Part 42 (1/2)

The siren was a deafening shriek.

She went for the knife.

She tugged it out of Harrison 's chest.

Bodie tensed for the attack.

Melanie pushed the knife slowly into Harrison 's throat. Clutching it with both hands, she worked its blade back and forth. Her long black hair swayed in front of her face as she rocked above him, putting her weight into the cutting.

'What's wrong?' Pen asked.

'Nothing.' Bodie stroked her head. 'Everything's fine.'

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR.

'No funny business,' Pen said. She was in bed, naked except for her white shorts, a white bandage beneath her left breast, and a white cast on her arm. The discarded sling lay rumpled on the sheet beside her. 'I am, after all, an invalid.'

'You look valid.' Bodie cupped her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and gently thumbed the nipples. Pen squirmed.

'You can validate me later,' she said. 'This is serious business.'

'Of course.'

Bodie's hands went away. Pen raised her head off the pillow. With an open hand, she lifted and flattened her breast and peered over it to see what he was doing. 'Be gentle,' she warned, smiling.

Bodie picked at a corner of the tape with his fingernail. 'Difficult to concentrate,' he said, 'when beholding such a vision of loveliness.'

'Yep. No doubt.'

He pulled the tape slowly, watching the adhesive lift her skin and peel away from it.

'Owooo.'

'Maybe one quick yank.'

'Don't you dare.'

'We should really change this bandage more often than the one on your back. Such scenic surroundings.' The bandage came off, revealing a four-inch laceration cross-hatched with st.i.tches.

'Yuck,' Pen said.

'Coming along nicely.'

'Easy for you to say. I'm the one looks like the bride of Frankenstein.'

'You look terrific. It gives you character.'

'Sure.'

Bodie unrolled a pad of cotton and gauze, snipped off a section slightly longer than the wound, and taped it into place.

'Good job.' She released her breast and lowered her head to the pillow.

Her fingers had left faint red prints on her creamy skin. Bodie watched them fade.

I'm gonna cut off your t.i.ts!

'What's wrong?' Pen asked.

'Melanie. She keeps coming back.'

'Yeah.'

'I wonder how she's doing.'

'I don't know,' Pen muttered. 'At least she probably won't have to stand trial. That would've been tough, nothing going for her except Joyce's confession.'

Bodie put a hand on Pen's belly. He lightly stroked the smooth skin. 'Do you suppose they're treating her okay?'

'It isn't the Hilton. Later on, maybe we can get her moved to a better facility.'

'At least she nailed those two.'

'I wonder if it was worth it.'

The telephone rang. 'I'll get it,' Bodie said. He patted her belly, then stood and hurried toward the kitchen. Suddenly scared. Pen had changed her number. Only the police, the people at Melanie's psychiatric ward, and the hospital had the new one. The call had to mean trouble. He picked up the phone. 'h.e.l.lo?'

'Is this Penelope Conway's residence?' asked the male voice.

'Yes, it is.'

'May I speak to Miss Conway?'

'Who may I say is calling?'

'This is Dr Herman Gray of the Beverlywood Medical Center. I'm calling about Miss Conway's father.'

Bodie's stomach clenched. 'Just a moment, please.' He let the phone's handset dangle by its cord, and hurried back to the bedroom. Pen was sitting up.

When she saw Bodie, the color left her face.