“Are you crazy calling in the middle of the night? There are people here.” “Now listen to what I’m going to say,” he said. His voice sounded odd because he was trying to be calm and failing. “I can’t give you any names. Don’t ask. But someone called to say I have to go and get hold of a key, you know, and check on someone. It’s a person they’re worried about, but they can’t go themselves because they’re away.”“What do you mean?” she said. “Whose key?”“I just said you couldn’t ask. I want you to come with me. This is a really important business.”“Now you’re making things up again,” Leila said.But the boy shouted, “No! No! It’s important! Come with me, please.”“Well, all right, if you really want me,” the girl said.They walked up an unfamiliar staircase and opened a door with the borrowed key. The hall was full of half-opened boxes; there was a large mirror with a gold frame leaning against the wall. The room beyond was large and unfurnished, with neon lights on the ceiling.
