Page 12 of Protected
The car arrived and Darci slid into the backseat after matching the license plate number in the app.
“You Darci?”
She nodded and glanced at her phone again. “You Kyle?”
“That’s me. Late night for a commuter lot.”
“It’s been a long day, Kyle. Take me home.”
6
DARCI spent the latter part of Saturday afternoon at her standing appointment with her therapist, Dr. Kate Martin. Kate rarely saw patients on Saturdays, but Darci’s week day schedule was often so packed that she’d made an exception for her.
“So how did seeing Bradley again make you feel?”
She sat cross-legged on the couch and twisted a curl around her finger. “It made me angry. Made me feel like I have terrible taste in men. And I should just give up on finding the type of Dom I want.”
Kate kept her gaze focused on Darci. “Is that a thought you want to challenge?”
She wanted to be frustrated and roll her eyes, but this was a common question and one that helped once she saw past her own irrational thinking.
“Fine. If I stop and think about it, I’m generalizing all men based on two or three unpleasant experiences.”
The therapist nodded for her to continue.
“But Bradley really wasn’t a bad experience. That night was incredible. I’m just pissed about the things I found out afterward. Not that he deceived me or anything. I just didn’t ask the right questions. But am I really supposed to ask every guy I want to go on a date with if they work for a politician I don’t like?”
The therapist lifted one shoulder. “It is D.C. Maybe that’s not an invalid question. Especially if your political stances are important enough that you need your partners to have similar views.”
Silence hung between them, as it often did when Darci was considering a point the doctor made.
“Anything else on your mind this week?” Kate finally asked.
“I can’t say too much because of my confidentiality agreements, but I got a call at work the other day that I haven’t been able to shake. A young woman was assaulted on campus and is worried she’s going to lose her scholarship if she reports it.”
“Oh Darci, I can’t imagine how hard that call was for you. Did you pass it on to someone else?”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t. It was either me or Jim, and I’ve told you about Jim before. We were supposed to have lunch today, but she never showed up. If she contacts us again, I’ll be able to refer her to someone else, but she’s stuck in my head now. I never want what happened to her to happen to anyone else. And then, right after her call, my friend Carrie called to tell me it looks Kaden is back in D.C. I’m not scared. There’s a permanent restraining order. I just can’t get it out of my head.”
Dr. Martin nodded again. “I bet hearing his name again when you’ve worked hard to forget about him is partly to blame for this other call you got sticking in your head. You’ve had a lot to deal with this week.”
They spoke for a few more minutes, then said their goodbyes and Darci left for home. Normally, her sessions with Dr. Martin energized her, but by the time she rushed through the door of her fifth-floor apartment she was emotionally drained and didn’t really want to go to the benefit tonight.
On her way through the small living-room, she kicked off her work shoes by the couch and dropped her purse on the coffee table. In the bedroom, she walked into the small closet, pulled a new black cocktail dress from the rack and laid it on the bed. If she was going to make it on time, she needed to be dressed and back on the subway in forty-five minutes. After a quick shower, she towel-dried her hair and went to work trying to tame the curls.
Thirty-five minutes later, she was slipping into slim black heels that would have her feet throbbing before the night was over. Her hair was styled in a fashionable up-do with a pile of curls spilling down. Silver jewelry and simple makeup, and she was ready to go. She grabbed a black clutch and tossed her phone, ID, and other essentials into it before running out the door. The nearest subway stop was only three blocks away, and Darci was comfortable walking, even in heels.
She arrived at the platform seconds before her train arrived and her perfect timing made her smile as she pushed her way into the car. Traveling by Metro was her favorite. It gave her time to watch all the fascinating people who lived in and visited her city. What kind of music was that man listening to? What’s going on at that woman’s job that has her so stressed out? So many stories, and Darci wanted to know them all. Sometimes she would strike up a conversation. Other times she passed the time by making up stories in her head about fellow passengers.
Tonight, she was watching a family of tourists heading to dinner. They were having an animated conversation about all the monuments and museums they had visited today. The little girl preferred the Lincoln Memorial, while the older boy enjoyed the International Spy Museum. She smiled. Most residents of the city hated tourists and all the touristy spots. but she loved it all. And she enjoyed playing tourist in her own backyard whenever she got the chance.
When the train arrived at her stop and offered a wave and a wink to the little girl as she stepped off. Five minutes later she was in a cab on her way to the hotel. She messaged Marlie to let her know she was almost there.
There was a line at the coat check station, but it was moving at a steady pace. At the counter, she smiled at the woman taking coats. When the attendant smiled back, Darci thought she looked familiar. She handed over her coat, and they exchanged pleasantries. “Have I seen you at one of these things before?” Darci asked as the young woman handed her a ticket.
“I don’t think so, ma’am. I haven’t been doing this long, but I’ve already been at several events across the city, so I suppose it’s possible.” The attendant winked at her and told her to have a fun time. She shook her head and made her way into the ballroom. It wasn't a formal dinner party like some of these events were. Instead, there would be cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, dancing, a silent auction, and later a decadent dessert buffet. Darci told herself she should skip that part.
Scanning the ballroom, she spotted Marlie, the host of tonight’s shindig. Her hands flew in all directions as she gave instructions to one of the event staff. Marlie was an attractive brunette in her mid-forties. She was well known in D.C. for her charity work and fundraising capabilities. The woman could charm a check out of anyone. And after she escaped her abusive marriage, she became even more powerful. When Marlie noticed Darci, she rushed toward her and wrapped her in a tight hug.
