The stars blurred as she thought about the dark chocolate eyes she’d never see again. Her heart ached. Nevertheless, her child’s safety was paramount in her mind. Suddenly, Claire prayed, not for the green-eyed daughter Tony sought, but for a dark-eyed son...

*****

Sophia felt she was getting better and better at timing her personal events around Derek’s travel. While he was on his second trip to the orient, she executed a very successful art exhibit at her Provincetown studio. Although she often exhibited at the Palo Alto studio, since Mr. George was called away and the new curator was in place, she wasn’t as comfortable there. It was all right while she was in Santa Clara. But more than anything, she relished her time on the East coast.

Her recently found success and artificially high sales prices out West increased her notoriety throughout the East coast art community. This translated into more guests and investors interested in her three day gallery exhibit.

As she settled into their cottage on the cape, Sophia poured herself a glass of wine and waited for the familiar ringing of her laptop. Derek’s Skype call was due any minute. Although the time difference made communication difficult, they’d worked out a manageable schedule. Derek’s new assistant was both efficient and experienced with business travel. His suggestions aided in making their separation easier. Sophia never heard what happened to Danni. The last thing Derek said was that she was transferred to another office under the Rawlings Industries umbrella. Personally, Sophia could care less. She was just glad the woman wasn’t around her husband anymore.

The ringing of her laptop brought Sophia’s focus to the screen. After a moment or two of circles turning, she saw her husband’s soft brown eyes shining from the other side of the world. “Hey, Beautiful, how did day three of your exhibit go?”

“It went very well.”

“Do you ever wish you’d taken that offer for the traveling exhibit?”

“Are you kidding?” Sophia lifted her glass of wine and toasted her husband’s image. “This is too much work. I’d rather spend my time painting and enjoying time with you.”

Derek’s smile filled the monitor. “I like that, too!”

“Hey, I sold three pieces to Jackson Wilson.”

“Are you sure he isn’t your secret mystery buyer?”

“No, I’m not sure. But that would be silly. I’ve never seen the mystery guy and Jackson is at every showing I have east of the Mississippi.”

“Three pieces – impressive. Did you get the same price as the ones last spring in Palo Alto?”

“No, but thanks to those, my price has definitely gone up.”

“Babe, I think I’m going to tell Shedis-tics to forget future travel, I’m going to be a kept man.”

Sophia giggled. “I’m not sure I’d go that far, but I could come up with a few things to keep you busy.”

“Have I ever told you how much I love to hear your laugh, even when your smile has that nice red wine glow?”

Sophia quickly ran her tongue over her teeth. “You’re awful. Maybe the wine is adding to my humor – plus exhaustion; it’s been three long days!”

“Yeah, I’m sorry I couldn’t be there with you.”

“Me too. But I like staying busy while you’re gone.”

When they finally disconnected their call, Sophia climbed into bed and allowed her thoughts to center on the man on the other side of the world. Her silly red wine smile stayed until dreams took her to another place.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face...we must do that which we think we cannot. 

—Eleanor Roosevelt

Chapter 56

Predawn murkiness weighed heavily on Claire’s tired eyelids. Blinking back the threatening gloom, she gazed into the rearview mirror. Behind her the eastern sky filled with reds and oranges from the rising sun. She feigned optimism and promised herself: it is a new day.

The text message on the disposable phone, one resembling her old work phone, instructed her to pull over on I 80, at mile marker 145. With each mile she drove toward Des Moines, the mile markers decreased while her anxiety proportionately increased.

The phone in her hand and the folder of information on the passenger’s seat were the extent of preparation she’d received for her escape. Everything happened so fast Claire hadn’t even had a chance to look through the material. After she reentered the house from the patio, her new phone and the folder of information were waiting on the small dining table within the suite. Part of her wondered how Catherine had been able to supply her with so much support so fast. After all, Claire’s decision to leave the estate was only minutes old. While light overtook the sky and she neared her designated mile marker, multiple questions swirled through Claire’s mind. She tried desperately to push away the uneasiness.

She cranked the radio and air conditioning, plummeting the car’s internal temperature while simultaneously increasing the interior volume. Curiosity was powerful but not as powerful as sleepiness. She needed her eyes to remain open.

In the distance, waiting at her designated mile marker, Claire saw a dark gray SUV. Suddenly, her need for rest evaporated. The SUV grew as she approached. Of all the questions swirling through her mind, the one that came pressing to the forefront – the one that screamed in her head and echoed throughout her consciousness was... How can I put my life and my child’s life in the hands of this unknown person?

As if on cue, the darkness gave way and rays of sunshine infiltrated the windshield. Prisms of color and points of radiance flickered throughout the interior of the freezing cold BMW as beams hit the large diamond on Claire’s trembling left hand. She’d only recently agreed to wear the ring, and now she was leaving her fiance. It was more than Claire could fathom.

If she turned around and talked to Tony, could she explain Catherine’s stories, and would Tony understand her fright? Could things be all right?

Berating her indecisiveness and battling a combination of sleepiness and fright, Claire felt as if wavering would prevail. It wasn’t until she slowed, passed the SUV, and saw the sole occupant of the gray utility vehicle that she was able to see freedom from the unknown terror and promised vendetta which threatened her and her child’s life. Claire recognized the white hair immediately. She swiftly pulled the BMW over to the shoulder of the highway, feeling the vibration of the uneven surface. Slowly, she backed along the gravel until the trunk of her sedan rested only a few feet from Phillip Roach’s bumper.

Catherine had connected her with the perfect person to help her escape. This realization reinforced Claire’s steely determination. Stiffening her spine, she placed the car in park, grabbed the folder of information, the disposable cellphone, turned off the BMW, laid the key on the driver’s seat, locked and shut the car’s door.

A line of semi-trucks passed, blowing Claire’s hair and exposing her determined expression. She made her way toward Phil’s SUV. Over the rush of traffic she heard the click of the unlocking doors. Claire opened the passenger door and climbed into the seat beside her old bodyguard.

 She was the first to speak, “I thought you worked for Tony.”

“I did. How do you think Ms. London found my name?”

Claire raised her eyebrows.

“He hasn’t needed me since you moved to Iowa.”

“How do I know you won’t tell him where I am?”

“Because, I work for money. According to Ms. London, once I get you to Geneva, you will pay me more to keep quiet. Secrets are my specialty.”

“And you can do this?” Claire asked as she felt the SUV ease back onto I 80.