The Raven Room

by Ana Medeiros

  “Did you take him back to the shelter?”

  “If I had taken him back they would have put him down.” There was sadness in Alana’s voice. “His longtime owner had died and he had nowhere to go.” She reached for Meredith’s hand and put it back on her shoulder. Encouraged by Alana’s gesture, Meredith caressed the scar with her fingers. “When he bit me I had had him for only a few hours. He was scared,” Alana continued. “He and I became the best of friends. I was heartbroken when he died.”

  Meredith was impressed with Alana. She appeared genuinely friendly toward her.

  At that moment Julian returned with two glasses of water, passing them to Meredith and Alana. “Both of you have wild hair right now.”

  “So do you,” Meredith replied, not waiting to drink the cold water he had brought them. She took a couple of large gulps, enjoying the refreshing feel of it.

  With a boyish grin, Julian ran his hand through his messy hair. “I guess that means I should go take a shower. I’ll be right back.”

  Watching him leave the room, Meredith had the sinking suspicion he was trying to give her and Alana some alone time.

  “He’s hoping that by the time he comes back we’ll have become best friends and I’ll have told you all my secrets.”

  Meredith chuckled. “I think you’re totally right.”

  “What do you know about me?”

  The question caught Meredith by surprise. Alana was still trying to work through the knot in her hair and her proximity was making it hard for Meredith to think.

  “Alana,” she paused, not daring to look at her, “the truth is that Julian told me everything. I’m aware of what happened the last time you saw each other.”

  They were both silent. When she was getting ready to speak again, Alana got off the couch and sat on the floor in front of her. Not knowing what Alana was thinking, Meredith allowed herself to stare into Alana’s eyes. As soon as she did, she knew her attraction for Alana hadn’t dissipated when her orgasm was over. It was still there and now it felt more authentic. Alana wasn’t just the woman she had seen with Thompson at The Raven Room and she certainly wasn’t just a woman who reminded Julian of his past. Up until now all she knew about Alana had been through Julian and, somehow, that had made her appear less real to Meredith. But that had just changed.

  “I came here because I was worried about him—”

  “You don’t have to tell me anything,” Meredith interrupted her gently, shaking her head.

  “I want to. After I left I kept thinking about what he had asked me to do and I found myself feeling less angry.”

  Meredith glanced in the direction of the bedroom, where Julian was showering in the bathroom. Certain she wouldn’t be overheard, she turned back to Alana. “There are reasons why I haven’t walked away from him and one of those is that, to this day, no man has treated me as well as Julian has. At the same time he makes me feel like a woman, he makes me feel like his equal. I love that.”

  She wasn’t sure why she was telling that to Alana. Maybe it was because Alana was the first person she met who also knew Julian. “He believes he’s the scum of the earth because part of him wants to protect us and the other part wants to hurt us.”

  Alana’s expression changed. She was now looking at Meredith with a mix of sadness and resignation. “Do you trust him?”

  “He’s the only person I trust completely.”

  “Protect yourself.” Alana reached for Meredith’s hand and held it between hers. “From everyone and everything. The Raven Room destroys all within its reach.”

  “What are you trying to tell me?”

  Alana didn’t reply.

  “You were at the club with a man, Steven Thompson. Are you referring to him?” Meredith continued.

  “Stay away from Thompson,” Alana said, a hint of panic in her voice.

  “Why? Has he done anything to you?”

  Alana was about to answer when Julian reappeared, wearing a pair of fitted jeans and a t-shirt under a dark pullover. His hair was still damp from the shower and Meredith smelled the faint hint of masculine cologne. He sat on the large reading chair by the couch and looked at both of them with an amused expression.

  “Do you mind sharing with us whatever is making you smirk?” Alana asked, not moving away from Meredith.

  “You know, me sitting here with two beautiful, naked women at my feet. Does it get any better than this?”

  Meredith groaned as she got up. “I’m putting an end to your enjoyment. I’m getting dressed.”

  She returned to the bedroom and dove under the bed, looking for her missing clothes. After a few minutes of crawling on the floor on her hands and knees, she found them. Without bothering to take a shower, she got dressed, grabbed her phone and walked down the hall. She stopped by the living room entrance. “I’m leaving. I’ve a lot to get done today.” She turned to face Alana. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

  Alana nodded, her gaze nothing less than a plea for caution. “Remember. From everyone and everything.”

  Before she turned her attention to Julian, Meredith’s eyes lingered on Alana. She wished she had more time alone with her.

  Julian offered to walk her out.

  “What was she talking about?” he asked, as soon as they got to the foyer. He kept his voice low.

  “No idea.” She didn’t want to share Alana’s warning with Julian. “I’m glad you both are fine now, though.” She wasn’t sure how much she believed that last part. Nothing was fine. No one inside of that condo was fine.

  “How are you feeling about what happened between the three of us?”

  “It’s not my first time. You know that better than anyone else.”

  “I don’t care about all the group sex you’ve had. I care about how you’re feeling right now.”

  The urge to slap Julian, like she had done the night before, shot through Meredith’s body like an electric current. She smiled. It wasn’t a happy smile. It was full of bitterness. A little voice in the back of her head kept whispering to her she was angry with herself and not with him but she ignored it. One thing had become more important to her than writing a piece on The Raven Room—her relationship with Julian. And that was the reason why she still hadn’t contacted Isaac Croswell. Meredith finally understood the extent of the power Julian had over her. She had never felt more afraid.

  “I can’t do this.”

  With those words she left.

  Chapter 23

  Meredith crossed the street, toward White Palace Grill, the diner in University Village Pam had chosen for their meeting. Staring at the business sign, she couldn’t understand why, of all places, Pam had picked this one.

  “Why are we meeting here?” she asked, sitting across from Pam.

  “Best coffee; in my books, that’s a good enough reason.”

  Meredith glanced at the large mug, filled with steaming black coffee that Pam had in front of her. “I hope you called me because you have some information for me?” She didn’t want to be there and the sooner she got what she wanted from Pam, the sooner she could meet up with her friends, get drunk, and forget all the things in her life that were haunting her.

  “I do have some information for you.” Pam reached inside of her messenger bag and dropped a folder on top of the table. “I also would like you to explain to me how you got the address of that woman in Chatham, Samantha Michaels.”

  Meredith opened her mouth to speak but Pam cut her off. “I know you stopped by and asked her many questions about her friend, Lena.”

  There was no point for her to deny it. “Yes, I did.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

  Pam hit the table with her open hand. “Samantha mentioned that the woman who visited her said she was writing an article that would make people want to know what had happened to Lena and who had killed her.”

  Meredith couldn’t deny it but she was ready to spin the truth. “That was just somet
hing I said to get her to speak to me. You know that I’m writing a piece on the club and not about some women’s death.”

  Pam looked like she was about to jump across the table and shake her. “Don’t lie to me. What do you know, Meredith?”

  “I don’t know anything.”

  “You think The Raven Room had something to do with that woman’s death, don’t you?” Pam asked.

  “You know what I think? Lena didn’t kill herself and she didn’t die of an accidental overdose. But you can’t prove it so there’s nothing you can do about it.”

  Meredith and Pam stared each other down.

  “Do you understand why I want you stay away from that place? From Julian Reeve?”

  Meredith didn’t reply.

  “What made you think of the club?” Pam continued.

  Meredith shrugged. “I’m not telling you anything.”

  Pam took a deep breath. She was trying to compose herself. “I was able to find an address for the woman you saw at The Raven Room with Thompson. Alana.”

  Pam had shifted gears and that put Meredith on alert. She stared at the piece of paper her stepmother had laid on the table. “What’s that?”

  “An address.”

  “Of where Alana lives?”

  “Don’t know if she lives there full-time but she might.”

  Meredith took the white piece of paper and, unfolding it, read the address. “Are you kidding me? New Jackson Hotel?”

  Pam took a sip of her coffee. “That’s what I got.”

  “That place is a dump.”

  “That place is home to several permanent tenants, likely to this Alana woman as well, so stop being your judgmental self,” Pam replied, her disapproving tone making clear what she thought of Meredith’s comment. “It may not be the high class establishment you’re accustomed to but it serves a purpose.”

  “You could say that about almost anything.”

  “I’m not getting into an argument with you about how a place like the New Jackson might be a necessary evil.” Pam crossed her arms over her chest. “I wasn’t able to find anything on the other two.”

  “You didn’t get anything on Sofia and Tatia?”

  “That’s what I said. The type of search required to lead to useful information would take months.”

  Meredith could tell Pam was holding back. “You found out they’re connected to Julian.”

  Pam leaned closer, her elbows on the table. “I hope you didn’t think I wouldn’t.”

  “I thought finding out what happened to the twins was worth it.”

  “Or did you hope it would make me feel bad for Reeve?” Pam asked with sarcasm in her voice. “You should know sob stories don’t work on me.”

  Meredith closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers. “I really wish I could understand why you hate the man so much. It almost feels like a personal vendetta.”

  “He shot Olga Dulgorukova.”

  Meredith blinked a few times. “Excuse me?”

  “One of the cops who was at the scene was convinced Reeve was the one who pulled the trigger. Not Sofia. Reeve.”

  “Why would the cop think that?”

  “His fingerprints were on the gun.”

  “So? Maybe he touched it afterwards. Maybe he had touched the gun prior to that day.”

  “That’s why it couldn’t be proven that Reeve was the one who pulled the trigger.”

  “Even if he did it, even if he was the one that shot Olga, is that the only reason why you want to bring him down?”

  “If he cared for that girl why would he allow her and everyone else to believe she killed her mother? Why would he allow an eight-year-old to carry that burden for the rest of her life? I’ll tell you why,” Pam paused, tapping the tabletop with her finger, “he’s a sick person. I‘ve been in this line of work long enough to recognize a sociopath when I come across one. I’ll tell you what I know about Julian Reeve’s main personality traits.” Pam’s eyes didn’t leave Meredith’s face. “He manipulates people. He uses them and when he no longer has a use for them, he discards them without a hint of remorse. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

  Meredith moved away from Pam, sitting back in her chair. She was still holding the piece of paper in her hand and she felt her fingers closing tightly on it, crumpling it. “How could I not? You’re making it very clear.” Meredith took the folder Pam had put on the table. “I should get going.”

  “How well do you know her?” Pam asked.

  “Who?”

  “Alana.”

  “Not well. As I told you before, I saw her at the club with Thompson and someone there told me about her. Why do you ask?”

  “I did a little bit of further digging on her,” Pam paused, her serious eyes on Meredith.

  “Okay…can you elaborate?”

  “If she’s a stranger to you then why do you want to know?”

  “Really?” Meredith asked. “You either tell me or you don’t. Your choice.”

  Meredith knew that Pam was considering what to do. She didn’t move or look away. “Her last name is Stewart, Alana Stewart. But Alana Stewart doesn’t exist.”

  “What do you mean, Alana Stewart doesn’t exist?”

  “She did exist but she died of leukemia five years ago. She would be thirty if she were alive today. Alana Stewart has been dead for a long time.”

  “What?” Meredith couldn’t hide her astonishment. “How is that possible?”

  “It’s called identity theft. A very common crime.”

  “I don’t believe it.”

  Meredith saw Pam reach inside her bag and bring out a black file folder. She opened it, laying its contents on the table. “Is this the Alana you know?” Pam asked, her finger pointing to a large color photo of a young woman.

  Meredith took the photo, looking at it more closely. It was of a brunette with large brown eyes. “No, that’s not Alana.”

  “What I would like to know is who the woman at The Raven Room really is.”

  “Why did she steal this woman’s identity?” Meredith asked, bewildered.

  “Because she’s hiding. People only hide when they’re running from something.”

  “No shit. I was wondering if you knew anything else.”

  “She quit her job at the bookstore more than two weeks ago and she’s no longer volunteering. She has no emergency contact either.”

  “Are you going to arrest her?”

  Pam didn't reply but she didn’t need too. Meredith straightened her back, all of her attention on Pam. “Why are you wasting your time on her?”

  “Identity theft is a crime.”

  “Don’t lie. That’s not why you’re interested in Alana.”

  Meredith realized that just like her, Pam was refusing to tell the truth. She needed to get to Alana before Pam did.

  “Do what you’ve got to do,” Meredith finally said, sounding disinterested. “I’m sure Chicago will become a safer city as soon as you throw that girl in jail.” She reached for her purse and stood up, bringing the collar of her jacket closer to her neck.

  “Meredith?” that made her face Pam. “I need you to stay away from Reeve.”

  “Because you think he shot someone as a teenager and he’s a sociopath?”

  Without waiting for a reply, Meredith walked out of White Palace Grill. She had made her way two blocks west when she grabbed her phone and did what she didn’t think she would do anytime soon—she called Julian.

  He picked up by the second ring. “It’s me,” Meredith said, her phone pressed tightly against her cheek. “I know you’re pissed I have been avoiding you for three weeks but this is serious. Listen to me carefully. Is Alana with you?” She closed her eyes, hoping the answer would be yes.

  “No, she’s not,” she heard Julian say. “What’s going on, Meredith?”

  A curse escaped her lips. “Have you seen her recently?”

  “She has been staying at my place but I don't know where she is righ
t now.”

  “You need to call her.”

  “I can’t. She doesn’t have a mobile phone.”

  Meredith shook her head in disbelief. “You need to find her and bring her back to your place.”

  “You need to tell me what’s going on.”

  “The police are looking for her. They’re going to arrest her.”

  “What? Why?”

  She ignored Julian’s urgent tone. “There isn’t time to get into details right now. Apparently she lives at the New Jackson Hotel, on Jackson and Halsted Street.”

  “New Jackson? Are you sure?”

  “That’s the info the cops have.”

  “How do you know all this?”

  “Later. I’ll explain everything to you later. Not right now.” Meredith lowered her voice. “You need to find Alana.”

  “You’ve been ignoring my calls and my texts and now you call me to tell me I need to get Alana because the cops are after her. Do you have any idea how crazy all of this sounds?”

  Meredith didn’t answer his question. She knew better than anyone else how fast everything was unraveling. “Don’t bother looking for her at the bookstore. She quit. If you go to the New Jackson you need to be very careful. Dress down, blend in. Look like someone who might be staying there.”

  “I’m at work but I have my gym clothes with me. I’ll change.”

  “Good. If my stepmom wasn’t involved I’d be looking for her myself.”

  “Your stepmom is involved? Why?”

  She wondered how she was going to tell him all the things she had kept from him. “Julian, you need to find Alana.”

  “You better have answers. Go to my place and wait for Alana and me there. I’ll tell the concierge to let you in.”

  “I will. You’ll find her and everything will be fine. You just need to get Alana.”

  Meredith hung up and waved down a passing taxi. As soon as the car stopped, she got in and told the driver Julian’s address. Sitting in the back seat, she held her phone tightly between her hands. She kept telling herself that Julian was going to find Alana, bring her to his place, and they would be able to make sense of what was going on. Alana would tell them why she was using someone else’s identity and, hopefully, they would come up with a plan that would work to their advantage.