CHAPTER THREE
THE WARNING
Kelvin stood completely still.
For several seconds after Rymus walked away, he watched the hallway as though expecting the man to turn around.
He didn't.
The sound of Rymus's footsteps slowly disappeared.
Gila looked at Kelvin.
“Uncle?”
Kelvin finally looked at her.
His face was different.
The warmth she was used to seeing whenever he visited had disappeared.
“What is wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Gila frowned.
“You're lying.”
Kelvin forced a smile.
“I've been a detective for too long. Maybe you are becoming too good at reading people.”
“Maybe.”
She folded her arms.
“You were acting strangely when you saw him.”
Kelvin glanced toward the hallway again.
“Do you know that man?”
Gila hesitated.
“Only because he's Thelma's father.”
Kelvin nodded slowly.
“And what do you know about him?”
“Not much.”
Gila looked at him carefully.
“Thelma doesn't like talking about her family.”
“That doesn't surprise me.”
“Why?”
Kelvin sat down.
“Because some families have complicated histories.”
Gila laughed softly.
“Everyone's family has a complicated history.”
Kelvin looked at her.
“Not everyone.”
Something about his expression made the smile disappear from Gila's face.
“What aren't you telling me?”
Kelvin leaned forward.
“Gila, listen to me carefully.”
She nodded.
“You have worked too hard to get here.”
“I know.”
“You've built a life.”
“I know.”
“You have people who care about you.”
Gila's eyes narrowed.
“Where is this going?”
Kelvin took a breath.
“I want you to be careful.”
“I am careful.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I mean really careful.”
Gila looked toward the door.
“Because of him?”
Kelvin didn't answer immediately.
That was enough.
Gila stood.
“You know him.”
Kelvin slowly nodded.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“It's complicated.”
“Then explain it.”
“I can't.”
Her frustration grew.
“You always do this.”
“Do what?”
“You protect me by refusing to tell me anything.”
Kelvin's expression softened.
“Because sometimes knowing the truth puts people in more danger than not knowing it.”
Gila stared at him.
“I'm not a child anymore.”
“I know.”
“Then stop treating me like one.”
Kelvin looked down.
For a moment, he saw the little girl he had carried through the bushes fifteen years earlier.
A frightened child with blood on her clothes.
A child everyone believed was dead.
A child whose entire identity had been rebuilt so she could survive.
He had promised David that he would protect her.
He had never promised to tell her everything.
“I need you to trust me,” he said.
“I do trust you.”
“Then trust me when I tell you that Rymus is dangerous.”
Gila's expression hardened.
“I already know that.”
“No.”
Kelvin stood.
“You don't.”
He walked toward the door.
“Stay away from him.”
Gila followed.
“What if I can't?”
“Then stay around people you trust.”
“Like Thelma?”
Kelvin stopped.
That question hurt more than she realized.
“Thelma isn't the problem.”
“Then what is?”
Kelvin looked at her.
“The world around her.”
Gila didn't understand.
But Kelvin couldn't explain.
Not yet.
Across campus, Thelma sat alone in her room.
Her books were open.
Her laptop was running.
But she hadn't read a single line for nearly twenty minutes.
Her father's visit had left her unsettled.
Rymus had always been protective of her.
Possessive, sometimes.
Overbearing, often.
But she had never questioned the reason.
He loved her.
At least, she believed he did.
Yet something about the way he had looked at Kelvin earlier bothered her.
There had been something in that handshake.
Something neither man had spoken about.
Thelma picked up her phone.
She considered calling her father.
Then she put it down.
She didn't want another argument.
Instead, she called Gila.
No answer.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
“Where are you?” she whispered.
Her phone finally rang.
It was Gila.
“Hey.”
Thelma immediately relaxed.
“Where have you been?”
“With Kelvin.”
“Your uncle?”
“Yes.”
“Is everything okay?”
Gila hesitated.
“Yes.”
Thelma knew that hesitation.
“You're lying.”
Gila laughed.
“Apparently everyone is becoming a detective.”
Thelma smiled.
“Something happened.”
“Nothing happened.”
“Gila.”
“I'm fine.”
Thelma paused.
“Okay.”
She didn't believe her.
But she also knew that pushing Gila too hard would make her close up.
“Come over tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because I bought too much food.”
“That sounds like a trap.”
“It is.”
Gila laughed.
“Fine.”
“Good.”
The call ended.
Thelma placed her phone down.
She didn't know why...
But she had a feeling that something had changed.