The girlfriend is not happy to see me.
"What are you doing here?" Pat demands.
"I have come to see Ray." Pat must have called Ray's house while he was at my place, probably several times. She must have called not long after he came home. He probably invited her over to pacify her concerns. But she does not look that pacified.
"He's asleep," Pat says. She starts to slam the door in my face. I stick out my arm. She tries to force it shut. Naturally, she is not successful. "Get out of here. Can't you tell when you're not wanted?"
"Pat," I say patiently. "Things are not as they appear. They are much more complicated. I need to see Ray because I believe he is in danger."
"What are you talking about?"
"I cannot tell you, not easily. I have to talk to Ray and I have to talk to him now." I put my eye on her. "Please do not try to stop me. It would not be a good idea."
She cowers under my stare. I move to press her farther, but it becomes unnecessary. Upstairs, I hear Ray climb out of bed. I wait a few seconds, then call out his name.
"Ray!" I say. I hear his steps quicken. We both do.
"He's mine," Pat mutters as we wait for Ray to arrive. She is sad, seemingly defeated already. Instinctively she knows I have a power she does not, beyond my beauty. Her love for him is genuine, I can see that, a rare thing in a girl her age.
"Have hope," I say sincerely.
Ray appears. He has on sweat pants, no top. "What's going on?" he asks.
"Lots of things. I need to talk to you, alone." I glance at Pat. "If that would be all right?"
Her eyes are damp. She lowers her head. "I can just go," she mumbled.
Ray puts a hand on her shoulder. "No." He gives me a sharp glance. I have to be careful. "Tell me what it is?"
"It has to do with your father," I say.
He is concerned. "What is it?"
I am stubborn. "I must tell you alone." I add, "I'm sorry, Pat."
Ray rubs her back. "Go upstairs to bed. I'll be up in a few minutes."
Pat shakes her head, giving me a look as she leaves. "I don't think so."
When we are alone, Ray wants me to explain myself. "You told me you wouldn't hurt Pat," he says.
"My coming here could not be helped. I have not been entirely honest with you, Ray. I think you suspect that."
"Yes. You tampered with the file on my father's computer."
"How did you know?"
"When I turned on the computer, I noted the size of the file. It was large. When I returned, most of it had been deleted."
I nod. "That file was about me. Your father was investigating me. He was hired by some people to do so, one man in particular. This man is dangerous. Tonight he sent some people to abduct me. I managed to get away. I believe he may come after you next."
"Why me?"
"Because he knows you are my friend. I believe he has been watching me today and tonight. Also, even though this man hired your father, your father did not part company with him on the best of terms."
"How do you know that?"
"The people who came for me tonight told me."
"What do you mean, they came for you? Were they armed?"
"Yes."
"Then how did you get away from them?"
"They made a mistake, and I am resourceful. I do not want to get into all of that now. What is important is that you come with me now."
"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me where my father is."
"I can't."
"You don't know?"
I hesitate. It is not easy for me to lie to those I love. "No."
Ray is suspicious. His sense of the truth, and therefore of lies, is remarkable. "Do you think my father is in danger?" he asks.
"Yes."
He hears the truth in that word. "We should call the police."
"No!" I grab his arm. "The police cannot help us. You have to come with me. Trust me, Ray. I can tell you more once we are at my house."
"What will we do at your house that we can't do here?"
"You will see," I say.
Ray consents to accompany me. He goes upstairs to say goodbye to Pat. I hear her crying, and wonder if she will not shed a stream of tears in the days to come. I could be wrong. I could be bringing Ray into danger, not away from it. I scan up and down the street but see nothing. Yet I feel eyes on me, powerful eyes such as my own. I wonder if I am not reaching for Ray because I am afraid.
Maybe afraid to die alone.
Ray reappears in a few minutes, dressed. We go to my car. He has not seen it before and marvels that I have a Ferrari. We drive toward my mansion and he wonders why we are not going the same way as before. I tell him I have two houses.
"I am very rich," I say.
"Is that one of the reasons my father was investigating you?" he asks.
"Yes. Indirectly."
"Have you spoken to my father?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Two and a half days ago."
"Where?"
"At his office."
Ray is annoyed. "You didn't tell me. Why did you speak to him?"
"He called me into his office."
"Why?"
I have to be more careful than ever. "He wanted to tell me that I was being investigated."
"He wanted to warn you?"
"I believe so. But"
"What?"
"He didn't fully understand who had hired him, the nature of the man."
"But you know this man?"
"Yes. From a long time ago."
"What's his name?"
"He changes his name often."
"Like you?" Ray asks.
The boy is full of surprises. I reach over and touch his leg. "You are worried about your father. I understand. Please try not to judge me too harshly."
"You are not being completely honest with me."
"I'm telling you what I can."
"When you say my father is in danger, what exactly do you mean? Would this man kill my father?"
"He has killed in the past."
The space inside the car is suddenly cramped. Ray hears beyond my words. "Is my father dead already?" he asks quietly.