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‘Never had to be the one dealing with the real world?’
‘Yeah.’ His words stung, but he wasn’t wrong.
‘So what can I do you for?’ Dave leant casually against the edge of his desk and indicated to the couch beside me. I sat gingerly on the edge as I dropped my necklace back against my chest and smoothed my skirt over my knees.
Coming here was dangerous. For both me and him.
‘I need documents. A new name, a passport. I need to disappear without being traced.’ The words flew out in one breath, reality hitting as I said the words aloud.Disappear. I swallowed hard as he ran a hand through his shaggy, red beard.
‘I’m guessing this has something to do with your soon to be husband?’ My eyes widened almost painfully as I inhaled. He knew.
‘Please don’t tell him. It’s fine, I’ll go. Just pretend I was never here.’ I stood on shaky legs. He could extort a lot if he wanted to get on Harold’s good side.
‘Hey,’ Dave said, coming over and pressing gently on my shoulders until I sat back down. ‘I’m no rat. Especially for that fucker. I can help. Give me a few days and I’ll have a whole new identity ready.’
‘I don’t have a few days. I’m supposed to get married on Saturday.’
Dave inhaled sharply before pressing his lips together in a solid line. ‘It’ll cost you.’
‘Whatever you want, I’ve got plenty of funds. I’ll pay double if you can keep anyone from finding out the new name too. I’ll tell Maeve to get the cash to you if I’m still gone after six months.’
‘I never share details of my client’s business.’ He looked almost offended.
‘Not willingly perhaps, but Harold doesn’t play fair.’
Dave shifted from foot to foot as he mulled it over. ‘Triple and you have a deal.’
Tension fled from my tight shoulders as I flopped back against the back of the couch.
‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’
‘Let’s get your pictures now. It will make everything quicker. I’ll have them to you in twenty-four hours. Discretely, of course.’ Dave pulled a camera out of a drawer and grinned at me. ‘Hope you’re passport photo ready.’
* * *
As the sundipped below the horizon outside, I sat surrounded by clothes and knick-knacks, struggling to figure out what to take with me. Taking sizeable sums of money out of my account would have looked suspicious, so I’d taken what I could out while shopping and then raided my emergency stash. It was only a few thousand, but would be enough for accommodation and food for a while if I was careful.
I’d decided on Spain. I’d search for somewhere rural where no-one would look for me. Somewhere small and quaint. Then I’d find a job. Lord knew what, though. I had no particular talents. I’d never even learned to cook or clean. But if it would keep me from Harold’s clutches, I’d take whatever work I could get. Cash in hand, under the radar. Thankfully, Dave had suggested a forged work visa along with my new identity, so I wouldn’t have to worry about deportation.
Once I’d packed a meagre collection of my things, I went to Maeve’s room and snuggled in beside her as she watched some bubblegum TV.
‘I’m going to miss this,’ I said as I snuggled in beside my baby sister.
‘Don’t be silly.’ Maeve rolled her eyes at me. ‘I’ll still see you all the time. Harold won’t keep you locked up.’
The need to tell her burned at the back of my throat. I didn’t want to disappear without letting her know where I was going. She may have suggested disappearing, but she didn’t for a moment suspect that that was exactly what I intended on doing. It was safest if she didn’t know. However hurt she’d be when she discovered I was gone.
‘I want you to have this,’ I said, taking off my mother’s necklace and slipping it into her hand.
‘Esther, you are acting like you are dying. I know it’s bad, but it’s going to be okay. Dad won’t let Harold ban you from seeing us. It’s supposed to bury the hatchet.’
Yeah, bury it right in my back.
‘Please, just look after it for me.’
‘Fine, but can you stop being so weird?’
‘I’ll never stop being weird,’ I said with a forced smile as I cuddled into her side.
