Five Years Ago
“Chad, can I talk to you.”
His eyes lift to hers. "Hello, Jenny. What is it?”
“I wanted to tell you, I'm leaving.”
“I ... kind of expected it.” His words come out all in a rush. “Jenny, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault….”
“When I first came here I thought I was in heaven. It's different now.”
“You’ll want the divorce of course.”
“Yes, I do. I want to be free. I want my life back.”
“Just send the papers. I'll sign whatever you need…. You can tell the lawyer to send the bill to me as well. I’ll pay it.” He bites down on guilt and shame, tries to focus. “What will you do?”
“I’m not sure. I'll probably go to the City. Find work. Take it from there.”
“When are you going?”
“Tomorrow. I just want to leave quietly. You won't tell anyone will you? Not yet anyway.”
“No, not if you don’t want me to. I won't tell anyone.”
*****
The following morning, she rises early, everything already packed. She thinks to leave alone but as she slings the rucksack over her shoulder and walks down the track, at the end, Chad is waiting for her.
“Let me carry that for you. Walk you to the bus stop.”
“I'd like that.”
They don’t talk much. What is there to say?
“Are you still angry with me?”
“I have my moments, but no mostly I'm not. I think maybe I should have done this a while ago. I thought I belonged here, but I don't. It’s best this way.”
stops. Chad slings
you deserve.” He brushes her cheek. “I still think you're the most beautiful thing
“You too.”
gears, throwing dust into the air,
watches until
*****
The Present
easy,
muffled voice comes through and almost immediately, the
No sense of security….
a pad of chloroform over her face muffles her voice and has her struggling weakly. Kjelle
Where are the men?
the background - the hiss of a
by the door keeping watch, pushing the Haswell woman
there, but sitting at a desk, looking at
horror and fury warring on her face,
again, Jennifer,”
but she’s trapped between seat and desk and can’t disentangle herself before Gunther is on
trying to scream
Michael? The blond one….
In the shower…?
hears and comes out. He can’t be discounted. He took out
have an
…. Or will you?
just to take them and
getting the pad over her mouth, gagging her racket and making her woozy, or at least forcing her to hold
nod Kjelle across and again, a jab from the syringe and she
way out is clear, pressing a finger to my lips, I nod them
I leave, grinning….
Payback time….
*****
we put the women in
at the station. Make
them.
join you at the end of my shift. Now go. Drive normally and don’t do anything to get yourself