Part 33 (1/2)

'I don't know where we'd go from here, anyway.'

'Melanie might have a few ideas about that.' She glanced around as if to make sure that her sister wasn't sneaking through the kitchen, then said, 'I suspect she might have one last move up her sleeve. It's a long time from now till morning.'

'Yeah,' Bodie said. 'Yeah, I see what you mean. She takes a nap now, and sneaks out tonight after you and I are asleep. I wouldn't put it past her. We'll have to make sure she doesn't get the chance.'

CHAPTER TWENTY.

When they finished eating, Pen and Bodie cleaned off the table. Pen wrapped the remains of Melanie's burger and put it in the refrigerator. She took out a can of coffee and began to prepare a pot.

'Good idea,' Bodie said. 'It's going to be a long night.'

'We could sleep in s.h.i.+fts,' Pen said.

'I didn't bring one.'

She laughed. 'You can borrow one of mine.'

'A tempting offer,' Bodie said. He excused himself and headed for the hallway.

While he was gone, apparently to use the toilet, Pen finished making the coffee. Then she carried a kitchen chair to the front door and tipped it backward, bracing its back under the k.n.o.b. Just like Friday night, she thought, and remembered her terror the next morning when she saw an arm reaching in, trying to dislodge the chair. It had been Bodie, though, and she'd stabbed him.

'I don't think that will keep Mel in,' Bodie said as he entered the living room.

She smiled at him. 'Oh, darn.'

'What's it for?'

'Just in case.'

'You afraid Harrison might try something?'

'I doubt it. But you never know.'

'You're about the most cautious person I've ever met.'

'A streak of paranoia,' she said. 'I think it runs in the family.'

Bodie sat near an end of the sofa. 'A broken clock has the right time twice a day, and even paranoids have enemies.'

'Sometimes imaginary enemies. Look how I stabbed you yesterday.'

'A mere nick.'

'Fortunately. But it shows what can happen if you lose control.'

'h.e.l.l, I was trying to force my way in. You didn't know who I was. I'd say the attack was justified.'

'Justified, maybe, but a mistake. The coffee's probably ready.'

She went into the kitchen, filled two mugs, and brought them out. She gave one to Bodie. 'Did you look in on Melanie?'

'She's zonked out.'

'Good. I need to get something.' Pen set her mug on the table and went to her bedroom. The closed curtains kept out the dim evening light. Melanie was a vague shape on the bed. Pen crept close to her. She heard the girl's long, slow breaths.

Zonked, all right.

With those Quaaludes in her, she wouldn't be waking up for a very, very long time.

Pen thought of her father in a coma.

I did this to Melanie.

She'll come out of it, Dad won't.

Yes, he will. He has to.

Crouching, Pen slipped the shotgun out from under the bed. She carried it back into the living room. Bodie's eyes widened. 'What, me worry?' Pen asked.

'Lordy lordy, I'd sure hate to get on your bad side.'

'd.a.m.n right. I'm one bad dude.'

'Can I see it?'

'Sure. It's loaded, by the way.'

'Wouldn't do much good otherwise.'

She handed it to him, then picked up her coffee mug and sat at the other end of the sofa. She turned sideways to face him, bringing her knees up against the back cus.h.i.+on.

'A beaut,' Bodie said. He shouldered the weapon, aimed it across the room, lowered it onto his lap and stroked its walnut stock. 'Real nice.'

'I just bought it this morning.'

'Twelve-gauge?'

Pen nodded. 'With special magnum cartridges.'

'Wicked. I guess Harrison better not mess with you.'

'I didn't have him in mind,' she said, and took a drink of coffee as Bodie turned to look at her.

'The caller?'

'Yeah.'