Free Private Indiscretions by Susan Crosby

in me.”
    Dana caught her breath at the intensity in his voice, which seemed to say so much more than the words themselves. “I’m sorry,” she said.
    Again she was met with silence, as if he was waiting for more.
    â€œI don’t know what else to say, Sam.”
    â€œThen I guess that says it all.” He hung up without saying goodbye.
    Dana fell back on the bed and closed her eyes. What did he want? For her to go back and change history? She would if she could. He was seeing the experience through adult eyes. They were teenagers then, without much life experience. She’d believed in the legal system. She thought if she reported Harley for attempted rape he would be punished. Sam had known better, had tried to convince her of it. He’d asked her not to involve the police, but she had anyway, thinking he was wrong. She’d been so naive. Harley’s rich daddy had taken care of everything. And Harley and his friends had taken care of Sam.
    Her fault. All her fault. She’d lived with the guilt ever since.
    She rolled onto her side, tucked her hands under her cheek and stared at the telephone. He’d been making a point on the phone—that he was trustworthy. That he’d wanted her to believe in him—then and now, she realized. Was she wrong not to confide in him about the letters she’dreceived? But what if something happened—again—because of her? This time to his hard-earned reputation.
    You should’ve trusted me. Believed in me.
    His words echoed. She sat up and dangled her legs over the side of the bed, her gaze fixed on the carpet. Finally she picked up the phone and dialed. Her hands shook. She put her head back, lifted her chin and swallowed.
    â€œSam Remington.”
    â€œI need your help.”
    A long pause, then, “Dana?”
    â€œYes.” She found strength in knowing he was there. “I’ve gotten a couple of notes in the mail. I—”
    â€œDon’t say anything else. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
    He hung up. She swallowed the burn in her throat. Then she changed into sweatpants and a T-shirt and waited for him.
    Â 
    Dana opened the front door as he walked from his car. He wore jeans and a white shirt, the long sleeves rolled up a few turns. His leather jacket was slung over his shoulder. She wanted to burrow into him.
    â€œWhere’s Hilda?” he asked, low, when he stopped close to her.
    â€œIn her room.”
    â€œWhere can we go so we’re sure not to be overheard?”
    Dana considered it. “There’s a sitting room off of my bedroom. But Hilda wouldn’t—”
    â€œTake me there.”
    She led the way up the staircase. He seemed to have taken on height and weight yet moved so quietly she couldn’t hear his footsteps, even though he wore boots, and she had to turn twice to make sure he was there.
    She was fascinated by how he’d taken charge instantly and could move soundlessly.
    When she stopped to grab the note from her bed she saw him make a quick survey of her bedroom, then they wentinto the adjoining sitting room, her private refuge. He sat in a wingback chair. She took a seat on the blue toile sofa and tucked her feet under her. She passed him the note.
    â€œThe first one came on Tuesday. It said—”
    â€œI know the contents,” he said, examining the paper in the plastic bag.
    It wasn’t at all what she’d expected. “How?”
    He met her gaze. “Your chief of staff came to see me today. Then he called me tonight about the second note.”
    â€œI specifically told Abe not to contact you.”
    â€œThat’s between the two of you.” He leaned forward. “What’s your take on the situation?”
    Dana was still trying to digest the fact he’d already known about the note when he’d been here before. He hadn’t let on at all. He hadn’t even asked her why she hadn’t told him