The Secrets of Madame X

Rhoda walked into the house in a daze and plunked her bags of groceries down. Her daughter Sherry looked up from her books and frowned.

“What took you so long? I was about to send out a search party. You look like a deer in the headlights.”

“That’s how I feel. I’m still not sure what happened.”

Sherry got up, looking concerned.

“Sit down and I’ll make us some tea.”

“Thanks, love,” Rhoda said, sitting down abruptly.

When they had their mugs of hot tea, Sherry looked at her mother expectantly.

“Well, go on. Don’t keep me in suspense.”

Rhoda took a deep breath.

“The agency sent me to a new client a couple of months ago. Big house, obviously lots of money. I’m actually scheduled to go there tomorrow. It’s just the client and her husband, no messy brats or pets to clean up after. She usually isn’t there when I go to do the cleaning, but when she is, she is polite and respectful to me. You wouldn’t believe how many of these people treat us like we’re invisible, or ought to be.”

“So, what’s not to like?” said Sherry.

Rhoda shivered.

“That house is beautiful, but it always gives me the creeps, though I couldn’t tell you why. Something is off.”

“Your sixth sense is kicking in,” said Sherry.

“Today I was in the supermarket when I thought I saw old Mrs. Dudley coming towards me. She’ll talk your ear off for half an hour before you can get away, so I looked to escape. There I was, trapped in the aisle between the pet food and the cleaning products with the exit blocked by a floor polishing machine, and Mrs. Dudley bearing down on me. I’m always so slow to react. That’s why I get stuck with all the bores at weddings and get volunteered for things no one else wants to do.”

Sherry smiled.

“You’re the weakest link, Mom. You need to be meaner, although I think that’s a lost cause at this point. But I love you for it.”

Rhoda chuckled.

“I took a deep breath and braced myself. But when she got closer, I realized it wasn’t Mrs. Dudley but my new client in disguise.”

“Let’s call her Madame X,” said Sherry. “This is intriguing.”

Pouring more tea, Rhoda continued.

“She’s a beautiful woman, usually dressed to the nines and wearing expensive jewelry, but today she was in an old frumpy dress, dark glasses and a grey wig. I once read somewhere that it’s easy to disguise how you look, but not how you move. I think that’s what caught my attention. She has a very athletic walk.”

She paused to drink some tea.

“Realizing I had recognized her, she grabbed my arm, pulled me towards her and said, “Can you keep a secret?” I was scared but I nodded. Her grip was strong.”

“She was threatening you?” Sherry said, frowning.

Rhoda shook her head.

“Not exactly, but she was determined. She said, “Good. You never saw me” and turned to leave. I don’t know what came over me, but I grabbed her arm in turn and said “Slow down. Walk like an old lady.”She gave me a tiny smile and a nod, and went on, all hunched over her shopping cart.”

“What happened next?”

“Nothing. By the time I paid for my things and went outside, she was gone.”

“Most mysterious. Oh, goodness, look at the time. I’ve got to go.”

Scooping her books and laptop into her bag, she kissed Rhoda and rushed off.

Rhoda finished her tea, put away her groceries, fed her cat Boris and let him out. Darkness was falling and the air was chilly. Boris dithered on the doorstep as the wind ruffled his fur.

“Shoo,” Rhoda said, gently pushing him out. “Come back when you’ve done your business.”

She had just sat down with her crossword puzzle when there was a scratching noise outside.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake, Boris,” she said. “I’m going to get a cat flap.”

She flung open the door and jumped as Madame X appeared in the gloom, clutching a small case and looking around nervously. She darted inside before Rhoda could say anything, followed by Boris who took quick advantage of the opportunity.

“Can I come in, please? I’m desperate.”

“Madame X!” Rhoda said. “What are you doing here?”

“You can call me …”

“No, no. I never use clients’ names outside the job. It’s the first rule of confidentiality,” said Rhoda.

She gasped as Madame X removed her dark glasses and pushed up her sleeves, showing a black eye and arms that were mottled with bruises.

“I’ve been planning an escape for months,” she said. “A friend was going to meet me, but she didn't show. I think my husband found out and scared her off. He monitors my every move. I've got a burner phone, but I'm scared to call her in case she lets him know. He’s an attorney with a lot of contacts in the police department, so I can’t trust them. I was in the supermarket trying to decide what to do next when I saw you today and followed you home. Since he’s never seen you and has no idea who you are or where you live, he won't find me here."

“Rich and powerful men like him have no idea people like me exist,” said Rhoda. “Are you hungry? I was just about to eat. Leftovers, nothing fancy, but there's plenty.”

Madam X nodded.

Rhoda heated the food in the microwave and served it. Before sitting down, she pulled all the blinds and checked that the door was locked.

“You can stay here tonight, but what happens after that?” she said.

“If I can get to the bus station, I’ll be fine. My brother said I can go to him. I’ve got plenty of cash because I found the combination to my husband's safe. If I use a credit card to rent a car or if I show ID to get a plane ticket, he'll be able to trace me.”

Rhoda frowned.

“But doesn’t your husband know where your brother lives?”

Madame X smiled and shook her head.

“He doesn’t even know who I really am. I grew up dirt poor in a part of the country my husband wouldn’t be seen dead in. I left home and changed my name as soon as I was old enough. I did what I had to in order to survive and met him along the way. I loved him, believe it or not, but once we were married, there was no way I could tell him the truth, especially when I realized what he truly was. If he found out he’d been fooled, there’d be hell to pay. But I have enough dirt on him to keep him quiet, if I can just get away from here.”

“My goodness,” Rhoda said, flustered. “Secrets upon secrets.”

Madame X jumped as they heard a key in the lock. She shot a panicked glance at Rhoda.

“Don’t worry. It’s just my daughter. We can trust her.”

“Hi, Mom. I went to the bakery and got that apple pie you like so much…”

Sherry stopped in her tracks, eyes wide as she saw Madame X’s injuries.

Rhoda pulled her inside and quickly closed the door.

“This is the lady I met in the supermarket today. She’s in a bit of a predicament.”

She recounted the story to Sherry who listened intently before scrolling on her phone.

“There’s a bus in an hour. Do you want to go for that one? I can take you to the bus station. Here, use my phone to call your brother.”

“Thank you,” Madame X said, taking the phone and rushing out to the hallway to make the call.

Sherry turned to Rhoda, shaking her head.

“Honestly, Mom, every time I turn my back, someone’s taking advantage of you.’

Rhoda shrugged.

“What else could I do? If you were ever in trouble like that, I like to think someone would help you.”

Madame X returned, smiling, and handed the phone to Sherry.

“He’ll meet me at the other end. I’m ready to go if you are. I can’t thank you both enough, but I don’t want to get you any more involved.”

She hugged Rhoda, before turning to follow Sherry to the car.

“Be safe,” Rhoda called after her, waving. She closed the door and started clearing the table, gasping as she found a wad of cash slipped under the placemat where Madame X had been sitting. She had just begun to count it when her phone rang. She let it go to voicemail.

“Hi, Rhoda, it’s Linda at the agency. Sorry to call so late, but your client for tomorrow just cancelled. You know, the new customer with the big house. Apparently she has other plans. Bye!”