第24部分(第3/9 頁)

e　you　from？〃

〃New　York。〃

〃You　just　drove　up　from　there？〃

〃Yes。　I；　〃Why？

He　shot　her　a　surprised　look。　〃Why　what？　Why　did　I　just　drive　up；　or　why

am　I　here？〃

〃Both。〃　As　Anne's　pulse　steadied；　she　lowered　the　poker。

〃I　just　got　here　because　I　had　a　late　meeting　this　afternoon　and

couldn't　leave　the　city　until　it　was　done。　I'm　here　because　I　need　a

week's　rest；　free　of　all　human　contact。　All　human　contact。〃

〃Why　are　you　here？〃

〃I　just　told　you。〃

〃But；　why　here；　in　this　house？〃　She　was　beginning　to　think　straight。　He

didn't　look　like　a　thug。　And　he　could　have　taken　advantage　of　her　when

he　was　on　top；　but　he　hadn't。

He　rubbed　the　back　of　his　neck；　much　as　she　had　when　she'd　first

arrived。　〃I　e　here　often。　And　I'm　sure　I　booked　the　weekend　with

Miles。〃

So　he　did　know　the　realtor。　He　deserved　credit　for　that。

She　relaxed　her　grip　on　the　poker。　〃It　looks　like　good　old　Miles　made

mistake。〃　Thinking　about　it；　she　frowned。　Her　eyes　fell。　Absently　she

ran　faintly　shaky　finger　over　the　lip　he　had　bruised。

In　a　single　deft　move；　he　had　the　poker　out　of　her　hands　before　she　knew

he　was　there。　In　that　instant；　terror　returned。　She　had　been　duped。

〃All　right；　ma'am。　Now　you　answer　my　questions；〃　he　ordered。

When　she　tried　to　step　back；　he　grabbed　her　shoulders　and　held　her　in

place。　The　discrepancy　of　their　heigh