whispered.
âDo you remember the security code, Lucy?â he asked her again. âI need to get you inside.â
Her head was beginning to clear. She realized they were on the front porch, and that she was shivering from head to toe. With sudden clarity, images of the blanket and burned jacket burst into her mind, and she immediately began to struggle.
âHey, calm down,â Matt held her tighter. âI told you, everythingâs okayââ
âNo, those things in the car!â
âWhat things?â
âIn the carâthe blanket, Byronâs jacketâyou must have seen themââ
âLucy, I didnât see anything but you. What are you talking about?â
âHe put them there! He must know where I liveâhow can he know that?â
âSsh . . . Listen to meââ
âWhy did you leave the car unlocked? Why didnât you make sure no one was following you? You must have led him straight here!â
âStop it, Lucy, youâre not making any sense.â The shake he gave her was gentle, but firm. âWhatever this is about, weâll discuss it. I promise . But right now we need to go inside without setting off the alarm and looking like two half-wit burglars.â
âBut I want the police to come! They need to get fingerprints and DNAââ
âLucy. Tell me the code.â
The tone of his voice got through to her at last. It took her several minutes, but she was finally able to recite the correct numbers in their proper sequence. Then Matt turned the key, stepped into the house, andâfollowing Lucyâs garbled directionsâdisarmed the system.
âWhereâs the couch?â Pausing at the foot of the stairs, he raised a quizzical eyebrow and looked for a place to set her down. âCouch, chair, or bed. Your choice.â
But Lucy was babbling again. âThe blanket? It was the one I took when I was trying to escape. The police will have to believe me now.â
âWhere would you be the most comfortable?â
âNo, no, I can walk.â
âDonât argue with me.â
Seeing the determination on his face, Lucy pointed to a doorway. âThe denâs through there. But youâve got to call the police, Matt. He had Byronâs jacket, donât you understand? The same one Byron was wearing when we crashed! How could he have Byronâs jacket? And I lost that blanket in the woods, so how did he find it? Why is he doing this to me?â
âHush, Lucy.â Carefully Matt lowered her to the couch, then began unbuttoning her coat. âTake this off and wrap up in something warm.â He pulled the wool afghan from one end of the sofa and tucked it snugly around her. âI should probably take you to the emergency room. Youâre half frozen.â
âDonât call a doctorâcall the police ! Havenât you heard a single word Iâve said?â
âWhat about tea? Do you like tea?â
Frustrated, Lucy grabbed his sleeve. âListen to me. Youâve got to get that stuff from the car. I didnât have any evidence before, but now I do, and if heâs out there right now watching us, the police might be able to catch him!â
âIf whoâs out there watching us?â Matt demanded, easing himself from her grip. But as Lucy grew more agitated, he knelt down in front of her and took both her hands in his. âYes, okay, Iâll go out to the car. And if itâs necessary, I promise Iâll call the police. But first Iâm going to fix you something hot to drink so we can get your blood flowing again.â
âYouâre wasting time!â
âTime? Well, speaking of time, just how long were you lying out there unconscious in the car?â
âI donât know. What time is it now?â
Matt glanced at the clock on the fireplace mantel, then double-checked his watch. âYour clockâs wrong. Mine says