Chapter 12
Outside, the wind rustled through the trees, brushing the limbs against the corner of the house like a whisper in the quiet. Inside, Leigh's soft, steady breathing as she slept underneath the blanket on the couch.
Annie sat at the end of the sofa, legs tucked beneath her, one hand resting gently on her sister's knee.
While the house was furnished with the bare necessities, even beds in the two rooms, there was no television, no radio, or any way to entertain themselves except for the phone Hunter gave her.
She stared at the screen and wished she could remember her bank password.
No matter how many times she closed her eyes and tapped the on-screen keyboard with her thumb, her muscle memory failed her.
The second she stepped into the house to get her sister, Jason had taken her purse and phone, which stored all her passwords. Now, she was locked out of everything.
It took hours for Leigh to settle after they'd eaten grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch.
Even the slightest activity tired her sister out, including eating.
She wasn't sure whether it was physical activities or mental stress that affected her more.
But she had to admit, every day away from Jason, her sister was beginning to look more like herself, even with the bruises.
She sighed heavily. The day crept by without anything to do but watch Leigh sleep.
Her sister stirred. Leigh tended to push the outside world away when she closed her eyes, but there were things they needed to discuss that couldn't be put off any longer.
Leigh lifted her head, looking around as if she had to remind herself of where they were staying. She wasn't at home. Jason wasn't here.
Annie cleared her throat and whispered, "We need to talk about what we're going to do."
Leigh's fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the blanket.
"We can't stay here forever, sis. We need a plan." Annie raked her teeth over her bottom lip. "I know you don't feel good, but we need to prepare for everything."
If she had prepared herself for what she'd find when she arrived at her sister's house, they wouldn't be in this mess now. The best she could do was plan several escape routes and be ready.
Leigh exhaled slowly. "There is no plan. Not one that works. Everything I've tried has failed. He will find me. He always does."
Annie turned to her. "There has to be a way. I'm here now. We'll figure out a way for you to be free of him."
Leigh's eyes were distant. "You don't understand. Jason's not the angry guy who will soon forget about me. He's a cop. He knows how to find people. He knows how to make things disappear. He has hundreds of law enforcement brothers who will do him a favor."
Annie's stomach twisted. "Then we disappear better."
"You make it sound so easy. It takes money to survive. It takes money to leave. It takes money to do anything." Leigh gave a bitter laugh. "I don't even have access to Jason's money."
When she found out that Leigh was no longer working and had to ask Jason for money to get anything, food, clothes, or to pay the bills, it made her sick. Her sister had always worked since she turned sixteen. She was an independent woman. Someone Annie admired and modeled herself after.
The sad part was that Jason held money over Leigh's head, taunting her. She had to ask him for the most basic things like tampons and toothpaste. He never let her forget how much money she spent.
"It won't be easy," admitted Annie. "But it's not impossible. We're not staying in this nightmare. I won't let him hurt you again."
Leigh's gaze turned glassy. "You don't get it. His abuse didn't start with fists. It started with words. With questions."
Annie's breath caught. They hadn't done much talking when they were alone at the house because Jason tormented them. Leigh battled headaches and was in constant pain. All her questions had to wait until now.
"When did he start abusing you?"
Leigh hesitated. "Before we were married."
Annie blinked. "What?"
There were no outward signs of abuse or even unhappiness when they were dating. When Jason traveled up to Seattle to see Leigh, he often visited with Annie and her mom. He always seemed polite and in love with Leigh. The fact that he had fooled her made her stomach turn.
"There were signs," Leigh said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He'd get jealous. Ask who I was texting. Who I was smiling at. I thought it was sweet. I thought it meant he cared."
Annie's heart ached.
"I liked how possessive he was," Leigh continued. "Until it stopped feeling like love and started feeling like control. Like I was always watched and judged."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Annie asked, her voice cracking.
She and Leigh were inseparable growing up. Best friends. They shared everything, even a bedroom.
Leigh looked away. "Because I was ashamed. I didn't want you to think I was weak. Or stupid. I didn't want Mom to worry. After the stroke, she had enough to deal with. I thought... if I just held on long enough, he'd change."
Annie raised her voice. "You're not weak. You're not stupid. You're my sister. And you didn't deserve any of this."
Leigh's lips trembled. "I kept thinking it was his career that was making him mean and cold. The pressure. The long hours. All the crimes he witnessed. I thought it was desensitizing him. But it wasn't any of that. It was him. He's sick."
"We just need to concentrate and look toward the future." Annie ran her hands over her face. "You're out now. That's what matters. Today, you're safe."
They sat like that for a long time, the silence between them thick with everything they hadn't said for years.
Eventually, Leigh drifted off again, her body sagging into the cushions.
Annie stood, stretching her stiff limbs, and walked to the front window. The sun was beginning to dip behind the trees, casting long shadows across the yard.
She needed to do something.
She couldn't sit here and wait for the next disaster.
She glanced at the burner phone Hunter had given her.
If she could get to Seattle, she could get to the bank and take out the money she'd saved.
It wasn't much, but it would get them far enough away that Jason and his cop friends couldn't touch them.
They could start over, maybe on the other side of the United States.
Once Leigh was healed, they could both get jobs.
They'd worked tables before and could also run a cash register.
They didn't need much, just enough to afford a small apartment where no one could find them.
Jason had taken her purse, which contained her bank card, driver's license, and phone.
However, she still had her birth certificate and social security card in the file cabinet back at the apartment she shared with her mom when she was alive.
That would serve as enough proof to get a new bank card issued.
There were four months left on her six-month prepaid lease.
The landlord knew her and would let her into the apartment without her keys.
If she could borrow a couple of hundred dollars from Hunter, she could go to Seattle. Once Leigh was strong enough to stay alone, she'd take the train, visit the bank, and withdraw the little money she had left. She'd pay Hunter back.
And maybe—just maybe—she'd have enough to get Leigh somewhere far away from Jason.
Her car was probably gone. Jason had either hidden or gotten rid of it. But she'd figure it out.
A low rumble echoed in the distance.
Annie's heart jumped. She rushed back to the window and peered out. A dark figure rode into the driveway.
"It's Hunter," she said, relief washing over her.
Never was she so happy to see someone. In a short amount of time, he’d become the person she leaned on. When he was around, she worried less.
She opened the door just as he stepped up, a brown paper bag in hand.
"Chinese," he said, offering her the bag.
She inhaled deeply, making sure to look at him when she asked, "Can you stay?"
He stepped inside. She shut and locked the door behind him. The scent of sesame and ginger filled the room, warm and comforting.
Leigh had sat up when she opened the door and even waved at Hunter while Annie set out the food and got them silverware from the kitchen.
They ate quietly, the three of them gathered around the coffee table. Leigh managed a few bites, but Annie ate with purpose, her body finally remembering how hungry it was.
Halfway through the meal, she set her fork down and looked at Hunter. "I need to ask you something."
He nodded, giving her his full attention.
"I need to go to Seattle." She pointed. "To go to my bank, but I don't have any money with me to pay for a train ticket.
" She hesitated. "If I could borrow the money for the train ticket, I can pay you back the second I return.
" She drew an X over her heart. "I need to get enough to get Leigh out of here. "
Hunter didn't speak right away.
He just looked at her—really looked at her—and something in his eyes softened. She hoped he understood, and she hadn't talked too fast.
"I'll pay you back," she said again, her voice firmer. "I swear."
He said, "I'll help you."
Annie exhaled, her shoulders sagging in relief. She didn't know why she trusted him so much. Maybe it was the way he never asked for anything in return.
Or maybe it was just that, for the first time in a long time, someone was taking care of her, instead of her taking care of her mom or her sister.
And that meant everything to her.