“Come here,” she said, almost thickly.

I crossed the room and put my hands on her hip-bones. I sm iled at her.

“Hold me close, you beast,” she said.

I put my arms around her loosely at first. Her hair had a harsh feeling against my face. I tightened my arms and pulled her against me. Her mouth felt hard against mine, but after a while her lips opened. She was shivering.

“Tough guy,” she said softly, her breath going into my mouth.

“What was Herrick to you?” I asked.

Her body stiffened in my arms and her breath made a harsh sound. Her head pulled back until her eyes, wide open, were staring at me.

“Who are you?” she asked, in a soft dull voice.

“Chester Cain,” I said.

Her face fell to pieces. She pushed away, white, her eyes vacant, blank. I let her go