The heat of the day slapped her like a wet rag as soon as she stepped out of the house. Beads of sweat popped out on her face and she could feel the dampness pooling between her breasts. Tarin was tempted to turn around, play hooky from work and instead, take Chance to a waterpark to play.
Stephen hadn’t called or texted in a little over a day. It was what she had hoped for, but it also left her feeling all the more unsettled. He’d texted continuously almost since the day she’d left and now nothing.
Climbing into Bobbie’s Camry, she immediately turned on the air conditioner. Once she arrived at work, she parked around the side of the building in her usual spot. Her stomach felt queasy, which it had for the whole weekend thanks to the whiskey she’d downed and the guilt she wasn’t digesting very well. The thought of facing her boss wasn’t sitting very well either. If it wasn’t imperative that she find out what the hell had happened to her life and ensure Chance’s safety, she would have run long and far. It almost made her proud that for once she was going to deal with her own mess. Well, if she didn’t throw up first.
She got out of the car and grabbed her bag and lunch. When she turned around, the guard she’d encountered the other night was standing less than two feet away. She jerked back, sending her bag flying out of her hands. Her heart thudded rapidly beneath her hand as she leaned back against the vehicle’s hot metal.
“Bill. Right? Is it okay if I call you that?”
His steady gaze never wavered.
“What can I do for you?” She made a motion like she was going to step forward but he didn’t back up. She took a side step, scooped up her bag and closed the door, locking it. She hugged her arms to her chest as she slowly continued to edge sideways.
“You’re late.”
“I know. I had some things to do—” Well really, I was just avoiding coming in.
“Not good to be late.” He walked away, disappearing from view around the corner of the building.
She frowned as she looked around to see if she’d missed something. It wasn’t odd to see Bill, she supposed; she only wished he hadn’t snuck up on her. It made her wonder if he’d always been watching her and was adept at fading into the background—until he’d decided she’d crossed a line and accosted her. Feeling uncomfortable, she sprinted up two steps at a time. She’d just stuffed her bag in the desk drawer and turned on her computer when the inner door opened. But it wasn’t Graham or Guy who came out but Bailey.
“Hi.”
She almost sagged in relief. She was not looking forward to seeing Graham. The text he’d sent her—Please come back to work. We really appreciate all the work you’re doing. You’ve helped a lot. We can’t get through this without you—was why she was there. No one had ever appreciated anything she’d done before. It had been expected. She wanted to delay the inevitable moment when she came face to face with him. She was sure she’d look sunburned due to the embarrassment she felt.
“Hi. Sorry, I’m running a bit behind.”
“Hey, don’t tell me, because I can plead ignorance if the boss questions me.” She winked as she walked by.
“Uhm. How are things going with the wedding?”
Bailey stopped but didn’t do very well at hiding her surprise. “Good. It’s all coming together I think. There are a few hiccups but I guess that’s normal, right?”
Tarin’s eyes widened. For a split second she thought her statement implied she’d been through it herself, but she hadn’t shared that she was married. Then she realized she was being crazy. There was no way Bailey could know she’d just left her husband. “I guess whenever you’re planning something big like this there will be a few problems. Nothing serious, I hope?”
“No. No. It’s the wedding planner has hired a new staff and since we’re so easy to get along with, she assigned her to us.” She shrugged. “I don’t know if I’ve been called easy to get along with before—anyway there have been a few issues that have cropped up since she’s taken over. Things were going along smoothly and now—I’m trying not to be judgmental and I’m sure they aren’t her fault but—”
“But it’s all happened since she took over.”
“Yeah, everything was going smoothly and then suddenly there’s a problem with the band. Then with the flowers. Then with the invitations. Then with—I don’t even know what. It’s one thing after another and then of course she has her own ideas. I’ve had to rein her in a bit. She wanted us to change venue from Caspian Winery—actually Grandma’s mansion—to something closer to Toronto. Anyway, I shouldn’t be boring you with all of this, it is what it is and the wedding will happen no matter what. You know, I wanted something simple but Grandma got in the mix and there was no way an intimate gathering was going to happen.”
Tarin smiled at the affection in her voice. She couldn’t help but be envious of her. Bailey seemed to have it all; money, a great guy and a loving family. Some people had no idea what a tough life was like. Not that she could really complain; she’d grown up with money too. And when she looked at someone like Bill, she knew although her upbringing had been emotionally bereft, the physical comforts were more than he currently had.
“You mean her?” Tarin nodded toward one of the many wall pictures of Dorothea Lindell.
Bailey’s expression softened as she looked at the woman. “Yeah. She’s something.” There was a sad hitch to her voice. “Really, I’m forever grateful to that woman. She’s amazing and I am truly blessed to have her in my life.”
Again something sounded off. “She’s okay, isn’t she?”
“Oh my god, yes. She’ll outlive us all. She’s someone who radically changed my life.”
“You’re lucky.”
“You know I never used to think that but you know what? I am.” Bailey glanced at her cell phone. “I have to run. I have a new client I’m meeting.”
“Have a good day.”
She was at the door before she stopped and turned around. “Are things okay with you?”
Tarin blinked at her a couple of times, tempted to look over her shoulder to see if there was someone behind her. “Yes. I’m fine. Things are good. Graham and I have come to a bit of an understanding. We still have a few things to work out.”
“Yeah, he barks and you—”
“No, it’s not like that anymore. He’s mellowed some. I guess I brought out the worst in him. Guy has said a few times he’d never seen him so growly in the eight years he’s known him.”
“Oh? Hmm. Interesting. Anyway, I really do have to run. Hey, do you want to do lunch sometime?”
“I’d love that. Do you think you could show me Caspian Winery at some point?”
“Sure,” Bailey nodded. “I’ll call you.”
Tarin rattled off her cell number before Bailey slipped out the door. Feeling a little out of sorts, she was tempted to sit there and contemplate their odd conversation but then she realized maybe it was awkward because she’d never really talked to Bailey before. The soft ding from her computer reminded her she had a lot of work to do.
She quickly logged on to her site. There were fourteen more women who had asked to join. A few shared their story but none were what Tarin was looking for.
I shouldn’t be sharing this with you but I’m being asked to do something that is so wrong. But if I don’t, he’ll hurt my family. I thought I was rid of this man. I did something that might end everything for me. I hate being bullied. I’m standing up to him in a roundabout way. I didn’t know what else to do. Sorry I needed to vent with someone. LJ
LJ, I’m sorry you’re in this situation. I know what it’s like to have an abusive man in your life. I’m currently trying to leave mine. Can you go to the police? I know he’s probably threatened you if you do but if you don’t... I don’t know what to tell you to do. I ran. I don’t know that it’s the best advice. Maybe you’ve done the best thing. If I can help, I’m here. Tarin.
After she replied, she wished there was something she could do. There were way too many women in situations similar to this. She hated feeling so helpless. Skimming through the other information, she realized there was nothing more from the other two women. She sent a personal email welcoming each new member. She posted some new information. There was nothing new from any of the women. None of those she had questioned had responded, so she logged off.
Graham hadn’t come out to check on her, but she knew he wouldn’t be pleased that she was over an hour late. For whatever reason, Chance hadn’t wanted her to leave that morning. He’d clung to her crying. It made her feel all the more guilty for what she’d put him through and if truth be told, she hadn’t really wanted to go to the office at all.
Pushing away her thoughts, she quickly opened K.A.’s emails. The first one stopped her. There was nothing special about it except for the banner that had been included. It was the same logo on the paper left underneath her when Tarin had awakened from her week-long drugged state. It was one of the only clues she had.
The logo for Caspian Winery wasn’t out of the ordinary; but seeing it on something sent to Knights Associates looking exactly like that piece of paper stuck to her back, hit home like nothing else had.
It’s run by an eighty-year-old woman. It didn’t even make sense but it was all she had to go on. She couldn’t stop staring at it. In her gut she knew it was the link she needed. She was tempted to connect the USB from the winery. There was no way she could do it during the day, she didn’t want to be found with something so incriminating. It reminded her of the information she’d been accused of stealing at school, only that time she hadn’t stolen it. She’d barely been able to use computers back then. She still had no idea who’d set her up.
Being caught was not something she was ready to go through again. The best place to look over that information would be through the office but how was she going to do that? Her brilliant midnight run had turned out to be her usual screw-up. She’d have to try again. She didn’t have a choice. She needed to know what connection Caspian Winery had to her. One question from that situation three years was ago reverberated through her mind: Had she gone willingly?