as she slipped by me.
“No biggie,” she said, grinning. “Hey, have you eaten? I haven’t.”
I started to feel like I did at the Starbucks where the complete kindness of a stranger completely threw me for a loop and then his life was in danger. I didn’t want her life to be in danger. Mia was my roommate, but barely so, and she was already going above and beyond. It felt like all I did was show up and endanger whoever was unfortunate enough to be around me.
“I’m good,” I said, setting my box in the bedroom.
“That’s not what I asked.” She gave me a knowing look with her hands on her hips. “I’ll have something for us to share by the time you get back. Lock the door on your way out.”
She spun around and climbed the stairs, probably headed to her bedroom. I actually hadn’t gone to the third floor yet, but she said that was where her studio and bedroom were. I let out a sigh, walking down the hall and climbing back down the stairs. It felt like changes were on the way, but I wasn’t sure what kind of changes those would be.
Letting myself out of the house, I locked it and walked to Rikki’s car. If Mia knew that I was planning on dropping the car off and riding the bus back, she wouldn’t hear of it and would follow me to the house and drive me back herself, and that wasn’t what I needed. I wanted to leave the house behind me, and everyone in it, including Rikki. That was how it had to be done.
As I drove onto the highway, I thought about how crucial it was that I save as much money as I could and leave Mia’s house before I put her in danger. But I doubted anyone, including Mr. Jamison, would look for me on beachfront property. And working at a private cl
ub where only members were the patrons seemed like the absolute safest job to have. At least, that was what I told myself to feel better about walking around in pajamas.
I turned off on the exit leading to the house and let out a deep sigh. I knew Nancy would be thrilled to see me go, and I didn’t know many of the other house members so it would be an easy escape. As I pulled onto the street, I noticed most of the lights were on at the house. I hoped Nancy was home so I could tell her I was leaving. I’d already written a note as well, just in case. I parked the car and made my way to the entrance where Rikki was waiting for me.
“Nancy here?” I asked.
“In the kitchen,” she replied.
I walked to the kitchen with Rikki behind me.
“Nancy.”
Her back was turned to me as she was washing the dishes.
“You outta here?” she asked, turning to face me.
“I am.” I nodded. “I called to get the truck impounded. It’s of no use since they know it’s mine. The tow truck usually comes in seventy-two hours or so.”
Nancy nodded and pressed her lips together, wiping her hands on a towel.
“Take care and stay safe,” she said, her eyes softening slightly. She was too hard for me to read. And no matter her story, I couldn’t trust her. Wouldn’t trust her.
“Thanks again,” I said, giving a slight wave.
I glanced around the house and couldn’t wait to get out of here and never return. I understood why places like these needed to exist. I only hoped I’d never see the inside of one again.
Rikki followed me outside and shut the door behind us as I glanced around. I was absolutely exhausted, feeling like I’d never be able to escape what I was trying so hard to leave behind. The darkness of the evening only led to my anxiety as I thought about all of the places people could be lurking, waiting, for me. I crawled into Rikki’s car as she turned on the ignition.
Rikki let out a deep breath as we pulled away from the house. “I thought what I was running from was something fierce, but seeing what’s happening to you…”
I nodded. “Believe me, we’ve all got our own baggage. Mine are just a little more aggressive at the moment. But I hope there’s an end in sight soon.”
“There will be. Don’t give up.”
I nodded, unsure if I actually believed her words of encouragement. Rikki pulled to a well-lit area in front of a strip mall.
“I’m going to wait until I see you get on that bus,” she said. “If anything feels off. Call me.”
I nodded. “Thanks for everything. I promise I’ll get you…”
“Enough. It’s what we do. We keep an eye out for each other while we can. There’ll be a day when this will all seem like one big nightmare, not our reality.”
I glanced at the clock on the radio. The bus would be coming in the next five minutes, give or take a few.
I gave Rikki a hug and got out of the car, scanning the parking lot quickly before walking over to stand at the bus stop. I watched as a car drove by and glanced over my shoulder every now and then, giving Rikki a wave. I heard the loud engine of the bus and watched it turn onto the street where I was waiting. I took a step forward as it came to a stop and the doors slammed open. I climbed up the steps and deposited the money into the machine. The driver didn’t even wait until I was seated to begin driving away. I glanced at the people on the bus. A couple guys were talking to one another, sitting in the back. Another guy looked like he’d had too many and was using the window as a support system. A woman was sitting in the seat behind the one I sank into, and she looked about as disinterested as everyone else, but what did I expect at ten o’clock at night?
The air was warm from hot breaths and too many closed windows, which made it unbearable. The bus lurched at each stoplight until we finally made it onto the highway, and the sound of the engine steadied at a higher speed, bringing much needed calmness. With every bus stop we passed, the better my chances became that we wouldn’t pick up anyone who might cause me trouble.
I hugged my knees and watched the neon scenery go by as our bus sped along, my mind wandering to my new home and my new job. Everything was falling into place, but I had to remind myself that it was only temporary. I couldn’t let myself imagine a real life, living on the beach. It was hard enough to talk myself into the new job, but that was definitely one factor in my life that I’d like to think was temporary. Being assured by every person I spoke to that there was nothing illegal about what I was doing, didn’t make me feel any better about having to show up in lingerie or pajamas. I knew there had to be more than met the eye on that one. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury of being picky. I was lucky that I was able to find a job and a home in a different city from the so-called safe house. A slight headache began forming at the base of my neck, and I knew it would only be a matter of time before it turned into a full-fledged migraine. I never had migraines growing up. It was only once my sister vanished that they started and never let up.
I closed my eyes and thought about my new roommate, Mia Dufort. She seemed like a genuinely sweet person, which made me even more conflicted about putting her in danger. The quicker I could leave town, the better for both of us. But in order to make things right in the world I left behind, I had to put myself first. It was self-preservation mode until everything was made right. The bus turned onto the exit and I rubbed my neck, hoping to loosen up the muscles.
When I saw the block that I needed to be let out on, I pulled the chain above my head to notify the driver. I glanced around the bus, hoping I’d be getting off by myself, and it looked like that was the case. Most people had already fallen asleep or were immersed in a book. As the bus slowed and stopped, I stood up and walked down the aisle, hopping down the stairs and feeling somewhat foolish about the amount of excitement that began pulsing through me. Even though it was late at night, being so close to the beach provided an active nightlife. There was a café on the corner with outdoor seating that was completely packed, and across the street, there was a bar that was standing room only. I waited for the crosswalk to turn green and quickly walked to the other side of the street. I was only a couple blocks away from the house and this walk was worth every step. I actually began to feel human again, like a normal person. What worried me was that if I stayed around too long, I might actually begin to forget that I wasn’t normal, and I couldn’t let that happen, not until I could find answers and expose everything. My jaw tensed as I walked along the waterfront, thinking about my best friend and my sister and who knows how many others who were disposed of… But for what? Money and power?
Mia’s home came into view and my steps quickened. I would play things safe. I wouldn’t call attention to my existence. I would slip in and out of Mia’s life before anyone noticed. I wouldn’t let her become part of the web.
Climbing the steps quickly, I slipped my key into the door and pushed it open. The wonderful smells of garlic and ginger surrounded me as I closed the door and skipped up the steps to the kitchen where Mia was cooking.
“Hope you’re starving, new roomie,” Mia said, grinning as she stirred some concoction on the stove. “I know I am. You’ll find that out about me. I tend to get so wrapped up in my work that I forget to eat until midnight. But who’s keeping tally, right?”
I laughed and took a seat at the breakfast bar. “It smells delicious. Is there anything I can help with?”
“Nope. Just waiting for the rice to cook.” Mia turned the burner down and walked toward me. “So tomorrow’s your big day. Are you nervous?” Her eyes sparkled with an intensity that was instantly warming.
“Terrified.”
“I would be too.” She started laughing when she realized what she’d just said. “I mean... I’m sure it’ll be fine. No big deal.”
The rice cooker chimed and she grabbed two plates, avoiding my gaze.
“The money just seems too good to be true,” I muttered, watching her dish the rice on my plate. “But what scares me more is
the lack of clothing.”
“Well, if you’re worried about everything being on the up and up, I can assure you that it is. My brother wouldn’t be part of something shady.”
My stomach unclenched slightly. “That’s comforting.”
“Ginger beef,” Mia said, placing the plate in front of me.
“Looks and smells delicious.”
Mia dished herself up and took the seat next to me. She glanced at me and smiled. “Well, I should probably fill you in on some of the important stuff about living here.”
My brow arched as I watched her take her first bite.
“Like what?” I asked, praying that my showers wouldn’t be regulated.
“My brother’s a little paranoid about security and safety and all that so the place is alarmed up the wazoo,” she said, watching my reaction, which was nothing more than complete relief. “It’s like living at Fort Knox.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yeah. Every door and window has a sensor and every room has a motion detector and camera, except the bedrooms and bathrooms. I put my foot down on those. It just seemed too creepy to have cameras in there. Not that anyone is watching the footage from the cameras we have now. I’m the only one who has access, and they’re only meant to be viewed if something goes wrong. I’ve never even looked at them, actually.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. Not only was I going to be living on the beach in a new city, the home was secured.
“I love my brother dearly, but if it were up to me, I wouldn’t have a system. Well, maybe some sensors on the front door or windows or something but not like this. I’ll show you where the control panels are, and I’ll give you the codes.”
“Thanks.” I nodded, not wanting to show how genuinely thrilled I was to hear about the alarm system. “The ginger beef is amazing.”
“I love to cook,” she continued. “And I always make enough for leftovers so if you ever come home hungry, feel free to grab what’s in the fridge.” Mia smiled and stretched, sliding off the seat to grab some water. “My brother’s coming over on Sunday for dinner. I’d love for you to meet him. That being said, he’s not really a people person.”
Hidden Sins Page 9
