30 Days (18 page)

DAY 17

“So I think today we should go for a drive down the coastline. What do you think?” I ask post workout.

“Sounds like a good idea, did you have anywhere in mind?”

“Hmmm... I don't know.” I roll my eyes upward and tap my pursed lips in thought.

“Elle? What’s up your sleeve?”

“Come see!” I yelp with excitement.  This morning Colin had an early client so I had time to pull off the best surprise. I drag him behind me outside and wait for him to notice something.

“Elle?”

“What’s strange about the street right now?” I watch as he glances up and down the street until his eyes finally rest on a bright yellow Ferrari.

“Is that a...” “YES!” I cut him off. He looks like a kid on Christmas morning, jumping around wildly, eyes bugging out and squealing like a little girl.

“Can I drive it?!”
He asks still gaping at me.

“Yes, you can drive down the coast if I can drive back...” I barter.

“Whatever you want! Holy shit this is going to be the best day ever!” He’s still screeching and I can't help but roll with laughter at his response.

“Ok, we have to shower if you want to ride in this thing... come on big guy.” I say tugging his hand. He shakes his head a few times like he’s trying to wake up from a dream before following my lead and hitting the locker room.

***

The car is stunning in the flesh, as you'd expect, the interior finds a new level of elegance and class with hand stitched leather combined with brushed
aluminum. It’s gorgeous. 
What this beast does best is get you all hot and bothered, making you write bad checks and leaving you gasping and clutching trying to explain to your new friends the South Carolina State Troopers why temptation was impossible to resist. I cannot wait to sit my ass in that immaculate piece of machinery next to my amazing girl and go for a ride.

When Elle and I finally fold into the Ferrari, and I swear she took extra-long getting showered and dressed today just to torment me, I am so giddy I actually stall the car twice just trying to start it. Only slightly embarrassed at my gaff I poke fun of myself. “Third time’s a charm right?”

“Sure Rico.” She laughs. God I love that fuckin’ laugh she has.

“Did you actually just reference Rico Suave?” I tease.

“Yep. I sure did!”

Turning the key once more
while
clutching this time I almost come in my pants as the engine comes to life. I swear the car actually purrs.  I put her in gear and we shoot down the street. I like the feeling of the sudden acceleration but anything with an engine capable of launching the car to sixty two miles an hour in less than four seconds and topping it out at almost three hundred and twenty klicks is not exactly a Sunday-drive-to-meeting station wagon. Elle is squealing with delight as we speed towards Route 17.  Outside of meeting Elle, this might be the highlight of my life. Heads turn, women stare, hell, even
men
stare as we blow past them looking sexy as hell.

“Faster!” Elle yells over the engine. Her face is lit up like the Fourth of July. I gently press on the gas pedal and we shoot forward, gravity pressing us both into our seat backs. The sun reflects off the ocean sparkling to our left and the saltwater breeze only adds somehow to the exhilaration of the moment. For the next hour we speed along the coast taking in the sights and enjoying the ride.

“Do you want to stop and grab a bite while we’re here?” I ask as we enter Charleston.

“There’s supposed to be a great new place I read about.”

“Here?”

“Yeah, Husk, I think it was on Queen St.” She says.

“Let’s see if we can find it.”

After getting lost twice we finally find our way to Queen Street and find parking with some ease.
The restored Victorian house’s relaxed atmosphere is alluring as we walk up the front porch. The smells wafting from the windows already have my mouth watering.

***

“It smells delicious.” Colin declares while we’re waiting to be seated.

“Agreed. I can’t believe we’re here. The picture I saw in the write up doesn't do this place justice. It’s awesome.” The atmosphere is comfortable and laid back wi
th true Southern Charm oozing from every nook and cranny.
Colin orders the shrimp and grits with tomato braised peppers and surry sausage and I get heritage pork with smoky field peas and kale.

When our meals arrive we barely talk. The food is astoundingly good. We’re both gushing over it to the point of feeding each other bites from our plates to share the greatness.
As we walk out I pat my belly feeling stuffed. “That was amazing.”

“I’m glad you read about it, no one should miss out on that food.” He smiles down at me.

“Keys please.” I state sweetly when we arrive at the car. A frown turns Colin’s mouth down making me giggle. “It’s my turn. You had yours. Come on... hand ‘em over.” Reluctantly Colin retrieves the keys from his pocket and sets them in the palm of my hand as if they were made of gold.

“Be good to her.” He whispers. I groan in mock annoyance at his show of testosterone before walking to the
driver’s side. When we’re both buckled in I start the engine and carefully ease into first. One touch of the gas pedal and we surge forward. The power this car yields is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. It grips curves with ease and seems to move forward on its own accord with little assistance from the gas pedal. Now I understand why Colin looked like he was having an orgasm the entire drive here. This piece of machinery is all power and seduction. It’s a trip to drive. People check you out as you drive by them as if you just lost a hundred pounds and became a supermodel. I like it.

The entire drive, more like race, back Colin’s hand plays with the hair at the nape of my neck.
“You look extra hot driving this car.”  He grins checking me out.

“You didn't look so bad yourself.”

“Before we return this we’re taking a picture together in it.” He declares excitedly
as we enter Searsport.

48 hours after escape

Dr. Rand

“We have to find her!” Ryan shouts over the phone.

“Mr. Darling we are doing everything we can.” I calmly tell him. He snorts in my ear.

“Listen Dr. Rand, if we don’t find her you don’t get paid. The bitch wiped out her account!” He sneers.

“I’m well aware of what happens if we don’t find her Ryan. I am confident that we will though. She took the list. There’s only one reason she’d take it and
that’s to accomplish the things on it.” I explain.

“What the fuck is this list you’re talking about?” Ryan sounds frustrated.

“I’ll email it to you when we’re done, but essentially if we go by the list we can probably track her down. Did you hire an investigator?”

“Yes.” He bites out.

“Great. I’ll email you the list. You might want to get a copy of it to him as well.”

“Fine. Send me this fucking list of hers.” He says through gritted teeth.

“Very well. I’ll speak with you soon. Keep in touch.” I hear the click indicating dead air and hang up the phone. Dammit Elle, what have you done?

***

Ryan

I sit at the laptop clicking refresh every five seconds waiting for Dr. Rand’s email. What the fuck is this list he thinks will help so much? The chirp notification lets me know I have one new message. I click it open and start reading.

From:
Aaron Rand

Sent:
Friday, August 04, 2012 10:39 AM

To:
Ryan Darling

Ryan,

Below you will find a copy of the list Elle has compiled over the last six months.  There is no specific order that I’m aware of that she might do them, if she does them at all.

1 Have dinner alone

2 See a movie alone

3 Say yes to everything for one day

4 Start a conversation with a stranger

5 Learn to fight

6 Trust someone

7 Rock Climb

8 Sing karaoke

9 Kiss a stranger

10 Volunteer for a day

11 Play the piano in a hotel lobby

12  Skinny dip in pool after hours

13 Kiss in the rain

14 Take a cooking class

15 Send a message in a bottle

16 Take a ballroom dance lesson

17 Rent a Ferrari for a day

18 Sleep under the stars

19 Throw a drink in
someone’s face

20 Have a picnic

21 Get a tattoo

22 Watch the sunrise

23 Read a book out loud

24 Learn to make pottery

25 Bungee jump

26 Fire a gun

27 Steal something

28 Get kicked out of
Wal-Mart

29 Slash a tire

30 Find happiness

I highly suggest you send this along to the P.I. as he might have some ways of looking into some of these kind of items.

Best,

Dr. Rand

** Confidential Notice **
The information contained in this message may be privileged
and is confidential information intended for the use of the
addressee listed above. If you are neither the intended recipient
nor the employee or agent responsible for delivering this message
to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any
disclosure, copying, distributing or the taking of any action
in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this communication in error,
please notify the sender immediately by replying to the message
and deleting it from your computer.
 

You have got to be shitting me. That is the dumbest list I’ve ever seen. I’ve been paying for her therapy and that’s what they’ve been talking about? Elle must be even more fucked up than I imagined. As long as she's locked up or dead all her assets go to me now that her sister’s out of the picture.

“Mick, yeah it’s me Ryan. Did you get the email?” I ask.

“Yes. It’s definitely worth looking into some of those. How many bungee jumping, cooking classes or Ferrari rental places do you think there are in a hundred mile radius? Shouldn't take long to find her if she attempts any one of those.” Mick replies.

“Well she’s got a hundred grand in cash with her. She might have used it to leave the country.” I grumble and drag my hand down my face in frustration.

“Nah, I bet ya she’s within two hours of you. They never go far.” He says calmly.

“I hope to hell you’re right.”

“I got some calls to make. I’ll touch base in a couple days or if I have an update.”

“Yeah. Ok.” I grunt.

“Don’t worry, I’ll find her.” He says before hanging up. I set the phone on the desk and look around the room. I have people to pay off, toys to indulge in... bills to pay, three grand isn't going to last me long.

2012

August

Tuesday morning I’m anxious when I wake up. I meet with the attorney today. I shower and dig through the haphazard selection of clothes I grabbed searching for something classy to wear. Eventually I settle on a plain blue summer dress and sandals. I sweep my hair up and away from my face into a loose French twist, put on some light makeup and pace around the cottage for three hours until it’s finally time to leave.

“So what you’re telling me is that you want to fill out all the paperwork for divorce now but you don't want to file it?” Joe Jowett asks.

“Yes that’s correct. I want it all ready to go
in case I need it.”

“Elle, you’re going to have to explain what exactly is going on.”

I sigh in dissatisfaction. I don't know if I can tell him everything, given I’m a missing woman.

“You can’t share any details of our relationship can you? Even if I might happen to be a missing person?” I venture.

“Confidentiality clause says no, I can’t share what we talk about.” He nods.

“Well, I inherited a lot of money and assets over the last ten years. My husband had me committed seven months ago and I escaped because he granted himself power of attorney stating that I was a danger to myself, suicidal.”  My cheeks burn with humiliation but I continue. “This gave him access to all my funds that I’ve kept separate from him. I withdrew the cash that isn’t tied up...but he could still sell the house and try and go after the investments I have, leaving him a very rich man. Unless he finds me he can't access any of that. If he finds me and locks me up again under the pretense that I’m a lunatic he will clean me out because he can. So, I’d like all the necessary papers drawn up to protect myself and my assets so if he should come after me I can call you and put everything in motion. To save myself.” I explain hesitantly.