Exit Strategy Page 5

  She cleared the glass she had dropped earlier off the floor while Rue went to put the vase back. Then she poured a drink for each of them. Alexandra accepted hers gratefully. On second thought, Joanna took a bag of chips out of the pantry, and added some cheese on a plate.

  “Do you know what happened? In the hotel? And with Tamara?”

  Alexandra put her glass down on the table as if she no longer had the appetite. “I don’t know. They shot Harry. I ran…I don’t think they saw me, but I’m sure they know who I am. I think they took Tamara.”

  “They came for her? You know anything about that?”

  Alexandra shook her head with a bitter smile. “It’s not like they tell me things. I’m not even sure Harry knew. The only thing I know is that you can never get out. They tell you that if you try, they’ll find you anywhere, and it seems to be true, no?”

  “They haven’t found you,” Joanna said, searching Rue’s gaze. A lifetime of apologies wouldn’t be enough for drawing her into this, or allowing her to be drawn into it—Joanna wasn’t even sure what was more patronizing or wrong. It had all started as a simple act of kindness. They were in over their heads, all of them—Joanna, Rue, Denise and the two women, the fate of one still unclear. “For what it’s worth, they arrested one of the killers. It would make a lot of sense for the other guy to lay low.”

  “Or to come back for the last witness.”

  Rue flinched.

  “Honestly, I don’t think that’s what they’re going to do. The police are looking for him, and for Tamara.”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good thing.”

  “What do you think we can do for you?”

  “Tamara told me you killed someone. Bad men. In my experience, when they come for you, it’s best not to hesitate. Most of the cops might be okay, but what if they promised something to only one of them? Blackmailed them? I can’t take the risk.”

  It had been Joanna’s cue to flinch. Everything Alexandra said was true, but she had hoped to come to a point in her life when she wasn’t reminded daily of those facts.

  “When did you last talk to Tamara?”

  “The other night.” Alexandra shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes. “How naïve we were thinking this was all over. It never is.”

  Joanna didn’t realize she was pacing until she came to a halt in the middle of the room. This was all wrong. Alexandra and Tamara needed a lot more help than she and Rue could give them. If she’d still been with the department, she’d have options, connect them with services for women who had been abused. She didn’t want to give Alexandra false hopes, but she couldn’t deny the possibilities either. It took only one cop willing to look the other way. It wasn’t unheard of.

  Joanna wasn’t worried about herself, but she couldn’t put Rue at risk.

  “This is what we’ll do. You can stay the night, and how about in the morning I check in with the officer, see if there’s any news on Tamara and the second man? It’s a small community. They wouldn’t be so surprised that we want to follow up.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth at first,” Alexandra said. “Perhaps, for a while, I didn’t even know what the truth was anymore. Seeing Tamara…It shook me.”

  “I can imagine.” Joanna had many more questions, none of which she wanted to ask in Rue’s presence.

  “I despised him at times, but he wasn’t the one I wanted dead. He was naïve, and they used him too.”

  “He committed a crime. Not one that warrants death, as you said, but he should have gone away for a long time. He shouldn’t even have been in that room.” The words were out before Joanna could remember that perhaps telling herself this story about Farrell had helped Alexandra survive—and when it came to the right kind of justice, or what it meant, her record was sketchy at best. “Were you actually married?” she asked.

  “Oh yes. Appearances mattered to him.”

  Joanna had the flash of a memory, Decker’s widow sitting in the courtroom with her baby, her face tear-streaked. Farrell might not have been a sadistic killer, but in her opinion, he didn’t deserve much sympathy either. If he’d been looking for a date, an equal partner instead of a prisoner, he would likely still be alive. But Farrell wasn’t the most pressing problem. Worst case scenario, there was a mole in the police, and they had no interest in helping Tamara. Someone might want to tie up loose ends, and Alexandra wasn’t the only one.

  Rue could describe the men.

  The premise had changed quickly, and not in their favor. Now Alexandra was here, another reason for Farrell’s contacts not to leave town yet.

  “Alexandra, would you mind if I talked to Rue alone for a moment? We’ll be just outside.”

  “I came to your house asking for help. Of course I don’t mind.”

  When they were alone on the terrace, Rue spoke first.

  “I don’t know how she can hold it together.” Even though the evening sun was warm, a violent shudder ran through her body. “It was only a few hours. For her…We don’t even know.”

  “People do what they do to survive,” Joanna offered. This might be the best possible way to start the conversation. “For the moment, we’re all safe.”

  “But that might change soon,” Rue finished her thought, looking resigned.

  “I don’t know that it will, but I’m not going to take any chances. Rue…”

  She didn’t need to say it out loud. Rue’s eyes widened, and the color drained from her face.

  “No.”

  “Hear me out, please.”

  “This was supposed to be the solution, right? The only way. The once in a lifetime chance. I agree that she needs help, but we’re not going to throw this away. I won’t.”

  “The police might want to question you, at worst. You just tell them you took a sabbatical. Your parents can confirm that you kept in touch. That’s all. Nobody reported you missing.”

  “No, Joanna. There are too many variables in this. They might still find a way to trace it all back to you, and then it was all for nothing. Everything Vanessa did. The life we built here. You can’t tell me you’re ready to give up on all of this…on us.”

  Joanna reached out to embrace her, but Rue stepped back angrily.

  “This is for us. We know the danger is real, and I don’t think either of us can go through this again.”

  “And you’ll do what? Be a sitting duck here with Alexandra? Or a martyr?”

  The accusation struck, and it was as unwelcome as Alexandra’s misplaced praise.

  “I don’t know!” She reminded herself that their guest didn’t need to hear or care about their argument. “There you go. I’ll admit it. I don’t know what to do.”

  “We still have to make dinner.”

  Not waiting for an answer, Rue turned to go back inside.

  * * * *

  Joanna hadn’t told the whole truth. She had a pretty clear idea of what to do, even though she wasn’t sure how to execute that plan. She couldn’t bear to think about it too much either, because the outcome was beyond uncertain.

  She called Denise and asked her about her conversations with the police, and everything regarding Tamara.

  “I don’t know more than you do,” Denise said, surprised. “I understand this is all worrisome, but you should really try to find some distance. Remember your vacation will be over soon.”

  “Yeah, you keep telling me that. What about that guest who saw Tamara?”

  “She said she saw Tamara when she went for a swim. That was the last time anyone saw her. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing else. Let the police handle it?”

  Where did I hear that before?

  To Joanna’s surprise, Denise followed up with an impassioned plea. “Please, Joanna, don’t jinx it, okay? I know that if you had to go back, it would be difficult for both of you to say the least. We did everything we could to make life comfortable for you two.”

  Why did everyone seem to suggest she was exaggerating?

  “I do
n’t think Tamara’s life is very comfortable right now.”

  “People are on it. I don’t know what to tell you.”

  “I didn’t ask you to tell me anything. Thanks anyway.”

  Neither Joanna and Rue, nor their guest had the desire to raise any more uncomfortable subjects. They spent most of the evening in tense silence.

  Joanna knew she couldn’t do this without help. It was risky to contact the only people who might be able to assist in her efforts, but perhaps with Rue regularly talking to her parents, that ship had long sailed.

  They had found peace with each other.

  Everyone was right to tell her she was mad to jeopardize any of it.

  Perhaps that’s what Joanna was, mad, if she couldn’t relax and let go, not even in paradise, with the woman she loved, by her side.

  Said woman being currently angry at her, and probably for a reason.

  Chapter Eight

  “Joanna! What do you need?”

  The voice on the other end of the line sounded terse, worried, but ready to deal with whatever crisis needed dealing with. For the first time since she’d made the decision, Joanna felt some relief.

  “It’s not what you think. I was hoping you could help me with some information. We’re not in immediate danger, at least I don’t think we are. I want to be on the safe side…and I wanted to hear your voice.” The last part didn’t come out like the joke she had meant to make. Joanna could imagine Vanessa shaking her head.

  “You’re not one to exaggerate. What kind of information?”

  “We had a situation here. One guest’s wife turned out to be a trafficked woman. Another one recognized her. Now the guy is dead, and the one who ID’d the wife, is missing. Rue identified the men who shot him, and I’m afraid they might come back for her.”

  “What can we do?” Vanessa’s friend Nick had warned her to never call the number unless they needed immediate relocation.

  “I want Rue out of here as long as they still might be in the area. And I’m not sure about the local police. They didn’t seem to be interested in delivering me or Rue to the authorities back home, but someone suggested they might be compromised.”

  “Whoa. I don’t know who that someone is, but I don’t think their information is good.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “There was a corruption scandal a few years ago, and they cleaned it up. I’m sure they’re doing whatever they can to find that woman.”

  Joanna wondered what made Vanessa so sure.

  “You don’t think we would have sent you there if we weren’t certain?”

  Vanessa sounded hurt, so Joanna didn’t point out that they’d been operating on a tight timetable—or that there was no such thing as a one hundred percent guarantee. She could see Vanessa’s point though. She didn’t do anything halfway.

  “Okay. What about Rue?”

  “We can arrange that if it’s really necessary. What does she say about it?”

  “It’s not up for negotiation.”

  Vanessa was silent long enough for Joanna to start fidgeting.

  “You know what it could mean?”

  “I do. I also remember what happened last time.”

  “Last time we were dealing with a deranged serial killer.”

  “This time we are dealing with deranged men who sell women into domestic labor and sexual slavery. I’m not going to argue.”

  “No,” Vanessa said.

  For the second time tonight, Joanna wondered if she was speaking in riddles.

  “No? I thought the number was for emergencies. This is one.”

  “We can look into all of it, and send you additional security if necessary. But as long as Rue is with you, she’ll be safer than anywhere else. Unless this is some relationship stuff you messed up. Then I can’t help you.”

  Had she? Sometimes there was no warning when something good and reliable turned into a catastrophe. Her mother had hugged her in the morning, made her breakfast, and when Joanna returned home, she was gone forever. She couldn’t trust. Before Rue, no one had ever given her a good reason.

  “The woman who was forced to play the wife. She came to us seeking help. She thinks there might be a dirty cop reporting back to her captors. I know you think the worst of me when it comes to relationships, but I’m not making this up!”

  “I never said you were. Just for the record, the person who has always thought worst of you, is you, Joanna. I’ll get back to you. Until then, talk to no one, and do nothing about this, okay? Best case scenario, we can all go back to our lives.”

  Joanna had barely clicked the End Call button when the scream jolted her into action.

  * * * *

  The picture wasn’t an exact replica of her memory, but together, the elements were enough to create a night terror worse than anything Rue had experienced in weeks. Short’s face blending into the ones of the men she’d seen in the hallway, then Farrell’s. Blood everywhere.

  For long painful moments she wasn’t sure if she was going to throw up, but fortunately the impulse abated and Rue could breathe again. Joanna knew what to do, when to speak to her softly, and when it was safe to touch. One time, she had nearly punched her. The moves she’d learned from Zach had been slipping into her subconscious as much as the bad stuff. It could be a dangerous combination.

  “It’s okay. You’re okay.”

  She collapsed in Joanna’s embrace, only faintly aware of the light in the doorway. On soft footsteps, Alexandra walked away, giving them privacy again.

  Rue realized that she’d likely woken her too.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about talking to my parents.”

  It seemed like the logical order to get that out of the way first. The statement surprised Joanna enough to halt the calming motion of her hand in Rue’s hair, for a few seconds, before she resumed it.

  “That’s all right. We’ll figure it out. There’s something I have to tell you, too.”

  “I’m not going,” Rue said, her voice firmer that she thought herself to be capable. “You’ve made your point. I know you’re worried about me, but these people might be far away already. The man who’s still on the run, he’s every bit as much a loose end as I am. I gave the police a vague description. I’m sure he knows a lot more. They’d take care of him first, and he probably knows that.”

  “I’m…impressed. But, Rue…”

  “I’m not sure you heard me. There’s nothing more to talk about. I choose to stay. Unless you got tired of me and want me gone, that is. I’m not going to overstay my welcome.”

  “There’s no way you could. You’re not making this easy.”

  Joanna kissed her, softly at first, then with a need that was familiar and comforting to Rue. Yes, they had a guest who had already walked into their bedroom without knocking earlier. She wasn’t going to hear screams this time. They had to be quiet.

  * * * *

  Rue wasn’t surprised to find Alexandra already up when she walked into the kitchen.

  “I thought I’d make myself useful,” Alexandra commented. “Would you like a coffee?”

  “You didn’t have to do that.” Rue found she couldn’t be grumpy after last night’s victory. The night terror had cost her a lot of energy, but then she’d spent more in a much more pleasant way. The memory made her shiver with bliss. “But I’d love to have one, thank you.”

  “There you go.” Alexandra handed her a cup, her brief, knowing smile gone quickly. “I know you’re not happy I’m here. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not you,” Rue hurried to say. “It’s assholes like him. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have to deal with this mess right now.”

  Alexandra didn’t dispute her comment though the same might not be true for her.

  “I’m glad you are here…and okay, considering. But regardless of any danger, we need to talk to somebody else who can help you more.”

  “A therapist?” Alexandra laughed bitterly as if that was an outlandis
h suggestion.

  “Yes. And someone who can assist you in finding a job and a safe place to live.”

  “Good to have friends in high places.”

  “It doesn’t hurt.”

  “What happened to you?”

  The question startled Rue even though she should have expected it, from someone who could easily see through her defenses.

  “Does it matter? He’s dead.” They had more in common than one might think.

  “You survived. That’s all that matters. I’m sorry to be nosy, though. It’s none of my business, but…I had those nightmares sometimes. Before, they beat us when that happened. Harry, he wanted to make it better. He wasn’t the worst.”

  Rue didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t sound patronizing or bitchy, so she said nothing. Joanna’s timing was perfect as she joined them in the kitchen.

  “I have good news for you,” she said, smiling.

  Rue realized they’d never talked about what Joanna wanted to tell her the night before.

  * * * *

  “No, absolutely not. I’ll go if you want me to, but I won’t be talking to the police. I have nothing to tell them.”

  “As far as they are concerned, you are missing. I can assure you my friend is trustworthy, but they could charge you with faking a crime. Frankly, they could see us as accomplices. Right now, we can go and explain. The longer we wait, the more difficult this is going to get.”

  Alexandra made a sound that was close to a snort. Rue didn’t think that “difficult” was a term enough to impress her.

  “Is she going to vouch for every single cop on the island?”

  “Well, there aren’t so many to begin with,” Rue said. Hearing that Vanessa was involved made her feel somewhat better. And worse. She was sure Joanna hadn’t told her everything, not because she wanted to lie, but because she didn’t want to air their unsolved issues in front of Alexandra. “I can’t imagine she made that promise lightly. Besides, if they aren’t looking for you too, that might give them more resources to find Tamara.”

  “Wait until tonight, please?”