Exit Strategy Read online

  “What is it?” Rue asked, startling her despite the soft tone.

  “Nothing. Go back to sleep.”

  “Talk to me. Please.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you. Too much of that sweet cocktail maybe?”

  “Did Vanessa ever offer you to get therapy here?”

  Joanna thought back to the moment she’d arrived on the island, when Vanessa’s contact had laid out her options to her.

  “I wasn’t kidnapped,” she said.

  “Not really the point. You’ve been through a lot. Maybe you’d like to talk to someone…Other than me, that is.”

  “I’m fine. That’s not it.” She suppressed a sigh, not wanting to worry Rue. They didn’t mingle with the guests, but even so it was easy to tell that some came with secrets, people who came together that didn’t want anyone to know they were together. The occasional businessman with a woman that wasn’t his wife—or with another man. It happened, and Joanna considered herself far from being able to judge anyone. This was the first time that her thoughts lingered, and this moment, she realized why.

  The whole time she’d been in the room, there was absolutely no sound from the bathroom. No running water, no sounds of a hairdryer, or anyone moving in there. Total quiet.

  It didn’t mean something nefarious was going on, but it was strange.

  “The guy was pretty weird, hovering, and he wanted me to get out quickly. Didn’t even give me a tip.”

  “So he’s a jerk, or he just wanted to be alone with his wife,” Rue suggested. “That keeps you up?”

  When Joanna didn’t answer, she continued, “You found him suspicious?”

  Joanna realized that she was scaring her.

  “Petty more than anything. Like I said, it was probably the cocktail.”

  She had left a message for Denise, but was going to follow up with her, just in case. She wanted to know who the silent woman was, if only for her own peace of mind.

  * * * *

  After they had breakfast together, Joanna drove Rue to town for her appointment. She parked next to the building, and after Rue had gone in, called Denise.

  “I got your message, thank you so much,” Denise said. “They made it sound urgent.”

  “Really? He didn’t seem happy to see me. Besides, they could have easily fixed it themselves.”

  “Well, the woman said they needed someone right away.”

  “Did you see them? What’s your impression?”

  Denise was silent, as if trying to understand why Joanna was asking these questions.

  “Husband and wife on their honeymoon. I’ve never seen either of them here before. Why do you ask?” Now that the question was out in the open, Joanna had to come up with something other than her intuition.

  “He was a bit strange. Not a peep from the wife. She had some clothes laid out on the bed, but I didn’t see her.”

  “You don’t usually ask questions about our guests.”

  Joanna knew that Denise had a general idea about her story. She had to, in order to provide all the conditions Vanessa’s contact had asked for. Did it matter? Joanna had been a cop once. The silence of women worried her. It wasn’t something she could turn off.

  “And I shouldn’t start. I’m sorry about that. If that’s all, I’ll see you after the vacation?”

  She’d hoped that Denise would be the one to let her off the hook, her conscience and perhaps misplaced guilt and worries. Joanna’s hope had been premature.

  “The bride’s quite young, but nothing we haven’t seen here before. I saw him at the bar a couple of times and thought it was strange, but maybe she just wanted some time by herself.” She sounded worried. Sometimes, Joanna had that effect on people, but she assumed this wasn’t the first time Denise had doubts about the couple.

  “If there’s anything out of the ordinary, I’ll let you know. You do the same?”

  “And you will do what?”

  “I don’t know. Unfortunately there are plenty of neglected wives. Being a jerk isn’t a crime.”

  “Yeah, I hope there isn’t more to it. Let’s keep in touch. Thank you.”

  When Joanna ended the call, she realized it was still early into Rue’s session. She got out of the car to walk further on main street, along souvenir shops and restaurants, one of which they’d choose for lunch later. So much for their quiet, relaxed vacation. It didn’t help that Denise, too, had observed behavior that seemed out of place for a loving couple. Should they intervene? Could they? How? Joanna had gone from a by-the-book cop to a vigilante and from there to…She wasn’t sure what term to use. Her job had been to fix one specific item. She was once again lost in the what if, as Rue called it.

  Almost time to meet her. Definitely time to snap out of it.

  * * * *

  Rue was already sitting in one of the chairs in the lobby, waving to Joanna when she entered the building. Ten minutes early. She had a smile on her face. This was a good moment to remind herself that she wasn’t responsible for everyone’s happiness. Contributing whatever she could to Rue’s, and working on her own, was what mattered.

  “How was it?” Joanna asked as she hugged her. By the time Rue had arrived on the island, she had already begun the task of working through the trauma. That task, Joanna was aware, was in no way done, even though she was able to work, spend time by herself and sleep without night terrors most nights.

  “Low-key. Focus on safe space, rest and relaxation.”

  “Sounds like a good idea.” Was the woman in 213 safe? Why couldn’t she let it go?

  “It is. I’m tempted to try those exercises on you.” They walked along the same row of restaurants and shops. Rue stopped to look at a scarf.

  “Maybe that’s a good idea too.”

  “You couldn’t fall asleep.”

  At a moment’s notice, Joanna decided not to tell her about the phone call with Denise. She didn’t want to make Rue think something, someone had invaded the paradise, this space where they could work through past events safely. She couldn’t give that up.

  “I’ll sleep better tonight,” she said. “Perhaps you can find something to help me with that.”

  “Sure. I have some ideas.”

  * * * *

  Despite her promise that they’d go near Denise and the inn as little as possible during their off time, Joanna suggested the bar again. She wanted to check if the guest from 213 showed up without his wife. If he did…She wasn’t sure what that meant.

  To her surprise, she saw them sitting at a table. At least Joanna assumed the woman had to be the wife. She remembered the dress she was wearing as one of the ones she’d seen on the bed. Like Denise had said, she seemed a good deal younger than the man, but definitely not a minor. Reason to be relieved?

  “Excuse me,” she said to Rue who had followed her gaze. “I’ll be right back.”

  Joanna got up and walked over to the couple’s table. She could tell from the irritation in the man’s gaze that he didn’t recognize her right away.

  “Good evening. I don’t mean to disturb you, but I just wanted to check if the air conditioning is giving you any more trouble.”

  To her surprise, he gave her a polite smile.

  “Oh, no, it’s working perfectly, right, honey?”

  The woman smiled, too, mumbling something unintelligible. She kept her head down.

  “Thank you. If that’s all? I’m afraid my wife isn’t very comfortable around strangers.”

  “That’s okay. You both have a good night.”

  Something wasn’t right, and there was no way that Joanna could silence her own inner voice any longer.

  “What are you going to do?” Rue asked, sounding resigned. She’d been able to tell from Joanna’s body language that this story wasn’t finished yet.

  “I don’t know yet, but I’ll have to talk to Denise some more. If there’s anything criminal going on, once they leave it will be too late.”

  “Are you sure you aren’t about to get invo
lved in something that’s none of your business?”

  “He could be abusing her.”

  “You don’t think I’m scared of the same thing?” Rue’s fork on the plate made a startling sound when she set it down. “I’m sorry, okay? I know that you could have decided to stay out of it, and then I wouldn’t be here. We wouldn’t be here. You’d probably still have a good job, and be married.”

  Ironic to find that they obsessed about the same things.

  “I have a good job, and I’m happy to be here with you. But you’re right to say that those are different stories. Before…I knew what was going on. That’s why I couldn’t stay away. Right now, I don’t know if I have a right to be worried, or if I’m just nosy. They could be the type of people to come to a place like this and have arguments the whole time. Vanessa and Theo aren’t always on the same page.”

  “But you never assumed he could be abusing her.” Rue cast a quick look at the other table where the man was still smiling. They could see the woman only from the back.

  “I’m afraid I could miss my shot. I could run the risk of embarrassing myself—or her.”

  “It’s better to be embarrassed than dead,” Rue said dryly. “How are we going to do this?”

  “I have to talk to Denise. We’ll figure something out. You don’t have to do anything.”

  “Oh come on. You really think you can keep me out of this? Besides, I’m the one who’s been training. I love that you’ve been brushing up on your piano lessons, but I don’t think that’s going to help us with this case.”

  Just like that, there was a case. Some things never changed, no matter how far you tried to run.

  * * * *

  Despite her reassurances, it was clear that the situation put a lot of stress on Rue. At times she worked it off in ways that were more than pleasant for Joanna who had found a partner in her that completed her more than anyone could. After she’d worked for Joanna’s father, the quiet polite assistant, people tended to underestimate Rue. Joanna knew better, had since the moment they met. Rue had told her she liked to take the lead, and she didn’t exaggerate.

  Joanna hadn’t known that she’d be able to lose herself in a moment of perfect oblivion, until she could, trusting Rue with her body completely.

  This dynamic was part of who they were. In the aftermath of Rue’s abduction, it was also a way she was reclaiming her autonomy and safety, to feel at home in her body again.

  Her ways of stress relief did wonders for Joanna. Tonight was no exception. She lay back, in awe, Rue snuggling into her arms, still half on top of her.

  When she was sure her voice wouldn’t fail her, Joanna asked, “You feel better now?” Her fingers lazily brushed over Rue’s hair.

  “It’s a start,” Rue murmured.

  The joke Joanna might have made was lost in the exquisite shiver sneaking down her spine. They had overcome so many obstacles. This would be no exception.

  “True. We can sleep in tomorrow…No appointments, except…”

  “Except for a little detective work?”

  “That’s right. But that’s tomorrow.”

  “Yes it is.”

  She would sleep tonight.

  Chapter Three

  Denise had agreed to distract Mr. Farrell in 213 when she saw him alone. Rue, close by, called Joanna on her cell phone, and she hurried to get up to the room and knocked quickly.

  There was no answer.

  “Mrs. Farrell? Could I speak to you for a moment?” Joanna kept her voice down, not wanting to alert the other guests. She knocked again. If need be, she could come up with another cover story, but she didn’t want to expose the woman. Farrell would be suspicious if he found her here.

  A few more seconds ticked by. They felt like an eternity to Joanna. Finally, the door was opened a few inches.

  “My husband isn’t here.”

  “That’s all right. I wanted to talk to you.” This was the moment of truth. She’d either make a fool out of herself or change the trajectory of someone’s life.

  “Why?” She made no move to open the door further.

  “Can I come in?”

  While Mrs. Farrell was still pondering the question, another door opened at the end of the corridor and a woman walked out, from the looks of it ready to go to the beach. The inn employed a driver who brought tourists back and forth to the airport and the beach. When the woman saw Mrs. Farrell, her eyes widened. She kept walking. Mrs. Farrell appeared spooked. She grabbed Joanna by the arm and pulled her inside with surprising force. Maybe Rue had a point when she said Joanna needed to work out more often.

  “What do you want?”

  “Check on you, make sure you’re okay.”

  “Why wouldn’t I be? I’m here with my husband.” She had a faint Eastern European accent. Joanna didn’t want to give in to preconceived notions, but she couldn’t help wondering how the two had met.

  “Is he treating you all right?”

  Mrs. Farrell looked straight at her. Clearly, Joanna had offended her. She wasn’t certain as to the reason. A quick visual check revealed no bruises, which didn’t mean anything at all. On the job, she’d met abusers who made sure the obvious signs always stayed hidden under clothes, until the victim ended up in the ER.

  “Go away.”

  “We can help you.”

  “I don’t need your help.”

  She had heard that too. “If you ever change your mind, just give me or Denise a sign. You have other options.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her tone was biting, her accent more pronounced. “I’d prefer if you leave us alone from now on.”

  “I’m sorry if I went too far. I hope you’ll enjoy your vacation…and my offer still stands.”

  Joanna left the room, trying to fight her growing confusion. When she heard the elevator, she turned back and took the stairs down to the lobby. Denise was behind the counter.

  “What happened?” she asked anxiously.

  “Nothing much, to be honest. She denies she needs help. I told her she could always come to us if necessary.”

  “I’d really hate it if that kind of thing was going on under my roof,” she said. “Well, of course I hate it in general, but…You know what I mean.”

  “I do.”

  “I’ll have to give you an extra day of vacation after involving you in all of this.”

  “You don’t have to. But we’d take it.”

  Later on, Joanna walked Rue to her training and went back to the house, going over the conversation with Mrs. Farrell in her mind. She powered up her laptop and did a quick search, finding many Farrells, but not the couple that occupied #213. She remembered the look the woman from 217 had given Mrs. Farrell. Had she imagined that? Joanna shook her head. She wasn’t making things up. Mrs. Farrell had been quick to let her in after she’d seen the other woman. Was the husband straying? Was that why the couple had arguments?

  In that case, it was truly none of her business. Her own parents had had many of those arguments before her mother packed her bags one day when Joanna was in school. When she came home, only the housekeeper was waiting for her, telling her the news with a sympathetic gaze. She had also notified Lawrence Mitchell. He came back after dinner that night, curt and unwilling to answer the many questions Joanna had. He didn’t seem much distraught about the departure of his wife.

  Nothing much could rattle Lawrence, because there was very little he cared about. The business, and his party friends, always came first.

  Joanna sat down at the piano again, brushing her fingers over the keys. In retrospect, it surprised her that he didn’t consider her taking lessons, and showing only moderate talent, a waste of time. Then again, she didn’t get to know him all that well. She started playing a melody from memory. Still rusty, still stumbling. She tried again.

  Lost in the play, she didn’t even realize how much time had passed until she realized she wasn’t alone any longer. Rue had tears in her eyes.

  “Wh
at happened?” Joanna asked, alarmed, on her feet a second later.

  “Wow. I had no idea you were this good.”

  “Come on. I’m not.”

  “It is beautiful.”

  Bittersweet, maybe, drawing her into memories she tried to push aside for the most part. Regrets that were pointless to ponder in the present.

  “My dad never tried to contact my mother. He just let her go. He let her go long before she left.”

  “Perhaps that was what she wanted—or needed.” Rue reached out to brush her fingers against Joanna’s cheek. “We don’t know.”

  “No, we don’t. But I don’t want you to ever doubt that you’re more important to me than anything or anyone else. I still can’t say for sure what their deal is, but I wanted the woman to know she has someone to go to if she needs to.”

  “I understand that. I love you.” Rue held on tight, halting her pointless trip down memory lane. If it wasn’t for the course of events that had brought them here, Joanna might have tried to find her mother someday, look for answers.

  As it was, she was unlikely to see either of her parents again, but that was a choice they had made for her. No use going back.

  “I love you too. You still want to go to the museum today?”

  They had said no plans, but sitting around for too long made them both antsy.

  “Yes, I’d love to.”

  For the next two hours, they browsed the exhibitions at the local art museum, something they hadn’t gotten around to do earlier. They finished the tour with a cappuccino at the small café.

  Mr. and Mrs. Ferrell sat at a table near the entrance. As usual, he was doing the talking, while she listened, looking morose. Preconceived notions, or justified instinct, this type of relationship made her skin crawl, and she sensed that Rue felt the same.

  “Let’s take that coffee to go,” she said. From here, it wasn’t far to the beach, and they enjoyed their beverage listening to the waves.

  They returned home soon after. Much as she tried to relax, she couldn’t get rid of that antsy, restless feeling. After they had dinner and cleaned the dishes, Joanna gave up the pretense.

  “There’s something I need to talk to Denise about,” she said to Rue who looked up from the book she was reading. She didn’t seem to suspect anything.