“Parker, come get this punk off me before I have to beat him up.” I pushed Asher toward Parker. “You’re the big brother.”
“I want nothing to do with this. I came out to warn you Mom is waiting for you in the library.” Parker pointed to me instead of Asher. “Should I come with you for back up?”
“I didn’t do anything wrong, so I’ll be fine.” I walked past Parker with a side hug then gestured to Asher. “You keep tabs on that one. See if we can get through the night without showing up on a magazine cover.”
Diana the house manager stopped to give me a hug. She’s been with the family since we were kids. We all love her like a grandmother. She pointed to the south wing with a wink. She, of course, knew the difference between myself and Asher. Always had, even when Mom couldn’t. I heard her telling Asher to get cleaned up for dinner as I headed to the library.
Why am I nervous, for crying out loud? I didn’t do anything. As usual.
I opened the door to the library to find Mom sitting by the fireplace with a book. She always retreated to her books when she was stressed. This is why I was feeling nervous. Mom counted on me to handle Asher.
“Hey Mom.” I kissed her on the cheek and sat down. “What book are you reading tonight?”
“You know very well which book I’m reading, August.” She took a sip of her wine. “Any thoughts on what we are going to do about Asher?”
“He’s a living breathing pain in the neck, Mom, but he doesn’t do any of these ridiculous things to hurt anyone.” I sighed and leaned back on the couch. “You said you had an idea. Hit me with it.”
Chapter 5
IMOGEN
No, no, no. I’m too close now.
I could hear the officer asking Sienna to exit the car. She was putting up a fight, but she wasn’t winning. I felt around the cavity under the seat that I was crammed into. I wasn’t sure what I was hoping to find, maybe something to hold the seat down in case they tried to open it. That’s when my hand brushed across what felt like a lock. I quietly turned the knob, then reached above my head and found another lock.
What do these people do that they have a hidden compartment that locks from the inside? It can only be for hiding a person. Maybe I should be afraid of them as much as Brice.
Sienna had gotten out but was still throwing a tantrum. I could tell the officer was looking around the car. Brice had obviously given strict instructions to check everything. I felt the seat above me being tugged on. The locks had kept it in place. Then nothing, not a sound, almost as if the officer was waiting for me to jump out and run. Minutes ticked by that felt like hours until I heard the officer say they were free to go. I felt the weight of someone getting in the car and the door being slammed.
“Imogen, are you doing okay in there?” Sienna asked frantically. “Can you breathe?”
“I’m okay, but I’m starting to get claustrophobic,” I answered. “How much longer ‘til we’re away from the hospital?”
I waited and counted to calm my nerves. The car never stopped moving, but Sienna did give me the clear to unlock the seat and get out.
“Strewth crickey, that was scary,” I cried out, gulping in fresh air. “I came close to losing it.”
“That guy was dodgy. No wonder you’re terrified of him,” Sienna said, laying her head against the back of the seat. “What a dipstick.”
“Wait, what did you say?” I turned in my seat to face her. “It was Brice checking the car?”
“That’s what the badge said,” Sienna said. “We were almost up a creek. He’s determined to find you.”
“I told you he wouldn’t stop. He’s a maniac,” I moaned. “He’ll have us followed too. If he was that sure I was in the car, he won’t give up.”
At that Sienna tapped on the dividing glass, then motioned for me to duck down on the seat.
“Hi, by any chance have you noticed anyone following us?” Sienna asked.
“Yes, ma’am, an officer was following but I lost him a few lights back,” the driver boasted. “Mr. Hawthorne gave me instructions to drive around for a while.”
Who are these people? How do they know all of this?
I pulled my cellphone out to call Chloe to let her know we made it out when the driver came to a quick stop.
“Is that your cellphone you usually use or a burner phone?” the driver asked, leaning his head through the window to look.
“It’s my phone. Why?” I asked, holding it up to let him see. “Did you need to use it?”
“No, ma’am. I need you to get rid of it,” he said. “I believe the officer looking for you has a tracker on your phone. It would explain why he wanted to tear this car apart.”
“No wonder I never had a fair go when I ran away the other times.” I dropped the phone to the floor like it had burned me. “What do we do?”
“You pass the phone to me. I’m going to stop up the street at the grocery store. I want Sienna to go inside with the phone and leave it in the women’s bathroom garbage can,” he explained carefully. “Then hurry back, so we have time to get to the hotel while they search the store.”
When we reached the store, Sienna jumped out as told. Clinging to her purse, she hurried inside and was back within minutes. We sped away then slowed to a normal pace. At a red light the driver asked if I had anything I really needed in my purse. When I assured him I didn’t need it, he stopped once again at a different store and had Sienna do the same thing. But this time she left my purse, wallet and all. I felt like I was in some kind of spy movie instead of the real world. When we reached the Hawthorne Hotel, a side gate opened for us to enter, then quickly closed.
“You should be safe now, Miss. You don’t have anything else on you that was from before, do you?” he asked.
“No, I left my clothes at the hospital, so that’s it,” I said, realizing I now had nothing, including identification. “Someone should tell Chloe to get rid of my clothes.”
“I’ve already taken care of it.” He smiled for the first time. “Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne are expecting you right through those doors.”
I reached through the window and hugged his neck. He patted my back like a child needing reassurance. That was okay with me. I did need it.
“I don’t know you, but you saved my life today, and I cannot thank you enough.” I wiped at the tears running down my face. “Can I at least know your name?”
“Bond. James Bond.” He laughed and closed the dividing glass.
The back door opened, and Sienna grabbed me by the arm to exit. We appeared to be at the servant side of the hotel. No one seemed to care about us, but I kept my head down just in case. We came to what looked like a service elevator. That is until Sienna slid a card into a slot and the doors opened. I saw her push PH and the elevator whisked us up.
“Sienna, before we go to the next phase, can you tell me what to expect?” I asked. “I’m super grateful and I’ll do whatever is needed, but I’m stuffed, so help me out here.”
“Sure, I should have told you earlier and I had planned to in the car ride, but we know how that went.” She laughed.