Possession(57)

“I’m actually going to visit my sister’s house in Reading.”

Reading! Shit, that couldn’t be more perfect. It’s at least thirty miles away from here.

“Do you mind if I tag along?”

She shakes her head. “Of course not. Let’s get you as far away from that horrible man as possible. What’s your name, dear?”

I wonder whether to lie, but considering she’s been so courteous, I decide to be honest with her. “Evelyn.”

She smiles. “Ah, Evelyn. Such a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” She looks at me for a moment. “You’re wearing such mature clothing for such a young girl. How old are you? Nineteen? Twenty at most.”

I look down at my white blouse and grey pencil skirt and think she’s right. I look like a high executive woman in her thirties. Not an eighteen-year-old girl.

“I’m eighteen,” I reply with a sigh. For some reason, an overwhelming sadness comes over me. Yes, I may be free for now, and yes, this is all I’ve ever wanted. But why is it that it has had come to this? I’m at a crossroads now, and I sure as hell don’t know which one to take. Wherever it leads me could either be my downfall or my saving grace.

“At eighteen, you shouldn’t have to be dealing with someone like that. I assume he’s quite a bit older than you?”

I nod. “Yes. He’s twelve years older. I’ve known him quite a while. He’s always been … how would you say … possessive.”

She nods her head with a frown. “Yes, it sounds like it, dear. It’s just a shame you’re the one that’s running. He shouldn’t be an officer of the law when he breaks the law himself.” She starts tutting under her breath. “Have you got somewhere you can stay once we get to Reading?”

I nod my head. “I’m sure I can think of something.” I can tell she doesn’t like the answer, but she doesn’t say anything either. “Can I ask your name?”

“It’s Dorothy, but my friends call me Dotty.”

I smile at that. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Dorothy.”

“Please, call me Dotty.”

“Okay, I will. And thank you so much for accepting me into your car. I could have been anybody.”

She smiles. “Well, you left me little choice.”

“I’m sorry.”

She places her hand on my arm, and I notice how unusually cold it is next to the heat of the day. Mind you, she has the air conditioning on, and I’m only now reaping the benefits of it after running at least a mile without stopping.

“Don’t be sorry. I’m just glad that I can help in any small way possible.”

I shake my head on a sigh. “You have no idea just how much of a great help this actually is. I just need to put some distance between us, so that I can figure out what to do next.”

“Hmm,” she ponders. “I don’t make no mind to gossip, but I have heard rumours of a certain gentleman. He once helped my friend Mabel’s niece. She got herself into all sorts of trouble when she was a teen.” She shakes her head, tutting to herself again. “She was mixed up in drugs and therefore mixed with bad people. The bad people tried to do all sorts of despicable things.” She sighs, looking sad. “Anyway, this gentleman helped the parents get their daughter back and even paid for her to go to the Priory. I think you know just how expensive that is?” She looks at me for reassurance, so I nod my head. “Well, she was there for around six weeks—something like that. He got her into college, and she came out with a diploma in architecture. She then got herself a boyfriend and is living with him now. I believe she and her boyfriend are even trying for a baby.” She smiled at that. “She owes it all to that man.” She looks deep in thought for a while before speaking again. “Anyway, I did have a point to the story.” She looks over to me, and we both laugh. “I have heard he’s very influential around my way. If you need to, I can ask Mabel if she has his number still. Maybe he can help you.”

I would have thought that I had heard of this man, but I haven’t. There’s only one influential man that I know around my way.

“Can you remember the gentleman’s name?”

She frowns for a moment, staring ahead at the road. “Hmm… I think it’s David. No, Drew. Maybe it was Jake.” She suddenly gasps. “I remember now. It’s Drake … Drake Salvatore. I remember the surname because of a certain young chap in The Vampire Diaries.”

She smirks, and her eyebrows curve up a little at her joke, but after hearing that, it’s hard for me to muster up a laugh. I did manage to smile a little, but my heart won’t stop thumping. Drake did this for these people? But at what cost? I doubt he did it for nothing.