Caged

by Shanna Ehrlich

  Annie finally pushed herself up from the tub, the water dripping down her body while she bent over to unplug the drain. She wrapped herself in a large towel and walked back in her bedroom to put on the same sweats she wore the night before. Looking at herself in the dresser mirror she saw her eyes were gaunt and her cheeks pale. She hadn’t been eating well and the sweat pants were now a size too big.

  After brushing her wet hair, she waded down the stairs and out back where she lit up a cigarette, a habit she partook in back in college, but recently started up again. She loved the way the smoke burnt her lungs. Ironically it made her feel alive.

  Trevor knocked on the sliding glass door from within the house to announce his arrival. She must have lost track of time. Was it six already? They had a standard dinner date every Tuesday and he wouldn’t be happy to find her in sweats, but she wasn’t planning to leave the house. She could cook dinner for him there.

  “Girl, you look like shit,” he said, stepping out back and closing the sliding glass door. “I can’t believe you’re smoking again. Doesn’t Keith complain you taste like an ashtray? I thought that’s why you quit in the first place.”

  “He does.” She stubbed the cigarette out and Trevor took a seat in the padded chair next to her. “I’ll stop soon. I’m just a little antsy.”

  “Are you still worried about Braxton? What do you think he’s going to do? Even if he finds you. So what?”

  “He’s not as nice as you think he is.”

  “Really? You were the one defending him back in New York when the detectives brought you in for questioning. Were you wrong? If you were, then call the detectives. Tell them you take back everything you said. Get him locked up.”

  “I’m not going to do that.” It was frustrating she couldn’t explain everything to Trevor, but she still wasn’t about to drag him into her mess.

  “Why not? If you’re so scared that you’re smoking everyday, then you need to say something.”

  “I said no.”

  “Then you need to get up off this chair and change into some regular clothes. You’re not going to sit around and sulk over some drama you’re making up in your own head.”

  “I’m not making it up.”

  “Annie, he cared about you. He probably still does. He’s hurting right now, just like you are. Why don’t you try and call him? I think it will make you feel better.”

  Annie widened her eyes in shock. “Hell no. What would I say to him? Hey Brax, it’s me, the girl who ran out on you after promising I’d stay. Oh yeah and sorry for lying about my name and a bunch of other random stuff. I was just trying to protect myself and didn’t give a shit about you. I hope you forgive me.”

  “That’s a little direct for my taste, but who knows, it could work.”

  She huffed out a subtle laugh, really just air escaping her nose, but it was something. “I don’t want him to forgive me. If he forgives me then I’m back at square one. He’ll try to keep in contact with me. He’ll tell me all the sweet things he said before. I’ll fall for him all over again. It’s better if he hates me.”

  “Oh my god, I can not! If it’s better he hates you then get your ass up and move on. You are not going to wallow around forever and it’s not fair to Keith while you pretend to be happy around him. You made your decision, now deal with it.”

  Trevor stood from the chair, hands on his hips, lips pursed together. She looked him up and down. Her happy go lucky friend had finally reached his breaking point. He wasn’t going to put up with her act any longer. Not that she blamed him. If the tables were turned she wouldn’t put up with it either. And now that he was standing in front of her she noticed what she hadn’t when he walked in. He was wearing a suit. An expensive looking suit. “Where did you get that suit?”

  He looked down and straightened his tie. “It’s a Tom Ford. Do you like it?”

  “Of course I like it. You look hot. What I want to know is where you got it. How did you afford it?”

  “Well if you weren’t so busy moping around, you’d remember I told you I got a new job. Today was my first day.”

  “Still. That’s a two-thousand-dollar suit Trevor.”

  “Well if the job goes well I won’t have to worry about it. Plus, they gave me a signing bonus and a company car. I had to look the part.”

  “Wait. What? They gave you a car? What kind? Is it here?”

  “Yep. It’s out front. Go see for yourself.”

  Annie didn’t hesitate. She jumped from her chair and left the sliding glass door open while she ran through the house. Trevor was just steps behind when she stopped short and he laughed at her awe-inspired expression.

  “Holy shit. A BMW 750i. Keith’s going to freak when he see’s this. It’s like his dream car. I want to know what company gives their new employee a one hundred-thousand-dollar car?”

  “One hundred and thirteen to be exact, and aren’t you full of questions now that you’re not too busy thinking about your own issues.”

  “I’m sorry Trevor. I was being stupid,” she turned around and hugged him. “You forgive me?”

  “Always.”

  “Now seriously. What’s this new job of yours?”

  “Go get dressed and I’ll tell you over dinner. I’m paying.”

  Annie and Trevor drove to an overpriced steak restaurant in downtown Scottsdale and during the drive he told her all about his new position as an art and interior designer for a national firm called BC Concepts. They were contracted by larger firms to create and execute designs for building interiors. Everything they did right down to their employees had to look perfect, hence the new car and suit. In their world, perceptions always mattered.

  Annie couldn’t have been happier for her best friend. Seeing him overly animated while talking about what he did all day brought a true smile to her face. She was almost jealous. She happened to be good at her job and extremely well versed, but she never loved it. Not like Trevor so obviously loved his.

  Trevor pulled up to the valet and Annie could see the pride he felt handing over his new car to the hands of the hired help. It bordered on arrogant and he deserved it. Trevor was the best artist she knew, she had art of his hanging throughout her house. It was about time he got paid his worth.

  For a Tuesday night the restaurant was packed, but Trevor strolled right up to the hostess stand, handed her some folded up bills and they were sat immediately; a table on the patio overlooking a small lake.

  “How much did you give her? This table’s great.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he winked. Now he really was being arrogant, but it suited him.

  Annie opened her menu to find the first half filled with food items and the other half with wine. The waiter came by to take their drink order and Trevor requested a bottle of Chateau something or other. She’d never heard of it. “Well look at you being all suave and debonair. Trying to get into my pants later?”

  “You know it baby.

  “It’s a shame you don’t swing that way or it’d be a done deal.”

  “A damn shame.”

  Annie looked through the menu trying to narrow down her choice, but everything sounded great. When the waiter came back a few minutes later with their newly uncorked bottle she finally decided on a small steak and a side of garlic mashed potatoes. Trevor ordered something similar, but then added on two side salads and a family size portion of mac and cheese. The wait staff was going to have to roll them out by the time they were finished.

  “So. New job, new car, new suit. What else is new? Seeing anyone?”

  “Is this your way of asking if I’m still talking to John?”

  “No. Just curious.” It was and he knew it.

  “Well I’m not. He’s texted a couple times, but I blew him off and not in the way your dirty mind might think. Happy?”

  “Yes. Sort of,” she sighed. “I want you to be happy. I’m sorry I fucked it up for you.”

  “I am happy. You didn’t fuck anything up. John and I would
never have worked. I don’t do well with the long distance thing. You know that.”

  She did. Still, if it weren’t for her he probably would have moved to New York to be with him, but she didn’t press the subject.

  “And Mandy and Sara? How are they? I haven’t talked to either of them since we got back.”

  “They’re good. Same old, same old. Mandy’s just been sitting around with the kids and Sara’s still doing her PR stuff. I think she’s moving though. She said she wants to find a place downtown that’s closer to the office. I guess she’s been looking at places and is going to make a decision in the next few weeks.”

  “Well that’s good. Downtown is more her style. Lots of guys looking for a good time.”

  “Ain’t that the truth,” he laughed through a sip of his wine. “So what’s going on with Keith and that case? He figure anything out yet?”

  “Not that I know of. I think the appeal for bail was today. He hasn’t called to tell me how it went so that’s probably a good thing.”

  “Is he still going to have you talk to him?”

  “That’s the plan, but he hasn’t really mentioned anything to me yet.”

  “He probably hasn’t mentioned it because you’ve been all whiny and complainy for the past two weeks.”

  “I have not.” Picking up one of the rolls from the plate in the center of the table she pinched off a piece to throw at him. “I haven’t been that way with him. I’ve been trying to put on my happy face.”

  “Maybe you should put one on for real.”

  “I know, I know. Don’t start with that again.”

  The waiter brought out their salads and they both dug in while continuing their conversation through mouthfuls of food.

  “So how’s work?” Trevor inquired. “When’s school start back up?”

  “Work’s been slow. I schedule all my clients in the morning so I don’t have to work past noon. It’s been nice. And school starts back up in a couple weeks. Just one class for the second summer session, but I have a semester’s worth of information to fit into a four-week period, so I’m sure it’s going to be brutal. Not to mention teaching a bunch of sophomores that couldn’t hack it the first time around.”

  “Well maybe I’ll come visit you. Liven up the class by asking a bunch of overachieving questions.”

  “Please do.”

  Annie and Trevor breezed through dinner and by the end she had to unbutton the top of her pants. Classy. She was also tipsy from finishing off the bottle of wine and starting on another, and excused herself to the restroom. After finishing up her business she felt mildly better. Stopping to wash her hands, she simultaneously checked herself in the mirror and bared her teeth to make sure they were clean. The teeth looked good, but her make-up free face needed some help. She looked like shit, but the night was already over.

  When she returned to the table Trevor had taken care of the bill and handed it back to the waiter.

  “You sure you don’t want me to pitch in?”

  “Nah. I got this. You always take care of me. Let me take care of you for once.”

  Trevor escorted her out of the restaurant arm and arm. As they waited for the valet to run for the car Annie reached in her purse, searching for her phone, eager to see if Keith had called. What she found made the color drain from her face. She almost dropped the phone on the pavement.

  “What the fuck Trevor. What the fuck?”

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  “This isn’t my phone,” her hand shook, still grasping the phone.

  “What are you talking about? I just saw you take it out of your purse.”

  “I know what you saw, but it’s not mine.” She swiped open the lock and noticed the home screen looked almost identical. She opened her contacts and they were all there too.

  Trevor looked at her like she was insane.

  “I had an iPhone 5. This is a 6. I swear to God, it’s not mine. What the fuck,” she whispered again to herself, her entire body starting to shake. “It’s him Trevor. He did this.”

  “Did what? Get you a new phone? Switch out all your information. Do you know how crazy that sounds?”

  “I don’t care how it sounds, it’s true. It’s the phone he bought me in New York. The one I left there in my luggage. I know it is.”

  The valet pulled up with the car and Trevor placed a hand to her lower back to usher her in. “Let’s go Annie. You’re having a break down in front of the restaurant.”

  She agreed to leave, but her body stood frozen. He found her. She wanted to hurl. Trevor got her in the car and she curled into the seat rocking back and forth.

  “Let’s talk about this rationally Annie,” he said while getting situated and putting the car in drive. “Maybe it was Keith. Maybe he did it to surprise you.”

  “He didn’t.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  She gave Trevor a patronizing look. “Fine, let’s say he did. How am I supposed to find out? Just come right out and ask him? Hey babe, did you buy me a new phone. No? Oh I guess it must just be from my stocker boyfriend, never mind.”

  “No. You call me and we’ll play it off like I got it for you. Like it’s a surprise. But trust me babe, it’s from Keith.”

  “I don’t know, I don’t know.” The food in her stomach was still fighting it’s way up. “Did you leave the table? At anytime during dinner did you leave my purse alone at the table?”

  “Your ungodly expensive purse that you play off as fake, but I know is real. Hell no I didn’t leave it alone. When’s the last time you had your phone? Did you use it on the way to dinner? Before we left the house?”

  “I don’t remember,” she groaned, fighting to search through her memory. “Wait. This afternoon. I used it to call in a pick up order for lunch.”

  She unlocked her phone to check her call log. Not sure what it would prove, but at least she would know she wasn’t crazy. This wasn’t the phone she had when she ordered lunch. “See, look, it says the last call I made was last night. Last night Trevor. This isn’t my fucking phone.”

  “Yes Annie I think we’ve established that. I’m just trying to figure out when it was switched.”

  “Keith hasn’t been home all day. It couldn’t have been him.”

  The idea of Brax sneaking around her home was scary enough, but knowing she was there while he did it was even worse. He was playing with her. He wanted her to be scared and right now he was getting what he wanted.

  “You really think it was Brax?”

  “Yes.”

  They drove home the rest of the way in silence. Trevor didn’t know how to console her. He knew the truth after all. Trying any harder to convince her of a lie seemed like more of a dickhead move than he was already making. He pulled up in front of her house and noticed Keith’s car in the driveway. “He’s home. What are you going to tell him?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered while placing the imposter phone back in her purse. “I guess I’ll feel him out and make sure he didn’t get it for me, but I already know he didn’t.”

  “Well let me know how it goes.”

  “I will.” She opened the car door.

  “Do you want me to walk you up?”

  “No. I’ll be fine.”

  Trevor watched as she slowly made her way down the paver stone path to the two-story Tuscan style home. The moment the front door closed behind her his phone rang.

  “Hey,” he answered. “It’s done. I just dropped her off.”

  “I know. I’m behind you.” Trevor turned around to see a pair of headlights flash.

  “How long have you been there?”

  “As long as you. I followed you from the restaurant.”

  “Oh. I didn’t realize you were there.”

  “Of course I was there. I didn’t want to miss the show.”

  “Didn’t want to miss the show or didn’t trust me to do it?”

  “I trusted you. It hits on a scale of one compared to some of the things I’ll
ask you to do, and you’ll do those too, I’m sure of it.”

  “Great.” He rolled his eyes, not looking forward to the day when the scale would hit ten. Shit, if taking his friend’s cell phone and having a role in her terror was only a level one, he wasn’t looking forward to the day it hit two.

  “Meet me around the corner,” Braxton ordered. “We need to talk.”

  Trevor put his car in gear, following the street around until he saw a small neighborhood park nestled in an alcove between two houses. It was just past nine as he parked and the ramada lights turned off, still displaying a subtle glow as he walked up, but was getting darker by the second. Taking a seat at the picnic style table, he waited for Braxton to arrive and only heard silence before the table jostled across from him.

  “How’s my girl doing?” It was always the first thing he wanted to know. Spying on her and talking to her were two different things, and Braxton was forced to live vicariously through Trevor.

  “She’s okay. Sort of.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Well, to be honest she’s a little freaked out about you and for good reason. She thinks you’re going to find her.” Trevor raised his eyebrows even though it was too dark for Braxton to see the expression. “And this was before the phone switching. Now she’s terrified. I’d be surprised if she sleeps at all tonight.”

  “Good. She deserves it.”

  “Does she?”

  “Yes.”

  His voice was firm, but Trevor wasn’t quite so sure. “You know what I think? I think your feelings were hurt when she left and you’re acting like an immature kid because you don’t know how to deal with it.”

  “Did you really fucking say that to me?” Braxton stood from the table trying to intimidate Trevor, but it didn’t work, he was no longer scared of him. Well maybe a little, but he’d recently seen a different side of him. One he didn’t realize existed, but Annie must have seen all along.