Part 14 (2/2)
Gabby answered. ”Megan, this is Rebecca Ranghorn's phone, but she's not here right now. I'm her friend, Gabby.”
”Are you the guy who was with her at the airport?”
”Yeah, that was me. I'm afraid I have bad news for you.”
”What?”
”It's your mother.”
Megan stopped walking. ”What happened?”
”She's been murdered.”
”No!” She hurried over to a bench by the wall. ”Are you sure it was my mother? Carly Cinaway?” She sat down.
”Yes, I'm sure. Rebecca and I found her.”
”Where? At the hotel?”
”Yes.”
Megan began to cry.
”I'm sorry, Megan.” He waited a few moments until her sobbing began to subside. ”And there's something else. We believe somebody's going to try to kill you too.”
”Here in New York? Why?”
”It all has to do with Big Bill Smotherburn. Did you know he's dead? He was murdered too.”
”When did all this happen?”
”Last night. We think that whoever killed him might have also killed your mother.”
”And now he's coming after me?”
”Yeah. Or maybe he's hired somebody up there to do it. It seems like he's trying to eliminate everybody who was involved in-”
”-the so-called rape. If Mother would have just left it alone, everything would have been fine.”
”Is somebody supposed to pick you up?”
”Yeah. He'll be holding up a sign with my name on it.”
”He may be the killer. Don't go with him.”
”Well, what am I supposed to do? I don't know anybody up here.”
”I called my uncle. He should be there in thirty minutes. You can stay at his apartment for a few days, until this thing blows over. His name is Melvin. He'll be wearing a Dallas Mavericks cap. I gave it to him, and he's never worn it before. So it will look brand new.”
”How old is he?”
”Seventy-something. He's retired. And don't worry-he's a very nice man.”
”Okay. Thanks. I'll be watching for him.”
”Just be careful. Don't trust anybody but Melvin.”
Megan ended the call and put her phone away. Some people were glancing at her as they walked by. She knew she must looked hideous. Red eyes. Runny mascara. But right now she didn't care how she looked. She leaned over and buried her face in her hands.
A hand touched her arm. ”Are you okay, Miss?”
When she saw him, she recoiled. An old man was sitting next to her on the bench. His suit looked like it had been pulled out of somebody's garbage can. Smelled like it too.
”I know how you feel, Young Lady. It's a tough world out there. But this will help.” He held out a Gideon New Testament. The cover was dirty and worn. But it looked as though it had never been opened.
”Thanks, but I'm okay.”
He put the little book in his coat pocket. ”You could starve out there.”
She ignored him.
”But a five dollar bill would keep a man from going hungry.”
”I don't have any money.”
”Well, then...you're in as bad a shape as me.”
Megan stood up and began to walk away.
The old man followed her. ”It's dangerous for a young woman to be walking around by herself.”
”I'll be fine.”
”Well, I'll tag along to make sure.”
Megan saw a security guard across the way, and considered flagging him down to get the old man off her a.s.s. But that would draw attention. And right now, she needed to blend in. She reached into her purse and took out her cash, holding it close to her side, away from the man. She had about $300 left from the cash Joey had given her. She quickly found a five-dollar bill and put the rest back in her pocket.
She handed him the bill. ”Good luck and goodbye.”
”Oh, thank you, Miss. G.o.d bless you.” He walked away smiling.
After Megan stopped by the restroom, she walked over to a coffee shop and bought a large cup of coffee. She sat down at a table and began to sip. What was she going to do now, if this supermodel thing had just been a trick to get her there?
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