Escaping Parker - F.T. Zele Page 0,3

step in and get me out.

I click open my email and respond to the crucial ones. Scrolling down the list of spam and automated emails showing sales and whatnot, I come to one that is odd. The email address is unfamiliar, but I click it open.

Clarissa,

My name is Andrew Wilson. I recently came across one of your sites and am interested in talking with you about purchasing the domain name. If this is something you would be interested in, please let me know and we can set up some time to talk.

Kindly,

Andrew Wilson

I sit back, reading this email over and over again. Never working with an Andrew before, it seems odd to me, but it’s piqued my interest, so I hit reply and write him back.

Andrew,

I would like to know which domain name you are interested in so I can see if there are any other people who have already been in negotiations to purchase said site. If there isn’t anybody else, we can start discussing prices, and figure everything out. Thank you for your interest.

Clarissa Fields

I hope this is one of the top performing sites I have at the moment so I can get things sold. I don’t know how much longer I am going to be able to maintain my sites, and it would be upsetting if I had to let them go. Leaving my husband and continuing to work on the same thing would be all that Steven would need to find me.

I get some maintenance things done on my sites. It’s 1:30, and I have been going at it for a couple hours. Right as I am about to close down my computer, a new email chirps.

Clarissa,

We can work it out. I’m looking into the site IP address coding. With the business I am in, I see this as very profitable for me. I am available to further discuss this at the beginning of next week if we could set up a meeting. Just give me a time and I will give you my office address. Looking forward to getting all this worked out.

Andrew

I walk over to the calendar on the fridge. Steven isn’t going to be around much on Monday. I decide that is the best day; other days I have to keep open in case something pops up with him.

We keep our schedules posted so he knows when I won’t be in the house, and when functions are, because that’s when he tends to stay away from me. He doesn’t want to give any clue as to what really happens at home, so he can protect his “precious image.” Quite laughable, since he’s deep in with the cartel.

I return to my desk and reply.

Andrew,

My schedule is free on Monday, if that works for you. Mornings are the best for me. Hope that works out.

Clarissa

I get a quick response back.

Clarissa,

Monday at 10am works fine with me. 15478 La Grande St. See you then.

Andrew

I pencil in that meeting on the fridge, but have a weird feeling about this. Like it’s a set up. Something feels off. I push the thought to the back of my mind, not needing another distraction in my already chaotic world.

I close up my computer, giving me enough time to repeat everything I did yesterday, which clearly doesn’t need to be done today, because we don’t really make that much of a mess. I just always make sure everything is perfect, avoiding any unnecessary conflict when there is already enough to fill a room.

Hidden beneath a stack of paper, I find the contact that number that I got during that video call. Knowing how important it is, I have to make that call happen. I need it to be private and secure. I’m going to need the weekend to figure it out, and make sure everything is secure, not give one slight hint that I’m planning something.

I have to run some errands–the typical grocery store crap and dry cleaners to make sure his suits are clean for his showings of homes for the real estate business he uses to hide everything else under. I send a text to Steven, so he can have eyes on me.

Me: Heading out to the market and dry cleaners. Do you need anything while I’m out?

I wait to leave until I hear back. God forbid I don’t hear my phone and miss something he needs. While I’m getting my grocery bags ready, my phone beeps a specific ring so I know when it’s him and I can