“You’re right. You’re so right.” She nodded and forced a smile. “I’m better.” She couldn’t erase the stress, but she could try to contain it and not let it control her.
“You ready?”
She nodded, “Yeah, let’s go.”
* * *
Bailey’s stomach flipped over and over as she rode the elevator up to the suite Sharpe had secured for her meeting with Alex Spatz. She felt exhausted. It wasn’t even noon yet, and the sleepless night she’d had before was really affecting her now. In addition to being tired, she couldn’t stop sweating. She’d never been the type of person to sweat profusely, but her nerves were getting the best of her. The elevator was so full of people: two FBI agents, Ryan, Vince, Mae, and Lucas. Bailey felt like a child standing between all the tall men. Even Mae had some inches on her. She shook out her hand to relieve the pressure from her clenched fist, then wiped the sweat off on her jeans. Ryan reached out and took her hand, linking his fingers with hers.
“It’s okay, Bay.” His whisper brushed her ear, and she took a deep breath. At the same time, light filled the elevator as the doors split open. She let Ryan lead her away, following the two FBI agents. Bailey kept her eyes on the floor. The blue and gray paisley carpet drifted by as they rounded one corner then another. The mixed scent of lemon cleaning supplies and fresh flowers twisted her stomach more than breakfast had. When they stopped, she looked up to a suite door being opened. They all stood back and let her walk in first. She held her breath, not sure what to expect, but when she entered, the room was empty.
She turned and met Agent Sharpe’s eyes. “They’ll be here very soon. Make yourself at home. Would you like some water?”
Bailey nodded and wandered the large suite. It had a sitting room that faced the Sacramento River. The modern furniture didn’t look very comfortable, but the coffee-brown color of the wood and trim with the soft blue walls helped her relax. She wished she could hide. Admitting that she was a coward wasn’t difficult. She’d never pretended to be brave, and why, really? Anyone else in her shoes would be lying if they said they weren’t scared of what they were about to face, although some might be more excited than scared. Honestly, she might have felt differently if the circumstances were different, if it weren’t for Dex and what he’d done.
It was crazy, really. What an ordinary life she’d led until this point. And now…now she felt like she was living inside a cheap B-movie, or at best an afterschool special.
She took a seat in the armchair farthest from the door. Once seated, she was surprised to find it perfectly comfortable. Maybe she’d misjudged the room. Maybe this was a good sign. Maybe she’d misjudged the situation, too. Or maybe she should have just picked the chair closest to the door for a quick escape. She rested her head in her hands and tried to take another deep breath. She wasn’t making any sense. She couldn’t think clearly. When a cool hand rested on her knee, she jumped.
“It’s okay, Bailey.”
She looked into Ryan’s eyes and gripped his hand, fighting to smile.
“Are you going to be all right?”
She nodded. “I think so.”
Agent Sharpe set down a bottle of water for her and one for Ryan, then sat down opposite Ryan. “How’re you feeling, Bailey?”
Bailey shrugged. “I’m all right. Just a little nervous.” She rubbed her hands up and down her thighs and asked, “Why the hotel suite and secrecy?”
“Just a precaution to avoid the press. Now that they’ve finally let the story die, we don’t want to give them another reason to bother you or the Spatz family.”
“Oh, right. That makes sense. Thank you. It’s not easy to have a normal life with cameras always following me around.”
Sharpe looked at his phone then back up at her. “They’re on their way up now.”
“They?” Bailey asked.
“Mr. and Mrs. Spatz, accompanied by Agent Scofield.”
Bailey nodded, and, at the same time, she heard the door to the suite open. She kept her eyes on the bottle of water in front of her and lifted it to her mouth to drink. She suddenly felt incredibly dehydrated. Her heart beat like a drum, and, for a brief second, she thought she might have a heart attack. She closed her eyes and took a deep, cleansing breath, nearly choking on the floral scent that overpowered the room. She tried again, inhaling but holding it this time before slowly releasing it.
When she opened her eyes and lifted her gaze, it was into the face of a woman so beautiful, it made her blush. She was tall with long, blond hair and eyes so blue and bright, Bailey couldn’t look away.
“You must be Bailey?” She smiled and held her hand out.
Bailey stood and took it.
“I’m Linda Spatz. It’s so lovely to see you.”
Bailey cleared her throat, not sure her voice would work. “Hello.” She didn’t mean to whisper, but that’s how it came out. She looked around Linda as a tall, older man approached her with his arms outstretched. Before she could do anything else, he embraced her. “Marianne, I can’t believe it.” He was crying, and she had to fight not to push him away.
“Alex, honey, give her a minute to get her bearings,” Linda said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Bailey squirmed a little, and he released her quickly. When he did, she gripped Ryan’s arm, wanting to feel grounded again, to cling to the familiar and shrink away from the unknown.
Alex quickly wiped his face and stepped back. Linda took his hand and held it in both of hers
