Thirteen: Unlucky
It was dawn. Seth, since he hadn't slept, and Augusta, since she couldn't sleep, got Ritchie up early to hit the road. They didn't see the motorcycle following them.
They drove a long way that day. Five, six hours. Into another state. The speed limit in Oklahoma, out on the interstate, was 75, so Seth was doing an even 90 without blinking. They finally arrived at the other end of the state, some smaller town, rather cute and quaint in its little way, and checked into a hotel that actually felt comfortable. Seth was feeling generous--he got two connecting rooms, one for Augusta by herself. Ritchie said nothing, and Seth had the feeling that Augusta had earned his respect by shooting someone off his back the other day.
She sat in her own room, her brain mulling over everything, threatening to overload her with the enormity of her thoughts. Her first impression of Seth had been a mean son-of-a-bitch who didn't care about anything but himself, his brother, and their money. To find that he had a romantic side was a bit...unsettling. She even found, much to her own shame, that it made him a little bit less attractive. She could have fallen much harder for the bastard made of steel than the villain with the heart of gold.
It was almost four in the afternoon, they'd been sitting around here for God-knew how long---Seth had gone out for some reason only known to him, leaving her in one room and Ritchie in another. Ritchie didn't do much other than glance in every while or so to make sure she was still there. He didn't even toe the threshold between the two rooms. She found herself thinking about Marcos, and if she would ever see him again. And if she did, what would she say? The thought of never having to say anything bothered her---it had never bothered her to keep secrets from Marcos before because he seemed more than content to let her have them. Now, it felt strangely wrong. Why that was, she had no idea. She tried to figure it out, but it was a pretzel in her mind that refused to untwist.
These thoughts were immediately thrown off by the last sound she ever expected to hear. A knock on her door. Surely that couldn't be Seth knocking on her door. She'd heard him come in nearly a half-hour ago, sworn he'd glanced into her room briefly, saw her lying on the bed, realized she wasn't going to look back, and left her alone. She sat up, wondering if the boys had heard it, too.
Whoever it was, knocked again. Not very loud, she realized. Just loud enough for her to hear it, in the quiet of her room. She strained her ears, making sure she wasn't imagining it---could it be the AC, or the vibrations from the boys watching TV next door?
A third time, this time slow and steady.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Augusta slid off the bed. She glanced toward the doorway, saw nothing, as the boys were out of eyeshot, and got to her feet. Stealthily, she crept to the door, and twisted the knob.
Xanny stood there, smiling pleasantly, acting as if this were the most natural thing in the world. Augusta nearly fainted.
"What?" she hissed, but Xanny didn't miss a beat. She gently pushed the door open, eliciting a loud squeak from the hinge. Then Augusta nearly fainted again, because she heard Seth's voice.
"Augusta? What are you doing?"
Xanny pressed a finger to her lips. Augusta backed into the bed and wound up inadvertently sitting down.
"Augusta?" came Seth's voice again, this time more agitated. She heard him get up, heard his footsteps, shot a frantic glance toward Xanny, who just stood there, looking at the empty doorway, waiting. Almost anticipating.
Seth appeared. He blinked, taking in Augusta, passing over Xanny only momentarily. Then, his eyes landed on her, and he blinked again.
"Hi Seth," Xanny said.
%%%%%%%%%%
"Xanny," he said, finding that his voice wouldn't work properly. His jaw moved, as if attempting to remind him how words worked, but he was so stunned, so utterly shocked to see her standing there, flesh and blood, just out of nowhere, that he could not think of a single thing to say.
His brain flooded. Seeing her in the flesh again, now he knew how stupid he'd been to ever mistake Augusta for her. She'd gotten harder, older. There was built up muscle where there had only been soft flesh before. She must have spent time in prison---only women in prison built up that kind of muscle. But her face, it wasn't hard. She was actually smiling at him, slightly. Faintly. Her eyes met his evenly, not flinching, not hesitating, not afraid, just pure rational calm.
"Damn you, woman," he whispered.
Her eyebrows arched in surprise. "Not what I expected, but I guess I'll take it," she said, casually striding closer to Augusta, putting herself between her and Seth. "I see you've been busy."
"Yeah, business has been good," he said, attempting to meet her calm. He heard Ritchie approach, could practically smell the sweat between Ritchie's hand and the gun he clutched, ready to blow away an uninvited guest. Seth made a simple gesture with his hand, Ritchie understood it, but did not pull back. He merely waited for the next signal.
"I can see that. Nice room." Only now did he realize that she had her hands shoved in her pockets. Stupid, he should have noticed that right away. When she saw his eyes dart down, she pulled her hands out, and he backed away just a touch. He heard Ritchie cock his gun.
"No, I'm not armed. I don't pack anymore," she said, her face losing that confident smile and trading it for one of utter honesty. He'd always been able to read Xanny pretty well, was surprised to find that much hadn't changed. "I've just come to talk, so Ritchie can put his cannon away."
"You know that isn't going to happen," Seth muttered.
Xanny shrugged. "It was worth a try." She swayed lightly on her legs. She looked like she wanted to pace---Xanny had always been a pacer when she was nervous---but she wasn't going to, either because too much movement wasn't wise in her situation, or she didn't want to show her emotions.
"So you came to talk," Seth said, stepping into the room. She stepped back a little, not to get distance from him, but to get closer to Augusta. "What about?"
"Your friend here." Xanny motioned behind her. "Augusta. Her fiancée wants her back."
Seth snorted. "And what does that have to do with you? You want a take of the ransom?"
That did get her to smile. A rather cheeky smile, at that. "No, Seth, my days of pillaging and plundering are over. I'm working for a detective---you heard about it on the news, didn't you? Marcos Ferarre hired my boss, Carl Whittaker, to get Augusta back."
"Why you?" Seth asked.
She smiled even wider. "Don't play dumb, Seth. It never suited you."
He shrugged. "Fine. You just have to admit...the resemblance is a little uncanny."
Xanny nodded, slowly. Now she was hiding something. "Yeah, it is. I guess we all figured you'd like to know for sure that you got the wrong girl."
"The wrong girl?" he echoed. "What makes you say that?"
"Again with the dumb act," she sighed. "Come on, Seth. I won't lie to you, you don't lie to me."
"Fine," he ground out, taking a step closer---and this time she didn't retreat. "Then you tell me the truth. Why you? What do you have to do with this?"
"You tell me, Seth," she snapped, anger clouding her features. "You're the one who hijacked a girl with my face. Obviously you think that you and I have some unfinished business."
She'd got him there. He locked up. For once in his life, he couldn't think of a single comeback. So instead, he changed the subject.
"You said you're here to get Augusta back. So that means what? You're here to negotiate with me?"
Xanny nodded slowly. "What do you want for her?"
"Ten million. Small bills."
Xanny arched an eyebrow. "D'you have any fucking idea how much ten million in small bills will weigh? Be realistic, Seth. You're trading one dead weight for another."
He cleared his throat. Finally, he glanced at Augusta, and was amazed to find her watching Xanny with the utmost interest. Not that that should really have been amazing, after all, this was the first time she'd met her doppleganger. No doubt she would be baffled and possibly impressed. Xanny was being rather impressive, to give her due credit.
"What makes you think she's a dead weight?" Seth asked, letting his voice slip down into his more seductive mode. "Augusta's actually been having fun with us. The other day she killed a thug off Ritchie's back."
Xanny nodded, her face darkening even further. "Yeah, I also know about the sperm all over the couch in your second to last hotel room. What the hell is wrong with you, Seth? When did you start fucking your hostages? I thought that was Ritchie's job."
Now she had hit a nerve. Seth had to push his hand back to keep Ritchie from charging forward. "Fucking bitch," Ritchie growled, but obeyed Seth's silent command.
"Cheap shot, Xanny," Seth said warningly.
"No, Seth, it was your cheap shot." He could tell she was getting more and more pissed by the second. "It isn't like you to fuck things up like this. You really are distracted. You think I couldn't tell? Why do you think I came here personally? And yes, before you can ask, I am alone. No police are following me, I'm not going to report you. I've just been hired to recover the hostage." She paused, considering her next words. "Considering the circumstances, I thought you might want to see me. Like I said, we must have unfinished business."
"We do," he said. "But don't pretend you're all concerned about me."
"I'm not," she sighed. "I'm concerned about Augusta. She deserves better than to be fucked over by you."
"I am sitting right here," came Augusta's faint voice, but Seth was already set to explode.
"Fucked over by ME?" he nearly howled, his voice going uncharacteristically high on the last word. "You got a lot of fucking nerve, you two-faced, lying, deceitful bitch!"
"I've never lied to you, Seth," Xanny said calmly. "You just can't handle the truth."
He took another step forward, wanting to pull his gun so badly, wanting to cold-cock her right on the head, but resisting. He didn't hit women. He didn't even like shooting them, even though he wouldn't hesitate if they made him. Then, he stopped. What if she was trying to make him mad on purpose?
Her eyes bore into his, waiting. "You don't lie to me?" he spat. "Then tell me the truth, right now. Why are you here? The real reason, not the one you keep telling me."
"I will, Seth. Right after you tell me what in the hell you really want with me."
%%%%%%%%%%
This was not going well. She'd pissed Seth off. Sure, she'd meant to, but not this far. She thought she was being so cool, so collected. She'd seen him twice in the last forty-eight hours, she thought she'd been prepared for this confrontation. But she wasn't. Being this close to him brought back so many memories, good and bad, pain and pleasure, that it was all she could do, just to keep meeting his eyes. Meeting his eyes was something Seth looked for in a person, someone who wasn't a coward, someone who didn't flinch. He would respect anyone who met his eyes, no matter what the situation. But now, that she'd laid it out on the line, it had ceased to be what it was supposed to be---a chance to rescue Augusta---and it had become a chance for her and Seth to really have it out.
She simply wasn't ready.
"Seth," she said, after a pause, "you and I can do this later. Right now, I've got a family who wants their girl back, so why don't we take care of business first?"
"What are you offering?"
"Whatever you want."
"Bullshit. No one ever offers whatever I want."
"Maybe that's because no one knows, Seth. You want to make a trade? I'll stay if you let her go?"
"Fat fucking chance," came Ritchie's growl.
"He's right. Augusta is a hostage. You're probably going to be in as much trouble for this as we are." He gave her a rather smarmy grin. "Spent time in prison recently, Xanny?"
"Yeah," she said quietly.
"Out on parole?"
"I got a reduced sentence, plea-bargaining and good behavior."
"You probably still aren't supposed to leave the state."
She shrugged. "Probably not. But I'm not too worried."
"So you really want to stay here?"
"I want this to be over between us, Seth."
He was considering. "You go back to your bosses, and tell them to get that ten million ready. Then you come back here and deliver it yourself. Then you can stay, and she can go. Got it?"
Xanny nodded. "Sounds fair."
"And if you tell anyone, especially the police, I will splatter her guts all over this hotel room. Got it?"
"Got it," she said, but told him with her eyes that she thought he was a liar.
Just then, Augusta stood up. "No!"
All of them looked at her. Xanny glanced over her shoulder, trying not to be obvious, knowing Seth would pick it up if she let it on too strong.
"She's not staying here in my place. You said ten million before. Ten million and you let me go. You don't get to keep her, too!"
"Augusta, stay out of this," Xanny said coolly. "It's between me and Seth."
Augusta looked mildly panicked as she stepped away from the bed. "But-"
Xanny glared at her. Augusta's mouth snapped shut. But it was too late.
Seth reached into his pocket, drew his gun. Xanny was true to her word, she wasn't packing. She backed away from the door, which she had slowly approached to make her exit. "What are you doing?" she demanded.
Seth cocked and aimed. "You tell me, right now, what in the hell is really going on," he whispered.
Xanny shook her head. "I promised I'd tell you everything later---"
"Not later, now."
"Fine, but you tell me what you want with me, first."
"It's not hard to figure out, Xanny," Seth said, feeling much more in control, and definitely like he was going to get more out of this bargain than she was, especially by the fleeting panic on her face. "You deserted me. I just want to know why."
"Because!" Xanny nearly screamed, stepping forward, "because you didn't believe me, you son of a bitch!"
"Believe you about what?" he screamed back, leveling the gun at her.
"Oh, put that fucking thing away, Seth, you're not going to shoot me or Augusta, so just stop pretending."
Seth lowered the gun. "Believe you about what?" he demanded again.
Xanny pointed to Ritchie. "About him!" she bellowed. "Him and his PROBLEM!"
"What problem?"
"He's a fucking nut!" Xanny shrieked. Ritchie tried to charge, Seth stopped him with his shoulder.
"Calm the fuck down!" Seth told him. He glared at Xanny. "You'd better have a damn good reason---"
"That hotel room in Texas, you bastard! Blood everywhere, that you never saw, because I made him clean it up. That hostage he raped and murdered and instead of believing me, you blamed me for letting her get away."
Seth gawked at her. "Is that what this is all about?"
She shook her head, blue hair flying. "No, not all of it. I realized that day what I was dealing with, and that I had to get away. I've done a lot since then, and maybe I'm still basically the same person, but I don't want any part of this life anymore."
"Xanny," Seth said, stepping forward, and mercifully Ritchie stayed back, "are you saying all of this time it was because I believed Ritchie over you? That you were jealous?"
"Not jealous," she spat. "Unlucky, I guess. Unlucky enough to have the only person in the world that I trusted not trust me back. I should really thank you, though, you opened my eyes to a lot of things. I'll tell you the truth, I'm actually a happy person now. I don't feel the need to settle things with my fists anymore. If you ever realized the truth, you might find the same thing for yourself." She was panting now, the exertion having taking more out of her than she'd ever thought. "So I left you."
"Not because you..." he trailed off, unsure if he should say it.
"Because I betrayed you?" She paused, then admitted it. "Yeah, that too. I called the cops that day. Not to get you arrested, but to save myself. I knew there really wasn't any other way I could make a clean break."
He glared at her for a long moment, then down at the floor, where his gun was pointed. "No, not that."
Startled, she said, "You think it was because I didn't love you?" Ritchie snorted. Seth lifted his head, his expression clearly showing his obvious discomfort at the thought. Xanny chuckled, lightly. "Face it, Seth. What we had wasn't love."
Finally, he looked at her again. His eyes were cold, distant. "No, I guess it wasn't."
She nodded. "Okay, then," she said, and turned toward the door.
"Wait."
"What now?"
"You didn't hold up your end of the deal. You wanted to know what I wanted with you. I want to know why you're really here."
"Because I was paid to be," she said, putting all the honesty she had into it. He didn't buy it.
"The real reason, Xanny."
"Don't," Augusta whispered, her eyes widening.
Xanny glanced at her again. No, she wouldn't. But Seth was a lot smarter than he looked.
He glanced at her, then at Augusta, then back again. He stepped closer, then closer still. He bent down a little, meeting them right in the eyes.
The same color eyes.
He blinked, straightened. "Holy shit."
Xanny tensed. "Let it go, Seth. I'm leaving to go get your money."
"Fuck that." He put his hand on the door, even as she moved toward it again. "You two...you're related, aren't you?"
"That's stupid," Xanny spat. "How could we possibly be related?"
Seth looked at Augusta. "Your missing twin...the one you wouldn't tell me about."
Xanny whirled on Augusta. "You told him that?" she barked.
Augusta flinched. "I didn't tell him all of it!"
To their astonishment, Seth threw his head back and laughed.