“They never caught who did it?” Tom was incredulous.

“No,” she said bleakly. “How could they? Anyone could have gotten into our garage, Father didn’t lock it. And it must have been done here. Why would a service-station attendant in Arkansas do anything like that? They were nice people…I met them.” She closed her eyes and leaned back against the couch.

She heard Tom rise, and knew it was because he was too excited to sit. I’ve made one person happy today, she thought.

“I’m going to call Galton,” he said eagerly. Without another word, he stalked out the back door.

She forgot him as soon as he was gone.

I’ve been waiting for this, Catherine realized. Somewhere in this little town he’s been waiting, too, free and alive. Everyone forgot about my parents after a while. But now that he’s killed again, he’s drawn attention to himself. I’ve been waiting…She knew it now and was amazed she had not known it before. She was frightened to discover that this blood lust existed in quiet Catherine Linton.

But it was anger released. It felt good.

She opened her eyes to meet Randall’s. He looked thoughtful.

“Go to bed,” he advised gently, and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll come by tomorrow.”

She could hear him let himself out as she went obediently to the soft waiting bed. She didn’t wonder at his sliding into the position of man to her woman, instead of employer to employee. She accepted the transition without question. As she turned over on her stomach and wrapped her arms around the pillow, she was able to forget her parents, forget Leona Gaites, for the moment before sleep swamped her.

5

CATHERINE SLEPT DREAMLESSLY until morning.