Chapter 13 #2
An hour after the silent dinner concluded, Sadie found herself restless despite the day’s supposedly relaxing activities.
The enforced tranquility had left her feeling caged, like a wild animal pacing behind glass walls.
While guests had been “encouraged” to follow their individually tailored schedules of treatments and meditation, no one had explicitly forbidden exploration of the facility… only the grounds outside.
During that morning’s tour, she’d noticed an indoor swimming pool that had called to her like a siren song.
Swimming laps had always been one of her preferred methods of working through complex problems. The rhythmic strokes and controlled breathing helped to organize her thoughts while burning off excess energy.
She changed into her practical one-piece swimsuit, a far cry from the designer bikinis she’d spotted on other guests, and pulled on sweatpants and a hoodie over it.
Sliding her feet into flip-flops and grabbing a towel and her swim cap, she slipped out of her room and navigated the maze-like corridors toward the aquatic center.
The halls were eerily empty, as if the entire resort had been abandoned. She wondered if everyone had obediently retired early, following another rule she’d missed about appropriate bedtimes for optimal spiritual cleansing.
Pushing open the glass doors to the pool area, she was greeted by blessed solitude and the familiar scent of chlorine.
The space was a monument to understated luxury, with an Olympic-sized pool surrounded by natural stone and underwater lighting that cast dancing patterns on the walls.
Floor-to-ceiling windows offered views of the star-filled desert sky, and the absence of the omnipresent spa music felt like finally being able to breathe again.
Without hesitation, she stripped down to her suit and dove into the beckoning sanctuary.
The cool water embraced her, and she began swimming laps with methodical determination.
Stroke after stroke, she felt the artificial calm that had been imposed on her throughout the day begin to dissolve, replaced by the natural endorphin high that came from pushing her body to its limits.
This was what she needed, rather than mud baths and mineral soaks. Just the simple pleasure of physical exertion and keeping her mind sharp.
As that thought crystallized in her mind, she abruptly stopped mid-stroke, her hands gripping the pool’s edge at the deep end. Her legs floated behind her as a disturbing realization washed over her like cold water.
Staying sharp. She’d always prided herself on maintaining mental acuity, physical readiness, and emotional resilience.
But today, she’d allowed herself to be led from treatment to treatment like a compliant sheep, following instructions without question, letting the soft music and softer voices lull her into a state of passive acceptance.
She was used to following orders in professional situations, but she’d never considered herself compliant in the way that suggested weakness or lack of critical thinking.
Yet here she was, having gone along with every item on her prescribed itinerary without once asserting her own preferences or pushing back against the spa’s gentle but insistent control.
How easy it was to be influenced when told it was for your own good, she realized with growing unease. The thought disturbed her more than she cared to admit.
Pushing off from the wall with renewed vigor, she swam more punishing laps before hauling herself out of the pool.
She toweled off her face and pulled off her swim cap, her hair falling around her shoulders.
The brief rebellion had felt good. It was a reminder that she was still capable of making her own choices, even in this carefully controlled environment.
As she pushed through the doors leading back to the hallway, she nearly collided with a figure standing directly in her path. Brock James, the guest services coordinator, looked like he had been ready to enter the pool area.
“Oh!” she gasped, startled by his sudden appearance. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.”
He didn’t move aside, instead studying her with an intensity that made her skin crawl. His smile was perfectly professional, but his eyes held something that triggered every instinct she’d honed through years of dangerous work.
“I was just taking a swim,” she added, suddenly feeling the need to justify her presence.
“Yes, I see that.” His voice carried a slight accent she couldn’t place, and he continued to block her path with deliberate casualness. “For liability reasons, we prefer guests to have supervision during aquatic activities. We would hate for anything to happen while you were alone.”
The explanation sounded reasonable enough, but something in his demeanor set off alarm bells in her head. There had been no posted signs about supervised swimming, and security cameras extensively monitored the pool area… she’d counted at least six during her swim.
“I can understand that,” she replied carefully, keeping her voice level and professional. “But I can also assure you that I’m very experienced with taking care of myself. Good evening.”
She stepped to the side, forcing him to move out of her way, and continued down the hall with measured steps. Every instinct screamed at her to turn around and see if he was still watching, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d unsettled her.
The encounter left her with an uneasy feeling that had nothing to do with spa protocols and everything to do with the predatory way he’d looked at her. She made a mental note to be more aware of her surroundings. On a mission, her safety instincts were clearly still functioning.
Once back in her room, she showered quickly and changed into sleep shorts and an oversized T-shirt. While still in the bathroom, she crouched down and opened the cabinet beneath the sink, reaching behind the pipes to retrieve the LSIMT phone she’d hidden there upon arrival.
Grinning at her own foresight, she fired off a text to Vivian. I had a mud bath today. I felt like a prize piglet being prepped for the market! Very bougie. But I’m here, safe and sound.
She hit send, knowing Logan’s wife would undoubtedly share Sadie’s colorful commentary with the rest of the team.
The spa’s literature had emphasized the importance of “disconnecting from the digital world” during their stay, requiring guests to surrender their personal phones upon arrival.
But Sadie hadn’t survived years in intelligence work by following rules that compromised her safety or communication capabilities.
If her team needed her, they could reach her through this secure backup device.
She sent a message to Timothy, letting him know who she’d met and what she’d learned. As expected. Supplements to be given tomorrow- will arrange to get them to you. Hope to get into the offices once I know the schedule.
He replied, and she smiled as she slipped the phone underneath her pillow for the evening.
She would secure it tomorrow morning before breakfast in the nourishment and reflection room.
She snorted as she crawled into the luxurious bed with its impossibly high thread count sheets.
Closing her eyes, she tried to quiet her racing thoughts.
She’d already conducted a thorough sweep of her room and found no surveillance devices.
Apparently, even Serenity Dunes had limits when it came to violating guest privacy.
Sleep still didn’t come, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that this mission was going to be far more complicated than anyone had anticipated.