Jared hadn’t thought about that. “I feel sorry for her. She’s a sad character. And the calls are harmless. Not once has she said anything threatening or suggestive. Sexual innuendo is the farthest thing from her mind.”
Savannah tried to imagine the conversations they might have had. “Have you been able to learn anything about her?”
Taking a deep breath, he pressed her hand flat on his bare thigh. He never tired of the feel of Savannah’s skin on his. “She evades personal questions, but little things have come out.”
“Like?”
“Like she’s married.”
“That’s good,” Savannah said in quick relief. “Then again, maybe not. What kind of married woman calls another man in the middle of the night? What’s her husband doing through all this?”
“Sleeping, I guess. I’ve never heard any voices in the background. I picture her being alone in whatever room she’s in.”
“Do you have any idea of her age?”
“Sounds like she could be anywhere between twenty-five and forty. If I had to pin it down, I’d say in her early thirties.”
“And you don’t know what her problem is?”
“She talks about thinking things out and then messing up. She compares being rich to being poor. I get the impression that she started out poor and has had a taste of rich, but is about to lose it.”
“Then money is the core of her troubles.”
“In some ways. In other ways, she’s more upset about deception. She talks about that a lot. She seems to feel that she’s lied to the people she loves, and she’s having trouble dealing with it.”
“Do you have any idea where she lives?”
“She won’t say. If the calls become troublesome, I’d have the phone company put a tap on the line.”
“Maybe you ought to do that anyway.”
But Jared didn’t want to just yet. He felt an odd sense of loyalty to the woman. She asked so little, just an ear and a few words of encouragement. Turning her in seemed like a betrayal.
Savannah sensed his reluctance. “If she’s calling more often, it could be because things are getting worse for her. Maybe she really needs help.”
“I keep pushing that. I have names to give her—psychiatrist, social worker, bank loan officer, priest—but she isn’t buying.”
“Maybe you ought to call the psychiatrist anyway.”
“And do what? He can’t sit here waiting for her call. She can’t be forced into treatment.”
“Does she sound high on drugs or anything?”
“No. Just scared.”
“You should call the psychiatrist.”
But Jared couldn’t do that. “I’ll wait. Just for a little while.”
“Doesn’t she make you nervous?”
“No. I told you. She’s harmless.” He squeezed her hand. “Really, babe.”
Savannah eyed him dryly. “If she’s so harmless, how come you didn’t tell me about her?”
There was no mystery to it. “Because you’ve always been sleeping when she’s called before, and by the time I get upstairs I have other things on my mind.” They both knew what those other things were. “Besides, you’ve been busy lately. This is nothing, Savannah. Really.” Tightening his fingers around hers, he drew her up and held her between his thighs. In a softer, more sandy voice, he said, “How do you feel?”
“Pretty good.”
