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19

RAVEN

I lean back against the door and take a deep breath.

Then a loud knock rattles the door. “You left your bag in the truck.”

There must be some biological harmonic phenomenon that causes his voice to vibrate through me the way it does. Like my atoms are all coming undone and I need his words to put me back together.

And that can’t be healthy.

“Just leave it by the door. I’ll grab it when I hear your truck pull away.”

I hear his curses as he does as I say.

The roar of the truck tugs at something inside me. Like I’m losing something.

“Like you’re losing your sanity,” I mutter to the empty hallway before tugging the door open to retrieve my bag.

It’s muddy. It’ll need washing. I bring it in and place it on the floor, then remove my coat and hang it on the hook.

“Normal life things,” I say as I trudge up the stairs to the apartment. “That’s what I need. Last night was just a fever dream. A bad trip. Just do normal things.”

I’ll grab some groceries and prep a nice dinner.

And clean bedding. That’s one thing I can do. Wash the sheets.

I pack everything dirty into the suitcases and drag it to the launderette. Thankfully, the machines are empty, and I manage to load everything into three of them. Once they’re running, I wonder what I should do next.

A knock on the launderette window makes me jump. Quinn from the bakery waves, ties the dog she’s walking up, and then steps inside. “Hey, I’ve been thinking about you,” she says.

“I hope that’s a good thing.”

“Book club. Are you in next weekend? I can send you the title.”

It feels indulgent to buy a book when things are so uncertain, but after the luck I’ve had with men recently, an evening with a friend seems much more appealing.

“I’d love that. You said you rotate through the group’s homes?”

Quinn laughs. “I may have oversold the size of it. It’s just me and two friends. We’re kinda picky about other people. And this week it’s at my place above the bakery.”

Her dog barks and whines outside. “That’s Bones. Always complaining like he doesn’t get food, walks, and cuddles on the regular. I should probably go rescue him from the shame of waiting on the street for me.”

“Bones is a cool name.”

“My brother named him. His full name is Sherlock Bones, Dog Detective.”

I chuckle. “That’s a strong name. Not sure he’s living up to it though.” The mutt looks like a mix of five breeds, but his face looks cutely pathetic. As if being tied to the post is an affront to his dignity.

“I thought he’d make a decent guard dog. Not that he’d attack anyone trying to break in, but that he’d at least bark. But, no, I have the only dog who can sleep through fireworks on the Fourth of July.”

“Can I bring anything to book club? Some snacks?”

“Snacks are good. Chips and dip or something.”

I nod. “Perfect.”

“See you then.”

I watch Quinn stroke the dog’s head and soothe his whining before untying him and heading back towards the bakery.

My phone rings, causing me to jump again. It’s an unknown number, but something makes me answer. For all I know, it could be Sue’s husband, lost, trying to bring Fen home. So, I answer.

“Raven,” Marco says before I can even say hello.

My husband’s voice does the absolute opposite of Wraith’s. The mere timbre of it has me bracing for the worst. My heart races because of the way he says those five letters.

“Marco. Where have you been, you asshole?”

“I need you to go upstairs. There’s a second safe. Back of my closet. I need you to put the contents into your purse and then drive yourself and Fen to New York. You won’t be able to board a plane with the contents.”

After the fight I had with Wraith, I’m at the end of my emotional tether.

“That’s it? At first, I thought you were hurt or dead. I had no idea what to say to Fen. Then I find out you’re a criminal who ran, leaving me to deal with the police and our furious friends you screwed over. They all hate us. You ignore all my calls and messages to find out where you are. And then you call me, a month later, demanding I become your courier and drive everything to you. Worse, you assume I am exactly where you left me.”

“Rave, sweetheart. I’ll explain when I see you. I had some…trouble.”

“I know.” I yell the words. Shit. I take a deep breath. “You left me alone to face the ‘trouble’ who broke into our home to find you.”

“Were you hurt? You didn’t call the police, did you?”

“Oh my God. Is that what you care about? The police? We were terrified. Of course I called the police. I filed a missing person report when you went missing. Then I called them after the break-in. Thank God Fen wasn’t home when it happened.”

“Are you okay, though? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I thought it was for the best you didn’t know.”

I shake my head, even though he can’t see me. “You have no idea what’s for my best.”

“Listen, I can’t talk now, but we’ll discuss it when you get here. There’s cash, some jewelry, some documents, and two guns in the safe. The code is my birthday in reverse. Eight digits. All four numbers for the year. It’ll take a week to drive here. Stay in motels. Pay cash.”

“Cash? You emptied all our accounts.” I laugh, almost hysterically.

“There’s cash in the safe.”

Wouldn’t that have been good to know before we ran.

“I’m not the Bonnie to your Clyde. I want no part in this. I refuse to let our son lose both his parents.”

“This is the only time I’ll ask. I promise. Do this one thing for me and I’ll?—”

“Stop begging. I’m not in Seattle anymore.”

“Where the fuck are you?”

“Far from Seattle.”

There’s a long pause. “How far?”

“Far enough that I’m not travelling back there to pick anything up for you. Nor am I driving for days straight to see you. I want a divorce, Marco.”

Another pause. “Let’s not talk about that now.”

“I mean it. Even if you hadn’t left us alone and in danger, I was planning to divorce you anyway.”

“Babe. It was stress. The business got away from me, and I needed to try and fix things. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

“Is that why there was a pair of women’s panties in your suitcase when you came home from your last business trip? Because business problems I might have been able to find some understanding for. But affairs? I’m done. So, please, just message me the name of your lawyer and I’ll send your papers.”

“Rave. No. Come on, babe. It’s not what you think. I know things have been rough. But let’s just get through this. We can sort this out face-to-face. Just, please, go to the house and get what I asked, and then come here and?—”

“You’re gone one way or another. The detective made it clear that the fraud you committed was so big, you’re going to prison for a long time. Or the men who came to the house are going to find you and you’re going away forever. Either way, I can’t be around that.”

“Babe. I’m not going to prison. I’ll make enough money to fix this mess with what’s in the safe. I’ll make things right.”

My backbone stiffens. I pull my shoulders back even though he can’t see me. I’ve done it. I’ve left him. I no longer need to be nice to him, to keep the peace.

“You’ve proven that you can’t take care of your family. You disregarded our safety and looked out for yourself. Not me, not your son. You put Fen at risk, and what kind of a mother would I be if I let you do that again?”

“Raven. Please. There’s no one else I can ask. I need what’s in the safe.”

And there it is. He doesn’t really want his family around him. He wants what we can do for him. What I can do for him. And then he’ll discard me all over again.

“I can’t. I’m sorry. I’m already too far away. Goodbye.”

I hang up the phone but stare at it as it rings once, twice, then a third time.

My hands shake, and I place my palms down hard on the cool, flat surface of the washing machine. Divorce wasn’t something I ever intended to happen to me. And it’s a reminder why even thinking about Wraith is a chronically bad lapse of judgement.

I’m still collecting myself when the messages start.

Voicemail notifications pile up.

I refuse to listen to any of them, given they are likely begging and pleading that turns into demanding, stopping short of threatening.

But all I feel is relief. There’s a saying: when someone shows you who they are, believe them.

I’m finally going to believe Marco.

I send a message to my lawyer asking how we proceed with legal filing against a man whose address is unknown.

But then two tears escape, and I swipe them away quickly. I’ve cried enough for this man.

“You okay there, ma’am?”

A sheriff in uniform is standing in the doorway. He has a slender build. Attractive with tanned skin, sandy hair, and kind blue eyes. His age is impossible to assess. Somewhere between thirty and forty would be my guess.

“Oh, yes. Sorry.” I don’t know why I feel the need to apologize.

“You must be Raven from the diner.”

“That’s me,” I say as he steps inside and offers me his hand.

“Sheriff Tanner Radcliffe. You sure I can’t offer any assistance?”

I mentally debate whether I should tell him that I know the location of a wanted man. But the truth is, what I know wouldn’t be helpful. New York is huge, Marco could be anywhere.

“I’m fine. Just a difficult conversation with a family member.”

Tanner nods but pulls a card out of his pocket. “These are my details if you change your mind.”

I read his name and then tuck it into my phone case. “Thank you.”

It takes two hours to get the laundry done, and then I’m dashing to the apartment to meet Fen.

Sue is smiling when she sees me. “I was just about to call you.”

“Did you go somewhere, Mom?” Fen asks, the worry on his little face tugs at my heart.

“Just the launderette. This was the easiest way to carry everything.” I look to Sue. “Sorry I’m late back.”

Sue waves my apology away. “Oh, it’s fine. We literally just got here and knocked. And it’s been so lovely having Fen over. He was such a polite little boy.”

I smile at my son. At least I’m doing one thing right. “That’s good to hear. Good job, bud.”

Fen doesn’t smile.

“Anyway,” Sue says. “I need to go home to make dinner. We’ll see you soon.”

Fen and I wave as she drives away, before Fen turns to me suddenly and throws his arms around my legs. “I thought you’d gone too.”

Tears sting my eyes as I drop to the cold sidewalk, tugging my boy to me. “I’m not going anywhere without you, Fen, I promise.”