His words were like an ice cloth against her brain:

“Why don’t you quit lying, girlie?”

The battle was uneven. Perfect physical control against shattered nerves. Her close-set eyes began to ferret. She made a last effort to hide behind her sex.

“I’m not lying. I don’t know what you are talking about! You are crazy!”

Matt’s eyes stayed steadfast. He said very slowly:

“No ... it’s your aunt who is crazy!”

Her beaten nerves threw the battle back to her body. She leaped to her feet.

“She’s not. She’s not! I swear to God she’s not!”

Higgins walked over and clenched his hands into her shoulders.

“Look at me!”