Chapter One: Welcome to Wherever You Are
Madeline awoke to the sound of a boat horn. The moon was visible through the porthole and she could hear voices above deck. They were speaking in Spanish but she knew what they were saying. "We will be in port for one hour. Get what you need and return to the ship. We will not wait to set sail. If you are not here… we leave without you". It sounded as though the man, likely the captain or his lieutenant, was addressing the entire crew. She waited until the noise above deck subsided and then crawled out of her hiding place. With the utmost caution she creeped towards the deck, once certain the coast was clear, she jumped ship. She swam to a beach about a mile north and then came ashore.
She knew she should keep moving but instead she stretched out on the beach and looked at the stars. They seemed to look so different to her everywhere she went. The waves were crashing slightly, the palm trees stretched to the sky and the warm air was so inviting. Southern California was beautiful. Before she knew it she had dozed off on the beach and was waking up to the sunrise behind her.
"Well, it looks like it's time to get moving again" she mumbled to herself as she walked to the road heading further north. After walking for a few hours, she decided to hitchhike. Within seconds of sticking her thumb out a young guy in a blue BMW convertible pulled over. Madeline laughed. "It's a good thing I'm pretty" she whispered as she approached the vehicle. "And what is with that car? Really?"
"Where are you going beautiful? For you I'll drive a thousand miles off my route." The guy leaned forward and Madeline pushed him back slightly.
"That's so sweet" she said flirtatiously, and then she got serious. "Just take me to Orange County."
"Anywhere in particular?" He asked with a smile.
"Take your pick." Madeline shrugged and looked out the window.
"And what do I call you sexy?" She glanced over and flashed a cocky smile.
"Anything but that." She replied and returned her eyes to the window.
"You are very vague."
"You'll like it better this way." She answered with a sigh.
"How do you know that?"
"You don't want to know what I do." Madeline and the stranger sat in silence from that time until he pulled into The Block shopping centre in Orange. By that time she was happy to get out of that vehicle and be on her way. She tossed the stranger a hundred dollar bill and said "Thanks. Word of advice, your car is douche-y, and so were your cheesy attempts to pick me up." Without another word she turned and walked away.
She called a taxi and rode to a small warehouse in Huntington Beach where she gained access to a number of possessions of hers that had been moved here when she chose to come to California. She had to return to the United States, but the outlook was not good if she returned to New York. She piled cash, clothing and important documents into the trunk of her 2011 Red Chevy Camaro. She had acquired it when after she crashed her '87 Charger when evading an enemy. Madeline had hopes to rebuild the Charger, but it was too far gone, so she bought a new car.
She grabbed her cell phone off the shelf and turned it on. After a minute her phone began registering numerous missed calls. She opened the call log and looked at the number. 14 Missed Calls from H. Lange, one a day for the past 2 weeks.
"Henrietta Lange, you must've known I was thinking of you." Madeline said to herself.
She dialled the number and listened to the ringing as she waited. After a minute Henrietta answered and Madeline smiled. "Hetty, how have you been?" she asked.
"I am alright Ms. Comeau. What about you?" Hetty replied.
"It's been a bit of a crazy ride lately, but I am holding on." She answered with a shrug. "Do you have time to grab a cup of tea?"
"Of course Ms. Comeau, where?" she asked.
"You decide, I don't know this town too well, I just arrived"
"There is a nice little shop in the south end; I will send you the address"
"Sounds good, one hour?" Madeline asked glancing at her watch.
"I will see you then. Be careful Ms. Comeau" Hetty said and Madeline nodded hearing the concern in Hetty's voice.
"I will. See you soon" With that she hung up the phone. She quickly changed out of the sand covered khakis and grey tank top and into a form fitting Burberry dress and hopped into her car on her way to Los Angeles.