Eric nods to Paula, who waits patiently for me. "Who is she?"
I snort, and feel another layer of guilt. "She's just this pregnant girl who stops by from time to time looking for money. I have to get rid of her, or she'll stay all afternoon." I touch his arm. "Please stay. Give me two minutes."
Eric hesitates. "OK."
Paula flashes me a warm smile as I hurry toward her. "What are you doing here?" I ask.
"I was worried about you. I haven't heard from you in so long." Paula studies me, and I know how perceptive she is. "Have you been sick? You look pale."
"I've had a bad flu. Look, I can't talk right now. That guy in the carhe's my boyfriend's brother, and he's in deep trouble that I can't go into right now. He needs my help."
Paula is hesitant. "Fine, I can go. I was just out for a walk." She glances at Eric. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"Yeah, no problem." I gesture to her swollen belly. "It won't be long now."
Paula is radiant. "No. Another three weeks is all."
"That's great." I nod to my door. "Did you knock? Did you talk to Ray?"
"I knocked but no one answered."
"Oh." That's strange. Ray is almost always at home. He would have to be at home, with Kalika and all. I can't imagine him taking her out. But perhaps our daughter is the reason he didn't answer. I cannot hear either of them inside. I add, "I'll talk to you soon, Paula. I promise, we'll have lunch."
Paula is gracious as she carefully moves down the steps. "You take care. Ill be thinking of you."
"Thanks. Say a prayer for me."
"I always do, Alisa."
Paula leaves, and I gesture for Eric to join me on the front porch. He parks in my driveway and approaches reluctantly. He has antennae of his own. I am definitely giving off bad vibes. His car will have to be moved quickly, I think, before if makes an impression on my neighbors. I fumble for my keys, like I'm nervous. And I am nervousI can't imagine hurting him. For that matter, he might end up hurting me.
"Sometimes my ex comes in a back window," I say as I put the key in the lock.
"You should lock your windows," Eric mutters.
"Can I get you something to drink?" I ask as we step inside. A quick look around shows neither Ray nor Kalika. Maybe he did go out with her. Eric stays near the door.
"I really should be going," he says.
"At least have a lemonade. I made some fresh this morning." I move toward the kitchen. "I really appreciate you doing this for me."
Eric feels trapped. "I'll have a small glass," he says without enthusiasm.
In fact, I did make lemonade that morning, from concentrate. Pouring a couple of glasses, I hurry back to the living room. My resentment toward Ray continues to grow. For seducing Eric to come into the house, it is good Ray is out of sight. Yet I could use Ray to knock Eric unconscious. I mean, I am a hundred-and-ten pound blond chick who just had a baby. Eric accepts his drink and I toast him with our glasses. Eric drinks without relish.
"It's good," he mumbles.
"Thanks. We have lemon trees in our backyard."
"They give fruit this time of year?"
I smite. "No, but they do in the summer."
Eric finishes half his drink and sets the glass down on the coffee table. "Well, my dad's waiting. Let's talk another time. It was nice to meet you."
I jump slightly, and speak in a hushed tone. "Did you hear that?"
Eric is puzzled. "What?"
I point down the hall. "I think he's here."
Eric frowns. "I don't hear anything."
I am a picture of fear. "Would you check? Just to be sure."
"Cynthia, really. I don't think anyone's there."
I swallow heavily. "Please? It's terrible when he sneaks up on me like this. I can't get rid of him by myself."
Eric eyes the hallway. "You're sure he's not violent? Why does he break into your house?"
"He's never violent. He's just a pest. I hope I'm imagining the whole thing."
Eric starts up the hallway. I follow close behind him, silently. Even as a human, I can move like a cat. As he reaches for the last bedroom door on the left, I lash out with my right foot, striking behind his right knee. There is a mushy tearing soundthe spot is especially vulnerable. Letting out a painful cry, Eric topples to his knees. Before he can recover, I slash out with my left hand and catch him in the left temple, which is the thinness part of the skull. The blow stuns him but does not knock him out. Disgusted, I strike again, at the opposite temple, hitting as hard as I can, the side of my hand throbbing from the effort. Still on his knees, he sways precariously. Yet he refuses to go down. Quite the contrary, he grasps at the near wall, trying to pull himself up. He is a fighter and it breaks my heart not to let him go. But I'm committed now. Backing up a step, I jump in the air and kick him in the back of the head with the heel of my left boot. That does the trick. Eric falls forward like a sack of flour. Blood drips off the back of his head, staining the carpet. Just what we need.
"I'm sorry," I whisper as I kneel by his side, checking the pulse at the side of his neck to make sure I haven't killed him. His face against the floor, Eric breathes heavily but his pulse is strong.
Suddenly I am aware of someone at my back.
"Good job," Ray says.
I turn on him angrily. "Yeah, it's good I was able to handle him all by myself. Where have you been?"
He shrugs. "I was in the other room."
"Where's Kalika?"
He nods to the door Eric was about to open. "In there. I told her to remain silent."
"And she listened to you?"
Ray speaks seriously. "She always listens to me."
"Lucky you." I nod to Eric. "Where are we going to put him?"
"In the spare room. Well tie him up and gag him, and take only as much blood as our daughter needs."
"That might be more than he can give," I say, stroking Eric's hair.
"We'll have to worry about that later." Ray pauses. "How should we withdraw the blood?"
"We need needles, syringes, tourniquets, tubing, flasks. I have them at my house in Beverly Hills." I stand, wiping Eric's blood from my hands. "I'll go now."