... nothing.' 'Absolutely correct,' Scott said under his breath. 'Just let everyone see you get off the plane,' Richard said. 'And it's your choice what you want to do after that.' 'Elliott,' she said, 'I promise you I will be back.' Her mouth was working again, twisting the lower lip pressed between her teeth. 'I just need those days. I need them alone to understand why I cracked, why I did this. But I promise you that I will come back.
Whatever you think about this, I will be back and you can tell me. You can tell me just what you think I deserve to be told. And if you want to leave The Club then, it can be arranged properly and officially for you to leave.' I glanced at Richard, and he nodded. 'Just cooperate a little with us,' Scott said. 'I'm begging you,' she said. 'Will you do it for me!' I didn't answer for a minute. It seemed like it was crucial to wait that one moment, just looking at her, her little wet-faced, straggle-haired waif, shoes or no shoes, with the rhinestone straps fallen down off her ankles, as she huddled, knees bare, dress all messed up, on the edge of the chair. 'Are you absolutely sure?' I asked as quietly as I could, 'that you want me to leave you here?' 'Believe me, Elliott,' she said in the same tremulous voice, her eyes black and glistening. 'It is the only thing I want.' For a second I couldn't breathe. I was so hurt and the pain was so pure that I guess my face was blank. The pain felt like a mask that was spreading and tightening over my face. I didn't look at the other men, but I knew that Richard was looking at me, and that Scott had respectfully bowed his head and moved closer to the door. There was an astonishing innocence to her expression, her large eyes so beautiful even with the smudges of mascara and so tired. The mask of pain was getting tighter and tighter. I could feel it pull at every tissue, feel it close over my throat. But gradually it broke and it melted, and I felt like something was being comfortably, miraculously drained away. 'It's just like everything else you've said and done,' I said to her. 'It could mean at least two different things!'
We looked at each other, and I could have sworn something happened, some little private thing. Maybe that her eyes softened, that it was just the two of us for one split second, or maybe it was only that I had caught her off guard with some little idea she didn't expect. When she spoke again now, she had to take her time and the tears rose up in her eyes. 'My life's falling to pieces, Elliott,' she said in a near whisper. 'It's just coming down around me like the walls of Jericho. I need you to go back and wait for me to come.' Richard and Scott both took that as a cue. Richard bent down and kissed her on the cheek, and Scott was gently pushing me towards the door. I stepped out into the garden, a little baffled that I was doing it, and I stood there looking at nothing, thinking nothing, hearing Richard talking to her behind me, something cold and reserved in the tone: 'Now you are certain that you ...' 'I will be all right,' she said, wearily, in an almost singsong voice. 'If you will just go. I promise you. I won't leave this hotel.
I'll plug in the phone. I'll be here. Station one of the goons out there, but tell him to stay out of sight. Just let me have what I need right now.' 'Very well, my dear. You call us day or night.' I was staring at the distant glass doors to the front hall of the hotel. The soft heat of the night was pulsing with the sounds of the katydids. The sky had a violet light to it still in a sharp rectangle formed by the high brick walls. 'Look, this is going to work out,' Scott said. He looked perfectly miserable for what it was worth. 'Leaving her here like this?' I demanded. 'We have a man watching her. He's in the bar. She's going to be okay.' 'Are you sure about that?' I asked. 'Listen, man, this is what she wants,' Scott said. 'She's okay, I know