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Ramsey stood in the middle of the room going back and forth. He kept staring at Pamela and me with unfathomable looks. I wondered if he thought I was fooling him. It wasn't easy to believe such a story.
If Ramsey decided not to believe me, we were doomed. The man was an ex-military, and we were in his own field with nowhere to go.
"I will just ask you one more time. After you answer, have no fear for as long as I live, I will protect you, both of you." Ramsey was one of those proud Northmen who would take all the time in the world to give you their word because once they did, there was no way they could turn their back on you.
"Do you swear by the lives of your children all you told me was the truth?"
"Every word."
"Well then. Nobody has seen you coming here, but in the morning, the workers will come, and I won't be able to hide you here. I must take you now to an old cottage up in the mountains where you can hide for a few days until we can think of something. I need you to destroy your sim cards right now, or they will track you. You cannot talk to anyone or leave the cottage for any reason. I will come in a few days when I think it is safe to come. Wait for me here. I will come back shortly." Ramsey said these words. He didn't wait for answers or questions and went out.
We were both like new recruits listening to orders from our staff sergeant. We didn't say a word. We were in a place we knew little about and all we had was Ramsey's help to count on.
"Do you trust him?"
"With my life."
"Are you sure because if you're not..."
"I said I trust him with my life. The man did this before and expected nothing in return."
"What do you mean he did this before? Did you kill anybody before?" Since the fateful moment in the ladies' room, I hadn't seen that fear in Pamela's eyes.
"No, no, it wasn't a crime at all I committed. Well, at least everybody else except my family would agree with me. But it is a long story, and I may tell it to you, but please not now."
Pamela didn't answer, and I didn't bother to convince her any further, but I could see fear receding from her eyes.
It wasn't ten minutes until Ramsey came back with some clothes which must have belonged to his Syrian workers. Old trousers, scarves, and shirts. I looked at Pamela to see how she would react to these dirty out of fashion clothes, but to my surprise, she took the clothes without question and entered the small bathroom to change.
We both looked like peasant workers if not for our hands and faces which could give us away.
"You still don't look like any of my workers, but in a few days up there in the cottage, you will," Ramsey said in a way that made me feel as if Pamela was the woman I left my wife for, but his reassuring tone did the trick.
We both needed to calm down and clear our minds to think of what was coming next. The last thing we did before we got in Ramsey's van to take the trip up the mountain was burning our clothes and all other unnecessary belongings. I kept my backpack with me after assuring Ramsey it contained no trackable devices.
The road was dark, and we couldn't see anything on the way up, no streetlights as there were no streets at all after the first five-minute ride. The rest of the road was so bumpy. I wondered how Ramsey could see anything in the moonless night, but we finally got there.
Ramsey handed me two big bags, one was full of food, and the other had blankets in it.
"Use the blankets, don't light a fire. In fact, don't light anything. This mountain is high, and they can see the smoke from miles."
"Are you sure nobody will come here and surprise us?" I asked but felt stupid to even ask such a question to a man like Ramsey.
"Hunters use this cottage, and they don't come here at this time of the year, but you must be careful. Don't leave the cottage for any reason. I will come back in two days, and..." Ramsey had that look on his face which made me feel terrible to get him involved in such a dangerous situation. He was the father of my niece and nephews. What was I thinking? I know it was selfish, but I had no other choice.
"... Listen. You don't owe me anything, but my ass is on the line here. Don't do anything stupid, especially you, miss. Just wait for me to come back, and we'll figure something out." Ramsey left, as usual, without waiting to hear any questions or complaints.
I looked at Pamela to see if she was offended, but she didn't seem to care, not after what she had been through.