Page 27 of Slow Burn (The Boston Beauties)

‘Don’t mention it, it’s been our pleasure to help you and Breton out.’ He turned around in his seat. ‘Be safe and let us know if you need anything.’

I nodded, opening the side door, grabbing my carry-on suitcase on the seat next to me.

‘Thanks again,’ I said, in my best fake accident I could do. I was traveling on a British passport, and while my accident was shit, I hoped I would only have to speak a limited number of times, and that one to two-word answers would suffice.

I closed the van door and walked into the airport, rolling my suitcase behind me.

I checked in at the kiosk, scanned my fake passport, which must have passed as the machine printed out my boarding pass.

Through security, I placed my bags on the x-ray machine, and was asked to take off my sneakers and submit to a full body scan, which I had no objection to.

I was through security, and the only time I needed to speak to anyone was when I ordered my grande caramel macchiato at Starbucks. I hadn’t really thought it through, as I had the veil on. I went back, got a straw, and drank it that way. I knew by the time I arrived in Sydney, I would have a greater appreciation of Muslim women who chose not only to wear the headscarf, but the full-face veil. And equal hatred of any man who forced it.

My first flight was from Boston to San Francisco, where I slept the full six hours. I had a window seat and a girl about my age sat next to me. But I was so exhausted, that I fell asleep before the safety demonstration was finished.

I was groggy getting off the flight, found a Starbucks and ordered another coffee. I had three hours to wait around until my flight to Sydney.

It was after two in the afternoon back home, and clearly, I would have been found missing by now, as we were due to dock back in Boston any time.

Did my family know yet? What was Matt saying and doing? I smiled under my veil; it was evil, but I hoped he was sweating and pissing himself from fear.

I walked around, browsed some shops, purchased some magazines, some candy and a bottle of water. After making my way to my gate, I sat around, ate candy and flipped through the magazines. I got strange stares, and people kept their distance from me. It was an awful feeling, but one I welcomed given the circumstances.

Through my new phone and tablet, I browsed news sites, but by the time they announced my flight was boarding, nothing had made the mainstream news in Boston.

Breton had booked me a widow seat, and the middle seat also, so I wouldn't be squished next to someone for over twenty hours. I was lucky that an elderly lady sat in the aisle seat, and didn’t wish to talk to me

Once in the air, I read the three magazines, watched a movie as I ate dinner, then let exhaustion take over and fell asleep.

I arrived in Sydney in the early hours of Wednesday morning. I got a cab straight to the hotel I was staying at for the next few days while I rested, regrouped and purchased things I’d need before heading north to my wellness retreat for the next few months, or until I’d had enough.

It was a 16-hour time difference between here and home. When I woke up just past two in the afternoon, it was 10pm the previous night in Boston. It was the first time I had a chance to check the news from back home. I was news, top story, headline news. I wasn’t declared dead, but I was missing, and it wasn’t looking good. My distraught parents went on TV with a plea for any news related to me.

There was a quarter-million-dollar reward for any news. That wasn’t enough information, so I logged into the Gmail account that Breton and I had created just for the two of us to use.

I had a few update emails from him.

Hey,

Just an update, the cabin crew have been interviewed by police, but nothing is being reported by them at this time. The father has been in contact with detectives and when I hear anything I’ll pass it on.

Your friend, Me

The next one was the one I was waiting on, that had come in only a few hours ago.

Hey,

Another update that I thought you would want to know ASAP. The father was just informed by the detective that the fiancée has been arrested as there was significant forensic evidence taken from the boat and they were satisfied with the testimony from the crew, friends and family.

Your friend, Me

I was so happy that I found myself grinning like the Cheshire Cat and felt tears of joy rolling down my cheek. Jail wouldn’t be kind to him. This made me smile even bigger.Now he would know what it was like to be caged without cause, just like he’d been doing to me.

I hadn’t messaged Breton yet and didn’t want him to worry.

Hey You,

Thanks so much for the updates. I have arrived safely, thanks for everything, you have been the best. Will email soon.

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