Part 8 (1/2)

'No.'

'What time was that?' Pen asked.

'Around ten, your time.'

'Ten?' She moaned. That was you? I'd turned off the answering machine by then. I was taking a bath. I thought you were him. So I got out and disconnected thea' She frowned. 'Did you call twice?'

'Just once,' Melanie said.

Pen's lip curled up.

Melanie turned on the burner under the skillet. 'So what happened after you disconnected the phones?'

'That's when I got to thinking he might come over.'

'What made you think that?'

'Why shouldn't I think that? He made it pretty plain that he wanted toa mess with me.'

'But that kind of guy almost nevera'

'Almost. I know. But maybe this guy is the exception. I mean, he had my phone number so he obviously had my address. Anyway, I decided to be ready for him. That's why I blocked the door and strung that d.a.m.n cord. Just to be ready, you know? Just in case. That's why I had the knife. So in the middle of the night I forgot about the cord and took a header into the wall.'

She looked sideways at the coffee machine. The gla.s.s pot was full. She took mugs down from a cupboard. Her hand trembled badly as she filled them. She gave a mug to Bodie.

'Do you still think the guy might come over?' he asked.

She shrugged. 'What's to stop him?'

'We're here now. I guess Mel's vision paid off.'

'Yeah,' Pen said. 'It was right on target this time.'

'We'll keep watch for you,' Melanie said. 'You can sleep all day if you want.'

'I may have to.'

When breakfast was done, Melanie and her friend both insisted that she get some sleep. She went into the bathroom and drank a gla.s.sful of Alka-Seltzer. When she came out, Bodie was kneeling in her bedroom doorway, removing the cord.

'Don't worry about anything,' he told her.

She thanked him. Then she turned to Melanie and hugged her tightly. 'It's great to see you again, kiddo.' She ruffled Melanie's hair.

Alone in her room with the door shut, she turned back the covers of her bed. The sheets looked wonderful. There was no need any more for the confining, protective clothes. She took them off. Because of Bodie being in the apartment, however, she put on pajamas before crawling into bed.

She eased the pillow over her eyes to block out the morning light. Her neck felt stiff, but her head no longer ached badly. The food and aspirin had helped. She took a deep breath. She felt pretty good, considering.

Her ordeal was over, at least for now. Maybe it was over for good.

She had over-reacted, that's for sure.

d.a.m.n near cracked her skull. d.a.m.n near broke her neck. d.a.m.n near stabbed Bodie.

I did stab him.

He was very nice about it.

Nice guy.

Lucky Mel.

Lucky me, having them both here.

But how long would they stay? She hadn't asked. They'd have to go back to school soon, maybe even tomorrow.

Don't worry about that now.

Nothing to worry about now.

She rolled over, the pajamas sliding against her skin, the covers up around her neck, and fell asleep.

'Do you think we can both fit on the couch?' Bodie asked.

'Who can sleep?'

'Me,' he said. 'I'm beat. I didn't sack out in the van for the last half of the trip, remember?'

'I don't know about you, but I want to hear the tape.'

'I don't think Pen would want us to.'

'She doesn't have to find out.'

Bodie sat on the couch. He patted the cus.h.i.+on beside him. 'I'll talk dirty to you.'

'Not funny. Whatever the guy said, it scared the h.e.l.l out of her. I've never seen her like this.'

'I thought maybe she was always maniacal.'

'Come on.'

Bodie stood up. His heart pounded fast and he stood motionless, waiting for a light-headed feeling to pa.s.s.

'You okay?'