It’s a coolish, early summer day. We spent the night imprisoned and left bright and early this morning, barely before the sun rose. Now the morning is heating up, not a cloud in the sky to inhibit the warmth of the sun. It still gets cool in the mornings of June in New England, but midday warms and occasionally we even have a heat wave. Today’s slightly overcast and a bit chilly.
I smile to myself. Good. We could get cozy by the fire.
To get to La Cabina, you take a left on a dirt road that looks like the entrance to someone’s driveway, follow it until you see a bright red hand-painted sign for the beach, then take a second turn down an unlit gravel driveway for about a mile until it looks like you’ll drive straight off a cliff into the ocean below. The entrance to La Cabina is hidden behind a blanket of pine trees. There’s no running water though there’s a nearby pump, a clean but otherwise rustic outhouse, and outside the small cabin there’s a well-used fire pit and grill. There’s no electricity, but Orlando’s furnished me with small portable chargers so I can call out if need be. He’ll notify me when it’s time to come home.
Orlando parks the car. I see a shadow quickly skirt behind us and vanish into the trees, but it’s far too small to be human. A raccoon, maybe. Small woodland creatures inhabit these woods, since they’re so rarely disturbed.
“Saw some turkeys roaming nearby,” Orlando says, and even blindfolded and gagged, the disgust on Vivia’s face is evident.
“He’s joking,” I tell her, as I grab her cuffed wrists between my fingers. “I’m sure we’ve got mac and cheese and Top Ramen for days. No one eats wild turkeys anymore.”
“And fish. Don’t forget fish,” Orlando says.
I nod. “I’ll make Nonna proud.”
But when I look at the pale, wan face of the girl I’ve taken hostage I don’t joke anymore. I might be a ruthless asshole, but I’m not inhuman. She’s lost a lot in the last few days. Her circumstances both then and now are no laughing matter.
“Thanks for everything, brother,” I tell Orlando, shaking his hand. He’s brought me up to speed and promised to text later with more details and updates as they come.
“Of course,” he says, scowling as he looks at her. “I’m sorry this has come down to you.”
“No, I get it,” I say in a soft voice. “It’ll be a lot easier for someone like me who isn’t related to her to do what I have to.”
He scrubs a hand through his dark, short hair. “Exactly. Still, I owe you.”
He owes me shit. I playfully punch his shoulder. “Owe me? You were the one that gave me life after The Big House, man. Consider us even.”
He fist-bumps me, gets in the car and leaves. I watch until his taillights are little more than a flash of red firefly lights against a night sky.
Vivia hasn’t moved. She obviously hasn’t spoken. She knows we’re alone in the middle of nowhere, and that I have carte blanche to interrogate her any way I see fit. She’s probably terrified.
Good.
I lay my hand on Vivia’s elbow. Again, my fingers touch the softest skin I’ve ever felt. I remember what she looked like wearing the red hair, how it felt when I finally took off that layer of lies and revealed what she truly looked like. I wonder what she’ll look like when I unveil another layer of lies.
Her shoulder-length, warm brown hair caresses her cheeks. They’re damp from her tears, and little strands of hair cling to them. Without thinking, I clear the strands from her face and brush them behind her ear. She lets me do this without flinching or showing that she’s even aware that I touched her.
That’ll change.
I’m not sad about that.
“I’m taking you inside. Lean on me and follow my lead.”
She does exactly what I say. Our rustic getaway’s surrounded by trees, so the ground is bumpy, a sea of tree roots and fallen, rust-colored pine needles. It would be easy to slip or fall without keeping a close watch on her footing. I guide her to the door. The key dangles from the lock.
“Stand here while I open the door.” I turn it, and the door swings open. I step over the threshold, lead her in behind me, and walk straight to a small circular table in the middle of the room. “I’m going to sit down, and you’ll sit with me so I can remove your bonds. For now. We’ll eat, freshen up, and get some rest. We have all the time we need, so we don’t have to rush.”
She nods.
I’m confident I’ll get what I need from her within twenty-four hours. I have no idea how long we’ll have to hide her. Both of us, really.
The interior of the rustic cabin’s nothing short of charming. A round, circular wooden table on roughly hewn legs sits in front of a wood-burning stove, three chairs on each side. A checkered tablecloth and oil burning lamp complete the look.
Beside the wood-burning stove are a few wooden shelves filled with non-perishables, and a large cooler likely filled with perishable items that will last a few days.
Behind us there’s a fireplace, a small loveseat, several rockers, and a large metal basket filled with split logs. Matches sit beside the wood.
A small table houses sunblock, insect repellant, a well-stocked first-aid kit, and something that looks like a hand-powered radio. Haven’t seen one of those in a long, long time.