Families are walking past. It keeps me from screaming profanities like I want to. A growing numbness spreading through my body. Maggie on her knees… it couldn’t be.
“I only wanted to teach her a lesson. Remind her of my power. I think you need reminding too, my friend. I run this town. And now I see where your weakness lies. Maggie cared for you. You care for that town.”
His threats do nothing compared to the truth of his statement. That’s how Maggie sees it too.
“I’ll hear from you soon.” The call ends abruptly.
“Girlfriend on her knees.” The words repeat in my head. With shaking hands, I open a video attachment. There’s no sound at first. It’s a high angle of what must be his cabin. It jumps around. First, she’s by the door with a gun and then he’s in front of her. It’s been edited for his purposes. Just like everything around him. Then the sound clicks on.
“I want you to beg for it. I want you to beg me for Roe’s sake.”
He’s tormenting her. I want to puke. When she starts to say something his hand smacks the side of her face. Her head flies back. My sight goes red.
The welt on her face. I remember now. I’ve been so self-absorbed. I didn’t think. The video jumps again and she’s on her knees. I can’t watch. I can’t look away. She’s begging him now. She’s saying that she wants to work for him. It stops.
I close the video. My body thrums with anger. I can hardly see. My heart slams against my chest.
Maggie. I made such a mistake.
I could take this video to the press, but what would happen to Maggie? It doesn’t look good in the video. He makes it seem like she wanted it. I’m such an idiot. I call her and there is no answer. I’m not surprised.
My phone rings again and I jump. I need it to be Maggie. It’s not.
“Rachel?”
“Hey, have you landed?”
“Yeah. Just now.” My voice is tight.
“What’s going on?”
“Too much.” I shake my head. “I need to get back to LA right now.”
“Okay. Didn’t you say you just landed?”
“Yeah, but I made a mistake. I need to see Maggie. I can’t reach her.”
“Okay hold on.” The soft familiar sound of typing comes through. “Well, the next flight isn’t until tonight. Otherwise, you fly all over the country to get home at basically the same time.”
“Shit.”
“I have a suggestion.”
“Yeah?” I pace the terminal.
“Your mom has been calling nonstop. You need to talk to her. Since you’re already there, go explain things in person. That’s why you flew down there, after all. Take the time to think of what you need to say to Maggie too. I’m not sure what happened there, but I did see the article. You’re all over the news.”
“She didn’t write that.”
“Glad to hear that. I like her. I didn’t want to hurt her.”
“She cares about me.”
“You’re easy to care about.” Her voice is soft, and I’m taken aback. People rely on me but I’m not used to people caring for me. I hear her typing some more. “For now, go do what you went there to do. Smooth things over. I’ll make sure Maggie is okay and you can meet up when you get home tonight.”
“You’re right.” I run a hand through my hair. “As always.”
“I know.”
