"If I could I get another chance,
Another walk,
Another dance with him...
How I'd love love love to dance with my father again."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-ALICE-
"Harriet, what's going-"
Harriet suddenly brings her hand to cover my mouth while she moves us over to a more private area.
Her bloodshot eyes pierce into mine "Listen to me. Your father is gone now, but you don't have time to focus on that." My heart sinks into the ground "After you left this morning, I packed a few suitcases with your clothes, another filled with money and another with food."
"What?"
"Shh." She continues "Alice, I need you to run. Run as far as you can just don't stop until you're sure."
I know she's serious because she never calls me 'Alice', it's always 'Miss', "Sure of what Harriet?"
"Sure, you're safe, sure that no one who knows you can find you."
I let out a deep breath I didn't realize I was holding "Where's mom?"
"I promise all your questions will be answered in due time. I just need you to go to the house, get all of your stuff and start driving. Don't even tell me where you're going."
"Harriet what's going on?" I cry.
"I know this is confusing, I know your scared, but you need to forget everything and everyone. Even me. You need to start a new life." Her eyes fill with tears and she brings her hand up, cupping my face, "But you need to go now before the death is announced and before" she takes a shallow breath "before they get there."
"Who's they?"
"Just go!" she whisper-shouts, then continues in a normal tone "And don't forget to check the bookshelf."
Like I said earlier, I'm smart so I decide to do what she says.
She vigorously pulls me into a short but tight and meaningful embrace which I understand to be a 'goodbye' hug.
We release from each other and I turn around to be on my way when,
"Alice" Harriet calls.
I turn around to look at her and furrow my eyebrows.
"Be safe."
I nod before sprinting out the hospital and driving back home as fast as possible.
Entering the gates of my home with tears rushing down my face, ruining my makeup, I have never felt more confused and uneasy in my life.
I drive into my garage and indeed, the bags were there so I take them and pack them in my car.
After putting the many suitcases into my now packed car, I run into my house and go to my dad's office, where his bookshelf sits.
By the way Harriet made it seem, I don't have a lot of time so I searched my dad's bookshelf as quickly as possible.
With no progress of what I'm looking for, I step back from the bookshelf to look at it from a wider view when I notice an anomaly. There is this yellow children's book that stands out from all the brown, boring looking books. So, I pull out the book and sure enough there was something.
A white envelope falls to the ground. I pick it up to see the words:
My Darling Alice.
Written on the outside in my dad's handwriting.
The envelope feels as though there is something else in it, not just papers but I have no time to open it and check. I have to act with haste, so I grab the envelope and sprint out of my house.
In my car, I'm left thinking about how quickly everything is happening. How my dad could be fine one minute and dead the next.
Now I'm sure. I'm 1005% completely sure that he was killed.
But by who? And why?
I quickly erase those thoughts and keep driving.
Yes, I do want to find out who killed my dad. He is, sorry, he was the only person in the world who truly loved me. But, I'm no fucking Nancy Drew, I'm not going to go on some quest to find my dad's killers when they'll probably just kill me too. This is real life not an adventure movie where the main character gets everything she wants in the end. So, I am going to make the only rational decision, and that is to continue to run. Just as Harriet told me, I will run and never look back. I'm sure that's what daddy would've wanted for me too.
Sometimes the cowards move is the right one.
I'm going to change my identity. Become someone new and forget everything I once was.
First, I need to change my car because everybody knows that the pink Porsche with a "HER" number plate belongs to me, Alice McAllen.
My dad was friends with this man, Buddy, who would always do quick paint and plate jobs for him. So, I decide to drive to his garage.
This place is massive, full of so many expensive cars.
In the main area where all the work is done, I see him standing talking to a few of his workers.
He is a tall Italian man and is wearing a massive gold chain with black jeans with a black shirt.
As I pull into the area, I see him conclude to talk to his men.
"Alice!" he exclaims.
"Hey Buddy."
"I haven't seen you since you were about" he puts his hand right under his hip, "this big"
"I know it's been forever" I smile.
"So, what do you need" he looks at my car that is parked in the servicing area.
"Can you please do me a bazaar favor. A quick one?"
He walks toward my car "Sure."
"Please change the color to black and change the plate to a normal one."
He squints his eyes and looks at the luggage inside the car, "You going somewhere?"
"yeah, and I need it done right now."
"Does your father know?"
I guess they haven't announced his death yet, "Yeah, and he's cool with it" I lie.
He nods his head "Okay, and when do you need this done by?"
I look down at my watch which reads 2:38, "By four."
He lets out a deep breath and claps his hands "We're going to need all hands-on deck here." He yells to his workers.
"Thank you so much Buddy, how much will it all cost?"
"For you, I'll do it for free."
"No, I couldn't-"
"Don't worry about it Alice." He smiles.
Th job was done fairly quickly, they put this gift-wrapping sort of thing over the car (I don't know car stuff) and so we didn't need to wait for anything to dry.
"Thank you again Buddy."
"Of course, kid."
"Please don't tell anyone about this."
He brings his thumb and index finger together and moves them across his mouth, as if zipping his lips together.
I hop into my car and head to the nearest gas station to fill up my tank before heading on my long journey to goodness knows where.
~~~
After three days of driving and sleeping in my car. I finally make into a far enough town that I was sure to feel safe in.
The town is a lot more...normal than New York. There's not a whole lot of fancy cars or boujie stores. It a peaceful and tiny town. One of those that look straight out of a hallmark movie and where everyone probably knows everyone.
First thing I do is search for nearby apartments in my exact location and I find plenty.
I find one in particular that I love. It has a beautiful view of the tiny town and is incredibly modern. It has one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen and a living room and is fully furnished.
After negotiations, I pay the landlord enough rent for five months (the money I have is more than enough) and make my new home homier. I know it's crazy, but I paid him in cash so I don't leave any bank traces behind.
Knowing my father's reputation, it won't be hard for someone to figure out who I am, so I need to change my appearance as well.
I rush to a nearby pharmacy and buy brown box die and a pair of scissors.
I used to have straight, blond hair that reaches the middle of my back. Now, I have brown hair that reaches right under my shoulders, with thin bangs that fall on my forehead.
If you can't picture it, I'm basically a hot brunette with bangs.
Obviously, I'm going to need to be able to put up with rent so I go into the town center and see this adorable little library which, at my luck, is hiring for a part timer so I make my way into it.
I'm choosing to work at a library because maybe I might be able to go to college and working at a library would give me time to study. Emphasis on the word 'maybe'.
"Good afternoon" I smile at the short, old lady (who I assume is the librarian) standing by a shelf. She is wearing small rectangular glasses, a pink sweater that has a black cat on it and purple leggings. She also has short grey bob-cut and the most contagious smile ever.
"Good afternoon!" she exclaims.
"I noticed you were hiring? I hope you haven't found anyone for the job yet."
"Nope not yet, why don't we take a seat sugar?" She motions to the large, brown sofa situated close to the shelf.
As we sit down, I ask, "Before we start the interview, I don't need any qualifications for the job, do I?"
"None at all!" she smiles "Actually, I've had that sign up for months now, but it seems no one wants to work here." She sighs "So let's not bother with any interviews, you're hired"
"Thank you so so much, I promise you won't regret this decision."
"I doubt I will" she smiles "Can you start tomorrow at nine?"
"I'll be in tomorrow morning for my first day!"
"That would be great." She smiles then narrows her eyes, "However, I didn't ask, what's your name sugar?"
I hesitate. If I'm going to change my identity, I obviously need a new name. In panic, I say the first name that comes to mind:
"Elizabeth, Elizabeth James. But you can call me Liza." I lie.
++++++
Song: Dance with my father by Luther Vandross
A/N
So many emotions in this chapter, I don't even know how to feel hahaha.
I hope you enjoyed! <3
✔