"I think that's why he moved me. To that place. But then he ..." She was growing even more agitated and impatient. "Look, I really can't talk anymore."
I'm losing her, Ally thought. Try to make her hang on.
"Kristen, would you please take my phone number? You sound like you could use a friend."
"Oh Christ, I'm so scared. I don't—"
"Just take it. No harm. Then if something happens and you want to—"
"All right," she said finally. 'Tell me and I'll write it down."
Ally gave it to her, then added, "I run an interior‑design firm. I actually did some work for you once, so we've met. You can call my office, so let me give you that number too. No way am I connected to the institute where you were."
She said she was writing it down.
"You know," Kristen went on, "I think this is God's way of punishing me for wanting something nobody should have." Then she began to sob again.
"How exactly—"