I hurried toward the door.
Richard stepped aside rather than blocking me, but he still held the key.
“Please, just listen to me.”
“No! I don’t know you!”
My voice cracked.
“I came here because I needed money for my mother’s treatment. Whatever you think you arranged, I never agreed to anything beyond spending an evening here!”
His face crumpled.
For a moment, the wealthy businessman disappeared, and I saw only an exhausted old man who had been carrying something terrible for far too long.
“I know,” he whispered. “And I am sorry.”
Before I could answer, a woman’s voice suddenly rang out from somewhere behind the wall.
“RICHARD!”
It was a desperate, frightened cry.
“RICHARD, DON’T LET HER DISAPPEAR AGAIN!”
I froze.
Richard went completely pale.
Another cry followed, weaker this time.
“Please! I have waited so long!”
I turned toward the sound.
“Who is that?”
Richard closed his eyes.