Page 15 of Levi
“Door number two will be a big adjustment.It will mean uprooting your life and not looking back,” he pauses letting it set in.“At least until the person or persons are caught who tried to kill your husband.Once that is done, then you’ll be able to come back.”
“Uprooting?Like Witness Protection?”
“Kind of, except I’m not putting you in the system.But in a sense, yes.You’ll get a new identification and live somewhere else entirely.You won’t be able to contact anyone for a while, in order to ensure your safety.”
“Even my grandparents?”I gasp.
“Even your grandparents.You could write them a letter, letting them know about the circumstances, but you won’t be allowed to tell them where you are or contact them after you leave here.I’ll make sure to get the letters to them.”
The thought of not being able to contact anyone is devastating.And I’m pregnant.What about the baby?
“How-how long do you think I’ll be away?”
He shrugs one shoulder.“It’s hard to tell, Mrs.Thorne, but I can assure you that I’ll contact you the moment we are able to bring you back, and that it is safe for you and your baby.If then you want to return and contact your loved ones, then you’re more than welcome to and if not, that’s your choice.I’m not sure if Lincoln, or your husband, have told you this but we’ve had to do this on multiple occasions.”
“You have?”I ask.
“Yes.The three of us always work together, to make sure our clients are safe and secured, when something horrifying happens during cases,” he informs me.I’ve never heard Levi talk about something like this before, but Levi usually just gives me the CliffsNotes version of most of his cases.“I can tell that Levi hasn’t told you of this before.Let me assure that you’ll be in safe hands.”
“And I have to make this decision right now?”
“I’ve got a few errands to run to get some things in order but yes, I’ll need an answer when I get back,” he adds and stands to leave.“I know that this is a lot to deal with but I hope that you know that whatever you choose, the District Attorney’s office is on your side and so is the police department.Things might be a little rocky with your husband right now but he’d want to make sure you were somewhere safe.I’ve spoken with Lincoln and he seems to think that this is the best option.”
He’s spoken with Lincoln?That changes things slightly.Lincoln is one of the most well-known and sought-after attorneys in the country.Everly is always telling me about his wins and everyone he gets to work against, within the courtroom.Mr.Buttons seems like a nice man, and it sounds like he and Lincoln work together.Maybe Lincoln is trying to extend a helping hand without alerting his dad that he is helping me?
With that, he leaves me alone to the sounds of beeping once again.
What in the hell am I going to do?
Do I stay and fight for a marriage that my husband clearly doesn’t want, or leave for an unknown amount of time to start a fresh new life, while the threat is taken care of to keep my baby and I safe?
Saylor
I’m huddled in the backseat of Mr.Buttons’ Cadillac SUV, hoping to avoid the sleazy paparazzi.He was able to pull into the underground garage and move me out of the building without anyone knowing that I left.
Dr.Hampton came and did his last and final check up on me and was able to access my file from Dr.Ren’s office.He printed them off in case I needed to take them with me, if I decided to choose option two.He was very informative and thorough when he examined me.After what Blaire and her two jail mates did, I wanted to make sure there weren’t going to be any long-term effects or surprises later on.He was able to see the gender, but I refused to be told what the baby was.It was supposed to be a special moment to share with Levi, but now I can’t let myself go there.Maybe at the next appointment.Dr.Hampton’s advice was to stay stress free, exercise and to make sure to eat a healthy diet.
Once we’ve hit the highway, my nerves have wound me up tight.Is this the right decision?Should I go with the other option?Would anyone even care if I stayed or left?I think about my grandparents and Everly, and a sadness hangs over me like a rain cloud.
“You can sit up now,” Mr.Buttons says and changes lanes.
I move to sit behind the passenger seat and buckle in.
This is it.No turning back once I tell Mr.Buttons my decision.He said that I could let him know once he got me safely out of the police station, and somewhere on the outskirts of the city.
We pass a sign for Burbank.After we bypass the airport, Mr.Buttons pulls into an older looking shopping mall and parks in the back of the building.He gives a nod, then exits the car and opens my door in the back.
“We’ll be here for a little bit.”
I follow him as he opens a metal door, and the smell of shampoo fills my nose.Where are we?He continues through the hall to a door at the end.Once we are in, he closes the door and has me seated in a small sofa chair in the corner.
“I know this can be a lot to take in within such a short amount of time, but you aren’t the first to go through this, Saylor,” he tells me, and I watch him wipe sweat from his forehead with his handkerchief.“The time has come, I need your answer.Remember that whatever you choose, the DA’s office and police department are on your side.Our goal is to get you away from the on-going problem.”
I sit there, for what seems the longest minutes of my life, warring with myself at the decision in front of me.Both are equally heartbreaking and leave knots in my stomach.If it were just me, I know the door I’d walk through but having this little one to consider makes it even harder.Having weighed every pro and con, I set my mind and don’t waver in my answer.
“Option two, Mr.Buttons.I’ll leave for now to give this a chance, but once the situation is contained, I want to come back to my life here.Even if there may not be one to come back to.”
“Okay, Saylor.Let me make a call and set everything in motion.You’ll be leaving within the next two hours.”
