“Not quite. It was a sealed arrangement. My attorney insisted on that and the judge agreed because of my situation and the protective order, but there were details I needed to work out. A new driver’s license, for one. Setting things right with Social Security and the IRS. Again, the attorney was helpful. I moved to a new place in the city while I was waiting and held my breath that Jay wouldn’t find me before I was able to leave the state.
“In the meantime, I started house hunting. Took virtual tours of lots of homes in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia before I chose here and the home I have now. I had the paperwork all taken care of before I got here. When my license came in and my attorney said I was all clear with the government, I rented a U-Haul truck with my new name, loaded the few things I owned, and drove here.”
“Where was there?” asked Sullivan. When she looked at him blankly, he explained more clearly. “You drove here, but where did you start? Where wasthere?”
“Oh, of course. I guess I didn’t say. Baltimore. Home with Jay was Baltimore. My parents and my brother live outside the city limits in Columbia. Jay’s mother lives in another burb, but he liked the city. So did I back then, at least at the beginning of our marriage. I attended MICA. That’s Maryland Institute College of Art. I have a degree in design.”
“And you’re working at the Ridge.”
“I didn’t have much experience in my field when I left Baltimore. I told you, Jay didn’t want me to work. I met him when I was student. Bar hookup. He helped me finish school, but I know now he didn’t do it out of kindness. It was one of the subtler ways I let him control me.” Ramsey lifted her glass and took a careful sip this time. The sweet heat felt good all the way to the empty pit of her stomach. “It didn’t feel as if I was giving up all that much when I took the job at the Ridge. Besides, I figured it was safer for me do something unrelated to my career choice.”
“Makes sense.”
“I thought so. Didn’t work, though. He still found me.”
“About that…did he tell you how?”
Ramsey nodded and repeated Jay’s explanation. “He’s a smart guy. I never meant to underestimate him. He’s a VP now. Oversight for software and tech development at Willow Garden Health. They insure millions.”
“I’m familiar. My mother had their insurance. Except for a couple of glitches, the company treated her right. Saw to her palliative care at the end.”
“Jay has nothing to do with that side. He was a programmer and trouble shooter for years. I think he was good at what he did, though I mostly have his word for that.”
“I don’t think he would have been promoted to a veep position if he was a screwup.”
“No, you’re right. Did I sound bitter? I don’t mean to sound bitter.”
“You’re fine.” Sullivan slid sideways and got to his feet. “I’m going pour myself a drink now. You change your mind about wanting something to eat?”
“No, but you go ahead if you like.”
“I had a sandwich earlier. I’m good.” He got out another old-fashioned glass and added a couple of fingers of Scotch. He took his time returning to the table, figuring Ramsey needed a few moments to breathe. When he sat down again, she had just finished another sip of her drink and there was finally some natural color in her cheeks. He gauged that she had a few sips left. The Rusty Nail was mostly water. “You want another?”
She shook her head. “Maybe in a little while. I need to be careful. I have to drive.”
“No, you don’t.”
“You’re not me driving home.”
“I wasn’t offering. You’re staying here.”
“I am?”
“You are.” He acknowledged that it was probably the drink that made her amenable, but he wasn’t looking down the proverbial gift horse’s throat. “So,” he said, tapping the rim of his glass with a forefinger. “Why is Jay here? Except for the obvious that this is where you are, is there something in particular that he wants?”
“He said he’s known where I am for about a year.”
“Then he definitely has a reason for showing up now.”
She nodded. “Money.”
Sullivan frowned. “I don’t understand. He must be making good money at Willow Garden.”
“I’m sure, and I gave him everything in the divorce just to get free and clear.”
“Then why…”
“A year ago he’d didn’t know what he knows now.”
