Page 76 of Letting Go
“Thanks, Christine. Tell the Sheriff we’re coming in hot, but I want it kept under fucking wraps because gossip travels faster than fire in that town,” I say as I walk out of the conference room and stride into my office. I slide on my bullet proof vest and grab my extra service weapon from my safe. I grab my phone to send another text.
Me
Liam, what bodyguard is watching Vivian today? I need their contact info ASAP.
“Have the Sheriff meet us with at least one of his deputies so we have enough cars, we may need to call in the local SWATresponse and have them on standby,” I tell Christine. “Agents Dunn, Shannon, and White with me, the rest of you haul ass and get to Forrest Falls. I want all hands on deck,” I bark at my team as I enter the stairway to go up to the helicopter’s landing pad, and my phone vibrates with a response from Liam.
Liam
The schedule says Tony. Sending you his number. What’s going on? Do I need to get to Forrest Falls?
Me
Yes.
I try to call Vivian but her phone rings until her voicemail picks up. I try a second time, and she still doesn’t answer. Frustrated, I call her sister, who picks up on the second ring. My hand grabs the back of my neck as I pray Viv is home with her sister and just has her phone on silent.
“Hello, this is Savannah,” she sounds so much like her sister on the phone it’s unnerving.
“Hey Savannah, it’s Walker. I’m trying to reach your sister, do you know where she is right now?” I ask, trying to keep my tone calm as I stand next to the doors that lead to the helicopter pad. Once I open the doors to the helipad, she won’t be able to hear me over the noise of the blades.
“Hey there Walker, sorry you just missed her by maybe ten minutes. She has to run some errands after she meets someone for tea,” Savannah replies. “But she shouldn’t be gone more than an hour or two though. Can I give her a message? Or you could texther, she might see that before she can call you back if you tried her cell already.”
I stop in my tracks as I go over what she just said. “Sorry, Savannah, did you say Vivian just left to meet someone for tea? Do you know who she was meeting?” I hold my breath and close my eyes waiting for her response.
No, no, no. Please don’t let her be with the last person I want her anywhere near right now.
“I’m surprised she wasn’t complaining about it to you, but she finally gave in and agreed to meet with Marcie Claire Riley again. Have you met that clucking hen? She is the worst.”
Fuck! Vivian’s sister has no idea how accurate that statement is but it won’t do any good to worry Savannah right now, so I keep my cool as she continues, “I know Viv didn’t want to go but Marcie Claire was like a dog with a bone about Vivian coming over for tea, but we all know she just wants to get any good gossip out of my sister,” Savannah responds with a laugh, not knowing the amount of panic she just released in my veins.
“Absolutely. Do you know where they were meeting by any chance?” I try to play it cool and hope they’re meeting in a public setting. Please let them meet at Java Jive or the local diner.
“She headed over to the Riley’s house on the south side of town about fifteen minutes ago, and I’m sure she’s counting down the minutes to get out of there,” she informs me.
I look at my watch and see it’s 3:05 p.m. so I assume Vivian was meeting Marcie Claire at three o’clock. “Thanks, Savannah, I’ll talk to you soon,” I say as I hang up. “Let’s go! This just escalated in urgency. Vivian is with Marcie Claire Riley right fucking now!” I yell to my team as we load into the helicopter. I text Vivian quickly as we take off.
Me
Hey sweetheart, I need to talk to you. Can you please call me as soon as possible?
Don’t rock the boat, Vivian. Hang on baby, I’m coming. I’m coming as fast as I fucking can.
Chapter forty-three
Vivian
Sometimes in life, I wish I could be a little meaner and not feel bad about it. I don't want to spend any extended time with Marcie Claire and definitely not an hour alone. The last time I was here for tea was so awkward, but hopefully Chloe doesn’t show up today. I’m going to tell Marcie Claire a small fib that I need to pick up Eloise in an hour, so I can have a designated time to leave. Arriving at the Riley residence, I'm relieved to not see Chloe or Chase's cars. It looks like the only car here is Marcie Claire’s bright red convertible, but I bet Chase’s dad, Clark, is around somewhere.
I put my phone on vibrate and slid it into the pocket of my light blue sundress. It’s probably rude to keep my phone on me but if Savannah needs something while watching Eloise, I need a way for her to reach me. I could also use it as an excuse to get out of this tea early if necessary. The air is a bit brisk for March, so I slip on my soft yellow cardigan before walking up the front porch to ring the doorbell. I wave at Tony the Tank parked right next to my SUV. Before we arrived, he asked if I wanted him to come inside for teatime, but I assured him he could keep watch outside. I don’t even want to be here; I would feel bad subjecting him to Marcie Claire too.
Marcie Claire wastes no time in opening the front door. She briefly looks distraught but quickly schools her features to her signature smile. “Welcome, Miss Vivian! I am delighted you were able to make it today. Come in dear, come in!”
“Good afternoon, ma’am. Thank you for inviting me.” I walk into her home, and she waves for me to follow as we move through the foyer toward the kitchen. “Let me grab the tray really quick then we can sit in the sunroom. It’s a little breezy for the porch today I think,” she tells me over her shoulder.
“I will happily deal with a brisk March in Tennessee over the snowy March that Chicago is seeing this month. I saw they got an additional four inches yesterday and I do not miss that at all.”
Marcie Claire picks up the tea tray and leads us through a set of French doors into the sunroom, located in the back of the house off the kitchen. There is another set of French doors on the opposite end of the sunroom and a set on one side leading to their back patio and pool area.
