The lies. The greed. The same reason why we love the boob on Wheel of Fortune who knows the solution but always goes for the extra spin and hits Bankrupt . I t's like life, Myron pronounced, feeling the booze . Do tell . But then the door's intercom buzzed . Myron felt his stomach drop. He checked his watch. It was onethirty in the morning. Myron just looked over at Win. Win looked back, his face a placid pool. Win was still handsome, too handsome, but the years, the abuse, the late nights of either violence or, as with tonight, sex, were starting to show just a little . Myron closed his eyes. Is that a...?Yes . He sighed, rose. I wish you'd told me . Why?They'd been down that road before. There was no answer to that one . She's from a new place on the Upper West Side, Win said . Yeah, how convenient . Without another word Myron headed down the corridor toward his bedroom. Win answered the door. As much as it depressed him, Myron took a peek. The girl was young and pretty. She said, Hi! with a forced lilt in her voice. Win did not reply. He beckoned her to follow him. She did, teetering on too-high heels. They vanished down the corridor . A s Esperanza had noted, some things refuse to change no matter how much you'd like them to . Myron closed the door and collapsed onto the bed. His head swam from drink. The ceiling spun. He let it. He wondered if he was going to get sick. He didn't think so. He pushed thoughts of the girl out of his head. She left him easier than the girls used to, a change in him that was definitely not for the better. He didn't hear any noises the room Win used (not his bedroom, of course) was soundproof and eventually Myron closed his eyes . The call came in on his cell phone . Myron had it set on vibrate-ring. It rattled against his night table. He woke from his half-sleep and reached for it. He rolled over, and his head screamed. That was when he saw the bedside digital clock.2:17 a.m . He did not check the caller ID before he put the phone to his ear . Hello? he croaked.

He heard the sob first. Hello? he said again. Myron? It's Aimee. A imee. Myron sat up. What's wrong? Where are you?You said I could call. There was another sob. Anytime, right?Right. Where are you, Aimee?I need help . Okay, no problem. Just tell me where you are . Oh God . . . A imee?You won't tell, right?He hesitated. He flashed to Claire, Aimee's mother. He remembered Claire at this age and felt a funny pang . You promised. You promised you wouldn't tell my parents . I know. Where are you?Promise you won't tell?I promise, Aimee. Just tell me where you are.

Chapter 7