第24部分(第2/7 頁)

　And　eyes　that　were　silvery　hazel　stare　'　（I　at　her

without　a　blink。

〃If　you've　finished；〃　he　said　with　a　mocking　twitch　of　his　lips；　〃would

you　please　put　down　that　poker？　You　can　see　I'm　not　a　thug；〃　She　lifted

the　weapon　higher。　〃How　about　a　rapist？〃　She　wasn't　being　deceived　by　a

sweet…talking；　good…looking　man。

A　muscle　flexed　in　his　jaw。　〃I'm　no　rapist。　I　wouldn't　have　forced　you

into　anything。　Especially　once　I　saw　that　wedding　band。　I　don't　fool

around　with　married　women。〃

Tears　threatened　again。　How　bittersweet　that　the　symbol　of　a　marriage

that　had　ended　should　save　her　from　the　unspeakable。　So　she　had　Jeff　to

thank　still。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked　in　a　quavering　voice。

〃You　really　don't　know？　e　on；　you're　holding　all　the　cards。　You　can

confess。〃

Her　voice　came　stronger。　〃Who　are　you？〃

Still　he　persisted。　〃It　was　Lennie；　wasn't　it？　He's　been　trying　to　set

me　up　with　a　woman　for　weeks　now！〃　His　frustration　sounded　sincere。

〃Who　are　you？〃

With　a　sigh　of　defeat；　he　thrust　a　hand　in　his　pocket。　〃Mitch。〃

But　she　knew　that　already。　〃Where　are　you　from？〃

〃New　York。〃

〃You　just　drove　up　from　there？〃

〃Yes。　I；　〃Why？

He　shot　her　a　surprised　look。　〃Why　what？　Why　did　I　just　drive　up；　or　why

am　I　here？〃

〃Both。〃　As　Anne's　pulse　steadied；　she　lowered　the　poker。

〃I　just　got　here　because　I　had　a　late　meeting　this　afternoon　and

couldn't　leave　the　city　until　it　was　done。　I'm　here　because　I　need　a

week's　rest；　free　of　all　human　contact。　All　human　contact。〃

〃Why　are　you　here？〃

〃I　just　told　you。〃

〃But；　why　here；　in　this　house？〃　She　was　beginning　to　think　straight。