Ruthless

by John Rector

  “From Patricia?”

  “You’re missing my point,” I said. “Whatever is on that flash drive, I’m sure it’s not legal. If my choices are to do nothing and risk them killing me, or do what they ask and spend the rest of my life in prison, then I’m going with the third option.”

  “What’s the third option?”

  I stood and picked up my plate. “Leave.”

  Abby watched me as I walked into the kitchen and set my plate in the sink, but she didn’t say anything. When she did speak again, her voice trembled.

  “They’ll kill you.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “They’ll kill me,” she said. “You saw what they were going to do last night. I can’t—”

  “Then you should leave, too.”

  “I don’t have anywhere to go.”

  I didn’t understand. She was young, she had money, and she was about to inherit a lot more. Any way I looked at the situation, it seemed that all her problems were about to take care of themselves.

  “You said something about Iowa.”

  “Nebraska.”

  “Okay then, Nebraska.”

  Abby frowned. “You don’t understand. I can’t—”

  There was a knock at the door, and Abby looked up at me, her eyes wide.

  “Were you—?”

  I held up my hand, stopping her, and then looked around the kitchen and took a steak knife from the rack next to the stove.

  “Stay here.”

  I walked across the living room to the door, looked through the viewer, and felt my breath catch in my throat.

  Kara was standing in the hallway.

  19

  I turned the bolt and opened the door.

  Kara was wearing a green raincoat, and she had her hands in her pockets. When she saw me, she attempted a smile, but it didn’t quite work.

  “Hey, Nick.” She slid a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I thought we should talk.”

  I recognized the tone in her voice, and the excitement I’d felt when I saw her standing in the hallway faded fast.

  “About last night,” I said. “I owe you an apology.”

  She started to say something, but I stopped her. There was so much I wanted to say, and I was afraid that if I didn’t get it all out I’d lose my chance.

  “I shouldn’t have gone to the house,” I said. “But a lot has happened that you need to know about. If you let me explain, I’ll tell you everything.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “I think I do,” I said. “If we’re going to make this work, we need to be honest about everything.”

  “Nick, please stop.”

  “You don’t want to hear it?”

  Kara sighed and looked down the hallway toward the elevators, then back at me. “Can I come in?”

  I started to say yes, but then I remembered Abby and hesitated. Kara noticed and her eyes narrowed.

  “Is there a problem?”

  “No, no problem.” I looked back into my apartment. Abby was standing in the archway by the kitchen, and all at once her T-shirt seemed even shorter. “Come in, but this isn’t what it looks like.”

  Kara leaned to the side and looked past me into the apartment. I watched the softness in her face turn solid.

  “Jesus, Nick.” Kara shook her head and started walking back down the hall toward the elevators.

  “Kara, wait.” I turned back to Abby and spoke slowly. “Get dressed.”

  Abby nodded.

  I ran out into the hallway and caught up with Kara halfway to the elevators. “Hold on a minute.”

  I reached for her arm, and she pulled away.

  “She slept on the couch,” I said. “I didn’t want to bring her here, but I couldn’t leave her alone. She was terrified, and she didn’t have anyplace else to go.”

  Kara kept walking.

  “If you don’t believe me, call Charlie. He knows what’s going on. He’ll tell you everything.”

  “I’m not calling Charlie.”

  “These people,” I said. “You have no idea what they were going to do to her.”

  “I don’t care, Nick.”

  “You should, because you’re involved in this, too.”

  Kara turned on me. “I’m pregnant.”

  At first I didn’t understand.

  The words made sense, but the meaning was lost. When it finally hit, I felt a sudden rush of joy and terror.

  Then I did the math.

  Kara watched me, waiting. She must’ve seen the understanding on my face, because when she spoke next, her voice was soft, the anger gone.

  “His name is Michael,” she said. “He’s a teacher at Sunset Park Elementary. He and I—”

  “How long?”

  Kara stopped, exhaled. “We met a couple months after you and I split.”

  I turned away, leaned against the wall. The air in the hallway seemed thin, and my throat felt tight. I couldn’t tell if I wanted to scream at her or cry.

  Probably both.

  “I’ve talked to an attorney,” Kara said. “He’s going to contact you directly, unless you have a lawyer you’d like him to—”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I’m telling you now.”

  I laughed. “A little late.”

  Kara took a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling. “I didn’t expect this to happen, but what I choose to do with my life is none of your business.”

  “None of my business? I’m still your—”

  “We split up, Nick.”

  I felt the anger burn inside me, but I pushed it back and tried to keep my voice calm. My chest ached at the thought of her with someone else, but I also knew that it was my own damn fault. We were here because of me.

  I didn’t know what to say.

  Kara stood across from me, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, waiting.

  “Are you happy?” I asked.

  “He’s a nice guy, and he’s stable.”

  “Nice and stable,” I said. “Sounds like a real whirlwind romance.”

  The second the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them, but it was too late to take them back. I thought Kara would be mad, but all she did was stare at me.

  “I did the whirlwind romance once before,” she said. “It had its pretty moments, but this time I’m okay with stable.”

  I looked away.

  “I am sorry, Nick,” she said. “I know this wasn’t how you thought things would go between us.”

  I shook my head. “Just stop.”

  Kara slid her hands back into her pockets and looked down at her feet. For a moment the anger and the hurt faded, and all I saw was the girl I knew all those years ago, the one who’d looked at me in a way no one else had before. The one who’d made me see myself differently.

  It’d taken a long time for that look to fade, but eventually it did. The worst part was that I’d let it. Too many arguments, too many harsh words, too much left unsaid.

  The weight had been impossible to carry.

  “If you’re happy,” I said, “I’m happy.”

  I saw the faint bend of a smile on her lips.

  “Thank you.” She stood straight and adjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder. “I should probably go. You have company, and I should’ve called first. I’m sorry to—”

  “It’s okay.”

  She motioned to the elevators. “Walk with me?”

  I nodded.

  Along the way, Kara asked, “Are you really leaving?”

  “Looks that way.”

  “How much trouble are you in?”

  “It’s not like that,” I said. “I’ve been thinking about a change for a while. This is as good a time as any.”

&n
bsp; “What did you mean when you said I was involved?”

  “You’re not,” I said. “And I don’t want you to worry about anything. I’ll handle it, I promise.”

  Kara was quiet.

  “It’ll be fine.” I smiled. “You have other things to focus on.”

  I could tell that she didn’t believe me, but thankfully she didn’t say anything else about it. I didn’t want to have to lie to her again.

  When we got to the elevators, she pushed the call button, then turned and wrapped her arms around my neck.

  “You’re a good guy, Nick, despite what you think.”

  She kissed my cheek, and I closed my eyes and tried to memorize the way her lips felt on my skin. I knew I’d never feel them again, and I wanted to remember.

  When the elevator came, Kara stepped inside. She lifted one hand and smiled at me. It was the first time in a long time that I’d seen her look happy.

  The elevator doors closed, and I stayed there, listening to the low hum of the motor. Then it stopped and she was gone.

  I walked back to my apartment, thinking about what I was going to do next. By the time I opened the door and went inside, I thought I knew.

  Abby was sitting on the couch, fully dressed. The table was cleared and the dishes in the sink were washed and drying on the rack.

  When she saw me, she stood up. “I’m so sorry, Nick.”

  I waved her off. “Is there coffee left?”

  She told me there was, and I went into the kitchen and poured a cup. Neither of us spoke until I walked back out and sat on the couch.

  “Is everything okay?” Abby asked.

  “No,” I said. “It’s not.”

  “Oh God.” Abby put her hands to her mouth. “I’m so stupid. If you don’t want to drive me home, I understand. I can call a cab.”

  I sipped my coffee. “Tell me your plan.”

  “I don’t really have one yet,” she said. “I guess Nebraska wouldn’t be so bad. I’ll have to call around and see if—”

  “Not that plan.”

  Abby frowned. “I don’t under—” She stopped talking, and I saw the confusion fade. “You mean Patricia?”

  I nodded. “Tell me what we’re going to do.”

  Abby didn’t say anything.

  All she could do was smile.

  PART II

  20

  Sky View Road ran along the base of the foothills before bending west and snaking its way up to the top of Lookout Mountain. I drove over the loose-gravel road, and Abby navigated from the passenger seat.

  “I’ve only been up here once,” she said. “Every time I’ve seen Daniel, it’s been at my house or his office.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “He says it’s easier to talk at his office, but it’s because of her. I’m not welcome up here.”

  I thought about that and tried to ignore the doubt I felt creeping in. Abby told me Patricia wouldn’t make a scene when we showed up, but I wasn’t so sure. I didn’t know anything about Patricia, but I did know people, and they could be unpredictable when backed into a corner.

  I told myself that worrying about it wasn’t going to do any good and that it was too late to change my mind. Abby was sure her plan would work, and since I didn’t have a better idea, I was along for the ride. Still, the farther up the mountain we went, the more anxious I felt.

  Abby must’ve noticed because she put a hand on my arm and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll do fine.”

  I laughed.

  “Remember, you’re playing a role, that’s it.” She hesitated. “Just try to be convincing.”

  “Sounds easy.”

  “It won’t be as hard as you think. Patricia already knows you as the man she hired, so you don’t have to convince her you’re someone you’re not. All you have to do is act the part.”

  “The part of a killer.”

  “You can do it.”

  I wasn’t so sure, but I kept that to myself. We’d both find out soon, one way or another.

  We drove for a while longer. Then Abby shifted in her seat and pointed to a small white sign hidden behind a line of scrub oak along the side of the road.

  “Turn here,” she said. “This is the driveway.”

  I turned at the sign and followed the road through a dense forest of evergreens and cut stone. The road ended at a black iron gate.

  “What do I do?” I asked.

  “There’s a call button,” she said. “Push it, and I’ll do the talking.”

  I pulled up to the gate and rolled down the window. There was a keypad with a green service button at the bottom. I pushed it and waited.

  A man’s voice said, “Can I help you?”

  Abby leaned over me. “Abigail Pierce to see Daniel Holloway.”

  The voice didn’t answer, and I heard the speaker click. Abby moved back to her seat, then reached for her shoes on the floorboard and began slipping them on.

  “Almost there,” she said. “Don’t be nervous.”

  “Are you sure they’ll let us in?” I asked. “What if—?”

  I didn’t get to finish.

  There was a low buzz followed by the hum of a motor. Then the gate moved, sliding along hidden rails dug into the road.

  “Try to relax,” Abby said. “If you act nervous, she’ll see it. She’s smart, and if she suspects something’s wrong or that you’re not who she thinks you are, this will all fall apart.”

  “Great.”

  “I have faith in you, Nick.”

  “What if she figures it out?” I asked. “Do we have an exit strategy?”

  “An exit strategy?”

  “A plan B,” I said. “A way out if this doesn’t work.”

  Abby rolled her eyes. “I know what an exit strategy is.” She slipped on her last shoe and sat back. “Our plan B is to not fuck up plan A. How’s that?”

  “About what I expected.”

  Outside, the motor stopped. The gate was open.

  “Okay,” Abby said. “Let’s get it over with.”

  I pulled through the gate and started up the long driveway toward the Holloway house. As I drove, I heard an echo of Victor’s voice in my head telling me to be convincing. I couldn’t shake it, but I didn’t mind.

  In a way it actually helped.

  The Holloway house was built on a raised cliff that overlooked the city. There was a man-made waterfall along the side of the cliff that fed into a slow-rolling stream and ended in a blue pond capped with pink water lilies.

  The house was smaller than I’d imagined. The front was almost entirely glass, and the windows cascaded up from the sides to a peak in the center that reflected both the sky above and the city below.

  Abby and I parked at the end of a line of cars, then walked along a raised wooden path to a set of stairs leading up to the front door.

  “I thought it would be bigger,” I said. “This looks small for a billionaire’s house.”

  “He owns others,” Abby said. “And it only looks small from the outside.”

  We stopped at the front door. Abby reached out to ring the bell, but before she could a man in a blue gingham shirt and wire-rimmed glasses opened the door. He looked at me over his glasses, then turned to Abby and smiled a slow, lazy smile.

  “Hello, Abigail.”

  “Hey, Devon.” She leaned in and gave him a friendly hug, then said, “I didn’t know you were here today.”

  “We’re all here,” Devon said. “Mom wanted a family barbecue for Dad. Didn’t you get the invitation?”

  I saw Abby’s eye twitch, but she smiled through it.

  “I’m sure it was just lost in the mail.”

  Devon seemed to understand, and for a minute no one said anything. Then he turned to me and said, “Who’s this?”

  “This i
s my new friend, Nick.” Abby looped her arm through mine. “Nick, this is Devon, Patricia’s oldest son.”

  I started to reach out to shake his hand, but Devon just nodded and stepped back.

  “Well, come on in. Almost everyone is out in the yard.” He looked at me. “Would you like a drink, Nick?”

  “Scotch if you’ve got it.”

  Devon smirked, then turned away. “I’ll see what I can find. In the meantime, make yourselves at home.”

  Once he was gone, Abby leaned in. “That wasn’t so tough, right?”

  I didn’t answer. I was too busy looking around.

  The room we were in was bigger than my entire apartment. The floors were polished wood, and the ceiling was vaulted and lined with crystal skylights that lit the room a soft, gentle white. There was a set of French doors along the back wall, surrounded on either side by a series of tall windows that looked out over the yard.

  “Shall we find Patricia?” Abby asked. “I’m sure she’s lurking around here somewhere.”

  I nodded, but before I could say anything, Patricia came into the room with Devon and another man I’d never seen before. He was tall with dark hair cut close to his skull, and he stayed a few feet behind Patricia at all times.

  “Who is that?”

  “That’s Travis,” Abby said. “He’s her assistant.”

  Patricia stopped in the doorway leading to the kitchen and stared at us both. Then she turned to Travis and whispered something. He nodded and started for the French doors and the barbecue out back.

  Devon came over and handed me the drink. Before he walked away, he smirked at me again, except this time I saw what I thought was pity in his eyes.

  “Isn’t this a surprise?”

  Abby and I turned to Patricia. She was wearing white pants and an airy turquoise blouse that hung loose on her thin frame. She had a gold bracelet on her wrist and the same pearl necklace as the night we met.

  She stopped several feet from us and folded her arms across her chest. “I didn’t know you were coming, Abigail.”

  “It was a last-minute decision,” she said. “Nick wanted to meet the family, so I thought I’d bring him by.”