Page 63 of Quiet Beautiful Things

Sierra shakes her head sadly. “It won’t work. He’s a cop. He’ll find her. As soon as she earns her first paycheck, he’ll be able to trace her social security number and find out who’s paying her. Mom only tells me things when she’s been drinking. And she told me once that he said he’d kill her if she ever left.”

“What if we found her a job that pays her under the table?” Beth asks.

“Not likely. Few employers would take the risk. Believe me, I’ve looked into it.”

I touch Sierra’s arm. “But you told me you promised your mom you’d live together without him once you saved the money.”

“I know,” she says sadly. “And it’ll probably never happen. Because I suspect I’d have to disappear right along with her.”

Beth and Sierra continue to talk, but my mind is somewhere else. I get an idea. A really good one. I hesitate to say anything until I can work out the details. But the thought of anyone living in fear, like my mother had, has my blood boiling. I have this new sister. Hopefully we’ll have a relationship like I do with Beth. I would do anything for Beth. I should be willing to do anything for Sierra.

I shoot off a quick text, hoping my boss can meet with me first thing Monday.

Then, with renewed excitement, I pop open a fresh bottle of champagne.

Chapter Twenty-three

23

Ellie

Monday afternoon, I drive up to my apartment in a brand-new Toyota Camry. It’s notmyCamry. It’s a rental. My nerves are shot, and it’s been hard to work today with all the research and planning I’ve done. Hopefully it all pays off.

I go up to my apartment to find Sierra watching skiing videos on her laptop.

Me: Your flight isn’t until Wednesday night, right?

She shakes her head.

Sierra: Actually, I wanted to talk to you about staying a few more days. The airline reached out looking for volunteers to be bumped to a later flight. There’s one Friday night instead. If that’s okay.

Me: That’s even better. I was worried about you getting back in time and missing your flight.

Sierra: Getting back in time from what?

I put the key fob on the table next to her, still nervous.

She looks up. “What’s this?”

Me: Don’t get mad. Yes, I’m meddling. But it comes from a good place.

Sierra: Did you buy me a car? I’m leaving the country, Ellie. I’d have nowhere to keep it.

Me: It’s a rental. Be patient. This is a long story.

She motions to the chair next to her. I sit and try to sum it all up in one quick text.

Me: The car is so it can’t be traced back to you. You’re going to drive to Chicago and get your mom. You’re going to bring her here. I know it’s a long drive, but you don’t want to risk flying. He’d be able to track you. I got her a job. It’s only temporary, but it’s something. If you’re careful, he won’t be able to find her or know it was you who helped.

Sierra: Ellie, I’ll give you points for originality, and I applaud you for wanting to help, but she can’t take a job. He’ll find her. And I’m not going to have her living with you. That would put you in danger. I just found you. It’s a risk I won’t take.

Me: She won’t have to live here. My boss agreed to give her a job in laundry and housekeeping at my school. And they won’t be paying her. There will be no record of her employment. They will be letting her live there. It’s perfect. It’s the last place Grant would look. If he suspects you had a hand in it at all, he’ll probably think you took her with you to New Zealand.

Sierra: She doesn’t have a passport.

Me: That’s good. Maybe he won’t suspect you then. I have a plan. If you leave tonight, you can get there after he goes to work tomorrow. Go in disguise in case he has security cameras, which I suspect he does since he’s a cop. Put on a wig and a ball cap so he can’t see your face. Better yet, try to look like a man to throw him off. Wear different clothes. Stop at Goodwill on your way out of town to pick things up. If you know where the cameras are, do not glance at them, that would tip him off to it being you. Throw only what she needs in a suitcase—get one of those from Goodwill too in case he sewed tracking devices into all of theirs. Leave her cell phone there. Change her appearance as much as you can as soon as you leave the house in case he has posters made for a missing person. Maybe pick up a wig for her at Goodwill too. And clothing that is unlike anything she’d normally wear. Don’t park in the driveway. A good camera might be able to pick up the license plate. Park around the block if you can. Leave quickly to put as much distance between you and Chicago before he gets home. Bring her back here. But then don’t change your routine. Call or text her as you normally would so that he sees you’re trying to get in touch with her. Maybe even ask if she’s okay or if your dad has done something—but only if it’s a question you’d ordinarily ask. And sendphotos when you get to New Zealand if that’s something you’d do.

She looks over at me, stunned.

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