The spa already buzzed with activity. Anton went through his massage room to the small apartment to drop off his laptop. Then he went to the attached restaurant. He hadn’t had time for breakfast at the house even though Phyllis seemed like she was already in full command of the kitchen.
The restaurant was his favorite part of the spa and had been part the brain-child of Lindsay. The dining area was an entirely glassed-in space that looked a bit like being inside of a clear glass golf ball. It was where the spa’s name came from, because of the huge dome shape of the restaurant.
But the best part was all the plants. Lindsay had helped him pick out tons of tropical plants and trees to be housed under the glass dome. Being inside the restaurant felt like being in the middle of the jungle—except with air conditioning and nice tables with linen tablecloths and napkins.
A moment later, one of the wait staff came out. Sarah? He couldn’t remember all of their names, and this one was new. She looked nervous—probably because he was the owner.
“Mr. Volikov I’m afraid we’re out of breakfast. I was told you prefer brunch.”
A quick glance at her name tag proved his guess right. “Sarah, do you know who is in charge of ordering?” he asked calmly.
“Terrence, sir.”
“I’ll need to have a talk with Terrence, then. We should never be out of things on the menu.” Anton sighed. “What else do we have today?”
“We have a fresh New England clam chowder, sir, and our regular selection of sandwiches.”
“That’ll be fine.”
“W-which sandwich?”
“Surprise me. And iced tea.”
She nodded and quickly scurried back to the kitchen to put his order in. He sat facing the main door. Janette should be walking through it in the next fifteen minutes.
As if thought alone could conjure her, the bell over the door jangled, and she walked in. Better early than late. He’d feared she wouldn’t show up at all. He had hoped for her sake, and for her sister’s, that she’d be smart.
When she reached the table, Anton gestured at the chair across from him. “Have a seat. I was just ordering something to eat. We’re out of breakfast food, but you could have some lunch if you like. My treat.”
Janette sat. “N-no thank you. I just had breakfast an hour ago.”
“Let me rephrase that. You will have something to eat. I don’t like to eat in front of others. It’s rude.” He could see her biting back a smart retort.
Sarah returned with the tea and took Janette’s order. Lemon water and a chicken salad sandwich on a croissant.
When they were alone again, Anton said, “Have you been a good girl?”
She looked down at her lap. At first he thought she’d told someone, the police or someone else. But then he saw the tears slipping down her cheeks.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Good.” He passed his linen napkin to her. “Wipe your eyes. No one needs to see you crying. You’re supposed to be here for a job interview. Nobody cries at a job interview.” At least no one who got hired.
She dabbed at her eyes quickly and took a long shuddering breath.
“Better.” Anton pulled out his cell phone and dialed the house. Gabe answered on the third ring. “Let me speak with Annette.” While he waited, he watched her sister across the table.
The resemblance was uncanny. He could hardly be blamed for taking the wrong girl. They were exactly the same, except for their personalities. Janette seemed more fragile and more easily spooked. Not like her sister. Annette was determined and brave.
It seemed odd to him that the determined brave sister had been deemed the one without a future and the sensitive one was studying to be a doctor. He hoped she wasn’t as skittish about blood as she seemed to be about everything else.
“Good morning, pet. Did you sleep well?” Anton asked when Annette got on the phone.
“Yes, Master.”
“Did Phyllis make you some breakfast?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Your sister would like to speak to you.” He passed the phone to Janette before his eardrum could be busted by the surprised squeal that followed.
Janette warily took the phone. “Are you okay?” She stared him down while she listened to her sister talk. “Hold on a second,” she said when Sarah brought their food and drinks out.
When the waitress went back to the kitchen, she resumed the conversation. Anton tried the soup. At least the clams were fresh. Dome was the nicest spa in the city. They had a reputation to live up to.
“I don’t understand… but why? What aren’t you telling me? … I can’t just leave you there … but I’ll never see you again… no, I don’t understand. No! That sounds fucking crazy!”
Anton’s eyebrow rose at Janette’s language. She didn’t seem the type to swear.
“But what if...” Janette said. Her sister must have cut her off and was now going off into a long diatribe. “Fine. Fine. Yes, I understand. I get it, but you can’t just expect me to… But what if he hurts you… You can’t know that… okay… yes, okay. Bye.” She disconnected the call and passed the phone back to Anton.
“Well?” he said. “What did she say? Did she seem well?” He smirked and took another bite of the clam chowder.
“I don’t know what you’ve done to her, but she claims she’s fine and that I shouldn’t worry. She even sounded fine. This is some kind of trick. You’re going to be nice to her just long enough to lull me into a false sense of security so I can take your blood money guilt free.”
“Oh, is that what I’m doing?”
“Of course it is.”
“Well I’m glad you know my mind more than I do,” Anton said.
Sarah walked up then. “Is everything all right?”
“No, it isn’t. Tell Terrence I said to stop sweetening the iced tea. If the guest wants sugar, they can add it themselves. He’s supposed to be using high enough quality tea leaves that it tastes good without sugar. Also, this is a spa. The guests expect their food and drink to be healthier choices.”
“Yes, sir.” And she scampered off.
Such a nervous little thing, but at least she was unlikely to bother them again.
“Are you going to hurt her?” Janette asked.
“Who, Sarah? No. It’s not her fault Terrence can’t control his impulse to add sugar to the iced tea.”
“No, my sister!” she hissed.
“Of course I’m not going to hurt her. I would never hurt a pet.”
Janette made a disgusted face. “She’s not a pet. She’s a person. And my sister. I can’t just let you get away with this.”
“And what exactly will you do to stop me? You will hear from your sister daily.”
“But I’ll never see her again.”
“I didn’t say that. That all depends on many factors. Now, I will need your school schedule so we can find a few hours a week for you to work at the reception desk. I also need all your school bills and any other bills so I can start paying them.”
“I-I’ll have to get that together.”
He could tell she hated this plan, but how else was she going to be able to afford to continue going to school and not live under a bridge? She needed to learn to be more pragmatic, like her sister.