She had held herself together as long as she could, but now the breakdown came. Emily started crying into the phone. “Hey, hey,” Richard said, his tone changing. “What happened? Can you come to my office? I owe you, and if there’s a problem, I’ll help fix it.” “I’ll come,” Emily said, wiping her nose.
She had nothing left to lose. Maybe helping save his business had truly changed something in Richard. Maybe gratitude had made him more human. “So your detective bailed,” Richard said philosophically after hearing her story. “Looks like his noble crusade had a personal motive after all. That explains why he worked so hard.”
“So that’s it?” Emily asked, looking him in the eye. “You’re done helping? Sam can forget about freedom?” Richard leaned back in his chair and stared out the window for a long moment. Emily gave a bitter little laugh, stood up, and headed for the door. “Goodbye,” she said.
“Hold on, Emily,” Richard said. “I’m no saint, but I’m not completely rotten either. Let’s call our past what it was and move on. You saved the business I built, and I pay my debts. The lawyer disappeared? Fine. We’ll hire another one. Or ten. We’re getting Sam out. The process has already started, and I gave my word.”
“Really?” Emily asked, hope flooding her face. “What can I do? Do you need money?” “Relax,” Richard said. “Everything’s moving. We found someone willing to confess. He’s suddenly very remorseful and eager to cooperate. The court will review the case based on new evidence. Sam should be released for lack of proof.”
“Richard, come on,” Emily said, frowning. “I know how this works. You’re putting it on someone else, aren’t you?” “Look at it practically,” he said. “This man owes me more money than he could repay in three lifetimes. I offered him an alternative. A couple of years in a comfortable federal facility is better than spending the rest of his life looking over his shoulder. I didn’t force him. He was happy to take the deal.”
Emily was quiet for a moment. “All right,” she said finally. “Either way… thank you.” “And don’t be too hard on Ian,” Richard added. “The poor guy lost his head over you. I get it. I was ready to do stupid things myself. Shame my own particular issues ruined everything. You’re a remarkable woman. Sam’s a lucky man.”
Emily left the office and decided to walk back to the apartment. Her emotions were all over the place. She was afraid to believe in good news, as if expecting one more trap. For now, Richard was the only person still standing by his promises. Everyone else had walked away.
Back in the apartment, she made herself strong coffee and stood by the window. The first snow of the season had started to fall. Emily watched the flakes settle over the dirty pavement, turning everything clean and white. It felt like a sign of a fresh start. Then her phone rang. It had to be Richard.
“Hello, Richard,” she answered quickly. “Any news?” “I’m not saying this over the phone,” he said. “Give me your address. I’ll be there in five minutes.” “Wouldn’t it be better if I came to you?” Emily asked at once, tense again. No matter how helpful he had been lately, she still had no desire to be alone with a man who kept a torture room in his house. “Relax,” Richard said with a laugh. “I’m not coming in. Just give me the address.”
