Page 79 of Deliverance
He thought for a moment. "You can tell them there were guards. We got paid in cash, and I'll make sure all camera feeds are nowhere to be found if the police follow up on the penthouse. It will be as though we were never there."
"And where are we supposed to stay tonight? Here?" Martin questioned.
Ric finally smiled. "Frankie has booked a few suites at the Four Seasons for you all."
"Really?" Krissy arched a brow.
"He feels bad about everything his father and Saffron put you all through. He said the least he could do was give you a nice place to stay before tomorrow when you all go to the cops."
"But we'll be on the hotel's security feed," Leanne said.
"The cops should have no reason to need to track your whereabouts if you all stick to the story. They'll be on the hunt for Frank and Saffron, and they'll never find them."
"True," she agreed.
Everyone was silent as we processed everything, and then I asked, "What about Zell? You said she's staying with Frankie?"
"And Jackie and Quinn," Ric confirmed.
"Am I the only one surprised Madam wasn't Zell's mother?" Carla questioned.
"We had our suspicions," I clarified. "I'm still not sure what happened and how that came to be."
"Maybe one day we can ask Zell," Leanne said.
Martin spoke up. "I know how it happened." We all turned to him. "I don't know all the details, but Frank arrived with Zell's mother at the penthouse when she was pregnant. She stayed until she had Zell, and then she was gone. Madam kept Zell."
"She adopted her?" Krissy asked.
"I doubt it was legal," he stated. "Nothing they've ever done was legal."
"Of course not, but I'd like to know what happened last night and this morning," Krissy stated. "Zell cut her hair and everything."
"I know," Tifarah said. "I was surprised about that too."
We all nodded in agreement.
"Right. So, we're all clear on the story? It needs to be the same," Ric asked. We all agreed. "Great. I'm going to make some coffee. I don't think I'll make it much longer, and I need to take all of you back to the city." He stood.
"Can I have some too?" I inquired.
Ric smiled at me. "Of course."
* * *
We ate Vicky's meatballs, drank wine, and had tiramisu for dessert. While the girls and I could have meatballs and almost anything we wanted to eat while at the penthouse, we weren't allowed sweets (unless a client brought us some) or alcohol. All of us left Ric and Vicky's house a little tipsy and with our bellies full.
Frankie had booked three suites. A three-bedroom and two two-bedrooms. Martin and Clarissa took one of the two-bedroom suites, Leanne and I took the other, and Carla, Krissy, and Tifarah took the three-bedroom. We all parted ways, agreeing to meet in the lobby in the morning. I stood next to Ric, not wanting to say goodbye as Leanne and I waited for the elevator.
"Mind giving us a minute?" I asked Leanne.
"Not at all. I'll just go up to our room. I need to take a long, hot shower." The elevator arrived, and she got in and left.
"Thank you for today. I know you didn't have to help us."
"Erin"—he grabbed my hand—"I've been waiting ten years for today."
"I know, but I mean helping us out after we left the penthouse." I looked up into his brown eyes.
