Free Perspective (An Exposure Series Novella): Exposure Series Book Four by Annie Jocoby

is CJ Sloane, and I’m the wife of Asher Sloane.” I had no idea where he was, of course, but I knew that I still had to try to salvage this hearing for him. There was an inner voice that told me that it was important. “He was in a serious car accident, and I would like to request a continuance of this hearing.”
    I was bracing for them to ask me for proof that he was in an accident, but, to my surprise, the Senators spoke amongst themselves and decided to simply call the next meeting to order. “This matter will be tabled until tomorrow,” a Senator said. “If Mr. Sloane shows up tomorrow, then we will conclude this matter. If he does not, then, Mrs. Sloane, if you can provide us documentation of Mr. Sloane’s injuries, we will table this matter until he can attend. If you do not provide this documentation, then the hearing will proceed without him.”
    “Thank you,” I said.
    I was so happy that I bought him some time, even if it was only a single day. Of course, I had no idea how to find him. The only thing that I knew to do would be to go to his hotel room and look around. I hoped that I could convince the people at the front desk to let me into his room.
    I called a cab and hurried back to the hotel. I went to the front desk. “Hello, my name is CJ Sloane. My husband is staying here at the hotel,” I said, giving her his room number. “I’m very worried about him. I’ve been trying to call him, and I can’t get ahold of him. Please, could you accompany me to his room?”
    The woman looked at me warily. Her expression told me that she was dubious about the story, and probably imagined that Asher simply wasn’t answering the phone because he was with a woman. “Do you have any identification?” she asked me.
    My driver’s license was not yet changed. “We just got married, so I haven’t had the chance to change my driver’s license.” I nonetheless showed her my license, which still said “CJ Parker” on it.
    “I’m so sorry miss, I can’t help you.” Then she answered the phone and left me hanging.
    When she got off the phone, I was still standing there. “It’s still me,” I said to her, reading her name tag. “Ellen.” Then I asked her to lean down so that I could tell her a “secret.”
    She leaned down, but she had a suspicious look on her face.
    “Listen,” I said in a low voice. “I called my husband and a female answered. I don’t know if you have ever been cheated on, but I know that, woman to woman, it’s so important that I go up there and surprise him.”
    She still looked unconvinced. “I’m sorry,” she said.
    I took a deep breath. “There are children involved. We’ve already talked about getting a divorce, but he has made it clear that he is going to go for full custody. I really need something to insure that he won’t succeed. I really need to get up there and startle them and take pictures. Please, Ellen. Woman to woman. I can’t lose custody of our children. They’re my world.”
    I was impressing even myself with my Academy Award-level performance.
    She looked doubtful, yet I could tell I was breaking her down. She stood there looking at me, and then the phone was ringing again. “Wait right here,” she said, “I need to answer this phone.”
    It seemed like years that she was on the phone, but it must have been only minutes, if not seconds. I was waiting there, hoping and praying that she would relent.
    Finally, she got off the phone. She looked around, and then magnetized a key card. “Here,” she said. “Do not let anyone know that I did this. Mr. Sloane is a VIP at this hotel, and I will lose my job.”
    “I understand,” I said, taking the key card. “Thank you very much.”
    At that, I went into the elevator and went to Asher’s floor. I got to his room and slid the key card and walked in. “Asher,” I called, as I walked in.
    And then I saw him. He was handcuffed to the chair and gagged. I felt relieved and terrified all at once.