“Does he make you smile?”

Allowing her grin to surface, Claire nodded.

“Do you live in fear of upsetting him?”

Claire shook her head.

“Honey, if you go to that dinner with Tony... will you do me a favor? Remember those two questions and your answers.”

The lump in Claire’s throat didn’t allow her to verbally answer; she nodded. She’d remember.

*****

The rented Chrysler 200 rolled along the hot Texas pavement driving toward San Antonio. While music filled the car, Claire contemplated Courtney’s confession. Never in a million years would Claire have suspected Brent and Courtney were her angels. Tony considered them his closest friends, yet Claire was driving north on 37 toward her hotel. If it were up to him, she’d still be locked away.

The days spent by the pool and on the beach gave Claire’s skin a much needed dose of Vitamin D with a golden brown bonus. It had been so long since she’d enjoyed intense sunshine. The get-a-way strengthened her in so many ways-- mentally and physically.

Courtney left Corpus Christi earlier in the morning. As Claire looked at the clock, she thought, she should be back to Iowa by now. Claire wasn’t scheduled to fly to San Francisco until tomorrow.

Around four thirty, Claire pulled into the parking garage adjacent to the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, the suite was still hers for another twenty four hours. Obviously the housekeeping staff knew she’d been gone for most of the week, but she wasn’t trying to fool the housekeepers.

Searching for the key to her suite, which was really a card, she stepped into the shiny golden elevator. The doors closed but the compartment didn’t move. She remembered putting the card someplace safe, if only she could remember which compartment of her purse that was.

The elevator doors opened again and a tall, middle-aged, white haired gentleman entered. Claire smiled politely as she dug into another zipped compartment within her cavernous Gucci handbag.

He showed a reserved smile and acknowledged Claire with a nod. Then he inserted his card and pushed eleven. She exhaled as she found the key, “Here it is.” Her voice was barely a whisper, not intended for anyone but herself.

The man stepped to the side exposing the control panel, “I’m sorry. Am I in your way?”

“No, actually you’ve already accessed my floor.”

He looked at the small suitcase near Claire’s feet. “You’ll enjoy this hotel, the staff is wonderful.”

“Thank you, I’ve been here for a few days.” Realizing the suitcase, “I just had a few things in my car I needed to retrieve.”

She didn’t know why she was lying. Nevertheless, she’d rehearsed her story and was glad it sounded slightly plausible.

“Well, enjoy the rest of your stay.” The elevator stopped, and the doors opened. He politely held the door allowing her to exit.

She smiled, “Thank you, you too.”

Claire walked toward the right, while the gentleman walked to the left. Unlocking her door, she quickly entered the sunlit suite. As she turned to bolt the lock she mindlessly peered through the peep hole. Directly across the hall from her room she saw the same gentleman opening a door. That’s odd, why’d he walk the other way if his room was there? She contemplated. He looks familiar. Maybe I saw him when I originally checked in? Or, maybe I’m just paranoid!

Within the bedroom, upon the bedside stand, was the only item she’d left at the hotel, one of her telephones, her Tony phone. She left it on and plugged in.

Not hearing from him in four days was refreshing. Allowing the signals from this phone to be sent from this location was priceless. That bit of deception plus a lengthy GPS erasing procedure were Harry’s idea. His past police experience made him suspicious. That same experience gave him invaluable knowledge. Claire couldn’t have begun to erase the GPS permanently, without his directions. Claire would do anything, no matter how laboring, to protect Courtney.

She opened the French doors to her balcony and inhaled the warm spring air. The beautiful wrought-iron railing added to the French ambiance. Looking down she watched the people stories below on the famous Riverwalk. It was beautiful, filled with flowing water, flowers, people, and giant cypress trees. A faint breeze blew the curtains of the open doors as she relaxed upon her king sized bed and checked the phone. There were seven missed calls and three text messages. Claire closed the phone. The get-a-way was too fresh in her mind, too many good memories. Her mood was too high; she would read the messages later.

Next, she checked in with Emily, her daily I’M FINE text. Today she added, I’M BACK IN SAN ANTONIO. MY FLIGHT IS TOMORROW ABOUT NOON FOR SAN FRAN. CALL IF YOU CAN. LOVE YA!

With Emily’s husband John, back in Indiana, the two sisters no longer spoke every day. However, they made a point to check in daily. Claire spoke to John a few times since his prison release. At first it was even more uncomfortable than her first talks with Emily. Thinking about her time with Courtney, Claire decided they needed some face-to-face time. It was much better than phone calls.

She also sent text messages to Amber and Harry informing them of her location. Knowing there were people who cared and worried about her, added to Claire’s euphoria. Closing her eyes she debated napping. The distinctive Emily phone’s ring stopped her descent into the drowsy abyss. Eyes still closed, she reached for the small black cellphone. “Hi.”

“Hi, Claire, I hope you don’t mind me calling.” The voice caught her off guard, her eyes opened wide. Napping disappeared from her radar. She hadn’t heard this voice since last July at Iowa’s Woman’s Penitentiary.