Page 6 of Spring Break with a Pilot

“Take me there, now.”

Part of me relaxes when we head the opposite direction than the Beemer. The other part worries that they went there first. At the clinic, which is nothing more than a ranch house with four bedrooms, we go to the desk.

The grey-haired woman glances up a worried look on her face. “Melia, didn’t you get the message?”

“What message?”

“Your mom had a really bad episode, and they transferred her to the university hospital in Charleston.”

“When? When did this happen?”

“Earlier today. Your phone went straight to voicemail. The doctor left a message.”

“How long ago?” I ask.

“Around one I think.”

“Can you print me the notes from today with all the information as to who transported her.”

“I’ll give you what I can. It may not all have been entered yet. It might have been the coast guard because they are closest.”

“Thank you.”

When the receptionist walks away, I pull Melia aside. “You need to trust me. I can help with this. I’ll have my office start checking. They’ll find her. I’ll get you to her. My immediate concern is why those guys in the Beemer are following you. And how they knew where you lived.”

4

Melia

Ican’t think. I can barely breath. Silk hugs me to his chest, wrapping his arms around me and rocks me back and forth while we wait for them to print the information from today.

“Sit down. I’m going to get you some water.” He fills two cups at the water cooler and returns. “Try to drink them both.”

While he waits, he pulls his phone and starts texting, pausing only to ask me my mother’s full name and if I know her social security number. Once done he gets his own water and sits next to me, placing his arm around my shoulder. “It’s gonna be okay.”

My mind is a ping pong ball, bouncing from panic to despair to fear. I have no doubt those men in the car were from my father, or one of his cronies. Did they do something to Mom? Is this all my fault?

Soon Silk has the papers he’s requested. “Do you think you can ride back to the ferry dock? There’re no taxis or uber here,” he jokes. “I have my own boat to get us back to Love Beach once we’re there.”

“I can make it. It’s not that far and it’s how I’ve always gotten around on the island. Bike or walk.”

“Sounds like the town I grew up in.”

Holding out his hand he helps me stand. I wave goodbye to the night nurse and we head back. Just before we get to the ferry landing he pulls into some trees. “I need you to stay here while I check out the area. I want to make sure the guys in the Beemer aren’t hanging around.”

It only takes a few minutes then we’re on his boat and headed out. He handed me a blanket before putting the boat in motion. Normally I’d love watching the water and sky. Tonight, I curl up on the bench seat huddled in the blanket and try to forget.

The world shifts and I hear voices. But I refuse to wake. I just can’t deal right now.

* * *

I have to pee.I stay huddled under the soft comforter as long as I can. But I have to go. Now. Tossing back the cover, I sit and force my eyes open.

Where am I? This clean bright room is not my resident dump. I glance around taking in the nice white dresser, the grey sitting chair, and the sunlit open window where the shear curtains billow in the breeze. My jeans and blouse are folded on top the bed bench. A black robe is tossed next to them.

Slipping on the robe, I open the door and peek out. Ah, the bathroom is across the hall. The smell of coffee and soft voices great me when I exit the small room.

“We’re in the kitchen,” Boots calls. “Follow the hall.”

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