We went inside and met a man and woman in their 50’s. They were all business and hardly spoke to us. They already had everything set up for photographing us and documents for us to sign. As soon as they were done, Addison took us into a study and closed the door.
“Ethan, were you able to get the transfers made to the accounts I gave you?”
“Yes, my lawyer assured me everything would be complete in 24 hours. He was dubious at first, but I gave him the explanation you prepared. He understood and accepted that, but did require e-sigs for everything. I told him he would receive further information and instructions within a month.”
“Good, he reacted appropriately, and 24 hours will work. I have sufficient funds in those accounts to cover everything until then.”
“Addison, what about your documents? And shouldn’t we be in disguise or something?” Sara asked.
“I already have everything. And no, that would be too complicated down the road, unless you want to permanently change your looks; and it won’t be necessary for this to work,” she explained.
“Okay,” she continued, “I’m going to tell you how this is going to happen. Tomorrow evening, Ethan, you’re going to park your truck, Sara’s truck, whatever, in the drive beside the house, not out front. I’ve hired a couple to pose as you and drive the truck to the cabin…”
“Shouldn’t we just park it in the garage?” I questioned.
“No. I want them to see you, well, the decoys, your doubles, get in the truck. Wednesday, around ten, the decoys will head out and drive straight to the cabin. Upon entering, they’ll immediately go out the back and down a trail that leads to another cabin that is currently vacant. They will have a ride waiting there. They’ve already scoped it out. If all goes well, our friends won’t discover they’re gone till later in the day. I think they’ll let you settle in before they come to the cabin. But even if they come calling right away, it will still work. They’ll find an empty cabin and know they’ve been had, but should think you guys just made a run for it and will start looking for you from there. But we’re leaving tomorrow night around midnight, long before the decoys even head to the cabin. That will give us at least a 16-hour head start on them. By that time, we should be safe, and it will take them a couple days to figure things out, if they even do.
By that time, all they will have is that I helped you, they were duped, and we’re gone. Over time, they may be able to track us, but we’re taking steps to discourage that. We’re going to pay them to desist; more on that later.
Okay, I’m picking up a vehicle tomorrow, and will have it parked in front of your backyard neighbor’s house. That’s how we’re getting out of town. Then we head for Chihuahua, Mexico, where we will hole up for a few days while other arrangements come together. Then we head to San Jose, Costa Rica. There we change identities again. Those passports and all the necessary documents will take some time — they have to stand up to more rigorous scrutiny, and are more involved, with more items to support your permanent identities. We’ll be in San Jose as long as it takes to make arrangements for our final destination.”
I asked, “Why those particular places?”
“My most trusted, dependable resources are in those locations.”
Sara asked, “What’s our final destination?”
“We have to decide that. We have a few practical options available.”
II. HASTA LA VISTA!
The next day was nerve wracking. In the morning, Sara and I went and bought supplies for our trip, ostensibly for the cabin stay, picking up items that Addison requested and the normal snack foods and such. We took the truck and had it serviced per Addison’s instructions. Later, I made a trip to the office to wrap up a couple things, then we holed up and waited.
Addison went to pick up our ‘getaway’ car, across the state line — it would be registered and tagged in Arizona, the state of residence that was reflected on our passports, etc. After taking care of other details in preparation for leaving and picking up our newly-minted docs, she would rejoin us around 10 p.m. and would have our doubles in tow.
As prearranged, Sara checked in with her handlers one last time to let them know everything was a go. Also, per Addison, we made a show of loading luggage and stuff in the truck for our trip to the cabin. Around seven, I ordered pizza and had it delivered.
We ate in silence. Sara was fidgety, but didn’t speak up until we were finished eating.
“Ethan, I’m scared. I can’t believe this is happening. It seems so unreal. Tell me it’s going to be okay.”
“Honey, I’m scared, too, but I’m not worried. Addison has this under control and I trust her.”
“I trust her, too. That’s not what I was thinking about. I’m talking about us leaving our lives behind, starting over, in a strange place, and…are you sure about…us? Are you sure you want to risk bringing me?” she questioned in a shaky voice.
I stood and pulled her from her seat and into my arms, “Sara, look, we’re in this together. However things play out, I will take care of you. Why don’t I make us some drinks and let’s go outside and enjoy a last evening by the pool; go for a swim and take our minds off this.”
She nodded into my shoulder, “That sounds nice.”
It was a beautiful evening, on the hot side, but with a light breeze. I looked around the back yard for what I knew would be the last time. I guided us to lounges by the pool and we relaxed and sipped our drinks. After a while, we decided to take a dip and went and put on swimwear. Sara came out of the bathroom in a gray, leopard-print bikini that I remembered well. What a stunning body.
We headed to the pool. I immediately dove in and started doing laps. Sara got in and sat in the shallow end, watching me. After a few laps, I swam up to her.
“Better. I was a little keyed up,” I said.
“Ethan,” she started, hesitantly, “I was talking to Addison. She told me you were adopted, that your real parents died and left you that money. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I know. It sounds like I was hiding it all from you, but I wasn’t, at least not in my mind. I consider my adoptive parents my ‘real parents’. I hardly remember my birth parents, and I didn’t find out about the money till I was in college, and long before I met you. I had decided to not ‘go that route’, just live a normal life, do what I had started to do; then retire when the time was right. I was going to surprise you, but…”
“I know, I know. I screwed that up. I’m sorry. I know now, I should have just come to you when I found out about the money,” she lamented.
I admitted, “And I should have told you about the money sooner. But that’s all hindsight. We’re starting from zero here, okay. Let’s try, anyway.”
She fell into my arms and I held her close for the longest time, neither of us speaking.
At nine p.m., I received a text from Addison:
All good.
Shadows two houses down across street gray sedan.
Will arrive as planned.
Get ready.
We dressed in dark clothing and moved our stuff onto the back patio. A little after ten p.m., Addison and two others came over the back fence. We were sitting at the patio table when we saw them. I was surprised when they approached; the male with her could have been me, except he was older looking, but same physique, similar face and hair. The woman, also older, was similar in build to Sara, but was dark-haired and didn’t really look like her.