Mara lied.
Said a coworker was moving.
Travis called her a liar.
Then shoved her into the bathroom door.
Her cheek struck the frame.
He apologized an hour later.
The next morning, he helped cover the bruise with her makeup.
Mara hated herself for standing still while he did it.
Tuesday morning, she finally used Rex’s number.
She called from a pay phone outside a laundromat in town.
Rex answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then:
“This is Mara.”
His voice changed.
“Okay.”
“From the diner.”
“I remember.”
She gripped the receiver.
“I don't know what I’m asking.”
“That’s fine.”
“I just…”
She looked through the laundromat window.
An old woman folded sheets.
Normal life.
“I think I need to leave.”
Rex closed his eyes.
He was standing in his garage.
Eli nearby.
“Do you have somewhere safe?”
“My sister.”
“Does he know where she lives?”
“Yes.”
“Anyone he doesn't know?”
“No.”
“Police?”
Mara immediately said:
“No.”
Rex did not argue.
“Okay.”
That surprised her.
“You're not going to tell me I have to?”
“I’m not going to tell you what you have to do.”
“What do you need right now?”
Mara started crying.
Silently at first.
Then harder.
“I need somebody to believe me.”
“I believe you.”
“You don't even know what happened.”
“I believe you're afraid.”
“That’s enough for this call.”
She pressed her forehead against the pay-phone housing.
“He works with me.”
“I figured.”
“He lives with me.”
“Okay.”
“He checks my phone.”
“Okay.”
“He has my car keys.”
Rex’s jaw tightened.
“Okay.”
“I have some money hidden.”
“Good.”
“And clothes at my sister’s.”
“Good.”
“You keep saying okay.”
“Because you're telling me facts.”
“I’m listening.”
Mara breathed.
Rex asked:
“Are you safe for the next hour?”
“Yes.”
“Is he expecting you?”
“Work at eleven.”
“What do you want to happen today?”
“I don't know.”
“Then today doesn't have to be the day.”
Mara whispered:
“If I go back home, I might lose my nerve.”
Rex looked at Eli.
Eli had understood enough from the one-sided conversation.
He grabbed paper.
Wrote:
Shelter? Sheriff? Millie?
Rex asked:
“Do you trust the diner owner?”
“Millie?”
“Yes.”
“I think so.”
“She’s been home recovering.”
“Does Travis control the business or just manage while she’s gone?”
“Just managing.”
“Would you be willing for her to know?”
Mara hesitated.
“Yes.”
That became the first real step.
Not bikers confronting Travis.
Mara deciding who could know.
Rex called Millie from another phone while Mara stayed on the line with Eli.
Millie answered from her recliner.
At first she thought Rex was selling something.
Then he said Mara’s name.
The old woman became quiet.
“I knew something was wrong.”