Charon's Crossing

"What?"

"Does it prick your conscience? Or did it mean so little to you that you truly have difficulty remembering it?"

"Please," she said, trying to keep her voice from trembling. "Please, don't you think this game's gone far enough?"

"On the contrary," he said softly. "It hasn't gone anywhere. Not yet."

There was no mistaking the threat. She took a deep breath and faced him.

"Let me offer you a choice... Matthew."

His eyes gave nothing away. "What choice?"

"If—if you leave Charon's Crossing now, I won't tell anyone you've been here."

A smile played across his lips. He walked slowly towards her and she forced herself to hold her ground, even though every nerve in her body was shrieking for her to run.

Half a dozen feet away, he stopped, sat on the arm of a chair, and folded his arms.

"It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

"It isn't," she said desperately, "it's not too late at all. We can still pretend none of this happened."

"None of what happened?"

"You know."

He shook his head. "I'd rather hear it from you."

This was touchy. Whatever she said next might be a mistake, depending on which he was, a nut who wandered into people's houses or a burglar with a taste for the dramatic who might resent being called a nut.

Although, she had to admit, he didn't seem to fit either category. Not a criminal. Not a lunatic...

"Why so quiet, Cat?"

"I—I'm thinking."

"What is there to think about?" His mouth thinned. "There's only one thing I want to hear you say and you know what it is."

Kathryn looked down and traced the seam of her skirt pocket with the tip of her finger.

"I won't tell anybody you've been here."

He laughed. "How generous."

Relief swept through her. "You'll leave, then?"

"I can't."

"You can! Just take my car."

"Car?"

"The VW outside. I know it isn't much, but—"

"I'd sooner ride a donkey without a saddle," he said, shuddering. He looked at her and his eyes darkened, so much so that for a moment he seemed to be in pain. "You don't understand. I can't leave, even if I wanted to."

"Don't be silly. Of course..."