Chapter 10: QUIN

Ten

QUIN

Terms of Employment

Quin Nash agrees to provide childcare services for Tanner Hollingsworth's daughter, Avery Hollingsworth henceforth known as AVERY for the duration of Tanner's inquest into Avery's identity and parentage:

I can't help but wonder what happens if he finds out that Avery doesn't belong to him. What happens to the little girl then? So far, I haven't met her, but I sit across from Tanner in a leucite chair parked at a pristine leucite table, and stare at the contract he drew up for the care and protection of the daughter he isn't sure is his.

My curiosity is getting the better of me, I have to admit. And I have demons. Demons that I believe this man can protect me from. If he's enough of a psycho to drug my glass of water and drag me out to the middle of nowhere…

It feels like someone twisting a dagger in my chest. I suppress my fears and concerns about Tanner's sanity, focusing on his promises and the contract. We're even further away from what I did and he makes a good point about getting Hunter and Juliette involved. If he really wanted to hurt me, he could have done it already.

Maybe it's a weird way to think about things but I spent so much time in captivity that I can't help it. My mind feels in tune with predators and I don't know how I feel about that. Probably nothing. I haven't felt much of anything since the crime I committed.

The crime I'm desperate to bury.

I keep reading before the weight of what I've done closes around my heart. I have to expand my chest with deep breaths to keep the pressure at bay.

Confidentiality Agreement.

Quin agrees to keep the name, identity and all information about AVERY secret including her existence. This includes keeping this information from Juliette and Hunter Sinclair, all her family members, friends, and associates. Severing this confidentiality agreement will result in swift and merciless punishment decided by Tanner Hollingsworth or in his place, his aunt, Debbie Hollingsworth.

Quin requires written consent from Tanner Hollingsworth before disclosing any personal or identifying information whatsoever about AVERY.

I understand secrets. I don't get why Avery has to be a secret, but it shouldn't be that hard to keep her existence a secret. I can always tell Juliette that I'm working as Tanner's housekeeper or something that sounds believable since I wasn't exactly the tidiest person growing up.

The contract continues identifying my nannying responsibilities.

Quin Nash's Nannying Tasks

Quin agrees to care for AVERY as follows, completing each of these tasks daily and submitting a verbal report to Tanner Hollingsworth in person or over the phone at the end of each day. In rare cases, Tanner Hollingsworth will request Quin submit this report via email.

AVERY requires daily feeding, bathing, dressing and constant supervision. During her sleep times, AVERY must be monitored by the home's internal security system and the alarm must always be turned on.

Quin must maintain a safe and clean environment for AVERY at all times, subject to random inspection by Tanner Hollingsworth.

Quin must be responsible for age-appropriate educational activities for AVERY and must spend at least two hours a day engaged in active developmental play. AVERY must also maintain a consistent routine with naps, meals and bedtime.

AVERY is not to be put to bed after 8 p.m.

Quin must perform housekeeping tasks related to AVERY such as laundry, tidying her play areas, diaper duty and preparing meals for AVERY.

Written down, the tasks don't seem impossible. Tanner doesn't seem concerned with the fact that I have no experience with diaper duty or preparing meals for toddlers.

Quin Nash will be compensated for her work at a rate of $2,500 per week. This money will be dispensed every Sunday at 4 p.m. after her completed week of work.

I put my finger beneath that part of the contract and read it twice just in case I made some type of mistake. That doesn't seem to be the case. I glance up at Cash, whose round blue eyes haven't left my face since I began reading the contract.

"It's not a mistake," he says calmly. "This job simply requires discretion."

"Right."

"You have functional bank accounts, I presume?"

I glance up at him and not, trying not to betray my nerves.

"I can always pay you in cash."

"Maybe cash would be better."

It's not that I don't trust Hawk and Juliette to help with my problem, but I don't want infusions of cash into my bank account drawing the attention of law enforcement. It might be an unnecessary precaution, but I won't feel safe needing to interact with any bank to access money. Especially not a bank with video cameras.

"Cash it is," Tanner says. Relief floods through me, although maybe I should feel guilty instead. I didn't know how I would survive without access to any money, but Tanner's deal might not be so bad after all…

I tighten my lips and keep reading the contract. This all seems too good to be true.

This contract will extend until the day Tanner Hollingsworth discovers the true identity of Avery Hollingsworth, at which point, the contract will be terminated and Quin will either be free to go or may choose to extend the contract another year.

I wonder how long it's going to take him to find out Avery's identity. I don't know what the baby looks like so for all I know, this could be a matter of weeks. Would that be such a problem? In three weeks, I would have enough money to get an apartment in Santa Fe so I can be close to Juliette and have some support while I get on my feet.

There doesn't seem like a way to lose here… I suppress the nagging thought in the back of my head that there must be a catch here. That Tanner is too calm. Too sure of himself. I'm almost done with the contract, so I just keep going.

Termination of this contract is possible if Quin or Tanner break any aspect of the contract. Otherwise, this contract cannot be terminated for any reason.

The clause gives me a slight pause, but I can't think of anything that could possibly happen out here to give me cause to terminate the contract. Based on the previous terms, I doubt I'll be out here long.

This agreement will be governed in accordance with the laws of the state of Arizona.

He has space for both our signatures – employer and nanny.

My heart pounds. The same pounding throb that reverberated in my chest when Eugene lay dead on the floor at the base of the stairs. That rush of fear reminds me of that moment and the truth of my situation with Tanner hits me like a smack to the head.

This man has no idea I took a human life.

He can't possibly know that for all his pretense that he knows my secret. He can't. No sane man would ask a killer to become his nanny. It doesn't feel like my place to suggest he conduct a background check and that wouldn't exactly support my goals of staying out of trouble with the law.

"Seems pretty simple," Tanner says in a smooth, country accent. He sounds very Southwestern, a distinct voice that blends a Texan drawl with the nasally, flat intonations of Midwestern speech. A General American with a dash of sexy cowboy. It's hard for me to think logically when he speaks to me.

"Makes you think there's a catch."

His eyes flicker with an emotion I can't place when I search his face for deception but just as soon as I observe the flicker, it fades away, leaving Tanner's placid expression behind. That man has a very handsome face. I'll admit that.

"I'll sign it," I say to him. "But… if you fire me and send me back to Juliette's, I understand."

"Not gonna happen, sugar plum."

Sugar plum? Ew. I assume that's just some old-fashioned Southern thing and I pretend to review the contract again, even if I know exactly what I'm going to do.

What choice do I have? It's either this, or I find my way back to Juliette and Hunter's place to live off their generosity. At least now I have a chance to stand on my own two feet.

"Can I call Juliette once I sign this to let her know I'm okay? That I went with you willingly?"

He raises his eyebrows in surprise, and then he nods.

"Of course. Wouldn't want your new employment status causing any trouble."

I take the pen Tanner hands me and sign my name with a flourish. His shoulders depress slowly once I'm done.

"Perfect," he says with audible contentment and a slow exhale. "Let's take you to meet Avery, sugar plum."

Sugar plum.

Not exactly what you call your nanny…

Then again, maybe it's a Southern thing.