A Call From the Past

Young Edmund wrote, [Thirty minutes till the test.]

I wanted to say something encouraging, but it had been a long time since anyone had said anything like that to me.

I stood there, trying to come up with the right words. I had just dialed when a pair of red heels stopped in front of me.

Charlotte looked at me and jerked her chin toward the car.

"I've got a meeting. Come with me and clean the conference room."

I shook my head. "I can't."

"Two grand."

"Not today. I'm busy."

I turned to go, but her voice came after me, flat. "You still want your ID so you can retake the SAT, right?

"If this deal closes, I'll give it back. And I'll give you 20 grand."

My young self was right. I had no backbone.

For 20 thousand and my ID, I got in the car.

Charlotte brought me to an office building and led me into a conference room. It was pitch black inside.

Something felt wrong. I turned and caught the glass door before it shut.

"I can't clean in the dark," I said, frowning.

Charlotte tossed something at me. "Put it on."

In the sliver of light from the hallway, I saw what it was: a pair of men's underwear, thin and barely there.

"What's this supposed to be?"

Charlotte crossed her arms.

"Mrs. Crayford can't see well. With the lights off, she won't notice much. She enjoys it more that way.

"If she's happy, the deal goes through."

A few people outside laughed under their breath.

Cold crept up my spine as I asked, "You lied to me?"

Charlotte glanced down at her nails.

"So? I lied to you before the SAT, too. You believed me then."

My heart was pounding.

"Why? We grew up together. Why would you do this?"

"That's on you. Gideon's sensitive, but you kept helping him, paying for things. What, you wanted to show off that you had a family and money?"

I tried to speak, but nothing came out. I couldn't believe the whole thing started with me helping Gideon.

"Gideon was scared you'd outscore him, make him feel small. And I was tired of you hanging around me. A couple of lies, and you stopped studying. That's on you."

Her eyes moved over my face, full of contempt.

"You still think you can retake the SAT? Stop kidding yourself. Work for me. I'll give you 3,000 a month. That's better than the factory.

"You should be grateful Mrs. Crayford doesn't mind your ugly face."

The lock clicked.

A heavyset woman stepped out of the dark, laughing low.

"Ms. Collins said you might be difficult and told me to be patient. But I like it when they fight back. Makes it interesting."

I backed up fast, breathing hard, until my back hit the wall.

I yelled, "Don't touch me! This is assault. I'm calling the police!"

Lydia Crayford laughed. "I bring Ms. Collins business, and she brings me someone to play with. Where's the problem?"

She grabbed my throat, her other hand reaching for my clothes.

"Relax, young man. I'll help you change."

My phone slipped from my pocket and hit the floor.

The call was still connected. Young Edmund had heard everything.

I could hear him panting, like he was running.

"Wait for me. I'm coming!" he screamed into the phone.

Lydia's hand closed around my belt.

As her grip tightened on my throat and the air cut off, my vision washed out in white.

For a split second, I thought I was blacking out.

Then I realized it was light. Harsh fluorescent light.

I was sitting at the head of the conference table, a contract spread out in front of me.

A man in a suit leaned in from my left, his tone careful and respectful, "Mr. Lockwood, this is Ms. Collins."

I looked down and saw Charlotte on her knees in front of me, her hands clasped, her eyes red.

"Mr. Lockwood, please. The Collins family can't survive without this deal.

"Just give me a chance. I'll do whatever you want!"