Wreckage

March 1

Leslie turned the corner onto the street leading towards her hotel’s parking garage; she loved driving around in the evening when the streets were quiet. Frustration had ruled the day for her. First, she had spent two hours at the airport waiting for the arrival of her lover and he never showed. She had spent the next few hours repeatedly calling his work and cellular phone numbers and had gotten no answer at either of them.

She silently berated herself for having given into his demand of joining him here in Martinique. She should have at least traveled with him instead of arriving a day early.

Now, she looked down at his home number, the one he had forbid her from ever calling.

The moonlight reflected off the majestic branches of the numerous queen palms lining the street. She turned the air conditioner off and rolled her window down allowing the warm tropical breezes to play with her hair.

In the distance she saw only one set of headlights behind the car. Leslie stopped, activated her blinkers for no one, turned left into the parking garage and parked her rental car. While removing her packages from the trunk, she heard the echo of another car door slamming somewhere deeper within the garage. She glanced quickly around the garage but saw nothing except for a few cars scattered throughout the floor. Balancing her packages and heading for the exit, her steps were steady and brisk. The heavy footfalls, not far behind, caused her to quicken her pace.

Fifty yards ahead of her was the front door of the Hotel Beené Élise where she was staying. The heavy footfalls behind her picked up and she could now hear two distinct sets of footfalls. Leslie hurried to the door and pushed through into the lobby. She looked behind her but no one came through the hotel doors, she was safe. It was just my imagination, she thought to herself.

She walked past the vacant reception desk to the elevators and pushed the call button. The elevator doors silently opened allowing her to step in. Turning to face forward she noticed a man sitting in a burgundy club chair watching her. She frantically pushed the Door Close button, but he made no move towards the elevator. Leslie could see his eyes still on her as the elevator doors came together.

Cautiously stepping out of the elevator, Leslie looked left, then right before proceeding to her door. Leslie slid her cardkey through the slot on the door and the light turned green. She rushed in and quickly closed the door. Resting against the door she took a deep breath. Dropping her packages to the floor, she put the dead bolt on, and reached for the light switch.

“Don’t turn the lights on,” said a low controlled voice. Her breath caught and she released a silent scream. Leslie turned her head towards the direction the voice had come. With the moonlight streaming through the windows, she spotted the illuminated dial of his watch.

“If you do, they’ll know exactly which room you’re in, and I’m sure you’ve noticed by now you’re being followed.”

She now heard the accent and thought to herself. It must be English or Australian. She couldn’t figure out which.

“Who are you?” she asked cautiously.

“Douglas.”

“Why are you after me?”

“I’m not after you Miss Clark, I’ve been sent to help you,” he answered.

“Help me with what?”

“Do you know a Chris Dunham?”

“Yes I do...he was to meet me here...why?”

“I don’t think he’ll be coming. He’s missing, but in his car was an envelope addressed to you. The contents of the envelope are missing. We tracked you down here, to this island, and it seems so have the people who have the contents of the envelope.”

“Do you know what was in the envelope?” he asked her in the dark.

“No, I don’t,” Leslie answered.

“Maybe he called you, gave you a little hint. Maybe he dropped a little clue as to its contents, you know--a little pillow talk.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He was beside her and she could feel the heat of his breath.

“I need to get you out of here to somewhere safe,” he said quietly. “If there is anything in here you really need, grab it. We need to be off before they get up here.”