Part 50 (1/2)

”Oh Christ, I'm so scared. I don't--”

”Just take it. No harm. Then if something happens and you want to--”

”All right,” she said finally. 'Tell me and I'll write it down.”

Ally gave it to her, then added, ”I run an interior-design firm. I actually did some work for you once, so we've met. You can call my office, so let me give you that number too. No way am I connected to the inst.i.tute where you were.”

She said she was writing it down.

”You know,” Kristen went on, ”I think this is G.o.d's way of punis.h.i.+ng me for wanting something n.o.body should have.” Then she began to sob again.

”How exactly--”

”I found a door that wasn't locked and I just came here. I don't know what guided me. And when I got to this street, I knew exactly which building it was. There was no name on my bell or anything, but I knew.

I even knew who had my emergency key. It's like I have a sense memory of this apartment but I can't remember ever actually living here.”

”Your name is Kristen Starr,” Ally said again. ”Try to remember that.

And will you please stay there till I can get there and talk to you?”

Then she made what she immediately realized was a fatal mistake.

”There's a reporter, a sweet guy who's doing a book about ... a medical procedure at the clinic where you were. And he's dying to talk to anybody who's been part of the clinical trials there. Could he talk to you too? It sounds like you've got quite a story to tell.”

”You've got to be kidding. If they find me, I don't know what they'll do.” And the connection was severed.

”s.h.i.+t, don't do this.” She quickly tried the cell phone number for Stone Aimes.

”It's me again. Listen, she's actually there. Kristen's in the apartment on West Eleventh Street. I just got off the phone with her.

She's the one you want. But she's like a frightened rabbit. She said she was about to leave, but if you get there soon, you might be able to catch her.”

”d.a.m.n, we're stuck in traffic at Fifty-ninth Street. There was a fender bender on Lex. But I'll get there as soon as I can.”

”Okay, maybe get your driver to try Fifth.”

”Good idea.”