“Touché. You got me there. I guess so. I mean, Iwouldlike to see my mother again.”Damn it, the man is way too perceptive.
“Can I ask how is it you’re not still a member of the cult?”
Now it’s my turn to hedge. “It’s not something I like to talk about. However, because you’ve volunteered to be my bodyguard, you should know. My parting wasn’t amicable. I was fourteen, supposed to marry my uncle. I found some help on the internet to get myself emancipated. It was really awful. My mother lied and said they had no intention of marrying me to my uncle but the judge was great. She talked to me for a long time. Then, she had me talk to the court psychiatrist. A little while later, they put me in foster care.”
“I don’t get it. Why go back?”
Even though he’s sweet and caring, I don’t dare tell him the truth. What if I’m wrong? Hell, I did my doctoral thesis on false memories. I probably know as much as anyone.
“I miss my mother.” That much is true and it feels good not to have to lie.
“Do you really think they’ll let you talk to her?” His grilling is more intense, forcing me to look closely at things I’ve been trying to avoid since agreeing to do the film.
“I can hope. At least she’ll know I made the effort.”
“Maybe, maybe not. I’d hate to see you get hurt.” When his eyes find mine, they’re full of compassion and we share a light kiss.
After, we talk about lighter subjects and it seems like we’ve known each other our whole lives which is weird because that never happens to me. I like to cook, he likes to write mystery novels. I love chocolate, he likes pizza. We both like the ocean, hiking, and film noir. Too soon, the captain puts on the seat belt sign and we begin our descent.
While we walk the long hallway to the baggage claim area, it comes to me I have no idea where he’s staying. “What hotel are you at?”
“Same as you.” He shoots me this boyish grin.
“That’s weird. I thought it was all booked up.”
He laughs the way he does when he thinks he’s pulled one over on me. “Guess someone must’ve cancelled.”
We wait for the large carousel to start moving while his eyes roam the crowded space. He tenses and pushes me behind him when a stranger approaches.
“Can I help you?” Jack’s back is tight, ready to spring into action.
“Go home. Both of you. You won’t get another warning.” After the guy walks away, Jack snaps a picture and asks me, “Do you know him?”
“Never saw him before in my life.” My knees shake at the sight of the plain black business suit and an almost familiar face. For sure, the man was a member of the cult.
“Stay close.” Jack grabs my bag while I text for an Uber.
When we check in, I discover his room is right next to mine, including an adjoining door. My heart does a bit of a flutter when he opens it and asks, “When are you supposed to meet with the producer?”
“The crew is picking me up in front of the hotel at seven AM. They were supposed to pick me up at the airport but the driver got a flat tire.”
“I hope he isn’t the security they hired for you?”
“Not sure, but yeah, probably.”
He grunts. “I’m calling for pizza. Good?”
“Sure. Just cheese.” Suddenly, my other door rattles and clicks open. The gold chain is the only thing holding back someone in the hall. Whoever’s out there has a thick meaty hand.
Quickly, I push the door closed and turn the bolt, very glad a certain bodyguard is in the next room. In the hall, a male voice mutters something about a wrong key with an apology and footsteps disappear.
“What was that?” Jack jumps into my room with his gun out as he scans the room. He moves to the door where I point, shivering like mad, and having serious second thoughts about this documentary.
“Someone had a key card but I had the chain on.”
Jack removes the chain, checks the bolt, and opens the door. Glancing down the hall, he shuts the door, drops on my bed and dials zero. On speaker phone, management offers us apologies and a new room, if we want.
Jack hangs up and places his gun on the table beside the bed. “I’d rather not change rooms. It might be the opening they’re waiting for. You want to tell me what this is all about?”
