Chapter 16


I’m vacuming the house and feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I turn off the vacuum cleaner and reach for the phone. I don’t recognize the number.

“Mr. Moonx, have I caught you at a bad time?” The voice is unmistakably V’s, every word carefully pronounced.

“I’m in the middle of something,” I say.

“This won’t take long, Mr. Moonx. I need to speak with you in person. When can you be available?”

“What do you need to speak to me about?”

“It’s regarding an urgent matter that needs to be resolved as soon as possible.”

“If this is about Yuni, I have no idea where she is.”

“Mr. Moonx, let me make myself clear. It’s of utmost importance that we get together to discuss this matter.”

“I don’t mean to be impolite, but I think you’re wasting your time with me.”

“I’ll make it worth your while, Mr. Moonx. Just for showing up, I’ll pay you ten thousand dollars, no questions asked.”

“You think I want money from you?”

“You must think I’m a bad person, Mr. Moonx. I’m not. We are in the position of being able to help each other. This will be good for both of us.”

“I’m not interested,” I say and hang up.

As soon as I start vacuuming, my phone is vibrating again. I ignore it this time and let V go to my voice mail. I finish vacuuming upstairs and on my way downstairs curiousity gets the best of me. I take out my phone and sure enough, I have voice mail: “It’s unfortunate you make me resort to this, Mr. Moonx. I’m aware there are some things you would prefer your wife not know about. Meet me at La Parrilla Suiza tomorrow at one. I’ll be wearing an orange blouse.”