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SADIE
“I wantto talk to Miss Caroline in private, please.” Sadie held up a hand to prevent Harriet from following her and Caroline into the guest bedroom, where Caroline had retreated to “recover”.
Stopping at the door, Harriet looked stricken. “Are you sure that’s wise? I don’t want things getting too heated between the two of you all alone when tempers flare as they’re bound to do.”
Sadie smiled. She could practically smell the desperate need roiling off Harriet. So close to so much more gossip, yet barred from it. Not that she put it past her to hold a glass to the door once it was closed.
“I’ll be fine,” Sadie assured her.
Harriet caught the edge of the door before it could close. “It isn’t you I’m worried about, Sadie.”
Sadie huffed. She had the good sense to act offended despite being somewhat pleased that Harriet didn’t underestimate her. When Amos carted Wally off to jail, she could’ve strangled the strange woman with her bare hands. But she knew better. This was about getting her to see reason and finding a way to steer her back to the TCR. If Sadie believed Wally, and she did, her whole world was at stake.
“I’ll be gentle. I promise.” Sadie closed and latched the door then turned toward the woman now sitting on the neatly made, yet hideous quilt adorning the guest bed.
Caroline adjusted her hat, now replaced on her head, as Sadie pulled out the single chair from the rolltop desk and sat across from her. Unapologetic, the two sized each other up before speaking.
Picking at her jacket, Sadie wondered how much Caroline knew about her and what Wally had told her. Caroline hadn’t seen her hiding aboard the resort when she snuck off. Of that, Sadie was quite certain.
“You were on one of the tours,” she said finally. This much, they were both aware of.
“You recognize me?” Caroline said.
“Even with your hair different.” Sadie nodded, folding and unfolding her hands in her lap.
“I don’t know what he told you, but he’s lying.” Caroline adjusted her position and the bed creaked in response.
“If you don’t know what it is he said, how do you know it’s a lie?”
“Well, I can’t imagine what he told you to get you to help him bring all those people through—”
“Your people.”
“My people. I was right about him trying the ‘from the future’ lie. I could tell by your reaction.”
Sadie stood and Caroline watched her pace. Then, without warning, she opened the door to the room and Harriet stumbled inward, nearly falling to the ground. As Sadie had suspected, a small glass was clutched in one hand.
“Just checking on you two,” Harriet said, straightening her clothing as she stood. The pink in her cheeks told a different story.
Sadie saw her out, waited until she was out of sight, and closed the door again.
Staring directly at Caroline she said, “What if I told you I know what you did?”
The bed springs groaned beneath the woman again, advertising her discomfort. Sadie saw no sense in beating around the bush. The sooner this was over, the sooner they could move forward and get things settled.
“If he told you something about me—”
Sadie laughed. “I saw you with my own two eyes. If you can sneak off the TCR, I can sneak on.”
Caroline’s mouth dropped open as she processed the information. Sadie folded her arms and waited, tapping a foot against the floorboards.
“What do you want?” Caroline’s tone changed drastically with those words, all politeness evaporated.
“I want you to go back and face the music, honey.”
Caroline laughed this time, a short, loud bark. “That is not going to happen. I still have the upper hand here. It’s been the plan all along to bail, and one stupid woman who’s supposed to be dead is not going to get in the way.”
Supposed to be dead?
