Page 2 of The Secrets We Keep

Ugh it’s Chet, just the thought sends chills down my spine. I must hurry, I tell myself. I rush out of the bathroom, back past her when I notice her mouth is gaping open.

“Eleanor, did you steal Chet’s Mercedes? He called the cops! Why would you do such a thing?”

“Sarah, that’s not what...” I stop myself and shake my head. That asshole. “Sis, I can’t explain right now, but if you leave with me I promise I will. But I need to go. Now.”

“What? Are you crazy? What is wrong with you?”

“I’m Sorry Sarah.”

There’s no use in trying. I am running out of time. I gather up what I can and open my desk drawer. I pull out my folder that contains my important documents and shove them quickly into my duffle and zip it. As I’m pulling the straps over my shoulder, I notice Sarah is staring in disbelief.

“Sarah,” I say as I pull her into a hug. “I want you to know that I love you so much. I’m doing what I have to, to keep us both safe. If you want to come with me, it has to be now. If you stay, please consider leaving Chet, for your sake.”

I pull away to see Sarah starting to cry.

“Don’t cry.”

It’s all I can manage as I walk back through the hall to the front of our home. The home we have shared for the past two years. It’s the first home Sarah bought when she graduated college. She’s proud of this home and I will not be the reason she loses it. As I open the front door I hear sirens. Sirens, coming for me I think. I feel my heart rate spike. I turn one last time,

“I love you Sarah. Be safe.”

I don’t bother to shut the door, no time. I take off on foot.

“Eleanor! Wait!” Sarah calls from behind. She runs up next to me and begs me to stop. “Please sis, why are you stealing cars and running from the cops? There has to be a reason.”

“Sarah, I wish I could explain, right now I can’t. There’s no time. Just be careful around Chet.”

Sarah tries to pull me to a stop, but I pull away.

“Eleanor, I’m sure this, whatever it is can be fixed. Just please stop. Let’s go back home and figure this out.”

“I can’t, not right now. Maybe one day… but I must go.” I yank one last time and pick up my pace, leaving Sarah behind in the dark.

Running with two bags is proving to be quite the challenge. I’m in shape, but definitely not a runner. It is dark and I need to get enough distance so I can catch my breath and gather my thoughts so I can figure out my next plan. The sirens have stopped. I’m assuming back at the house. I send a silent prayer that Sarah doesn’t tell them which direction I headed in.

Now that I’ve gotten a few miles away. I can sit and rest a minute. I replay what went down with Sarah. I’m heartbroken. That wasn’t a proper goodbye. She looked so confused and hurt.

I sigh and look around me. This trail that I’m on, walkers, runners, bikers use it often. It’s a well-known trail to most who live in our area. It travels from one end of town to the next small town. The only good part is that I know where I’m at. It’s not well lit and that’s a tad scary but I don’t have time to be afraid of the dark. There’s a different monster lurking, looking for me. I need to make my way to the other side of town into the business part by morning. I’ll be stopping into the local car rental place and checking out of town. After that, I don’t know. Right now it’s just one foot in front of the other.

And that’s just what I tell myself as I walk out of the rental place and unlock the shiny gray sedan that’s awaiting me.

Chapter 1

I had everything a girl could want and then I didn’t. I had the money, a nice car, the perfect dream job. In the blink of an eye, it was gone.

Looking back on that crappy night in October makes me angry. I did nothing wrong, yet here I am paying the price. Living a new life with a new name and definitely not my dream job. I think the smell of file folders will be forever burned in my nostrils. Seven months have passed. Am I ever going to get over my old life and enjoy my current life?

“Evie!” Sam shouts, bringing me back to the present.

“Coming,” I call out as I squash my anger and make my way out front.

“What’s up?” I ask, waiting to see what he has to say.

“Ah Evie, I need to run a few errands, would you mind handling the front for a bit?”

“Of course,” I reply. Sam gathers up his papers and heads out. I don’t mind working the front of S1 Accounting. It’s simple really, I just smile and take whatever the clients bring in and let them know that Sam will be in touch.

I’m cleaning up the front area where magazines are strewn about when the bell on the door lets me know I have a visitor. I look up to see a man. My breath catches at the sight of him.

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