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"Where the hell were you?"

She looked up Wille there

"Out," she said

"Where? With whom?"

"None of your business," she told him irritably What was his proble today anyway--unless he had decided to horn in on it just to make her miserable

"It is my business," he told her

"And why is that?"

"Because--because I love you And because there is a crazed murderer out on the streets of Paris" She snapped the rubber band around the manuscript "You don’t love me Certainly not as ravated because you’re not so wonderful that I’ to take you back after you’ve ht have other interests in life And there is a greedy murderer out there anted to steal the riches fro home"

"Wait, you hed "Why, Willeht now, Ann This is a dangerous tierous foris that asyou to forgiveThe girl asked for help"

"Um," she said dryly "Well, you see, I’ht need your help in the future! Now, I’o home Excuseto allow her to pass through her own doorway

Then he stepped aside slightly She h, indifferent She was afraid, though, that he was going to be like a bridge--closing upon her just as she crossed it

He didn’t exactly "close" upon her, but he did stop her, his fingers closing around her upper arm

"Willem--"

"Ann, you are a silly little fool And you don’t realize that you are mine, and that I will prove it to you, very soon"

Absently, she drew her fingers over her neck, thinking that a stray strand of hair was irritating her flesh

"Let me by"

He lowered his head toward hers "No, ht, Willem," she said firmly

As she walked out of the office, she was afraid She knew that he re her, until she had left the reception area, and closed the door behind her

She quickly pushed the button at the elevator, looking over her shoulder, more afraid of him than she wanted to let on

The elevator door opened She entered the little cubicle, leaning against the back wall The door wasn’t closing

She stepped forward to hit the lobby button once again But as she did so, Willem stepped into the elevator

She backed away The door closed

"So, Ann," he breathed softly "Here we are Alone"

There were things that he could touch in the twilight period between sleep and wakefulness, when day gave way to dusk, and dusk to full night

Things he could see

I the street, aware, and yet still seeking those who had called her

Hungry

He saw hersaw the two men and the wo the bottle of wine, and then taking the lead He could even see the street signs as she led her coh the city

He saw the old house, saw her work her will as she prepared it, and saw her practice her art of seduction, a

He saw her tease and play

And then he saw her as she caes faded as he felt soh the channels of his mind

They have touched her, reached her

Who?

Ann Ann DeVant But I will folloill follow

CHAPTER 13

Katia was serving her grandfather dinner in the library when Tara returned to the house The housekeeper busied herself getting another setting for Tara, bustling about as she did so