“Rabin?” She put two fingers over the speaking end of the wand. “Would you excuse me? This is personal.”
“Of course. I can get back to you later.” The man who’d been waiting for her got up and left. A local politician, she’d thought, or some kind of lawyer, holding a business card.
“It’s not something we should talk about over the phone,” he said.
“That’s right.”
“The situation’s more or less under control.”
“You paid?”
“Not exactly. Check our balance. I’ll explain when you get home. Right now I have to fix a broken window, before the bugs get in.”
“Broken … okay, later. I’m on camera in ten minutes. Adios.”
Pepe was leaning on the door. “Who was that?”
“No, no. The suit who was in that chair and just now left without saying anything.”
“He didn’t say who he was?”
“That’s why I’m asking you, Hawking. He must have walked in while I was in the john.”
She waved it away. “Probably some studio guy. You ready for this?”
“I’m ready, yeah. You could use some makeup, though. You’re bright pink.”
“Just let me get my breath.” She crossed the room and got a cup of ice water, then sat back down and tried to breathe normally. Break-in, blackmail.
“You don’t look too good. Want me to get Marya and reschedule it?”
“No, look … our house was broken into; there was a message from the police. But I talked to Norman and he says things are under control, whatever that means. A broken window, but I think the only breakable windows in the house are the stained glass ones in the living room and kitchen.”
“Hope not,” Pepe said. “They’re beautiful.”
“And irreplaceable, literally. They were by old man Charlie what’s-his-name, died a couple of years ago.” She massaged her temples. “I’ll be all right.”
Pepe checked his watch. “Why don’t we go down early? Get a Coke from the machine.”
“Marya says that’s a bad idea. You might burp.”
“So they edit it out.”
“It’s live, Pepe.” She got up. “I’ll risk it, though.”
He ushered her through the door. “Burping on camera will make you seem more human.”
“Oh, please.” They walked down the corridor to the converted lecture hall. Just outside it, Rory stopped at the machine, slid her credit card, and got them a Coke and a root beer.
Marya was helping a cameraman arrange an improvised drape over a whiteboard, for a backdrop. They exchanged hellos.
“Look,” Pepe said. “You don’t need me here. Why don’t I run over and see whether I can help Norm?”
Rory hesitated. “Help him?” She looked disoriented. She was always a little nervous with the cameras, even with nothing else on her mind.
“The broken window? You know, rain?”
“Oh, sure.” She shook her head. “Sí, por favor.”