Page 14 of Freeing Ruby

I look back at my laptop screen so I’m not staring at her. The last thing I need is for her to feel self-conscious around me. “I was just thinking we should install a security system in your apartment. I also want surveillance cameras installed in the hallway so I have visibility on your door.”

She frowns. “You’ll have to talk to Rick about the cameras. He’s really funny about letting us put things in the hallway. We had to get everyone in the building to sign a petition just so we could put welcome mats in front of our doors.”

“I’ll talk to him tomorrow about the cameras. In the meantime, we need to install a security system in your apartment.” I give her a minute to let that sink in. “Is that okay with you?”

She seems wary. “I suppose so.”

“Great. I’ll have someone come over this evening to install it.”

Ruby’s eyes widen and the blood practically drains from her face. “Come here? Tonight?”

“Hey, it’s okay.” I rise from the table and take a step toward her. My impulse is to reassure her—comfort her—but I stop myself. I doubt she’d want a hug from me right now. “His name is Philip Underwood, and he’s a personal friend of mine. There’s absolutely nothing to worry about, I promise.”

Suddenly, there’s a light rap on Ruby’s door.

“That’s Darren stopping by with my mail.” Ruby walks up to the door and looks through the peephole. “It’s Darren.” She unlocks the door but leaves the chain.

I walk up behind her to get a look at her neighbor.

“Hi, Darren,” she says, seeming perfectly at ease with the guy.

“Hi, Ruby,” says the blond man standing outside her door. He’s dressed in a tan suit and white dress shirt, no tie. He slips a small stack of envelopes through the opening.

“Thanks,” she says.

Darren finally directs his attention at me. He stares at me a moment, his brow furrowing, before he turns his gaze back to Ruby. “Is everything okay, Ruby?”

She nods. “Yes, fine.”

Darren scowls my way. “Who is this guy?”

Ruby glances back at me and smiles. “Oh,” she replies, clearly caught off guard. “This is my friend, Miguel.”

Darren’s scowl morphs into a glare. “Friend? Since when? How did you meet this guy?”

Ruby looks helplessly back at me. “Well—I—he’s a friend of my godfather. You’ve met Edward before. He’s a friend of Edward’s.”

There’s skepticism written all over Darren’s face. “Really.”

“That’s right,” she says, starting to recover. “I met him through Edward.”

“What’s he doing here?”

“He’s visiting,” Ruby says.

Darren looks more than a bit agitated now. “For how long?”

Ruby shrugs. “I’m not sure. As long as he wants, I guess.” She chuckles, but there’s a detectable quaver in the sound. “Thanks for bringing up my mail, Darren. I appreciate it.” And then she gives him a dismissive nod, softened by a smile, and starts to close the door.

Darren blocks the door with his foot. “Ruby, wait.”

“What is it?”

He leans close and whispers. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine. Thanks for bringing my mail.” She pushes the door closed, locks the deadbolts, and turns to lean against the door. “Oh, my God. That was awkward.”

I watch as she rifles through her mail. “Junk mail, junk mail, junk mail, credit card application. It’s all junk.” She walks to the kitchen and tosses the mail into a box marked SHRED.

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