Stockholm

‍‍‍Alexander walks into the kitchen where Rue is. He puts his hand on her cheek, his kind eyes sparkle. Rue reaches up cupping his hand with hers.

Alexander: I am sorry you had to talk to those detectives. I did everything I could to keep you out of this darling.

Rue: I know, you always do Master.

Alexander pulls her to him, fingering the satin weaved choker around her throat.

Alexander: Darling, I think you have been such a good girl that you can sleep in master’s bed tonight. 

Rue looks up, eyes shining. 

The tea kettle whistles. Rue’s grin is large as she kisses Alexander on the lips. She runs to the tea pot taking it off the stove. 

Rue: I have something for you.

Rue pulls out two teacups and pours the fresh dark tea in them.

Rue: Now you must give it time to cool off. It is a special herbal tea; it should help with the stomach pains you have been having.

Alexander looks suspiciously at Rue.

Alexander: How did you get this without my permission darling?

Rue runs to Alexander, falling to her knees, pulling at the bottom of his shirt. 

Rue: I am sorry Master, I wanted to surprise you! Valor picked it up for me.

Alexander chuckles.

Alexander: Valor picked it up for you?

Rue rises to her feet keeping a pleasant smile on her face.

Rue: I’m quite sure I owe him a foot rub.

Alexander laughs again, kissing the top of Rue’s head. 

Alexander: Well, let us give this tea a try then.

Rue: not yet! ... it’s too hot. And you are supposed to take it right before bed.

Alexander: Becoming a doctor now darling?

Rue: No.

Her smile re appears.

Rue: Just trying to please you Master.

Alexander: In that case I will shower and then we will drink some tea.

Rue lies next to Alexander listening to his breathing, waiting for it to stay low and consistent. Rue rarely gets to sleep on the bed with him. Most of her nights are spent on the floor, near the foot of his bed. Which for Rue is pure luxury from the places she was made to sleep at the beginning.

When Alexander’s breathing remains steady, Rue quietly gets out of the bed. She goes to his desk and lifts open his laptop; it is bright in the black room. But Rue’s confident in the pills she put in his tea. She has been hiding them as long has she can remember. At the police station she was surprised to find out it been four months. Now Alexander will sleep peacefully through the night, he will be drowsy in the morning.

Rue clicks on the locked home screen and types in the password. That has been the true challenge of her plan. With quick glances and pretend sleeping eyes, she finally worked it out. She clicks on the email tab, and it opens. She starts a new message, putting Benny’s email in the address.  For the subject she types her full name, Rune Susan Paxton.

She spreads her fingers out wiggling them. Today at the police station she had struggled to use a pen, it had been so long. She hopes typing is like riding a bike, and her muscle memory will come back quickly.

She looks behind her at Alexander, his handsomeness never ceases to amaze her. He will be asleep all night, so she as quite a few hours to get this done. She places her fingers on the home row keys, off to a good start.  Then she begins to type.

“Once upon a time in Stockholm...

THE END