The Silence After - Chapter 5
Sometimes the worst part wasn’t the argument. It was the quiet afterward.
Quinn alone in a country that is not hers, taking her own steps for the first time in longer than she realizes.
New to Echo Canyon?
Start here: Chapter 1
Or go to the Table of Contents for the Chapter listing
Chapter 5 - Mirage of Trust
Australia Flashback - Quinn, Part 1
The restaurant was louder than usual that night.
Robbie barely touched her food.
“You’re quiet,” Quinn said.
“Just tired.” But Robbie’s eyes kept drifting to the comm on the table.
The next morning, Robbie slipped out of bed early.
“I’m going for a run,” she said. “I’ll grab breakfast for us on the way back.”
“Give me a minute, and I’ll come with you.”
“No.” Robbie handed her a mug of coffee. “Stay in bed and relax. I’ll be back in an hour.”
Quinn didn’t argue. Maybe a little alone time would be good.
After Robbie left, Quinn took a quick shower and poured herself another mug of coffee. She grabbed a banana from the kitchen and stepped out onto the porch. She was looking forward to today. They had no special plans, but Quinn hoped they could explore another area of the city. Maybe The Rocks. The market would be open on the weekend, and Quinn had read about the different vendors. There were loads of restaurants, shops and galleries there too. She smiled when she thought about some shopping R&R.
Quinn glanced at the clock, surprised to see that almost two hours had passed.
Well, it’s Sunday. Maybe the café was crowded.
Another forty-five minutes passed.
Now Quinn was uneasy. She tried calling Robbie. The VID call went straight to messages.
Her stomach tightened. What if something happened to her? No one even knows where we’re staying.
Quinn began pacing the small cottage, her mind running through possibilities. Robbie could have run into someone she knew. Maybe she lost track of time.
Or maybe a car hit her. People drove on the wrong side of the road here. She kept pacing, peering out the window and opening the door to see if she was coming down the street.
At noon, four hours after Robbie had left, the door opened. Robbie strolled in as if she had only stepped out for a walk. Quinn ran to her and grabbed her, tears already spilling down her face.
“Where have you been? I was ready to call emergency services to see if there had been an accident.”
Robbie pushed Quinn gently away and held up her comm.
“I messaged you two hours ago.” Quinn’s head jerked up, searching Robbie’s eyes. For some sign. “I told you I was on a call with work.”
Quinn broke her gaze and searched her comm, thumbing from screen to screen. No message. She checked deleted messages. Checked spam. Nothing. There was no reason why she would have missed it.
“I never got it,” she said carefully. “Wait. It’s the weekend. A call from work? You’re on vacation in another country.” Quinn’s emotions started bubbling over again.
Robbie shrugged. “Well, I sent it.”
The certainty in Robbie’s voice made Quinn start to doubt herself. She stared at her phone. Had she deleted it somehow in her frenzy? Was she going crazy? Her heart sank. She never missed details such as this. Her training wouldn’t tolerate it.
She looked at Robbie and realized she was done with the conversation. Drained, she sat down on a kitchen chair and looked at Robbie.
Robbie opened the refrigerator and began searching for something to eat.
“There’s a problem with the resort,” she said casually. “Something about a guest identity issue. I’m going to have to go back early.”
“Work?” Quinn stared at her, her face reddened. “Now? Why?”
Robbie didn’t answer. She took a container from the refrigerator and began eating.
“Did you eat?” she asked.
Quinn stood so suddenly the kitchen chair nearly tipped.
“Did I eat?” Quinn glared at her. “I’ve been climbing the walls for four hours thinking you were dead.”
Robbie was already walking toward the bedroom.
“And what are you doing now?” Quinn asked.
“What does it look like? I’m packing. They sent me a ticket to fly to Japan tonight.”
Quinn stood frozen in the doorway.
Robbie noticed her moving toward the front door.
“Where are you going?” Robbie asked, her voice soft now. Almost innocent.
“I’m going out,” Quinn said. “Anywhere to get away from you.”
She grabbed her bag and comm, slammed the door behind her, and ordered a car.
Quinn stared out the window as the cottage disappeared behind them.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
She hesitated.
“Sydney Harbor.”
She had no plan.
She just knew she couldn’t go back.
When she stepped off the ferry dock, she heard someone call her name.
“Quinn?”
She turned.
Liz and Connie were sitting at a small table overlooking the water, glasses of wine already in their hands.
“Well, look at that,” Liz said. “You made it after all.”
“Where’s Robbie?” Connie asked.
Quinn shrugged.
“Work emergency. Japan.”
Liz and Connie exchanged a glance but didn’t press.
Some stories suggest that you keep reading.
Others ask you to stay.
Story Insiders receive every full chapter of Mirage of Trust, along with a permanent seat on the veranda beside the women of Echo Canyon. Come Inside.