〃OK。〃
Half an hour later I am at home； my real home； the mansion on the hill overlooking the ocean。 I have e with the diskettes because I need my puter。 My good night kiss to Ray was brief。 His emotions were difficult for me to read。 He is clearly suspicious of me； but that is not his dominant feeling。 There is something in him that feels like a mixture of fear and attachment and gladness…very strange。 But he is worried about his father； more than he was before we went to the office。
I have a variety of word processors and have no trouble loading the Alisa Perne file and bringing it up on the screen。 A glance at the information shows me that Mr。 Riley investigated me for approximately three months before calling me into his office。 The data he dug up on me is interspersed with personal notes and ments on his correspondence with someone named 〃Mr。 Slim。〃 There is a fax number for Slim； but no phone number。 The number indicates an office in Switzerland。 I memorize it and then proceed through the file more carefully。 Riley's initial contact note is interesting。 Nowhere in the file are copies of Mr。 Slim's faxes； just ments on them。
Aug。 8th
This morning I received a fax from a gentleman named Mr。 Slim。 He introduces himself as an attorney for a variety of wealthy European clients。 He wants me to investigate a young woman named Alisa Perne； who lives here in Mayfair。 He has little information on the woman…I have the impression that she is but one of many people he or his group is investigating。 He also mentioned a couple of other women that he might have me look into in this part of the country； but he did not give me their names。 He is particularly interested in Miss Perne's financial situation； her family situation； and also…and this is surprising…whether anyone she has been associated with has died violently recently。 When I faxed back and asked if this woman was dangerous； he indicated that she was far more dangerous than she appeared； and that I was not to contact her directly under any circumstances。 He said she appears to be only eighteen to twenty years of age。
I am intrigued； especially since Mr。 Slim has agreed to deposit ten thousand dollars in my account to start me on my investigation。 I have already faxed back that I will take the case。 I have the young woman's address and Social Security number。 I do not have a picture but intend to take one for my records； even though I have been warned to keep my distance。 How dangerous can she be； at that age？
There followed an account of Riley's preliminary investigation into me。 Apparently he had a contact at TRW that gave him access to information not usually available to a mon investigator。 I suspect Mr。 Slim knew of this contact and hired Riley for that reason。 Almost immediately Riley discovered that I was rich； and that apparently I had no family。 The more he found out； the more eager he was to pursue the investigation； and the less information he faxed back to Mr。 Slim。 At one point Riley made what to him was a major decision； to use a contact on the New York Stock Exchange。 By going to the man he was using up a valuable favor。 But I suppose he thought I was worth it。
Sept。 21st
Miss Perne has gone to extremes to hide her financial holdings； and not just from the IRS。 She has numerous accounts at various brokerage houses set up under different corporations； some off shore。 Yet they appear to be coordinated by a single law firm in New York City…Benson and Sons。 I tried to contact the firm directly； speaking as a rich investor； but they rebuffed my inquiries； making me suspect they handle Perne's account and no other。 If that is true it is another example of this woman's wealth； for Benson and Sons has investments in the range of half a billion dollars。
Yet I have seen her…this girl…and she is as young as Mr。 Slim says and very attractive。 But her age confuses me； and I wonder if she has a mother somewhere who has the same name。 Because many of her business dealings go back two decades； and they can all be traced to the name Alisa Perne。 I am tempted to talk to her directly； despite Mr。 Slim's warning。
Mr。 Slim is not happy with me； and the feeling is mutual。 He has the impression I have been withholding information from him and he's correct。 But he has done the same with me。 He still refuses to tell me the reason for his interest in this young lady； although I can imagine several scenarios。 But his initial ment about her dangerous nature keeps ing back to me。 Who is Alisa Perne？ One of the richest people in the world obviously。 But where did she get her wealth？ By violent means？ From her nonexistent family？ I must； before I give up this case； ask her these questions myself。
I have been thinking that Mr。 Slim has been paying me well； but that Alisa Perne may want to pay me more。 I see already； though； that it would be unwise to let Mr。 Slim know I have gone behind his back。 There is a certain ruthless tone to his faxes。 I don't think I ever want to meet the man。 Yet I find myself looking forward to talking to Alisa。
Late September and he is on a first…name basis with me。 But he did not contact me till November。 What did he do during that time？ I read farther and learned that he investigated my international dealings。 He discovered I have property in Europe and Asia； and passports from France and India。 This last fact was a revelation for him； as well it should have been。 Because it appeared； accurately； that I had held the passports for more than thirty years。 No wonder； I think； he asked me my age so quickly。
Finally； though； he found a violent act connected to my past。 Five years earlier； in Los Angeles。 The brutal slaying of a Mr。 Samuel Barber。 The man had been my gardener。 I killed him； of course； because he had a bad habit of peering into my windows。 He had seen things I didn't want talked about。
Oct。 25th
According to the police report； this man worked for her for three years。 Then one morning he was found floating facedown in the ocean not far from the Santa Monica pier。 His throat had been ripped out。 The coroner…I spoke to him myself…was never able to determine the type of weapon。 The last person to see him alive was Miss Perne。
I don't think she killed him。 I like to think she didn't…the more I have studied her； the more I have e to admire her cunning and stealth。 But perhaps this man learned things about her she didn't want known； and she had him killed。 Certainly； she has the resources to hire whomever she pleases。 When I meet with her I must ask her about her gardener。 It will be another thing I can use as a bargaining chip。 And I have decided I will see her soon。 I have broken off all contact with Mr。 Slim。 In my last fax I told him that I was not able to verify any of my earlier claims about Miss Perne's personal wealth。 I have since changed my fax number； so I do not know if Mr。 Slim has tried to contact me again。 I imagine he is not happy with me； but I am not going to lose any sleep over it。
How much should I ask from Miss Perne？ A million sounds like a nice round number。 I have no doubt she'll pay it to keep me quiet。 What I could do with that much money。 But in truth； I don't think I'll touch it。 I'll just give it to Ray when he's old enough。
I will arm myself when I meet with her； just in case。 But I am not worried。
That was his last entry。 I am happy I have deleted the file in the puter。 If the police had such information on me； they wouldn't leave me alone。 It might not be a bad idea to burn down the entire office building； I muse。 It wouldn't be hard to arrange。 Yet such an act might draw Mr。 Slim's attention to peaceful Mayfair。 To young and pretty Alisa Perne。
Yet Mr。 Riley was a fool to think Mr。 Slim stopped watching him just because he changed his fax number。 I am quite sure Slim observed him all the closer； and now that the detective has disappeared； Slim and pany might even be in the neighborhood。 Slim clearly has a lot of money at his disposal； and therefore a lot of power。
Yet I am confident in my own power； and I resent this unseen person shadowing me。 I hold the Swiss fax number in my memory； and I contemplate what I would say to this fellow should I meet him face to face。 I know that my message would be short because I do not think I would let him live long。
But I do not forget that Slim knows how dangerous I am。
That does not necessarily mean he knows I am a vampire； but it is worrisome。
I turn to my fax machine and press the On button。
Dear Mr。 Slim；
This is Alisa Perne。 I understand you have hired a certain Mr。 Michael Riley to investigate me。 I know you haven't heard from him in a while…I don't know what could have happened to him…so I thought I would contact you directly。 I am prepared to meet with you； Mr。 Slim； in person； and discuss whatever is on your mind。
Yours Truly； Alisa
I attach my personal fax number and send the message。 Then I wait。
I do not have to wait long。 Ten minutes later a brief； and to the point； fax rolls out of my machine。
Dear Alisa； Where would you like to meet and when？ I am available tonight。
Sincerely； Mr。 Slim
Yes； I think； as I read the message； Slim and pany are probably close by； the Swiss number notwithstanding。 I f