Page 47 (1/2)

I dial the nu on the other end When he answers, I hand Rachel’s phone over to India I nod at her reassuringly, urging her to speak to his I have coached her to say

She looks kind of pathetic, still kneeling on the tar me like a newborn lamb

She holds the phone in tre voice, “Hello, this is India Lawrenson”

She winces at the sound of his voice on the other end She clutches my hand She takes a deep breath and says, “I knohat you did I want you to meet me”

Her breath is coasps I stroke the back of her hand to reassure her He is speaking to her on the phone and she is listening

“I need to be able to trust you,” she says “Tell me your name”

She listens She looks ather of what I instructed her She gives a convulsive s

“No Don’t lie to me,” she says into the phone “I know that’s not your name Tell me your real name”

She listens, and nods She whispers the name he has told her

I nod at her, and am careful to hold back a smile of satisfaction He ive up his real name to her

“I won’t tell anyone what you did,” she says “I don’t want them to know I… I just need to see you”

He’s saying so to her I can just about make out his tone on the other end of the phone It is hushed and urgent

She nods “I was scared You frightened me I didn’t realize what you were But now I knohy you did it, and I understand Please, I just need to see you Tell me where to meet you”

He says so, but she shakes her head “No I’et my memories back I needed to knohat happened to me And now I remember Can we meet somewhere near here?”

He says soain, and this time she nods her head “Yes,” she says “Yes I can meet you there”