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“Oh, you saw that?”
Alicia laughed, and the note of censure was gone from her voice. “I did. And to me it looked like an image of two men sleeping in your bed after a night of passion.”
Sylvia grinned. “I had a ménage.”
“Good for you, dear. Good for you. And how was it?”
“Amazing. Different than I thought. It was so complex. I don’t mean physically, though that certainly was the case. I mean emotionally.”
“‘Those who restrain their desire do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained.’”
“William Blake,” Sylvia said.
“Well done. I’m proud of you, dear.” There was a beat of silence, then Alicia continued. “Come visit me. I’d like… No, I need to see you.”
That was unexpected, but Sylvia rallied. “Oh, well, I’d love to. When?”
“Now.”
“You want me to come to Florida tonight?”
Another moment of silence. “You know where I am?”
“I had my brother Oscar check on you after you left Exeter. Also, this phone number is a Palm Coast area code.”
“Ah yes, your brother Oscar. It’s a pity I didn’t get the chance to know him better. Did you tell anyone else I’m in Palm Coast?”
“I didn’t even know until you called and my phone identified the area code.”
“Good. Right now, I value my privacy above all.”
“Mrs. Rutherford, Alicia, are you sure you’re okay?”
“That’s one of the reasons I want to talk to you. Tonight.”
Alicia glanced at the clock. “Even if I left right now, I wouldn’t reach Florida until midnight.”
“Are you able to make the drive?” Alicia asked softly.
The fact that she asked, that she wanted Sylvia to leave and drive through the night, said more than words ever could about the urgency and severity of whatever situation it was Alicia had found herself in. Considering all this woman had done for her, there was only one possible answer to that question.
“Yes, of course.”
“Thank you, dear. I’m going to move to another location, just to be safe. I’ll text you the location in a few minutes, once I’ve nailed it down.”
Who, or what, was Alicia running from?
They said their goodbyes, and then Sylvia threw a few things into yet another tote and hurried out to the car. She debated texting Hugo and Lancelot, but despite all they’d shared, there was no reason for her to text them minute-by-minute updates about where she was. She could always talk to them tomorrow morning, depending on how her conversation with Alicia went, to let them know if she’d be back in Charleston tomorrow evening.
She debated texting her family to let them know about this last-minute road trip, but she didn’t want to worry them, or worse, have someone insist on coming with her, and then she’d spend four hours arguing about what they were going to listen to while they drove.
Fifteen minutes after ending the call, Sylvia was in the car and on her way to Florida.
Chapter Eleven
“What’s wrong?” Hugo asked as soon as they pulled out of Sylvia’s driveway.
“Silent alarm went off at the safe house. Someone opened the front door.”
