IF: Nowhere To Run (Camryn Morgan Series Book 1)
Page 8
* * *
"I am heading back to New York and yes I can stop by. How about lunch?" Alison said.
* * *
"That would be great. I'll message you my phone number. Please call me or text me when you're on the road. What sort of food do you like?" Camryn asked.
* * *
"Anything but sushi, that shit is disgusting." Alison said.
* * *
"There's good Mexican food places around here. I'll pick out one and send you the address. "Camryn smiled.
* * *
Alison laid against the pillows smiling. She could get her photo evidence to Minerva. Alison barely made it to her flight. She hated flying. Nothing's making her miss bonus money.
* * *
Alison told her Claudia couldn't stay in the flat while she's gone. Claudia knew it is punishment but she still felt locking her out of the flat ---extreme. She stays with her mother in Brooklyn while Alison's out of town. Claudia decides she would find the next target someone Alison would be pleased with.
Camryn's bed shook. She sprang out of bed. Her clothes tossed around the room. Covers ripped off the bed and lamps turned over. The lights in the room flicker.
* * *
"Stop!" Camryn said.
* * *
Silence.
* * *
"Come on show yourself." She said.
* * *
Camryn turns to find Anna standing a few feet from her.
* * *
"Why did I died? You've been practically dead for years." Anna stated.
* * *
"Anna. You don't know what I've been doing." Camryn said.
* * *
"You missed the family reunion." Anna said.
* * *
"Family reunion? Six people drove to Amarillo. The actual reunion had fallen apart because people didn't want to spend money. "Camryn said.
* * *
"You're adopted." Anna said.
* * *
"I know." Camryn said.
* * *
Anna's disappointed. "You were born in prison. I figured Aunt Gloria was too much of a holy roller for prison. Alison told me. Your real mommy’s a pervert. "Anna said. She laughs.
* * *
"Anna, why where you stealing my identity?” Camryn asked.
* * *
"It's not like you were doing a lot with it!" Anna stated.
* * *
"That doesn't give you the right to come take it." Camryn said.
* * *
"You were always weird. “Anna said.
* * *
"I see death hasn't improved you." Camryn said.
* * *
"I was glorious! You all missed it. This is all wrong. I'm not supposed to be dead. I had so many things I still wanted to do." Anna said. She stares at Camryn. "How are you doing that?" She asked.
* * *
"What?" Camryn said.
* * *
"That...light around you." Anna said. "You don't see it? My mom said your proclivity for evil wasn't your fault. To keep praying for you and help you stay on the path of righteousness" Anna said.
* * *
"Is that what Aunt Niecy did for you? Keep you on the path of righteousness?" Camryn asked.
* * *
"I don't apologize for my life." Anna said.
* * *
"Neither am I... Not anymore." Camryn said.
* * *
"Alison hates you when she found out you were adopted so happy. If it wasn't for Alison I probably won't had gotten the idea to use your identity. Oh...you'll find out all about Alison." Anna said. She is gone.
* * *
Camryn needed a candid conversation with Aunt Niecy. She needed to go to Round Rock and finally go through her grandparent's storage unit. She needed to get to the private vault in Colorado. Camryn started straightening the room so she could go back to bed. She wonders if Anna knew something about Alison or if she's talking out of her ass. Her last hooray?
"Everyone's getting restless." Beverly said.
* * *
"We will wait on Katrina." Richard said.
* * *
"She's been mediating for days...maybe Neil can help her like before." Beverly said.
* * *
"Katrina will tell us what she needs." Richard said.
* * *
Katrina comes out of the room. "Roswell, Austin and Denver." Katrina said.
* * *
"That's random." Beverly said.
* * *
"No ties, Camryn can go anywhere she wants" Richard said. "Let's do this Beverly, you go to Denver, Katrina Roswell and Nina Austin" He said.
* * *
"The rest of you are ground support. I'm not sure which city she's going to first so surveillance is a must." Katrina said.
* * *
"Everyone keep this tight. Katrina and I have to give weekly reports to our client and as long as we have progress to report were in good shape." Richard said.
* * *
"Why can't we pick her up?" Neil asked.
* * *
"Neil don't be stupid. We watch. We wait. We test." Katrina said.
Camryn's amazed how money makes things move along faster. She reviews her bank info and finds her final deposit from her old job. She wonders how she lived on that amount of money.
* * *
It is a technicality she's the beneficiary. No one questioned anything. Why would they she had all the documents.
* * *
Camryn mails Anna's ashes to Lisa and a postal money order for $2,000. Camryn wanted no one in her family finding out about her inheritance.
Camryn sits at a table by a window. She opens various documents on Anna's tablet. A folder with a lot of emails between Anna and Alison. She scans it's bitching about their lives. Anna had been organizing sex vacations for wealthy people. A man pulls out a chair and sits across from Camryn.
* * *
"I'm Joshua Peters. I'm... was Anna's business partner. You're Camryn." He said.
* * *
"Hello Joshua Peters, how did you find me?" She asked.
* * *
"Anna's tablet there's a tracking device. Do you know the nature of our business?" He asked.
* * *
"Adult parties and adult vacations." Camryn said.
* * *
"I thought she was avoiding me. I didn't realize she died. "Joshua said.
* * *
"She was avoiding you. Anna died last week. "Camryn stated." Mr. Peters, I'm waiting for someone." She said.
* * *
"I'll be brief." He said. "She wasn't always the easiest person to work with but she was my partner." Joshua said. "I want to discuss a business arrangement with you." He said.
* * *
"I'm listening." She said.
* * *
The waiter interrupted when he brought some warm tortilla chips and salsa. She smiled. "Thank you." She said.
* * *
"Sir. Do you need anything?" The waiter asked.
* * *
"No thank you." Joshua said.
* * *
"Let me know when you're ready to order." He said.
* * *
"Thank you. When my party gets here I will." Camryn smiled at the waiter. He smiled back and left the table.
* * *
Joshua looks at Camryn and then the waiter and back to Camryn. He chuckles and shakes his head. "Anna would have given the waiter attitude. She would talk down to him. She gave a guy a penny once for a tip. "He said.
* * *
"She was a piece ...of work." Camryn stated.
* * *
Joshua smiled. "I want you to consider partnering with me or letting me buy Anna's share out." He said.
* * *
"Joshua I'm still reviewing all Anna's business." Camryn said.
* * *
Joshua smiles. "She was complicated." He said.
* * *
"I'll s
ay. But the paperwork is organized." Camryn said.
* * *
"It is...that surprises me." Joshua stated.
* * *
"I understand it's an exclusive service but the site missing opportunities" She said.
* * *
"Camryn if you decide to work with me. I can't have you participating in the events" He said.
* * *
"Do you participate in the events?" She asked.
* * *
"I used to but it complicates the relationship of the service." Joshua stated.
* * *
"That's not fair. You've already nibbled the forbidden fruit." Camryn said.
* * *
"Ok. How about this if you participate you register as a guest. But when you're overseeing the event that's the only priority." Joshua said.
* * *
"Ok. You all were partners for what five years? The current client count I'm estimating Anna ran off about 50 people which roughly is a loss of six figures of membership fees." Camryn stated.
* * *
"For someone needing time to get informed you seem fairly versed on things." Joshua said. He leans back in the chair. His eyes scans Camryn's face. He thinks she’s a pretty girl. She’s smart. She seems sweet he senses a ruthlessness about her. He needs to be careful handling this matter.
* * *
"How much time do you need?" He said.
* * *
"Three, four weeks?" She said.
* * *
"Why don't you come up to Denver for a few days and let's work out a business arrangement." He said.
* * *
Joshua stands. He is a short man 5'2 and he is round. His light brown hair had a lot of gray blended throughout. He has a well-manicured beard and hazel eyes.
* * *
"May I stay in the townhouse or is that were the party happens?" She asked.
* * *
"The event is at the condo. I'll make sure the kitchen is stocked. Give me a call when you're on your way please." He said.
Alison sits in the rental car for 20 minutes. Some fat short guy talking to Camryn. He is probably trying to get a date. Alison thought. She is nervous. Alison waits few minutes after the fat old guy left. She and Camryn look at each other for a moment. Alison could tell Camryn's outfit is expensive.
* * *
Camryn immediately wishes she never agreed to meet Alison. Alison opens her arms to hug Camryn.
* * *
Camryn sits down.
* * *
"Please sit. Let's order some food." Camryn said.
Alison realizes this will be more challenging than she anticipated.
* * *
"Thank you for agreeing to see me. I thought you might tell me to fuck off." Alison said.
* * *
"I haven't seen you since I was 12 and were what 16? We're women in our thirties now." Camryn stated.
* * *
"What's good here?" Alison asked.
* * *
"I'm getting the enchiladas." Camryn said.
* * *
"I'm sorry about...well everything. You were a sweet kid and targeted you." Alison said.
* * *
"Apology is appreciated." Camryn said.
* * *
The women were interrupted by the waiter to place their order.
* * *
"Oh. Could I get a photo of us together? I want to put it on Facebook. "Alison said.
* * *
"Okay." Camryn said.
* * *
They pressed their cheeks together and smile as Alison takes photos. Camryn received an image of a woman with long curly black hair wearing bright red lipstick.
They eat lunch. Camryn wishes someone would fart or the waiter returns to the table to break the awkward silence.
* * *
"What happened to all our parents and grandparents stuff? Grandpa's saxophones?" Alison asked.
* * *
"I kept one. Most stuff was either sold or donated." Camryn said. She lied. Alison walked away she wasn't entitled to anything.
* * *
"Oh well you seem to be doing well. What do you do for a living?" Alison asked.
* * *
"I'm a media specialist. I operate an online business. You? "Camryn said.
* * *
"You’re own business nice. I do proofreading at a law firm. It's not exciting work but I like it." Alison said.
* * *
"Which law firm?" Camryn said.
* * *
"Becker, Heath, Grainger and Becker, the main office is New York." Alison said.
* * *
Camryn recognizes the name of the firm. It is the same one Anna used for the trustee paperwork. Camryn wants to throw her margarita in Alison's face but she needs to play it cool to find out what Alison is up too.
* * *
Alison observes Camryn's manicured hands. Her curly braided hair. She was told wearing braided hair is vanity and evil. Camryn's make up is perfect. She even wore Prada sneakers. Alison wonders if Camryn spent her whole check on the clothes for this lunch date.
* * *
"Camryn, I'm trying here. I don't know what to say. I don't expect us to be BFF's but... can we figure out how we fit into each other's lives? I want you in my life." Alison said.
* * *
"Why?” Camryn asked.
“Why. You’re my sister.” Alison said.
“I’ve been your sister. Alison. This is like someone going to a class reunion and having the bully hang out with you all evening. You and I never had a sisterly relationship you terrorized me. I had five ER visits because of you. For me when you ran away I could breathe, when you returned I needed to brace myself. I'm sorry if your feelings are hurt…but you contact me out of the blue. I don’t know if I want you in my life. "Camryn stated.
* * *
"That’s honest...we’re older now and we don’t have a lot of people in our family. If you could …will think about it, please. If I'm going to make the check in time for my flight I gotta go." Alison said.
* * *
"Go." Camryn said.
* * *
They got into their cars and went their separate ways.
* * *
Camryn sat waiting on the world's slowest light to turn green. Camryn remembers the angry girl whom held her down and burned her arm and the side of her face with a curling iron.
* * *
Who's Minerva? And why has she asked Alison to come back into my life? Alison has overestimated her acting abilities. Camryn thinks.
* * *
Alison locked her hotel room door. She stands against the door for a moment.
* * *
"God I still hate her." She said.
4
Stretch
BEVERLY STRETCHES HER LEGS. Hollywood had this all wrong stake outs are boring as hell! Where is Richard? She walks along the path looking at the ducks playing in the lake. She calls Richard and hears a phone ringing.
* * *
"Do you want me to answer?" He asked.
* * *
"Finally!" She said.
* * *
"Fill me in." He said.