Straight From the Hip(83)

She sounded fine, but something wasn’t right. He could tell. “It’s been three days. There isn’t much slack to pick up.”

“I like staying current,” she murmured. “Anyway, here’s your dinner. Norma made all your favorites, which you should really mention. She said it about three times. And she kept Aaron from eating all the biscuits. Here’s my question. How does he eat so much and stay so damn skinny? It’s annoying.”

She gave him a tight smile that looked more pained than happy, then started backing out of the room. “I’ll just let you eat in peace.”

“Or you could keep me company.”

She froze, momentarily looked trapped, then gave him the fake smile again. “Sure. If you’d like. That would be great. Really nice.” She pulled over the armchair from the corner.

“Go ahead,” she said. “Eat. I’ll do the talking. I’m good at that.” She paused as if searching for a topic. “I, ah, got the catalog from the community college. I missed the fall semester start by three weeks. Which is okay. I can take my time and figure out my major. Not that I have to declare right away.”

He cut into the roast beef. “I thought you were studying psychology.”

“I am, but there are a lot of choices in the field. Not at the community college level, of course, but you know, um, later.”

“Izzy, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m fine.” She smiled again and this time did a better job of faking it. “You’re getting tons of get-well cards. You’re way more popular than I would have guessed. Aaron has them all. He’ll bring them by later. I’m sure small but tasteful gifts will be arriving soon. Oh, look at the time.”

She started to stand. He grabbed her arm and held her in place.

“You’re not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.”

She stared at him, wide-eyed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You’re acting strange.”

“No, I’m not. It’s the snake bite, isn’t it? Your brain is addled.”

He frowned. “You don’t say things like addled. What happened?”

“Nothing. Seriously, I’m good. And I really have to go. I’ll see you later.”

She slipped free of his grasp and walked out of the room.

Nick thought about going after her, but wondered if she needed time to deal with whatever it was that had…What? Scared her? It would be his first guess, only very little scared Izzy. She was tough and gentle, an impossible combination.

He would give it time, but eventually he would figure it out. Something had happened. Something that had her running scared and he was going to find out what it was.





THE KNIVES CAME OUT of the darkness. Nick recognized the burning as the blades cut through him. It was always the same, he thought, doing his best to fight. Silence, then the burn, then the warm trickle of blood followed by the intense pain. They liked to cut in a place that had almost healed. It hurt more that way. Sometimes they jabbed under his fingernails or the bottom of his feet. He never knew where they would strike or when. Or how long it would last.

The burning continued and he waited for the agony. Only it wasn’t there this time. And a part of him knew he was dreaming. This wasn’t real. But it felt real, he told himself, even as he fought the bone-chilling fear. It felt more real than it had for years.The venom, he remembered. The snake bite. That’s what was different. He was weak—he who hadn’t allowed himself to be weak since his escape.

He fought the memories, the heat and told himself he would escape again, as he had before. He knew the way. He could…

Something cold stroked his face. A soft voice whispered for him to come back. It promised safety. A hand held on to his, guiding him, drawing him up and up until he opened his eyes and saw Izzy leaning over him.

“You made it,” she said. “You were dreaming. The jungle?”

He nodded. “What time is it?”

“Just after midnight.”

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Watching over you.”

Being around him was safe, or so Izzy had thought. While Nick was asleep she was at less risk of giving herself away. So she’d curled up in the big chair a couple of hours ago, prepared to spend the night. She’d nearly been asleep when she’d heard him moaning.

She dipped the washcloth in the basin of water, squeezed it, then placed it back on his forehead.

“I want to check for a fever,” she said. “You feel hot.”

“Not as good as looking hot,” he teased.

“Someone’s been hanging out with Aaron just a little too much.”