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Bertha added, "Darien called and said you’reher to his house"

"He just told ain

"I don’t need to leave here," Elizabeth protested Again She’d tried to talk him out of it on the short drive fro voice, Bertha said, "Darien told ht have had a run-in with someone who could be more trouble, and he doesn’t want to take any chances with you staying here since my husband is out of town Not only that, but Doc Weber insisted Toht with you You know, to… monitor you condition" Elizabeth could have sworn Bertha cast To, conspiratorial look

"That’s not necessary I’ll be all right here Alone," Elizabeth said

"All right Come on," Tom said "We’ll proceed as planned You can rest in your room I’ll apply ice packs for a while I’ll call Darien and tell hiet into the issue of tonight right now He knew Darien wouldn’t agree with hiht away, but To against his brother’s orders to satisfy a woman

"I really don’t need to stay there after dinner We can eat and--"

"Pack leader’s orders" Tom smiled when he said it, but he was serious as he preceded her to her guest room He would allow her to rest here, but after that, they would stay at Darien’s As he hesitated at her bedroolanced down at the carpeted floor and took a deep breath of the winter-chilled outdoor air Instantly, he had a bad feeling about this

Before he opened the door, he said, "Window’s open Did you leave it ajar?"

Elizabeth frowned at hih alert, Tom listened for any movement in the room and tried to discern anyone’s scent, but he didn’t s other than Bertha’s and Elizabeth’s feminine scents "Go back and stay with Bertha, if you don’t mind Ask her if she opened the "

Elizabeth made an irritated huff under her breath but retreated down the hall toward the kitchen "Did you open thein my room?"

"And lose all the heat in there? I should say not," Bertha said "What’s the matter?"

"Theappears to be ajar," Elizabeth said

Tolass that littered the carpeted floor next to theand covered one corner of a bedside table Otherwise, the room seemed untouched

"Hell," he said under his breath As he entered the room, he yanked his cell out of his pocket and called Darien

"What’s happened, Tom?" Elizabeth called from the hallway