Do Not Disturb

by Freida McFadden

It wasn’t until after we were husband and wife that everything changed.

I wish it could have been different. I wish Derek had been the man he promised to be.

You’ve made a fool out of me for the last time, Quinn.

But I’m safe now. He can’t get to me. Never again.

To hell with Derek. He’s dead anyway.

Derek wasn’t just rich—he was powerful

The Baxter Motel. That’s where I’ll spend the night, then tomorrow bright and early, I’ll get back on the road.

I’m safe here, at least for the night, but first thing in the morning, I’ve got to get the hell out of here.

“Mirrors are the barrier between the conscious and unconscious mind. Everyone has an inner concept of themselves, but mirrors are reality. What you see right now—that is the truth that everyone else sees.”

I can’t see the future but I predict I will never see this woman again.

The pattern on the socks is eyes.

I flip around the “DO NOT DISTURB” sign on my door, then I close the door and lock it.

I should do my best to rest up. But I have a bad feeling sleep will be difficult.

You could be on the run after killing your husband. Or maybe you didn’t kill him, and he’s coming after you. So yes, things could be worse.

The door is closed, and there is a “DO NOT DISTURB” sign hanging from the door knob, even though the room is empty.

Nobody is coming for her. It’s all over for Rosalie Baxter.

I take the sign from her, but it drops from my fingers and flutters to the floor, the letters of “DO NOT DISTURB” staring up at me, looming before my eyes.

If we have a girl, we will name her Greta.