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In a booth of a diner in the hometown where she lived with Simon, Regina hid under the brim of a ballcap. Her red wig tucked under the brim and her braided tail through the back and over her shoulder offset the olive skin.
It had taken some time to get the right skin tone to pull it off. If anyone were to remember her, she looked like another baseball fan in town for the game.
Phone in her hand, she searched social media accounts for news in Camden. It was a relief in the weeks after leaving to not see anything about her house being shot at. There mustn't have been anything to do to warrant news.
Looking out the window, she watched the hectic traffic forming from the game advertised. It wasn't easy to navigate under the radar with the people walking around. She hoped she could be another face in the crowd. For now, with her head down, she could blend.
Hearing a man's voice at the counter, she slanted a look toward him. Rick, she thought. Simon's buddy and, at times, supplier. When Simon needed anything, Rick was there. It was another representation of the vileness that was her life.
It took two months to track him down and she'd done a good job of tailing him. He was unaware of her presence, even when he glanced at her, he didn't really see her. Green contacts were in her eyes, her red hair would never give her away.
A waitress slid a cup of coffee on the table, which she nodded in thanks. She couldn't risk talking and giving herself up. Instead, she turned and went back to her phone. Shifting it, she snapped a few shots of him talking to a younger male.
Seemingly in a business meeting, until she saw Rick take a small envelope and slip it into his inside coat pocket. The sneaky way men seem to be able to put things in and look causal, annoyed her. Women could rarely get away with that, in her experience.
The younger man downed his coffee and exchanged a glance with Rick before slipping off the stool and walking out into the daylight. Rick waited ten minutes and followed but walked in the opposite direction.
Regina sent a text with the young man's picture with a date and time signature to Sydney. Find out what you can. Then, she simply slipped it into her pocket and took the first sip of the coffee that was now cold.
"Done?" The waitress asked.
"Thank you," she said. Regina stood and walked out into the day sliding her hands into her pockets. When she turned the corner, Rick was looking her way.
Panicked, she lowered her head and kept walking. When she'd taken several steps, she felt a hand slip around her upper arm, "Who the hell are you and why are you following me?"
Taking a breath, she stopped, "Excuse me?" She deliberately made her voice more feminine and let it tremble a little.
"I saw you in the diner, watching me. What the hell do you want?" His jaw was set, and his eyes were speculative and angry.
"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm meeting a friend." The grip of his hand hadn't loosened, and she was sure that she'd been caught.
He reached out to tip her chin back when a familiar voice said, "There you are. Who's this?"
Rick let her arm slip out of his grip and lowered it. "I don't know, just a misunderstanding."
He nodded and muttered a sorry under his breath before he sauntered off, idly patting his coat pocket. She guessed to make sure his package was secure.
When she turned, her mouth gaped open, "Thanks, I owe you one."
"Yea, Sabrina. You fucking do. I told you not to come back here," she was angry.
Regina raised her head, "Kelly?"
Searching her face, she gave up any pretense to hide who she was. "How did you know it was me?"
"I'd know your walk anywhere even with that ridiculous hair. Trying to be me?" Her mouth was downcast, and she was slightly snarling.
"I…" speechless she glanced around. "Who else knows?" Eyes wide, she wasn't sure how safe she was out on the sidewalk now.
Kelly seemed to soften, "Are you in some kind of trouble?" She started looking around to see what she'd been afraid of. "What are you doing here?"
Regina looked down when she saw Rick slowly driving by and looking their way. To hide the tension, she took Kelly's arm and started walking, "Play along," she urged. They walked a little down the road before his car turned the corner. "I'm sorry, I didn't come here to see you," she defended herself.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you dressed like that?" Genuine interest and concern lit her face. It was nice to see a face, even one unfriendly. It prickled behind her eyes and threatened to release happy tears.
"It's complicated, but I got what I came for. I'll leave," she turned to walk off.
"Stop. Sabrina, wait," she called.
Regina turned, "That's not my name. You have me mistaken with someone else," she said as a couple walked by eying them warily.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rick walking into a warehouse a few blocks down. "I have to go," she said. Walking down the road, she sighed when Kelly started to stay in step with her. Stubbornly, not leaving her alone. "What?"
"I've never seen you like this, what's up? I can tell it's bad, tell me."
"It's complicated and I don't have time to stop and explain it. Even if I did, you don't care, Kelly. Forget about me and go back to your husband," she spat.
"I do care about you, but I'm still pissed about Michael. I can't forget what you did, and I may be petty, but it doesn't mean I'm not still your friend. It's been years, Sa-," she cut off with a look. "Where have you been?"
"It doesn't matter," she sighed. Regina wasn't going to explain it to someone who hadn't been a part of her life.
"Where's Sammy?" Kelly was rewarded with a complete stop and turn. "Is he okay?"
She wished she could say yes, but she wasn't sure. Physically, she knew Robin would care for him. She trusted him enough to do that. Emotionally, she had no clue and it gutted her. She was doing so well not thinking about him.
"He's fine and he's being taken care of by," she paused thinking of what Robin was to her, "A friend," she finished. "Kelly, I know it's been a while, and I wish I had time to explain this to you, but I don't. Take care," she said and walked away.
Picking up the pace, she rushed around to the backside of the warehouse and found an open panel. Glancing around, she noted she was alone. Slipping under the panel, she silently entered a darkened room. Voices could be heard faintly from her position.
Taking quiet small steps, she made her way to a corner of a covered fence. Kneeling, she closed her eyes to listen.
"It's all there, he's waiting for a location. The boy is still there. No sign of the woman," someone said. His voice was deep, and he sounded big.
A smaller and higher-pitched voice responded, "Fine. It'll cost you double to take the teacher out." She covered her hand over her face to think of Robin being hurt.
"That's not the deal we agreed to," the bigger man said in an aggressive tone. She risked a peek through the fence and saw Rick. He was a big voice and she recognized the younger man. Robbie, Simon's brother.
Robbie sighed, "Agreements change, this is the deal. If he wants the teacher taken out, it's double."
Rick said, "You'll get it. I want this done, but the boys don't get hurt. That's the deal," he said.
Robbie laughed, "I'm no baby killer. They'll be safe, you can be assured of that. Give me a few weeks. I'll need to make arrangements. You have two days."
Rick and Robbie shook hands, but when Rick turned to leave, all hell broke loose. Robbie picked up the gun, aimed it at his back, and shot him through the back of the neck. The silencer on the gun barely made a sound.
Rick's body thudded to the ground and blood started spilling out on the floor. Regina covered her cry and squeezed her eyes shut. Her stomach lurched, and she struggled to not lose her breakfast.
Holding her breath, she heard a female voice, "Car's outside." Regina let out a breath slowly and turned to see Simon's sister Gail standing next to Robbie.
"Let's go," and they walked out the back of the warehouse. For long minutes, she couldn't move.
The only sound she heard was her breathing coming in sobs and shudders. When she took a few steps toward Rick, the smell of blood made her nauseous. Too overwhelmed, she ducked into a corner and emptied her stomach.
With trembling hands, she pulled out her phone and dialed 911. When the operator picked up, she didn't say a word, she listened.
"911 operator, can you tell me what the emergency is?" The woman paused, "Hello? Can you hear me?" Another pause, "If you can't answer, push a button." Regina reached over and pushed a button with unsteady fingers. "Good, I'll dispatch someone to you. I'm doing it now, just stay calm."
Regina pushed the end button and powered down the phone. She took the battery out and stashed it in a pallet. Putting the phone down, she stomped on it until the glass broke and the plastic split. Taking the coat tail of her shirt, she wiped the phone of any potential prints and threw the phone in a corner far from Rick's body.
Hearing the siren's, she slipped out of the back panel and ran until she reached a row of 18 wheelers. She slipped between them ran and ran and ran. She didn't stop until she'd run herself ragged.
It didn't occur to her that when she stopped, she was nearing her old house. Turning a corner, she made a point to avoid the street. Coming into a gas station, she went into the bathroom and took off her wig and ballcap.
In case she was seen, she removed the contacts and raked her fingers through her hair. She removed her jacket and shoved everything into the trashcan. Looking in the mirror, she saw her pale face.
The makeup was too white for her complexion and her dark hair washed her out, but that wasn't it. She was in shock, she realized. Her pupils were dilated, her breath not quite steady. In a stall, she threw up again and felt better for it.
Her back to the wall, she slid down until she pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped around herself. Tears came hot and fast. Letting the fear in, she took deep breaths. If Rick was dead, what did that mean for Robin? Henry?
As much as she wanted to keep them safe, she had to make sure they were okay. When she got herself together, she opened the bathroom door and walked out. A deputy was looking around and stopped her.
"Ma'am, have you seen a female with red hair under a ballcap come in here or the bathroom?"
"No, I'm sorry," she tried to sound detached.
The deputy walked into the bathroom and she walked outside and back to her hotel room in a hurry. It was time to plan and go back to Camden. Four months was long enough, she hoped.
At the end of the day, Robin and the boys sat down to dinner. Roland was giddy from being able to help Maggie in the library for the book fair. He'd spent the day at school instead of holed up in Granny's Bed and Breakfast.
Henry, like he'd been most days, was quiet and picking his food with his fork. Since their talk before, he'd really tried to be more social. Carl and Penny had been invited over most afternoons.
But, nights like tonight, brought sadness to the house. It was Regina's birthday and not a word had been heard from her. Robin had spent the day trying to distract the boys. He'd made sure not to broach the subject.
Tonight, they dug into lasagna Granny wrapped up for them. Robin didn't tell the boys, but she'd baked a cake for Regina. It was hidden under a bag of potatoes in the fridge. He didn't have the heart to pull it out.
"After dinner, can we read all my new books?" Roland lifted his head and lips curved. A spot of sauce clung to his chin. It was cute, but his mind was on other things.
"Sure, we can. Henry?" A knock on the door interrupted his invitation. Henry took it upon himself to excuse himself and walk down the hall to his room. Evasion was his specialty.
"Sit tight," he told Roland. He walked through the living room and peeked out of the curtains, there was no one there. He knew to take precautions and opened the door with a gun behind his back.
It never felt comfortable, but he'd taken the one Regina had left behind and kept it in the hallway under a finance magazine. The boys never went near it and he was thankful for that. The light on the porch only shown a few feet or so out.
Turning back and forth, he didn't see anything. Annoyed, he went to close the door but stopped when someone shuffled in the bushes. Tightening his grip on the gun, he opened the door wider. "Who's there?"
It felt stupid, like some movie where he'd be attacked any minute. Feeling ridiculous, he scanned the darkness. He let out a sigh and closed the door slipping the gun back under the magazine and locked the drawer.
He turned the lock on the door and walked back to the kitchen. Roland was still slurping his spaghetti. "You almost done?"
"Yea, who was it?"
"No one," he said.
To calm the nerves dancing at the back of his neck, he snuck down the hall to check on Henry. He knocked on the door, pushed it open, and jolted to a halt. He blinked and shuddered out a breath when he took a closer look.
Sitting on the bed with arms wrapped around him, was Regina. Her eyes were damp, and she was pale. She looked tired, he mused. Tired and sick? He couldn't put his finger on it, but he stood still. Unsure of what move to make. How the hell did she get inside? He wondered.
Henry was in tears and hugging her so tight, her skin was turning white. He scanned down her body and noticed she was wearing tights, a sweatshirt that was two sizes too big, and her hair was pulled back in a tail. To the naked eye, she looked like she'd been running. Out for exercise as her shoes indicated. All black clothing.
When he caught his breath, he edged out the room to give them privacy. Hell, it was to give himself some time to come to terms with seeing her for the first time in months. What would he even say to her? Why was she here? Where was Simon?
Roland walked down the hall, his face clean, "Can we read now?" His attention was diverted when he heard voices. "Who's he talking to?"
Robin put a hand to his shoulder, "He's on the phone," he lied and walked him into his room. Roland crawled up on the bed and picked the top book.
"This one," he said. Robin sat beside him and struggled to focus. His heart was beating hard, his mind was racing. He'd yet to catch her eye.
"Alright," he said. He wasn't sure how long he'd sat there reading. He'd gotten through the sixth book when Roland's eyes started to droop. Even when he was asleep, and Robin stopped reading, he sat in silence.
For all he knew, he'd walk out that door and she'd be gone. It could've all been an illusion. He imagined it all, he pressed his fingers to his eyes. No, he was too aware of her for it to be fake.
He saw her, smelled her, felt his body react to her proximity. That wasn't faked, it was real. He'd heard voices as he read, but now that he was quiet, there were none.
Gaining the courage to get up, he took the books and stacked them on the shelf as he walked out of the room and shut the door silently. Glancing toward the room he'd set up for Henry, the door was open.
Henry was under the covers, eyes closed, and asleep. He stepped inside to look around and only saw a black duffle bag shoved under the bed. Flipping the fan switch on, he closed the door.
Standing in the hallway, he took several breaths before his feet felt the need to walk. In the kitchen, the boy's bowls were stacked in the sink, as they should be. He stepped in and was thankful she wasn't there. Call it nerves, but he needed a minute.
Rinsing the dishes, he put them in the dishwasher and threw trash away. Deliberately, he took his time. Just another night, he told himself. Until he was turning off the faucet and felt her presence behind him. He closed his eyes, "Are you really here or is it my imagination?"
He heard her breath catch, tremble like she was trying not to cry. It tore at him, but he didn't turn around. His hands were at the edge of the sink, his eyes closed. He waited.
She finally spoke, "I'm here, but I shouldn't be." He heard the struggle in her voice, the air quality. The catch when her voice broke. "Robin, I came back because…" She didn't finish her sentence. It's what finally made him turn around.
The desperate fear in her voice. Her face matched her tone, the paleness he'd seen wasn't an exaggeration. She was white as a sheet and her eyes deep and dark. Her hands gripped the chair Henry had been sitting in for dinner. Her knuckles were white, she was trembling.
He ached to get to her and wrap her close, but the way things had been left, he wasn't sure what right he had. It wasn't clear how she felt if she felt anything at all. "Because…"
Her body jolted, and her eyes flashed to him, suddenly aware that she was standing in the same room as him. "Oh, God. Robin…" Horror filtered into her face, she looked like she might lose her dinner.
Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, she wasn't right. "Hey," he said softly. Her eyes met his, "Take a deep breath." He knew how jumpy she could be, so he made no move to get closer. "Again," he said.
When he saw her chest lift and fall easily, he said, "What's got you so riled up? What happened?"
"I…" Squeezing her eyes shut, she shook her head and covered her face with her hands. "It was awful," she said. "Nothing like I've ever seen, I can't get it out of my head."
"What happened?" He asked her gently. Risking it, he took a step closer and put his hands on the chair mirroring her. A kind of fog lifted, and she sighed, walked around the table and into his arms.
When he wrapped his arms around her waist, she didn't hesitate to cling to him. He breathed her in and heard her say tearfully, "I missed you."
"And I you," he said and buried his face into her hair. He felt her trembling and knew the familiar feeling of a scared Regina. But, it seemed more than usual. "What is it?"
When she pulled back, she looked down at his mouth, paused, and met his gaze, "We have a lot to talk about."
"Yea, we do, but first-," he leaned down and captured her lips in a soft kiss. He brushed his lips on hers, teasing at first, then sunk deep. For the moment, he drowned in her and felt relief to have her back.