Bad Doctor

Epilogue
I

It should have taken ten weeks to siphon a quarter million into Willow’s safe deposit box, but I managed to stretch it to fourteen by pretending the banks were asking too many questions.

Willow remained true to her word.

She lived with me and gave me sex once a week after receiving the first hundred grand. When she left, she hugged me and said she’d be in touch about the garage door opener. I figured to spend a very nervous couple of weeks waiting, but she surprised me by calling a few hours later.

“You’re already safe?” I said.

“I’m in the air, flying somewhere far away,” she said. “So yes, I feel safe.”

“Maybe when you get settled I could come visit you.”

She laughs. “I don’t miss you that much.”

“Where’s Kathy’s garage door opener?”

She waited for me to get a pen and paper, then gave me a phone number.

“Who am I calling?”

“I want it to be a surprise.”

“Okay.”

“Gideon?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

I pause.

“Take care, Willow.”

“You too, Gideon.”

A quiet moment passes.

Willow says, “You didn’t hang up.”

“Neither did you.”

“Why is that, do you suppose?”

“We’re wondering if we’ll ever talk to each other again.”

“Yes.”

“You think we will?” I say.

“No.”