His brow rose as his dark brown eyes widened. “But you called out for me?”
“According to Valerie,” I clarified.
“So now we’re accusing the good doctor of lying?”
I stood and walked to the window. The skies were an uncustomary gray, with thick clouds that billowed toward the horizon as white caps graced the tips of the waves in the raging ocean. It was late autumn, near the end of hurricane season. Only large commercial ocean liners could be seen on the rough waters. The smaller crafts no doubt had heeded the warning about the impending weather.
Was that what I needed to do? Heed the warnings… but which ones? Who could I believe? Without turning, I began, “It was so real. I was there, at the warehouse. I was even reasoning with myself. I knew it couldn’t be real. I knew Stewart was dead. I remembered you saying that you’d always been there.” I closed my eyes and fought the revolt in the pit of my stomach from Robert’s rancid breath. “I tried to fight.”
A muffled laugh came from behind me. “As I recall, you’re a pretty damn good fighter.”
Hugging my midsection I spun and took in Travis’ expression. I didn’t see pity or condemnation as I’d expected; instead, I saw respect. I continued, “But this time was different. I couldn’t fight. My hands and feet were bound.”
“It wasn’t real,” Travis said matter-of-factly.
“It sure as hell felt real. It smelled real. I even saw him. He took off my blindfold. It was as if he wanted me to know it was him.”
Travis’ neck straightened. “Who? Who did you see?”
Biting my lip, I admitted, “I don’t know if I should say.”
“Why? You know I know who’s been there.”
“But what will it mean if I know? I’m not supposed to know.”
Travis stood and moved closer. “Who said you’re not supposed to know?”
“S-Stewart.”
His dark eyes questioned mine. “Mr. Harrington is dead. Right now, no one owns that contract. Right now, the choice is yours to know or not know.”
I moved back to the chair, suddenly alarmed at my desire to find solace in his proximity and common understanding. “Why would I possibly want to give anyone, you or Parker, the right to make those kinds of decisions for me again?”
“Because if you don’t, there are those who want to suck you into a world that will make your nightmare seem like a walk on the beach.”
“Those?”
“Who did you see in your nightmare?”
I closed my eyes and inhaled. Sighing, I admitted, “Senator Keene.”
Travis’ dark eyes opened wide as a shrill whistle came from his lips. “Damn, how long have you known?”
I shrugged. “Not long. You said politicians. He was at the viewing and I smelled him.”
“You smelled him?”
“You know—senses. I was never able to see the men or hear them. Most of the time I wasn’t allowed to touch them—not with my hands. That left the sense of smell and taste. Over the years I’ve identified a few friends by their unique odor: particular colognes, aftershaves, their breath. Senator Keene’s breath reeks.”
Travis nodded. “He’s one of the friends who’s not happy about the end of his visits. He’s supported or rather effectively turned a blind eye to some of the activities that happened within the underworld of Harrington Spas and Suites. He’s even been instrumental in expanding the business outside of the US. He believes that he’s entitled.”
“So how will that change if you or Parker is in control?”
“It won’t. However, it will keep you safer. Mr. Harrington had rules. You’re right that he enjoyed watching, but he also watched to be sure his rules were maintained. Multiple times throughout the years Mr. Harrington stopped things that you never knew about.”
I didn’t want to think about that. “Let me get this straight.” I looked Travis in the eye. “It doesn’t matter if it’s you or Parker, you both plan on making me continue this… this… life?”
“I don’t know what Mr. Craven plans. I would assume he does. From what I know of him, I would also assume the rules would be significantly different under his watchful eye.”
“From what you know? He’s one of them, isn’t he?”
Travis nodded again. “I don’t think that’s a revelation, is it?”
“No,” I admitted. “I’ve known that for a while, too.” I looked at Travis earnestly, “What about you? What are your plans?”
“To bring the fuckers down. Not all of them. There are a few sick bastards who’ve joined this party because they could. They have no hidden agenda. They’ll go away as quietly as they came. They don’t want their good names associated with a possible scandal. A few seconds of carefully selected audio and I can make them go away; however, there are a handful who know exactly what they’re doing. They think that by fucking with you, they’re helping themselves with other causes. I want to see them all burn in hell. Fuck, I’ll probably be there with them, but at least that’s a show I’ll enjoy.”
“Why, Travis? Why do you care?”
“It’s a long story.” He sighed. “One that began when I was too young to understand. Let’s just say that I knew a woman, one who was caught up in something similar to what you’ve gone through, but worse.”
“According to Valerie,” I clarified.
“So now we’re accusing the good doctor of lying?”
I stood and walked to the window. The skies were an uncustomary gray, with thick clouds that billowed toward the horizon as white caps graced the tips of the waves in the raging ocean. It was late autumn, near the end of hurricane season. Only large commercial ocean liners could be seen on the rough waters. The smaller crafts no doubt had heeded the warning about the impending weather.
Was that what I needed to do? Heed the warnings… but which ones? Who could I believe? Without turning, I began, “It was so real. I was there, at the warehouse. I was even reasoning with myself. I knew it couldn’t be real. I knew Stewart was dead. I remembered you saying that you’d always been there.” I closed my eyes and fought the revolt in the pit of my stomach from Robert’s rancid breath. “I tried to fight.”
A muffled laugh came from behind me. “As I recall, you’re a pretty damn good fighter.”
Hugging my midsection I spun and took in Travis’ expression. I didn’t see pity or condemnation as I’d expected; instead, I saw respect. I continued, “But this time was different. I couldn’t fight. My hands and feet were bound.”
“It wasn’t real,” Travis said matter-of-factly.
“It sure as hell felt real. It smelled real. I even saw him. He took off my blindfold. It was as if he wanted me to know it was him.”
Travis’ neck straightened. “Who? Who did you see?”
Biting my lip, I admitted, “I don’t know if I should say.”
“Why? You know I know who’s been there.”
“But what will it mean if I know? I’m not supposed to know.”
Travis stood and moved closer. “Who said you’re not supposed to know?”
“S-Stewart.”
His dark eyes questioned mine. “Mr. Harrington is dead. Right now, no one owns that contract. Right now, the choice is yours to know or not know.”
I moved back to the chair, suddenly alarmed at my desire to find solace in his proximity and common understanding. “Why would I possibly want to give anyone, you or Parker, the right to make those kinds of decisions for me again?”
“Because if you don’t, there are those who want to suck you into a world that will make your nightmare seem like a walk on the beach.”
“Those?”
“Who did you see in your nightmare?”
I closed my eyes and inhaled. Sighing, I admitted, “Senator Keene.”
Travis’ dark eyes opened wide as a shrill whistle came from his lips. “Damn, how long have you known?”
I shrugged. “Not long. You said politicians. He was at the viewing and I smelled him.”
“You smelled him?”
“You know—senses. I was never able to see the men or hear them. Most of the time I wasn’t allowed to touch them—not with my hands. That left the sense of smell and taste. Over the years I’ve identified a few friends by their unique odor: particular colognes, aftershaves, their breath. Senator Keene’s breath reeks.”
Travis nodded. “He’s one of the friends who’s not happy about the end of his visits. He’s supported or rather effectively turned a blind eye to some of the activities that happened within the underworld of Harrington Spas and Suites. He’s even been instrumental in expanding the business outside of the US. He believes that he’s entitled.”
“So how will that change if you or Parker is in control?”
“It won’t. However, it will keep you safer. Mr. Harrington had rules. You’re right that he enjoyed watching, but he also watched to be sure his rules were maintained. Multiple times throughout the years Mr. Harrington stopped things that you never knew about.”
I didn’t want to think about that. “Let me get this straight.” I looked Travis in the eye. “It doesn’t matter if it’s you or Parker, you both plan on making me continue this… this… life?”
“I don’t know what Mr. Craven plans. I would assume he does. From what I know of him, I would also assume the rules would be significantly different under his watchful eye.”
“From what you know? He’s one of them, isn’t he?”
Travis nodded again. “I don’t think that’s a revelation, is it?”
“No,” I admitted. “I’ve known that for a while, too.” I looked at Travis earnestly, “What about you? What are your plans?”
“To bring the fuckers down. Not all of them. There are a few sick bastards who’ve joined this party because they could. They have no hidden agenda. They’ll go away as quietly as they came. They don’t want their good names associated with a possible scandal. A few seconds of carefully selected audio and I can make them go away; however, there are a handful who know exactly what they’re doing. They think that by fucking with you, they’re helping themselves with other causes. I want to see them all burn in hell. Fuck, I’ll probably be there with them, but at least that’s a show I’ll enjoy.”
“Why, Travis? Why do you care?”
“It’s a long story.” He sighed. “One that began when I was too young to understand. Let’s just say that I knew a woman, one who was caught up in something similar to what you’ve gone through, but worse.”
