She looked down and pulled her hands away from her plate. It was intoxicating, flatteringto be the focus of such powerespecially at my age. She smiled tightly, glanced at me, then away. Im not eighteen anymore, and he
didnt look a lot older than that. Shed met Adam when she was eighteen. Hed been older than that, a werewolf already. He introduced himself, Juan Flores, though he didnt have a Spanish or Mexican accent.
What kind of accent did he have? asked Warren.
She jerked her attention back to him. European. Not French, Italian, or German. I didnt know it.
Thats not a crime, said Mary Jo, because Christy had sounded like she thought that she ought to have known.
Maybe it was a fake accent, said Christy. Ive spent time in Europe, and I just couldnt pinpoint it. He had a little British crisp in his English, like hed learned it in Great Britain. I thought that was why I couldnt pick it out. I didnt even ask before I hopped into bed with him. I am so stupid.
Dont blame the victim, I told her with, I admit, a little of the irritation I was feeling. Not your fault you didnt recognize his accent. Not your fault he singled you out.
Adam told me that some of your friends knew him. Thats why you felt safe with him, Warren said.
She nodded. Hed done some business with Jacqui, one of my friends. Shes a financial officer at Nation First Bank, works their corporate and international accounts.
Her phone number?
She blinked and rattled it off. At Warrens urging, she also managed a better description of Juan. He coaxed her into remembering details about his habits of speech and dress. That he liked dogs and had two hulking dogs that looked enough alike that they must have been a breed, though she didnt know what. Hed been impressed that she wasnt afraid of themit was at that point that his desire for a little fun had changed to something more possessive. Hed insisted that she stay an extra day at his expense.
I was flattered at first, she told us. Who wouldnt be? A rich, beautiful, younger man who appeared passionately attracted to me.
What changed? I asked.
I work, she said a little defensively.
She did, though Adam supported her. He paid the bills for her condo, her car, her insurance, and her phone bills. He told me, once, that he felt he owed it to her. Id told him that was between the two of them and promised (hand over heart) that Id never fuss about anything he felt necessary.
She worked parttime at a travel agency that allowed her to travel more than she would otherwise have been able to. She put together tours and business meetings, and from what Jesse had told me, she was good at her job.
I had some extra vacation I could take, but I didnt want to use it all. When I told him that I had to go home he was weird about it. Weird enough that I pretended to agree with himand while he was in the shower, I left my suitcase, grabbed my purse, and ran. Took a taxi to the airport, where I rented a car and drove home to Eugene.
Did he just show up at your condo after that? asked Adam.
No, she said. He started calling me. I answered the first oneI didnt know it was him. I said too much. But that was the only one of his calls I took until he changed his number. After that time, I only answered calls from people I knew.
Ill need the phone numbers he used, Warren said.
She nodded. I have them on my phone. He sent emails, too. I read up on stalkers and all the advice I found said that I shouldnt respond in any way at all. So I didnt. She took a deep breath. Then the presents started to arrive. I order a lot of things online. The first one I thought was a misordera red silk scarf. I called the place that had sent it and found out that someone had purchased it in person and had it sent to me. They wouldnt give me the name.
Theyll give it to me, said Warren. Do you still have the address?
She nodded. On my laptop. Ill go get it. She pushed away from the table and made an escape. Up the stairs.
I looked at the stairway thoughtfully, then looked at Adam. I thought shed be using the guest suite.
She was afraid to be on the ground floor, he said, and I could tell by the way he said it that I wasnt going to be happy about which upstairs room shed taken. Warren gave him a guy look, the one that said, I wouldnt be you in a million years, but good luck .
She likes the peach room, I said. It was the bedroom next to ours.
Blue makes her sad, he told me. The blue guest room was across the hall and next to Jesses room.
There was nothing to say that needed saying. I stood up, collecting as many dirty plates and silverware as I could. Adam touched my arm.
Mary Jo, he said. If youll help Mercy clear the table, Ill grab the tablecloth and toss it in the laundry.
Mary Jo waited until we were in the kitchen loading
the dishwasher to say anything to me. Its not her fault, she said finally.
Whats not her fault? I asked. That Christy attracted a stalker?
Her face flushed. That theres tension between her and Adam. They were a couple for a long time. She called to see if Id come and defuse the situation, so that youd be more comfortable. Shes trying.