Page 95 of Gone Before Goodbye
“No. I’m visiting someone.”
“Oh, that explains it.”
“Explains what?”
Alena leans in closer. “They take away our phones.”
“Who does?”
“Downstairs. When we come in. You go through a screening. They take your name. They take your photograph. They do a background check. And they lock your phone in a vault.”
Odd, Maggie thinks at first, but then she realizes that it makes perfect sense. Big-time security at places like this. People pay big bucks for privacy and anonymity. Heck, Maggie doesn’t even know the names of her hosts. Naturally, they wouldn’t want any woman coming into their exclusive lair and snapping pics or uploading videos to social media.
Damn. She’d counted on finding a phone down here.
Alena puts her hand on Maggie’s arm. “Are you okay?”
The young girl’s voice is suddenly older, more mature.
“I’m fine, Alena.”
“Why do you need a phone?”
Maggie wonders how to answer that and goes for the truth. “I need to call someone at home.”
“You’re American?”
“Yes.”
“And you don’t own a phone?”
“I do. It’s complicated.”
Alena moves a little closer and whispers, “Do you need help?”
“No, I’m okay.”
“Are you sure?”
Her concern is so authentic, so touching.
“I am, Alena. How about you?”
“Oh, I’m fine.”
“Where are you from?”
“Ukraine. But I’ve been here two years now.” Then: “You really need a phone, don’t you?”
Maggie isn’t sure what to say.
“Are you in danger?”
“No.”
“But you need to make this call?”
“Yeah, I do.”
