第21部分(第3/9 頁)

；　there　was　no　hope。

She　heard　the　front　door　slam　shortly　after　he　left　her　room。　She　didn't

know　where　he　went；　and　he　was　back　in　time　to　take　her　to　the　train

station；　but　even　the　short　ride　there　was　awkward。　It　wasn't　until　she

was　about　to　board　the　train　that　he　said　more　than　a　full　sentence；　and

then　his　voice　was　quiet。

〃I'd　like　to　follow　through　with　the　liaison　between　Hansen　and　ESE；　but

I　think　Lee　should　handle　the　account。　You're　right。　It'll　be　too

difficult　any　other　way；　at　least　for　now。〃

Chloe　wanted　to　argue；　but　no　words　came　out。

His　eyes　held　defeat　when　he　looked　at　her　a　final　time。　〃I'll　be　here；

Chloe。　When　you're　free；　let　me　know。〃

On　the　Saturday　after　Thanksgiving；　Chloe　boarded　a　plane。　It　taxied　and

took　off；　then　climbed　into　the　sky　and　headed　north。　New　Orleans　fell

behind。　New　York　was　ahead。　She　was　going　back　to　Ross。

She　tried　to　sleep；　but　was　too　excited。　She　ate　dinner；　she　read　a

magazine；　she　looked　out　the　window　and　smiled。　Where　a　haunted　woman

had　been　just　a　few　days　before；　was　one　with　a　newborn　peace。

She　had　e　a　very　long　way　in　a　very　short　time；　but　it　hadn't　been

easy。　There　were　dozens　of　doubts　and　second　thoughts　dogging　her

through　Mobile；　and　added　days　spent　wavering　there；　then　fear　and

unsureness　when　she　arrived　at　her　parents'　home　in　New　Orleans　on

Than