The elevator doors opened again and a tall, middle-aged, white haired gentleman entered. Claire smiled politely as she dug into another zipped compartment within her cavernous Gucci handbag.
He showed a reserved smile and acknowledged Claire with a nod. Then he inserted his card and pushed eleven. She exhaled as she found the key, “Here it is.” Her voice was barely a whisper, not intended for anyone but herself.
The man stepped to the side exposing the control panel, “I’m sorry. Am I in your way?”
“No, actually you’ve already accessed my floor.”
He looked at the small suitcase near Claire’s feet. “You’ll enjoy this hotel, the staff is wonderful.”
“Thank you, I’ve been here for a few days.” Realizing the suitcase, “I just had a few things in my car I needed to retrieve.”
She didn’t know why she was lying. Nevertheless, she’d rehearsed her story and was glad it sounded slightly plausible.
“Well, enjoy the rest of your stay.” The elevator stopped, and the doors opened. He politely held the door allowing her to exit.
She smiled, “Thank you, you too.”
Claire walked toward the right, while the gentleman walked to the left. Unlocking her door, she quickly entered the sunlit suite. As she turned to bolt the lock she mindlessly peered through the peep hole. Directly across the hall from her room she saw the same gentleman opening a door. That’s odd, why’d he walk the other way if his room was there? She contemplated. He looks familiar. Maybe I saw him when I originally checked in? Or, maybe I’m just paranoid!
Within the bedroom, upon the bedside stand, was the only item she’d left at the hotel, one of her telephones, her Tony phone. She left it on and plugged in.
Not hearing from him in four days was refreshing. Allowing the signals from this phone to be sent from this location was priceless. That bit of deception plus a lengthy GPS erasing procedure were Harry’s idea. His past police experience made him suspicious. That same experience gave him invaluable knowledge. Claire couldn’t have begun to erase the GPS permanently, without his directions. Claire would do anything, no matter how laboring, to protect Courtney.
She opened the French doors to her balcony and inhaled the warm spring air. The beautiful wrought-iron railing added to the French ambiance. Looking down she watched the people stories below on the famous Riverwalk. It was beautiful, filled with flowing water, flowers, people, and giant cypress trees. A faint breeze blew the curtains of the open doors as she relaxed upon her king sized bed and checked the phone. There were seven missed calls and three text messages. Claire closed the phone. The get-a-way was too fresh in her mind, too many good memories. Her mood was too high; she would read the messages later.
Next, she checked in with Emily, her daily I’M FINE text. Today she added, I’M BACK IN SAN ANTONIO. MY FLIGHT IS TOMORROW ABOUT NOON FOR SAN FRAN. CALL IF YOU CAN. LOVE YA!
With Emily’s husband John, back in Indiana, the two sisters no longer spoke every day. However, they made a point to check in daily. Claire spoke to John a few times since his prison release. At first it was even more uncomfortable than her first talks with Emily. Thinking about her time with Courtney, Claire decided they needed some face-to-face time. It was much better than phone calls.
She also sent text messages to Amber and Harry informing them of her location. Knowing there were people who cared and worried about her, added to Claire’s euphoria. Closing her eyes she debated napping. The distinctive Emily phone’s ring stopped her descent into the drowsy abyss. Eyes still closed, she reached for the small black cellphone. “Hi.”
“Hi, Claire, I hope you don’t mind me calling.” The voice caught her off guard, her eyes opened wide. Napping disappeared from her radar. She hadn’t heard this voice since last July at Iowa’s Woman’s Penitentiary.
“Brent?”
“Yes.” She held her breath, unsure what to say. Brent continued. “Courtney’s home safe.”
Claire’s mind spun. She wanted to trust him; after all, according to Courtney he was also responsible for her freedom and was too a victim of Tony. Claire knew that. She’d witnessed their interaction. “I’m glad.” She swallowed and continued, “Brent ... thank you.”
“Please don’t thank me. I’ve done much more to hurt you, than help you.”
She heard the anguish in his voice. “Just tell me, of all the things you’ve done, which ones did you want to do?”
“I wanted to help you. I never wanted to hurt you, even before I read the preliminary brief. It’s just that sometimes I had no…”
Claire stopped him, “I understand.” She inhaled and continued, “You know that though -- don’t you?”
“I do. And, we understand you.”
Her entire body filled with warmth. She’d known this man for less than three years. Her ex-husband claimed him as his best friend, and he’d endured much of the same domination as Claire. She couldn’t suppress her smile as tears trickled down her cheeks. “I offered to pay Courtney back. I can now.”
“She told me. I agree with her. Please, keep your money. Watching and listening to Tony’s response when he learned of your unorthodox release, seeing him unable to control or influence the situation, more than made it worth every penny.”
“If there is anything I can do for either of you…”
“Actually, there is...” The two continued their conversation for almost an hour. Brent wanted to know all about Tony’s box. The information fascinated him. He also asked about the information she’d learned from their detective work. Brent vowed to do what he could from his end. He also explained the things he’d done to hurt Claire: the divorce with no financial compensation, his attitude when he visited her in prison, hiring a private detective to find her, and supporting Tony along the way.
Claire reassured Brent, she understood. He didn’t have a choice and she appreciated his current clandestine support. Fearfully, Claire asked Brent a question she’d contemplated of and on again for a while, “Is Jane Allyson all right? I mean, has Tony done anything to her?” Claire’s heart skipped a beat as her question met silence.
Finally, he answered, “She is, for now.”
“Can you please elaborate?”
“When we left her office, Tony voiced his displeasure.” Claire nodded, although Brent couldn’t possibly see her from Iowa. He went on, “I’ve tried on numerous occasions to remind him, if something would suddenly happen to her up-and-coming career, immediately following your petition for pardon, it would appear suspicious.”
Claire smiled; Brent knew the game. Tony’s kryptonite was indeed appearance. Claire replied, “I don’t want her to pay because she helped me.”
“I put her in that position. I promise I’ve done all I can to protect her.” Brent replied, then he chuckled. “She knew what she was doing when she did it. That’s why I chose her. She is one tough lady and a great attorney! You should’ve heard her when we went to her office.”
“I bet. She’s the only one, in a room full of males, who stood up to Tony, at the jail in Iowa.”
“Other than you.”
Claire stammered, “I... me... I didn’t stand up to him. I never did.”