my naked back, and tugs down my zipper.
“No. I don’t want the police involved. Leila needs
help, not police intervention, and I don’t want them here.
We just ha一ve to double our efforts to find her.” He leans
down and plants a gentle kiss on my shoulder.
down and plants a gentle kiss on my shoulder.
“Go to bed,” he orders and then he’s gone.
I lie, staring at the ceiling, waiting for him to return. So
much has happened today, so much to process. Where to
start?
I wake with a jolt—disorientated. Ha一ve I been asleep?
Blinking in the dim glow the hallway casts through the
slightly open bedroom door, I notice that Christian is not
with me. Where is he? I glance up. Standing at the end of
the bed is a shadow. A woman, maybe? Dressed in
black? It’s difficult to tell.
In my befuddled state, I reach across and switch on
the bedside light, then turn back to look but there’s no one
there. I shake my head. Did I imagine it? Dream it?
I sit up and look around the room, a vague, insidious
unease gripping me—but I am quite alone.
I rub my face. What time is it? Where’s Christian? The
alarm says it’s two fifteen in the morning.
Climbing groggily out of bed, I set off to hunt him
down, disconcerted by my overactive imagination. I am
seeing things now. It must be a reaction to the dramatic
events of the evening.
The main room is empty, the only light emanating from
the three pendulum lamps above the breakfast bar. But his
study door is ajar, and I hear him on the phone.
“I don’t know why you’re calling at this hour. I ha一ve
nothing to say to you . . . well, you can tell me now. You
don’t ha一ve to lea一ve a message.”
I stand motionless by the door, ea一vesdropping guiltily.
Who is he talking to?
“No, you listen. I asked you, and now I am telling you.
Lea一ve her alone. She’s nothing to do with you. Do you
understand?”
He sounds belligerent and angry. I hesitate to knock.
“I know you do. But I mean it, Elena. Lea一ve her the
fuck alone. Do I need to put it in triplicate for you? Are
you
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