Chapter 3 - THE LITTLE GIRL AT APARTMENT 4B
Diane's apartment looked smaller than ever when the black car pulled up outside.
She hated that the guards noticed the cracked entry steps, the peeling paint, and the mailbox that would not close. She hated that they walked behind her as though she were someone important.
Most of all, she hated that she had brought danger to the one place she had spent two years trying to keep safe.
Mrs. Alvarez opened the apartment door before Diane could knock.
“Diane!”
The older woman pulled her into a hug. “I was worried sick. Two men came asking whether you lived here.”
Diane went cold. “When?”
“About an hour ago. They said they were delivering something. I didn't open the door.”
The guards exchanged a look.
Diane hurried inside. “Sadi?”
Her sister appeared from the kitchen wearing an oversized sweatshirt. “Diane!”
She ran forward and wrapped both arms around her.
Diane held her tightly. “I'm sorry I'm late.”
“Who are those men?”
“People from work.”
Sadi looked past her. “Are you in trouble?”
Diane forced a smile. “No, sweetheart.”
A knock sounded behind them.
Ravi stood in the hallway.
He had come up without his jacket, his tie still loosened. The narrow corridor seemed to shrink around him.
Sadi stared. “Are you the man from the party?”
Diane closed her eyes. “Sadi.”
“What? I saw your picture on someone's phone. They said a waitress kissed a dangerous man.”
Ravi looked at Diane. “Your sister is observant.”
“She is ten.”
“Then she is already better at reading a room than some adults.”
Sadi stepped closer. “Are you going to hurt my sister?”
The question silenced the hallway.
Ravi lowered himself slightly so he was not towering over her. “No.”
“Promise?”
He looked at her directly. “I promise.”
Sadi considered him. “Then you can come in. But take your shoes off. Diane just cleaned the floor.”
One of the guards looked down, trying not to smile.
Ravi removed his shoes.
Inside, he took in the apartment without comment. Two small bedrooms. A narrow kitchen. A table with overdue bills arranged beneath a chipped ceramic bowl. A school timetable taped to the refrigerator.
Diane felt exposed. “You don't have to look around.”
“I wasn't judging.”
“You don't know what it's like to have people inspect every corner of your life.”
“No,” he said. “I don't.”
That answer surprised her.
Sadi went to get water. Diane lowered her voice. “You shouldn't be here.”
“I wanted to make sure you got home safely.”
“Your guards could have done that.”
“They could have.”
“Then why come yourself?”
Ravi glanced toward the kitchen. “Because someone came here before I did.”
Diane's stomach tightened. “Mrs. Alvarez said two men asked about me.”
“Did she describe them?”
“One wore a grey coat. The other had a tattoo on his neck.”
Ravi's expression changed. He spoke quietly into his phone.
“Check the building cameras. Two men, one with a neck tattoo. They were here within the last two hours.”
Diane stared at him. “Who are they?”
“I don't know yet.”
“Are they Catherine's friends?”
“Possibly.”
“Why would they come here?”
Ravi did not answer.
Sadi returned with three glasses of water and set them on the table.
“Do you want a cookie?”
Ravi looked at the plate. “Thank you.”
“They're a little burnt.”
“I've eaten worse.”
Sadi smiled.
Diane almost laughed, but the fear in her chest remained.
Ravi noticed the bills on the table. “Three months?”
Diane followed his gaze. “It's none of your business.”
“Your landlord has filed a notice.”
Her face changed. “How do you know?”
“I asked my people to verify that you and your sister were safe. The notice was on the building manager's desk.”
“I didn't ask you to investigate my finances.”
“You told me why you took the money. I needed to know whether it was true.”
“And now you know.”
He nodded. “I do.”
Diane folded the bills and pushed them beneath the bowl. “I'll handle it.”
“I didn't say you couldn't.”
“Then stop acting as if you can fix everything.”
Ravi looked at her for a long moment. “You're right.”
The unexpected agreement took some of the heat out of her anger.
He stood. “I'll leave two guards downstairs. They won't come inside unless you ask.”
“I don't want them watching us.”
“They'll watch the entrance, not your windows.”
Diane crossed her arms. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because someone used you to distract me. If they know where you live, that makes you a target.”
Sadi looked up. “Target for what?”
Ravi glanced at Diane. “An adult problem.”
Sadi frowned. “Adults always say that when they don't want to explain.”
For the first time, Ravi smiled. “She's right about that too.”
He moved toward the door.
Diane followed him into the hallway. “Ravi.”
He stopped.
“I know I was wrong to kiss you. I don't expect you to forgive me. But please don't let your people frighten my sister.”
His expression softened slightly. “They won't.”
“And I don't want money from you.”
“I didn't offer any.”
“You were thinking about it.”
He gave her a measured look. “You don't know what I'm thinking.”
“No,” Diane said. “I don't. That's the problem.”
He held her gaze. “Good night, Diane Harper.”
Then he left.
When the door closed, Sadi came beside her.
“He's scary.”
“Yes.”
“But he took his shoes off.”
Diane looked at her sister. “That doesn't make him safe.”
“No,” Sadi said thoughtfully. “But it means he listened.”
Diane had no answer.
On the other side of the door, Ravi stood for a moment before descending the stairs. His phone vibrated.
May you like
The security team had found the man with the silver tie.
And the man had been carrying a photograph of Diane's apartment.
