NN'

ill jolted me. From the corner of

As soon as we get there, w

bath sounded ideal. Should I have been more concerned that I so willingly agreed to go wherever this stranger took me? H

y feet were pressed near the top of the floorboards and the seat warmer wa

in front of a six-story brick building. I slipped on my soggy shoes and opened the d

live?" I asked. "

to me. "This is it. It's an old

icks and two steel silos standing on a roughly hewn platforms. But the impressive lobby felt modern, yet industrial. It still

e hip with straight-edged coffee tables and clean-lined black leather couches. A long reception desk served a

sank back against the wall. Exhaustion overtook me as I closed my eye

ng sick are you?"

yes and strai

e no other residents on this floor. Ford's front door looked like a garage door with frosted windows. He reac

concrete columns rose to the ceiling. Exposed metal duct work gleamed from the sunlight pouring in through the white-br

eciated the urban grandeur. But this day,

ou'll find towels in the closet and a robe hanging on the back of the door. Can I trust y

es at him. "You'

fifteen minutes, I'm

ve to go? The thought depressed me further and I dropped the blanket to the bathroom floor and locked the do

y auburn curls were matted and twisted into knots. I looked like a drowned rat. I could see the

n and the searing heat shocked my system. I eased down into the wat

Once my body temperature regulated to that of the water, I sighed with relief as I finally b

c River. I sat in the tub a while longer, vaguely aware I'd neared the fifteen-minute mark and Ford would c

grabbed a towel from the narrow closet. When I'd finished drying, I hurried to drape myself in his oversized robe. His i

d the latch to unlock the door. Ford stood there, casually dressed

better?" h

r into his robe.

Give me your clothes so I c

my belongings and

t tea waiting for you in t

gh a door at the other end of the hallway. He seemed to be a man of

d's apartment. But I couldn't get my thoughts to formulate clearly. Every thought seemed shrouded in a cloudy, w

s of small, square panes all frosted with frozen air. I reached out to clear a space, b

w slid down my throat and warmed my insides. I closed my eyes, moaning sof

he reality that I had willingly come into a stranger's house and no one knew I was here frighte

on my still damp shoes and gripped the handle of the door. It didn't budge. I tugged harder

." Ford's voice piped up b

soft waves, a stubborn curl brushing his forehead. He stood cloaked in mystery and intri

lk the streets in a r

es. "If I want

nder his arm at me. "You didn't eat your sandwich, so you can tak

What plane? I'm not gett

sh back my business meeting and if we don't ge

er, I didn't ask you

s on or you can wear my robe on t

ff my shoes. "You're taking this p

used

ed them up. They were still damp

me. "Oh, I think it is

snapping on my bra the

dre

shed pass and opened a door to a hall closet. He re

it

und my shoulders. It

. I followed behind like a trained seal -- waiting for him to comma