第40部分(第3/7 頁)

g　again　and　again。　She　went

to　the　most　remote　corner　of　the　apartment；　crossed　her　arms　on　her

chest；　and　vowed　to　let　it　ring。

She　wasn't　prepared　for　the　loud　pounding　that　followed。　He　was　making　a

godawful　racket。

Fearing　that　he　would　have　her　neighbors　out　in　no　time；　she　returned　to

the　door。　〃Go　away！〃　she　yelled；　hoping　that　her　voice　would　carry

through　his　ruckus。

It　did。　His　returning　call　was　muffled；　but　she　heard　every　word。　〃Not

until　I've　spoken　with　you；　Anne。〃

〃Go　away！　I　don't　want　to　talk！〃

〃You'll　have　to。〃

Irate；　she　reopened　the　door　those　few　allotted　inches。　〃I　don't　have　to

do　anything。　Now；　please　leave；　or　I'll　call　the　police。〃　It　took　very

ounce　of　restraint　for　her　to　remain　calm　when　she　would　have　liked

nothing　more　than　to　run　him　through　with　a　carving　knife。

He　looked　agitated。　〃I'm　trying　to　be　patient；　Anne；　but　you　refuse　to

take　my　calls。　We　have　to　talk。　There　are　things　I　have　to　explain。〃

She　seethed。　〃Sorry；　bud；　but　you　had　your　chance；　and　you　passed　it　up。

You　had　all　those　days　and　nights　to　tell　me　who　you　were　and　what　your

business　was；　but　you　didn't。　You　were　so　cagey。　I'll　see　you　soon；

Annie；　soon。〃　She　contorted　her　voice　to　mock　him。　〃But　you　didn't

bother　to　tell　me　when；　did　you；　Mitch？　Well；　I　don't　want　to　talk　now。〃

She　leaned　against　the　door　to　shut　it；　only　to　find　he　had　a　foot　in

the　way。

〃Move！〃　she　ordered　hoarsely。　She　was　wearing　down　in　more　ways　than

one。

He　swore。　〃Hell；　Anne；　but　you　can　be　stubborn。　If　we　were　back　in

Vermont；　I'd　know　just　what　to　do。〃

〃We're　not　in　Vermont！〃　she　screamed；　unc