"Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Remodeling" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rusch Kristine Kathryn)

When she got inside, she stopped and stared out the window. Hands touched her shoulder, and she jumped. She tu
to see the maître d’ trying to help her remove her coat.

“Are you all right, miss?” he asked. “You want me to call the police?”

She looked out the window again. Muff ler Man was gone.

“No,” she said. “I'll be all right.”

But she was lying. She wouldn't be all right. Her arm ached, and she was scared.

This time, she would have to tell Rick.

***

“The minute it happened,” Rick said, “you should have called me.”

“I had an important lunch.” Ada ran a hand through her hair. She hadn't called him because she didn't want him to
interfere with her life, her work, any more than he already had. She had waited until she had finished for the day, and ev
then, she had driven home instead of picking up the phone.

They were in the bedroom. Rick stood in front of the window, looking down. Their neighbor's house was empty. Us
no one arrived home until seven.

“Was he following you?”
 “I don't know,” she said, and she didn't. She had no idea why Muff ler Man had been in that parking lot.

“Well, is he stalking you? You said this happened before.”

“Here,” she said. “He came here. He was looking for you.”

“So he said.” Rick leaned his forehead against the glass. His biceps bunched as he clenched and unclenched his fists

“I believe him,” Ada said.

“You'd believe anyone.”

Ada f linched. Did Rick really think so little of her, or was he lashing out in his anger at their neighbor?

“He said you had to stop—”

“I know what he said.” Rick moved away from the window. “I'm not doing anything. I've even stopped complaining
Maybe he thinks he can harass us like he thinks I'm harassing them.”

Rick paced to the bed, to the door, then to the window again, looking out as if he were checking to see if the neighb
had come home in the few seconds he was gone.

“It's too late to call the police.” He pressed a fist against the frame. “You should have told me right away.”