Page 64 of Kill For Me Kill For You
It was too dangerous.
There was an alternative. A second way to trace Naomi that didn’t involve the man she had called Quinn.
Through Matt, and the counseling group. Naomi would have had to show Matt her ID maybe? Like Amanda had. He would know who she really is. He would have files. Records.
Amanda sat at a corner table in a deli on Lexington and 33rd, her grilled cheese half eaten and going cold in front of her as she watched the front door. Checking the time on her phone, she calculated Matt was running almost a half hour late. Not late enough to give her pause, although if he didn’t show in the next five minutes she would beat it. It was almost one thirty in the afternoon. The city was busier than ever. Holiday traffic. Tomorrow, the cars would leave the city for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
No new text messages from Matt. The last one said he would come meet her. Amanda had texted him to say she was very low, and having dark thoughts, and could he spare an hour to talk. He texted back saying he could, although this was unusual and he didn’t normally see anyone out of the group hours. He said he would make an exception. This one time.
Amanda looked up from her phone as Matt walked into the deli. He wore a long, thick scarf, which he had wrapped around his neck half a dozen times, a fleece-lined denim jacket and jeans. He carried an umbrella, even though it wasn’t raining. Matt was the type of guy who was prepared for most things.
She waved, and he waved back as he made his way through the rows of tables to the corner.
‘How are you?’ he asked.
‘Not great. Thanks for seeing me,’ she said.
He stretched out of his jacket, then unraveled his scarf. It was warm in the deli, and cold outside. His glasses had misted in the heat. He took them off and placed them on the table.
‘Some people struggle to open up in a group. I understand that. But you’ve got to try. I’m supposed to give a report to your probation officer after eight sessions. It would be good to tell them that you participated.’
Amanda nodded, said, ‘That’s why I contacted you. I want to open up, but I’m having some problems with Wendy. She and I have been talking outside of the group. She, well, she can be a little scary sometimes. Maybe it’s just her bullshit, but I don’t think I could go back to group if she’s there.’
Just then the waitress arrived. Matt ordered a tuna sandwich on rye and Amanda took a coffee refill.
‘Look, I don’t encourage social contact between group members. That’s a recipe for disaster. I’ve seen it before.’
‘I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to step over the line. I didn’t know there was a line.’
He nodded and waved his delicate fingers at her.
‘Don’t worry. It’s fine. Wendy has an attitude. That’s all it is. It can be intimidating at first, but I assure you it is a safe environment. I want you to feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings.’
Amanda nodded, and smiled at him. He smiled back.
‘So is there something in particular you wanted to talk about?’ he asked. ‘You sounded as if you were in a really bad place.’
‘Yeah, I just feel very foolish. I know the group could be good for me, but it’s Wendy . . .’ Amanda paused, thought for a moment before finishing her sentence.
Matt wiped his glasses on his shirt, then put them on and leaned forward. He steepled his fingers, elbows on the table, head slightly cocked to one side.
‘Well?’ he said.
No choice. She didn’t have time to mess around. Amanda came straight out with it.
‘Wendy told me her real name was Naomi.’
She searched Matt’s face. Gauging his reaction. His eyebrows lifted, just for half a second. He was a little surprised, but was he surprised that Wendy had shared her real name or that she’d given a false one? Amanda couldn’t quite tell.
She said, ‘I don’t think that’s her real name, either. I don’t like being played for a fool. My little girl and my husband were taken from me. Anyone who would use that to exploit me shouldn’t be in a group with others where they can do real damage. I don’t trust her.’
He sat back, raised his hands, as if in surrender.
‘Look, I don’t know exactly what went on between you two. Anything that happens outside of group isn’t really my concern. I can’t control that, but if it starts to affect what happens in my sessions then I will have to do something about it.’
‘So, what can you do?’
‘Can you tell me what happened?’
