Part 244 (2/2)

Or maybe they were all playing with him, laughing at him behind his

back. If that was the case, then he'd pay her back, with interest.

She'd been gone for over two weeks. He hoped she'd had herself a high

flying time because she was going to pay for every hour.

He hunched his shoulders against the brisk wind as he walked. The

leather jacket kept out the worst of the early spring chill, but his

ears were ringing from the wind. Or maybe it was fury. He liked that

idea better and grinned a little as he crossed the street to the loft.

He'd taken the subway, something he found degrading but safer than a cab

under the circ.u.mstances. He would more than likely have to do something

... unpleasant to Marianne. Unpleasant for her, anyway, Drew

thought with a laugh. It wowd be a great pleasure for him.

Emma had lied to him. Marianne had been at the funeral. He'd seen the

pictures of them together in the paper. As sure as G.o.d made h.e.l.l,

Marianne had been in on the whole thing. She'd know where Emma was

hiding. And when he got through with her, she'd be d.a.m.n delighted to

tell him.

He used the key he'd gotten from Emma months before. Inside, he punched

in the security code to unlock the elevator. As the doors closed him

in, he rubbed the knuckles of one hand against the other. He hoped she

was still in bed.

The loft was silent. He moved quietly across the floor and up the

stairs with his heart pounding happily. There was disappointment when

he saw the empty bed. The sheets were tangled, but cool. The

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