Without A Trace

Fifty-Eight.

The weather is cooler outside today. The sky is grey and the leaves are starting to change colors on the trees. Fall is my favorite time of year, but I hate it with a burning passion, a double edged sword. Fall is a reminder to me of the bad days when Anna first came around. I swear sometimes I can still hear her screams, it wakes me out of a dead sleep sometimes. Annas apologized to me about her comment to me yesterday but that one definitely stung.

I push my arm through the sleeve of my wool jacket before throwing it over the rest of my body and fastening the buttons. I pull my hair out from under the collar and meet Anna and Ivy by the front door.

Anna, standing next to the phone hands me a telegram, "This is for you, and someones on the phone for you. But they wont speak with you until you read the telegram," She says with her brows furrowed. The air is thick and I look confused as I take the telegram from her and open it:

"Cora,

Its been quite a long time dear friend. I am writing to request a date and time to schedule a meeting between the two of us and a few of our people. Without your wretched husband tagging along of course. I have information on someones whereabouts that I have heard through the grapevine you're needing. It will be so nice to catch up my dear Cori. Don't keep me waiting,

All my love,

H.G. 💋"

I burn at the initials signing the telegram and the lipstick mark next to them. My chest grows tight and I slowly reach for the phone and put it to my ear, "Cora Shelby speaking," I say flatly, clutching the telegram.

"Cori," she says with her smooth thick russian accent. I can hear her smile through her tone, "You must've just read my telegram. How are you love?"

"I'm great Harper, how are you? Your telegram and phone call are certainly unexpected I must say," I say leaning against the wall, "It's been an awful long time."

"Ten years exactly," she says as I can hear her take a drag off her cigarette, "Too bad your poor excuse of a husband ruined our friendship. We could have owned his fuckin business if you would've stayed with me."

"I would love to reminisce about the events that happened on my wedding night but I am an awfully busy woman Harper Grace so I don't mean to rush you, but are you calling to schedule a time for a meeting or just to chat?" I say pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Ah yes, being Thomas's dog must be real tiring with all the running around you do," She says with a sigh, "Anywho, how does you coming over for tea sound? Tomorrow, my place."

"Pencil me in," I say with a fake satisfactory tone, "My girls will be coming, thats non negotiable."

"If you insist, slán leat Cori (goodbye Cori)," She says before the dial tone rings in my ear. I hang up the phone and turn my back to them and run my hand over the top of my head, smoothing my hair out and taking a deep breath before taking a few steps towards Thomas's office.

"Where are you going? We have a meeting at the docks- " Anna starts before Ivy holds her hand up to her.

"She'll meet us down there," Ivy says to Anna in a stern tone. Anna and Ivy exchange silent glances for a moment before heading out the door. I make my way down the hallway and into Thomas's office.

I pull the doors open and meet Thomas's gaze. He stands behind his chair smoking a cigarette. He raises his head slightly and speaks with the cigarette hanging from his lips, "What is it?"