Free Taken by Dee Henderson Page A

now, there’s firmer ground. The woman made contact—” Bryce looked quickly over at Ann—“Friday night? Late yesterday?” After her confirming nod, he continued, “There’s been no time for Shannon to process what is happening in her life, for cops to begin a debriefing. This is too early, Charlotte. She needs time to get her bearings.”
    “Bryce.” Charlotte reached over and put her other hand over his, offered a small smile. “Ask me tonight about my first days. Those very first days in the hospital before my sister hired John to be my bodyguard. I am remembering what it’s like to figure out how to ‘get your bearings’ when freedom is abruptly there, when you doubted it would ever come—it’s because of that I’m inclined to say yes to meeting Shannon this early.” Charlotte tightened her hand on his. “You’ll have my back. You won’t letthis get to be too much for me. And for that I’m very grateful. I can count on it.”
    Charlotte looked over at Ann. “Two casual meetings, maybe three, over a couple of months,” she offered, “if she wants to meet me. But I’d ask that you first give Shannon a copy of the book Gage wrote. The one thing I don’t want to have to do is tell her my story. It’s enough to be willing to say I’m Ruth Bazoni. I’d like to be able to leave it at that.”
    “I can do that.”
    “And I’d need you to show that article to Ellie before then. Talk with her so that she’s aware of the same details I am.”
    “I can do that too,” Ann agreed. It was with Ellie Dance, her closest friend as well as business partner, that Charlotte had shared the most difficult memories of what those years had been like, far more than she had shared with her husband. Ellie had her own dark history, and it was one of the reasons Charlotte and Ellie were so close—it had formed a bond that those who hadn’t been in that place couldn’t share.
    Ann looked at Bryce. She knew how hard he was trying to help his wife get back to full health—body, soul, and spirit. She didn’t want to undercut him. “Are you okay with this, Bryce?”
    “I’m comfortable with opening the door and assessing how it’s going as things progress, if that’s what Charlotte wants to try. How do you propose we do this, and when?”
    “I was thinking a casual meal to introduce Shannon to some people she needs to know, that I would intentionally make it a small gathering of people who know each other so she doesn’t feel like she has to do a lot of interacting if she isn’t ready for that yet. Matthew and Shannon. Paul and myself. You and Charlotte. John and Ellie. Theodore Lincoln, one of the cops on the case, and his date if he’s currently seeing anyone. Racheland Cole, because I’m hoping Rachel might be able to step into that best-friend role and fill that void if it’s necessary. All safe people, unrelated to her family, ones Shannon can turn to in Chicago when she needs something and not worry about how they’ll react. The evening itself should be casual fun, good food, friends catching up with each other.”
    Bryce considered the suggestion, then nodded. “It’s a good approach. I propose we have that meal here—a cookout on the back patio. Charlotte can show Shannon this studio, and I’ll try to have a couple of conversations with her over the course of the evening. She has to be comfortable with both of us if this is going to play out as you hope.”
    “If she wants to spend some time here as the summer unfolds, I won’t mind the company in the studio,” Charlotte offered. “Security is good, the press won’t be a problem here once that begins to be a factor. What I can offer might simply be a quiet, non-stressful place to read a book, but sometimes that’s enough. Knowing there’s a place where you can disappear for a while can be a lifesaver.”
    Ann looked at their clasped hands. They had a common concern in meeting Shannon, facing the memories it would stir up. It might be