by Abby Weeks
—I don’t know if you’ll want to use your gun, he said, but if things get bad, you might as well know how to.
He demonstrated how to unlock the safety on the side of the grip.
—Just hold it firmly with both hands, point at your target, and fire. Don’t close your eyes. Don’t drop the gun. Whether you hit the target or not you’ll at least buy yourself time. Just think twice before shooting at anyone once you have the kids. At that point it might be safer just to let them catch you. You don’t want to risk them firing back and hitting one of the girls.
April nodded. She couldn’t believe the situation she was in. Just the day before she’d spent the entire afternoon at the spa with Midge. Now she was parked behind The Oaks in an old pickup, taking a shooting lessons from a couple of guys she’d just met.
The truck was up close against the wall and they got onto the hood and then the roof to climb over. Jack jumped down onto the other side first and he and Jimmy helped her down. Then Jimmy followed. They were in a forested area that was similar to the woods they’d been driving through outside the wall. They made their way up the hill, careful not to make any noise.
—What kind of security do they have around here? Jack said.
—I have no idea, April said.
—Hopefully they don’t have dogs.
—I’ve never seen any.
She peered around among the dark trees as if the verify that there really weren’t any dogs. When they got to the edge of the woods they saw the long, manicured lawn that led up to one of the mansions.
—Whose house is that? Jack said in a hushed voice.
—That’s Midge’s.
There were a few lights around some of the features in the garden such as the central fountain and some statues but by keeping to the edge of the lawn they could mostly stay in the dark all the way to the edge of the Prentiss’s large patio.
—Ok, April said. I’ll go see if I can find Midge.
—I’m coming with you, Jack said.
—No, you wait out here. If she sees you she might get spooked. It’s better if I go in alone.
—Do you know your way around this house?
—Better than you’d think, April said, remembering her night with Frank Prentiss and the following morning getting the pajamas washed.
She crept up to the glass wall that looked out on the patio and pool and peered into the house. No one was in the living area and she slipped in through the sliding doors. She knew they wouldn’t be locked and she opened them slowly so as not to make a sound. Inside she looked around to make sure no one was in the vast living space. The room was only dimly lit by lamps but she could tell it was empty. She crept quietly across the room and peered out into the hall. Again it was empty. April wasn’t sure what to do next. On the one hand she was glad no one had spotted her but on the other hand her whole reason for being there was to find Midge.
She knew she had to go upstairs. If Midge was home there was a good chance she would be in her room. That’s exactly where April would be after the night they’d had at the Saint Regis. She tiptoed to the bottom of the stairs and waited for a minute, listening intently for any sign that someone might be approaching. If anyone came while she was on the open, rounded staircase they’d see her for certain. All was silent.
She crept up the stairs, step by step. She felt her heart beating so strongly she was afraid she’d faint before making it to the top. Just as she got to the top of the staircase she heard footsteps on the hallway below. She dropped to the ground and peered down between the columns on the balustrade overlooking the hall. It was Midge!
—Midge! she said in a hushed but urgent plea.
Midge stopped and looked around, not sure if she’d heard her name or not.
—Midge! Up here.
Midge looked up and saw April on the ground by the balustrade.
—April! she said in the same hushed tone.
Midge looked around and then ran up the stairs to her.
—Oh my God. I’ve been so worried. It’s been absolute chaos around here today. What the hell happened last night?
—It’s a long story, April said.
April looked around nervously.
—Come with me, Midge said and led her down the hall to her bedroom. Frank’s out with the others. You’ve really created a stir. I’ve never seen anything like it.
—I didn’t mean to.
—What did you do?
—Walter was going to kill me.
—What?
—He had me tied to the bed, in that hotel room.
—That’s awful. I was so worried. I knew we should never have left you there with him. I had a feeling something bad was going to happen. The way Walter acted when he was with me, something told me he was about to go off the deep end.
—What did he do to you? April said.
—Nothing. He was just part of the gang-bang. The clients were all so satisfied after they’d fucked you so it was just the partners that wanted to fuck me.
—Was it awful?
—Nothing I haven’t been through a hundred times.
—And then they took you home?
—I asked about you. I wanted you to come back with me in the limo but they said you were staying at the hotel with Walter. I was disappointed but I didn’t think much of it. Then when I realized you weren’t back this morning I started to worry. I remembered the crazed look Walter had when I left the hotel and I thought he might have tried something. I called the hotel but they said they’d never heard of you. I knew they were lying. Then Kit came over and asked if I’d seen you and I knew something was really wrong.
—What did Kit say?
—She said you’d disappeared. They take that really seriously, April. They’d let you overhear sensitive conversations with clients. She said they had to get you back.
—Did she say anything about my daughters.
—They’re at her house now.
—She told you that?
—No. Frank did.
—What was Frank saying?
—That Walter was in trouble. You’re Walter’s responsibility. You know that a big part of what Walter can offer the partnership is you, right? You’re the one who saved the Andersen Strathern deal, from what I’ve heard. If Walter can’t control you and ensure that you cooperate with the way the firm does business, then he’s in trouble.
—Where’s Walter now.
—I don’t know. Probably with Herb.
—At Herb’s house?
—I have no idea.
—But my girls are at Herb’s house?
—Yes. As far as I know. But April, don’t do anything stupid. They’ll have security there. And Kit will be there. She won’t let you just march in and take the girls.
—I know she won’t.
—So what are you going to do?
—I’m not sure.
Midge looked at April, the compassion in her eyes mixed with fear and worry about what was going to happen.
—You have to turn yourself in, April.
—What do you mean?
—It’s the only way. If you explain what happened, say that Walter flipped out, that he turned on you, then maybe you’ll be able to convince them that you’re still loyal to the firm.
—They’ll never take my side over Walter’s.
—I don’t know, April. From what I’ve seen, Herb is pretty upset with Walter.
—Even still. I can’t turn myself in. What if they want me to go back to Walter? I know that’s what they’ll want and there’s no way I can do it. You should have seen him in the hotel, Midge. He was ready to kill me. I know he was.
Midge looked worried. It was clear to April she was scared. She was still part of the arrangement and she could get in trouble for being found with April. She would have to stick to her loyalties if she wanted to protect her own position.
—I don’t want to put you in a difficult spot, Midge. I just wanted to find out where my girls are. I’ll get out of
here before someone finds us together.
—April, wait. Let me call Kit. I’m sure we can sort it all out. She’s reasonable enough beneath that cold exterior.
—No, Midge. There’s no going back for me. I can’t live another day with Walter. I just can’t.
—But what are you going to do?
—I’m going to try to get my daughters back, that’s what I’m going to do.
VIII
WHEN THE DOOR TO MIDGE’S bedroom opened, April expected the worst. She expected to see Walter, Herb and Kit storming in with a gang of bodyguards, ready to take her away and lock her in a basement or a cellar. She didn’t know if what she saw was much better.
Frank Prentiss was standing at the door with a look of complete shock on his face.
—April! he said. They’re looking for you everywhere.
—I didn’t mean to cause all this trouble, Frank.
—It’s not me you’ll have to convince. It’s Kit and Herb.
—And Walter?
—Yes, and Walter.
—That’s the problem, Frank. Walter was going to hurt me, back at the hotel, he was going to stab me with a corkscrew.
—He said you ran off with some guys who were paying you for information about the firm.
—That’s not true, Frank. I don’t even have any information about the firm. Why would I do that when Herb had my daughters? I ran off with two members of the hotel staff because they offered to help me.
—Well, we’ll have to go to Herb straight away and sort this all out. He’s got half the firm’s security detail out searching for you. He’s afraid you’re going to derail the entire deal with Andersen Strathern. He’s afraid you’re going to go to the police, or the media.
—I was the one who saved the Andersen Strathern deal, April said.
—That’s what Pete’s been saying.
—It’s true.
—Well you’re going to have to explain it all the Herb, April.
—I can’t. What if he keeps my children from me? What if he tries to put me back in the house with Walter? Walter will kill me. I’m sure of it.
There was something about the way Frank was looking at her that told April he was remembering the night they’d spent together. There had been a real connection between them and it went deeper than just sex. She was glad it had happened because it meant he cared about her now, and that was what she needed. She needed his sympathy.
More than anything she needed to get her girls back.
—Ok, he said at last.
—Ok, what?
—We need to get you out of here. We can’t let Herb send you back to Walter, and we can’t let Walter get his greasy hands on you.
—And what about my daughters?
—April. I don’t think we’re going to be able to get you your daughters back. At least not right now. The best thing would be to get you somewhere safe. Somewhere to lay low for a while. Then we can sort out the rest with Herb when there’s time. I’ll convince him that Walter’s bad news but that you’ve still got the firm’s best interests at heart. Maybe we’ll even be able to get you back into your own house.
—And I could go back to being a sex slave for the firm?
—Is that how you see it?
—Sometimes, Frank.
Frank was silent. He looked from her to Midge and then back to her.
—Is that how it was the night you were with me?
April realized she’d hurt him. He was sensitive about the night they’d spent together. She looked at Midge but could tell from Midge’s face that she had no investment in Frank, at least not romantically. Frank could have whatever feelings he wanted for April.
—No, Frank, she said. That’s not how I felt the night we spent together.
She walked over to him and kissed him softly on the lips.
—The night we spent together I felt safe, she said.
He smiled. —I’m glad.
—Me too, she said.
Frank put his arm around her and kissed her more passionately on the lips. She let his tongue slide into her mouth as his arms wrapped themselves around her. His hands moved slowly down her back and slipped inside the sweat pants so that he was holding her by her two butt cheeks while they kissed.
—Please, Frank, she whispered. I’ve got to get my children back.
—Just promise me one thing, he said. When all of this is over, when it’s safe, you’ll come back to me to share another night like the night we shared.
—I promise, she said.
He let her go. She looked at Midge but Midge only shrugged. She really didn’t care any more what her husband did.
—How do you plan on getting your kids out of Kit’s house? Midge said.
April thought of Jack and Jimmy waiting for her outside. She felt a little guilty about kissing Frank while Jack was waiting for her, although she and Jack had no claim on each other. She’d slept with Frank just a couple of nights ago. If anything she should have felt bad for Frank. But she didn’t. It was Jack’s feelings that were closest to her heart.
—I’ve got some friends outside. They’ll help me. We’ve got a car waiting too.
—Are you sure you want to try this? Frank said. It will be dangerous. Kit is bound to have some armed guards at her house.
—I’m sure.
—Alright, Frank said. There may be something I can do to help.
He picked up the phone that sat on the bedside table and dialed the number for Herb’s home office.
—Herb, it’s Frank. Listen. I just got a call from April. She’s waiting for me at the Motel 6 in Leesburg. Room three-twelve.
—Thank you, Frank, April said.
—It’s nothing, Frank said. I’ll have to go with them. You and your friends go get the girls and then get as far away from here as you can.
—Will they try to hunt us down?
Frank looked long and hard at her before replying.
—They probably will. You just lay low, stay off the grid as long as you can. Contact me when you feel safe and I’ll tell you as much as possible. I’ll try to convince Herb and Walter to let you go but it won’t be easy.
—Thank you, Frank. You’re a good friend.
Frank nodded. —Just don’t forget our promise, he said.
—I won’t.
IX
MIDGE STAYED IN THE BEDROOM with April while they waited for Herb and some security guys to drive by and pick up Frank. Two cars came by and Midge watched from the window as Frank ran out from the house and got into the front vehicle.
—Walter was probably in one of those cars, she said.
—Let’s hope so, April said.
—It’s now or never.
April nodded. She looked at her friend.
—Thank you for your help.
—It’s about time someone stood up to these guys, Midge said.
—I just wish it didn’t have to be me.
—At least you’ll always know you stood up to them. You won’t have to live your life thinking you allowed yourself to be utterly used.
—I don’t know about that, April said. I let them do pretty much whatever they wanted to me.
—But now you’re making a stand.
—I have no choice.
—But still.
Midge looked very sad then. April thought she might cry. She sat on the side of the bed.
—I gave them my whole life, April.
—You did the best you could in the situation you were in.
—Did I? I don’t know. I let them use me like a doll. I was a complete slave to those men and to every client they tried to win for the last couple of years. I let them do literally anything to me, April. You wouldn’t believe what they’ve tried.
—I’m pretty sure I would, April said, thinking back on some of her own experiences over the last few weeks.
—It was only just beginning for you, April. I know you’ve been through a lot with them already but it would only get worse. Believe me. I
can’t even mention some of the things I’ve let them do to me.
—Like what?
Midge shook her head. —I’m sorry, April, but I won’t say it. I’ll never tell. It’s too humiliating even to think of.
April smiled gently at her. —I understand, Midge.
—I don’t know that you do, but I’m grateful to you for pretending.
—Midge. Don’t be too hard on yourself. We’ve all been put in the same situations. We’ve all got the same secrets to live with.
—I even let them take my children away, Midge said.
She had a distant look in her eyes and wasn’t even listening to anything April said anymore.
—I let them take away my babies. What kind of mother allows that? My children don’t even know me anymore. I lied when I said they still loved me. They don’t. They love Herb and Kit. They act like Kit’s their mother. They know technically she’s not, but she has such an influence on their lives now that she might as well be. Sometimes they come here to The Oaks and don’t even visit me. They just spend time with Herb and Kit. And Frank allows it.
—Midge. I’m so sorry.
—Just listen to me, April. You don’t be afraid of the costs. You don’t worry about what might happen. You just get your two little girls and get the hell out of here. You get as far away from this place as you can.
—You can come with me, Midge. I’d take you anywhere with me.
Midge looked at her sadly for a long time. That’s very kind of you to offer.
—I mean it, Midge. Come with us.
Midge was already shaking her head.
—It’s too late, April. You can still make it but I’ve been here too long. If you’re treated like a slave for long enough, after a while you become a slave. You no longer think about freedom. You just think about the life of slavery that you live and how you can keep going.
April didn’t know what to say. She walked over to Midge and held her in her arms. Midge hardly responded at all.
—I’ve got to go, she whispered in Midge’s ear.
Midge nodded and with a final compassionate look at her friend, April left. Downstairs, Jack and Jimmy were waiting where she’d left them.
—We were getting worried, Jack said.
—Sorry. That took longer than I thought.