It was six a. m. Connie got dressed, put on her sneakers and left the apartment. Nena and Lars were already at the café, serving the first customers.
But Connie had unfinished business. According to Regina, today was the day Mark was to leave. Connie had already packed her suitcase, got the car ready, fueled up and now, all she needed was someone to follow.
The tracker told her that Mark’s phone was near the office building, and she walked past the entry door. She remembered the parking area at the end of the building.
“I don’t need a babysitter.” She heard a man’s voice, bitter and petulant.
“Fine.” Another man responded. “Ian is expecting you in St. Louis. He’ll give you a new phone and scrub your current one.”
Connie glanced around the corner and saw Steve, Mark and Regina standing around a boringly beige colored BMW. Mark was about to say something, his mouth open, when he stepped backward, his hand going toward his head.
“Oh, I better get some ibuprofen before we leave.” And that’s when he looked directly at Connie. Regina’s eyes followed his stare.
“I thought that was you.” Connie waved at them. Steve grinned.
“Well, if it isn’t Mrs. Morrigan.” Steve stepped toward her. “I hadn’t realized you’re still in town.” He reached out and shook her hand.
Connie smiled, feeling like a little girl, caught spying on her parents. She didn’t know what to say. Didn’t actually plan on talking to them.
Regina’s lips pressed together, and she only nodded at Connie. Mark, now pale, leaned against the car.
“Hi Gina.” Connie greeted her. “Is he okay?” Connie motioned toward Mark.
“Probably something he ate.” Steve offered, dismissing Mark’s pale face with a motion of his hand.
“What are you doing?” Regina asked Connie.
“Going for a walk. I’m heading to New York today and figured I get some exercise first.” Connie grinned. “Looks like you’re going for a drive, too.” She pointed toward the open trunk of the BMW, filled with a suitcase, laptop case and a black security bin.
“Mark is. He has some business to attend to.” Regina responded. “Have fun in New York.” Regina said, not interested in small talk, or Connie’s presence.
And Connie took he hint. She waved good-bye as she left the parking lot, yelled a cheerful ‘Bon Voyage’ at Mark and turned the corner.
***
Regina ignored the banter between Steve and Mark, a sour taste in her mouth, mostly because she knew what Steve had done. I can’t believe I let him do this to Mark. She sighed and realized they were being watched. A woman stood at the corner, looking at them. What the hell is she doing here?
Regina looked at Constantina, her mousy brown hair, her feline green eyes, the lanky body, casually dressed in jeans and shirt. Not exactly a trophy wife, is she? Regina thought, annoyed, that this woman dared to abbreviate her name. Only Steve calls me that and only when he was certain the ties were tight, his strong hands wrapped around my hair, pulling, whispering in my ear, promising punishment. She shivered.
Connie had the decency of making it a quick conversation, alleviating the need for complicated excuses as to why Mark kept getting more and more sleepy to the point of where he couldn’t keep his eyes open. Regina didn’t have moral objections to lying, but she preferred to avoid such measures. Too much work. She sighed.
As soon as Connie was out of sight, Steve turned toward Mark. “How about you sit in the car, and I’ll get you something for your headache?” He offered. Mark nodded and sat in the passenger seat.
Steve grinned at Regina. “He’ll be out in a minute, then we’ll leave. By the time the Dramamine wears off, we’re in St. Louis.”
Regina sighed. “I still wish you wouldn’t have played him like this.”
Steve put his hands on her waist, pulled her in. “We’ve been over this; his insistence and whining about my plan on going with him made it a necessity that I lie to him and put the drugs in his breakfast. You know he would have just taken off again if I hadn’t given him the impression that he’s getting his way.”
She nodded, kissed him; “I’ll see you in Mexico.”
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