Chapter 18

They spent nearly two hours at Emergency, most of it waiting because an eighteen-wheeler rear-ended a passenger car out on the highway. Eric sat beside Cynthia, mute and staring.

When they finally got back to the house and put him to bed, Cynthia suggested that Sam go home.

‘Eric’s so upset, ’ she said. ‘Maybe … I don’t know … Maybe you’d better not stay tonight. ’

‘He’s asleep now. ’

‘Maybe he is and maybe he isn’t. ’

‘If you want me to leave, I will. But I don’t think it’d be smart to reward Eric, that way. You’d be letting him win, teaching him that it works to bust in on people, mutilate himself, slash tires …’

‘I guess you’re right, ’ she admitted.

They went to bed, then. For a long time, Sam couldn’t sleep. He lay beside Cynthia, staring into the darkness, knowing that she was also awake. They didn’t talk or touch. When Sam finally fell asleep, he dreamed he was awake.

He dreamed that Eric stood at the foot of the bed, knife ready. He was safe as long as Eric thought he was sleeping. But a heavy, bloated spider was scurrying down the wall. In seconds, it would creep onto Sam’s face. He wondered, vaguely, how he could see the spider so well with his eyes shut.

They’re open!

With a sudden grin, Eric dived onto him. The blade plunged into his stomach, stiff and cold.

He sat up, grabbing his stomach, gasping.

For a long time after that, he lay awake. He didn’t want to fall asleep if it meant returning to the dream. So he kept his eyes open, and tried to think of something pleasant.

His thoughts drifted to Melodie Caine.

They were in the motel office, and she wore her white sweater and kilts. Sam shut his eyes to see her more clearly.

‘If I’m supposed to be your deputy, ’ she said, ‘I need a badge. ’

He held it out to her.

‘No, you have to pin it on me or it’s not official. ’

He tried to pin the badge to her sweater, his fingers trembling against her breast.

‘Don’t be nervous, ’ she whispered. She jumped and said ‘Ouch! ’ as he stuck her.

‘Are you okay? ’

‘I don’t know. ’ She lifted her sweater over her full, milk-white breasts. A spot of blood shimmered above the nipple. ‘You’d better kiss it and make it well. ’

He pressed his lips to the wound, tasting the warm salty blood. Then her nipple was in his mouth. His teeth teased the springy column of flesh; his tongue flicked and circled.

‘Oh Sam, ’ she gasped. ‘Oh Sam, I love you. ’

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