Dolby(47)
Author: Maryann Jordan

 

She turned slowly as Jonathan pushed up from the mattress and came to stand near her. She could see his face clearly in the dim light. His blue eyes seemed to see deep inside her. His muscular body, she now knew, was exquisite, especially when making love to her. And his smile filled her heart with joy whenever he bestowed it on her, which was often. He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek.

 

“And now this,” he said, his voice cracking.

 

She nodded slowly, then said, “I’m not downplaying what this has been like. Not the fear, the unknown, the anguish. But I’ve been to the darkest place I could’ve ever been and somehow survived. At least here, I haven’t been bound. While the room was often dark, there was enough light that I could adjust. And they supplied a woman who gave me some clothes, toiletries, and food. Although if you hadn’t walked through the door, I’d still be terrified. But with you here, I know I’ll be okay. I feel like I can do anything knowing someone is in my corner.” She smiled and added, “Especially if you’re that person with me.”

 

“You’re the strongest woman I know, Marcia. I’m humbled. So fuckin’ humbled.”

 

“Oh, you’re looking at the result of some expensive counseling,” she said with a little smile. “It was my therapist who suggested that I start writing as a way to cope. I found that I wrote about what I wished the detectives and investigators had been able to do a little faster. Gotten to me quicker.” She shrugged, “That was how Inspector Marley was born. Somehow the idea of a plodding older man who could read people and always figure out the crime before anyone else just made me feel better.”

 

“It’s a brilliant coping mechanism.” His voice was soothing, and the warmth surrounded her.

 

“I’ve learned that, in truth, no matter how we cope, our traumas and tragedies define us as much as our successes and happiness. I’ve learned we are all affected by the human emotions and events that make up our lives.”

 

He wrapped his arms around her, and she rested in his embrace with her hands clutching his shirt, her cheek now pressed against his chest, hearing the rhythm of his strong heartbeat.

 

Finally, she leaned back and said, “What’s the plan?”

 

He chuckled, and the sound vibrated against her chest. “We get out of here.”

 

Her eyes brightened, a spark of renewed energy and confidence moving through her. “And how do we do that?”

 

Smiling down at her, he said, “Together.”

 

 

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

Dolby hated to leave Marcia in her cell, but with another day until they docked at the Marshall Islands, he needed to keep her safe. So after the memorable night they’d spent together where she’d given him her painful past, and they’d made love, sealing their vow for a future, he was back in his hiding place. She’d assured him that her days passed the same– complete solitude broken up by meals brought by Tudora. She said that Tudora’s brother had taken out her chemical toilet once and brought it back, assumedly after emptying it. Other than that, she had been left alone.

 

He prayed this day was no different but had his eye on the camera outside the clinic just in case. He’d been in contact with the Keepers, then felt guilty that he had something to concentrate on when Marcia had endured days with nothing to do to fill her time but worry, pace, and remember.

 

By nighttime, his skin was practically crawling with the need to get back to her. Thankfully, Tudora was just now leaving after delivering the evening meal. The man who’d escorted Tudora stood and stared at Marcia, and Dolby's fists clenched as his body was primed to go after him if he didn’t get the fuck away from her.

 

Using his radio, he questioned LSI. “ETA?”

 

Natalie replied, “Queen at two forty a.m. Majuro. The birds have flown in.”

 

Nodding to himself, he was thankful for the other Keepers who’d landed at the Majuro airport and were in place. Now, he just needed to get Marcia off the ship safely and knew the timing would be of utmost importance. For himself, he wasn’t concerned. But for her? She’d been through more than enough. More than what anyone should ever have to experience, and if it took the rest of his life, he wanted to give her nothing but good memories from now on.

 

Signing off, he waited until most of the crew had gone to their rooms unless they were working the night shift. Then, slipping out of his hiding place, he re-entered the clinic with stealth, easily unlocking the door to the closet that had held her captive for a week. This time, he was expected and greeted exuberantly the instant she saw him. He barely had time to spread his arms out before she flung herself at him, leaping into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he carried her easily into the room as he closed the door behind him.

 

“God, I missed you,” she said. “Each day has been interminably long, but today, just knowing you were close had me pacing frantically.”

 

“I know what you mean, babe. My closet didn’t give me room to pace, but I was coming out of my skin and couldn’t take my eyes off the camera I’d placed outside the room to make sure you were okay.”

 

“I felt safer just knowing you were on the ship.”

 

“Tell me more about the man who came with Tudora today.”

 

Still in his arms, with her hands clutching his shoulders, she shook her head. “I don’t know what to tell you. For the first part of the trip, I had her brother, Pitar. He never talked much except just to say a few words to her. But he was with us the day we stepped out onto the deck to get a breath of fresh air. After we left Hawaii, he wasn’t there, and this other man came. His voice is much harsher, and he looks at me with a lot of suspicion. I hated the way he talked to Tudora. I managed to ask her about Pitar, and she just said that he’d been left behind in Hawaii. Something about he was being punished for letting me walk out.”

 

“I couldn’t see the man’s face, but he stared at you for a long time from my camera angle.”

 

“I’ve been terrified that they’d discover I wasn’t Angela. I mean, I knew it was going to happen sometime, but I guess I’d hoped that I might be able to escape before I was found out. Not a realistic hope, I know, but I knew if they discovered it too soon, my life would be easily expendable.”

 

He hated that he’d put the worry lines on her face. Bending, he kissed her lightly, then slid his tongue between her lips, loving the way she leaned into him, plastering her front to his, giving her trust to him. Nibbling the edge of her mouth, he leaned back and said, “Tonight, it ends.”