669小说网

第23部分（第3页）

through　the　house　along　with　tongued　bolts　of　lightening。

Annes　nerves　prickled　then；　because；　in　the　thunders　wake　came　another

noise。　This　one　was　more　human　and　threatening。　A　car　was　approaching；

ing　nearer；　loud　enough　to　be　heard　above　the　storm。　It　reached　her

front　door　and　stopped。

Huddled　in　the　chair；　she　held　her　breath。　It　was　twelve　thirty…five；

well　past　normal　calling　hours　even　in　the　city。　Perhaps　one　of　the

villagers　wanted　to　warn　her　about　the　storm。　Perhaps　someone　was　lost。

Perhaps　。。。　perhaps　　。。。　A　furious　pounding　came　at　the　door。　Had　it

been　a　gentle　knock；　Anne　might　have　dared　answer　it。　But　this　knock　was

angry；　clearly　no　neighbor　expressing　concern。　At　least　the　door　was

locked；　though　she　wished　fervently　for　the　dead　bolt　she　had　in　New

York。

〃Open　up！　Its　wet　out　here！〃　The　voice　was　deep；　gruff；　and　angry。

〃Open　the　damn　door！〃

Anne　didnt　budge。　This　was　her　cottage　for　the　week；　and　she　had　the

papers　to　prove　it。　She　didnt　have　to　open　the　door。

But　the　banging　went　on；　hard　knuckles　on　wood。　〃e　on；　whoever　you

are；　open　the　door！　Im　getting　soaked　and　I　cant　reach　my　key。〃

His　key？　Was　this　a　mon　visiting　place？　Had　the　realtor　forgotten　to

tell　her　something？

Feeling　vaguely　guilty　at　being　warm　and　dry　while　someone　was　out　there

wet　and　cold；　she　approached　the　door。　〃Who　is　it？〃　she　yelled；　resting

her　forehead　against　the　smooth　oak。

〃Its　Mitch；　dammit。　Open　up！〃　An　impatient　hand　jiggled　the　doorknob

from　the　outside。

〃I　dont　know　any　Mitch；〃　she　shouted　over　the　storm。　〃What　do　you

want？〃

What　came　back　was　a　menacing　growl。　〃I　want　to　get　dry。　For　Gods　sake；

open　up。　I　do　have　a　key；　but　if　I　have　to　put　these　bags　down　to　get

it；　Ill　be　maddern　hell　when　I　get　in　there！〃

Assuming　she　could　believe　him；　he　had　a　point。　If　he　did　have　a　key　and

would　eventually　open　the　door　whether　she　liked　it　or　not；　she　could

save　him　the　effort　and　spare　herself　his　anger。　Cautious；　she　reached

for　the　knob。　She　opened　the　door　a　few　inches；　leaving　her　weight

against　the　wood　in　case　she　didnt　like　what　she　saw。