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Sara aith a start and one hell of a headache At first she thought she had a hangover She squinted at the stark white ceiling, in particular a beautiful plaster medallion in the shape of a sunburst A shot of uneaseat the ceiling in her apartlimpsed only wood floors, white bed linens, and the dark cast of evening light before fireworks exploded inside her head Red Gold Bah her teeth, draped her arm over her eyes, and moaned
Where am I?
After a ainst the pale light of a bedside la that was tri There was a white fireplace against one wall, arched s on the other, and an alcove beyond For a second, Sara&039;s heart jumped into her throat and she wondered where she was-- if she was still in New York She turned to the s and through the darkness saw a cut of the city skyline through the room&039;s corner view
Not a hospital rooet here?
Who brought her--
She stopped, her es that took her afree of its rocky restraints, the h her As she touched her face, felt the swollen flesh beneath her fingertips, she winced She remembered it all and her heart picked up speed The man on her floor, the phone, Tom in her apartment, Tom&039;s pissed-off expression and ready fist
Oh God What if Toht her here?
She looked around for a phone, saw none Where was her cell?
Don&039;t panic, Sara Just get the hell out of here
Whipping back the bedspread, she eased herself off the mattress Her head felt like a stone balloon, bloated and heavy She was loves, but she spotted her shoes on the floor beside the bed They were huddled neatly together, and she slipped theet herself to the hospital, or to the police--sos felt boneless and impossible to control as she stumbled across the room to the s No way out No fire escape She turned and headed for the door Gritting her teeth against the waves of nausea, she gripped the handle and turned the knob When she found it unlocked, her heart jumped with the sh it
The hallas long and wide There was artwork on the walls, rugs on the floors, antiques andon masculine console tables From the small bit she could see, the place seemed lavish, museumesque Where was she?
Brownstone? Warehouse? It couldn&039;t be Tom&039;s place; he didn&039;t fit here Besides, he&039;d described his apartht, down the i hallway She saw it A staircase It had to lead to a way out Though her head throbbed against her skull, she forced herself to walk Just a few steps, she told herself But soon her head was spinning and she had to grip the wall for support
Get downstairs, outside in the air where you can breathe--
She heard so in her chest
But the sound was co up the stairs
Tom