The Love You Crave

14.

“Hi Daddy,” Maybe says to the voice mailbox. “I kissed a professor!”

Five minutes later her cell phone rings.

“ Already?” he says.

“Yup.”

“Tell me about it.”

She does.

Then he says, “Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

“There were no witnesses.”

“You were lucky.”

“I was good.”

“You were good,” he says. “Now tell me about Dr. Scott.”

Maybe smiles. “What about him?”

“He’s dead.”

“No!” she says. “Tell me it’s not true!”

“Talk to me, Maybe.”

“I like it when you use my name.”

“It’s not your name. It’s the name you chose.”

“Still, you usually call me Baby.”

“Tell me about Dr. Scott.”

“What is there to tell?”

“I thought the therapy was working.”

“You thought wrong.”

“How’d you do it?”

“What do your sources say?”

“I don’t have sources. I’m a hacker. I find things out the hard way. The reports are inconclusive.”

“Inconclusive is good.”

“Apparently, you’ve come up with a way to kill people that’s undetectable, at least till toxicology comes back.”

“Are you impressed?”

“Mildly. But they found the injection site, so it won’t take long. What might they find?”

“They might find a high concentration of nutmeg in his system.”

“Nice. Did you distill it yourself?”

“You’re starting to sound impressed.”

“I am impressed. It’s a poison that can be found in anyone’s spice cabinet. They’ll never be able to trace it back to you.”

“What else did the report say?”

“Dr. Scott was found dead in his office lying face down on the floor.”

“Anything else?”

“His pants were pulled down to his knees and a giant dildo had been pounded into his rectum.”

“You should’ve heard him scream.”

“Why would they use the term ‘pounded?’”

“There was a toolkit in his supply closet. With a large rubber mallet.”

“You should’ve told me you killed him.”

“Why?”

“To warn me.”

“You’re either good enough to take precautions, or you’re not,” Maybe says, indignantly.

“I took the necessary precautions.”

“Such as?”

“I used a fake name and a different bank for every check. Sent them from different places, disguised my voice. Used throwaway cell phones for each call. I don’t make mistakes.”

“So what’s the problem?”

“The problem is trust. You could’ve burned me.”

“I trusted you to be prepared. Was I wrong?”

Daddy says nothing.

Maybe says, “Look. I killed him because he deserved to die. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to see how good you were. Why would I want to deal with someone who can’t protect himself?”

“And now you know I can.”

“So far.”

“You’re as much as telling me I can’t trust you.”

“What do you expect from me? I’m a homicidal maniac!”

“You’re a precious young lady.”

“Seriously? You’re the one who’s turning me into a cold-blooded killer. How do you hope to trust me?”

“By having a special relationship with you.”

“You know what I think, Daddy?”

“What’s that?”

“I think you want to fuck me.”

He pauses a long time. Then says, “I do. Is that so wrong?”

“It is if you make me call you Daddy.”

“There’s a reason for that.”

“I know. It’s called manipulation.”

“Yes.”

“When are you going to show yourself.”

“In time.”

“What are you, disfigured or something? Twice my age? You don’t sound twice my age.”

“I’m fifteen years and six days older than you.”

Maybe pauses. That’s the most personal information he’s ever given her. She says, “If you’re thirty-five, I’m going to call you Ralph.”

“Ralph?”

“You sound like a Ralph.”

He sighs. “You think you’re ready?”

“For what?”

“The big time?”

“Lay it on me, Ralph.”