Consequences(50)

“Yes, Tony, I heard you. I thought we discussed this and decided I have no pressing need for anything.”

“I’m pretty sure we discussed it, and I said you’re going—tomorrow.”

“But, don’t you need Eric tomorrow?”

His eyes darkened as his tone slowed, “Are you arguing? You were a confident woman when I met you. You’ve learned your lessons well. You need to get out in the world, and for the record, this conversation is now over, unless you feel it would be beneficial to argue?”

Claire wanted to complain and explain that she worried about the Charles Jacksons of the world; however, she’d made that mistake before. She swallowed. “What time does Eric need me to be ready?”

The trip to Davenport was unnerving. Eric picked Claire up in a black BMW. She sat in the backseat feeling awkward without Tony. Driving away from the house, she told herself Tony was right. She had been a confident woman, and besides, one day she would be leaving here. She also knew the truth. This was a test to determine if she could be trusted out by herself. She’d learned from earlier glitches the best way to pass a test was to avoid it. Tony made it clear—avoiding this was not an option.

Eric took her to the River Walk Shoppes, higher-end boutiques in the Quad Cities. She entered each shop and took her time looking around. At first, her senses were on high alert, afraid of everyone that approached. She soon realized no one paid that much attention to her. The clerks were attentive and she was shown everything and anything she wanted. People didn’t browse these shops if they couldn’t buy.

Claire saw no reporters. No one stared or asked questions. By the time she made it down the street to a small coffee shop she felt better about her outing, and even drank coffee sitting at an outside table. She sipped the aromatic rich brew and watched people as they rushed down the sidewalks. She missed being around people; however, the idea of speaking to anyone frightened her. What if she said something wrong?

By the time Eric returned to pick her up, she found a few books on butterflies and some casual clothes for her busy event-filled days. It wasn’t a lot, but she did what she’d been told to do and honestly enjoyed it.

Tony seemed disappointed that she hadn’t bought more, but also pleased she’d done as he instructed. He then expected her to give him a fashion show of her finds and suggested next time she buy some items he would like too. That meant fashions with much less material.

Once the jet landed the five of them entered a waiting limousine. The four continued to discuss their impending meeting. Claire sat silently listening—trying to go unnoticed. It was 9:20 AM and their meeting was to start at 10:00 AM. Eric rode in the passenger seat next to the driver. In no time they were in the throes of New York City grid-lock traffic. The car traveled in short, accelerated movements.

Claire experienced this traffic from the back of a taxi when she lived with Emily and John and knew it could stifle travel and wreak havoc on schedules. Tony didn’t seem concerned. Their car pulled up to their destination with minutes to spare. The four associates got out and proceeded through the big glass doors. Claire found herself alone in a large limousine. She didn’t know where she was going or how long she would be there. Her life was no longer in her hands, and she was somehow coming to terms with that.


Peering around the marble floored foyer, Claire knew his apartment wasn’t like any she’d seen before. Her anxiety eased with the housekeeper’s warm greeting, “Ms. Claire, welcome. My name is Jan. Let me show you to Mr. Rawlings’s room. We’ll put your belongings in there and show you around.”