The Debt 5 Read Online Free PDF Page B

you
that was released? Do you deny that’s you?”
    “Have you and Jake Novak split up?”
    “Where’s Jake?”
    “Raven, Raven!   Over here, Raven!   People from Southbridge say that you
were a liar and a nymphomaniac, Raven.   Is any of it true?”
    One of the security guards gave that
particular paparazzo a hard shove and the photographer fell onto his rear,
cursing and threatening lawsuits.
    Raven had to smile a little at that.   She got inside the black sedan and the driver
turned to look at her.   “To Boston,
Miss Hartley?”
    “Yes,” she said softly.   Once she got back, she’d have him drop
her at her car, which had been sitting parked and probably had more than a few
tickets by now.  
    They started to pull away from the hotel
and a large sense of desolation threatened to overwhelm her.
    She was probably never going to see Jake
Novak again, except on television and in the movies.   She’d hear his voice on the radio, but
never again would she hear it in person.
    His voice, saying dark and sensual things
in her ear, telling her everything he wanted to do to her for her own good.
    “Miss Hartley?” the driver said again.
    She snapped from her reverie.   “Sorry.   Yes?”
    “I was instructed to give this to
you.”   The driver extended one hand
back towards her, and there was a white envelope between his fingers.
    Her brow furrowed, but she leaned forward
just the same, and took it from him.   “Who instructed you to give it to me?”
    “Jake Novak, ma’am.”   The driver went back to focusing on
driving the car.
    Raven took a deep breath and let it
out.   She examined the plain white
envelope, as if somehow it was going to tell her the secret to what lay
within.   She was afraid of what she
might find inside, what it might or might not say.
    Eventually, though, she ripped it open
and took out the piece of lined hotel stationary.   There was a handwritten letter, apparently
penned by Jake, and his handwriting was precise and neat.  

 
    Raven,
    I told you that I wired fifty thousand
dollars to your account. I know you can’t understand why I did it, but I have
good reason.  
    Although your plan to rehabilitate my
image didn’t work, I very much appreciate the personal risk you took in
attempting to be part of my life at this difficult time, and I recognize that
it came at a high cost to both you and your family.
    Thinking about the way my presence has
negatively affected your privacy and the stability that you’d built for
yourself since leaving home years ago, I think the money is the least I could
do to make up for it.
    Also, I’m very much aware that my
affiliation with Club Alpha has also been detrimental to your safety and wellbeing.   They’ve threatened you, got you fired
from your job, and kicked out of your apartment.
    Because of these inconveniences and more,
I took the liberty of renting an apartment for you, in Boston, for one
year.   The lease
is paid in full , all utilities are covered .  
    The driver will give you the keys when
you arrive at your destination.  
    Hopefully, both the apartment and the
money will allow you to have the freedom to accompany Skylar through the
difficult time she’ll be facing going through treatment these next few months.   Having you by her side as she undergoes
this experience will be very comforting for her.
    Please know that she will never have to
worry about money for any of her medical expenses.   She will get only the best
treatment—I will make sure of it.
    Now that you are no longer burdened by my
presence in your life, I’m very hopeful that the media will turn their ugly
spotlight away from you and leave you in peace.  
    I think you’re much better off this way.
    Be well, Raven.   And please take good care of yourself.
    -Jake

 
    ***

 
    It felt like a very long ride back to
Boston after reading Jake’s letter.   Raven tried hard to put him out of her mind, to think instead of Skylar
and what she must be