"You see, I really need a kind of overseer for the grounds, too… actually the job would be perfect for a young couple. I know you can't give me an answer now, and I don't want you to, after what just happened, but I want you to think about it later… It might be just the thing for you and your husband, until that book of his gets published. Oh, yes, and, of course, there are no strings attached. Besides, your husband will be there…"

Kate remained silent until she caught sight of the familiar surroundings of Potrero Hill.

"Left at the next corner," she said. She just wanted to get inside her apartment and close the door, but still, in spite of herself, Sam Dagon's words were swimming around in her mind.

"Again my apologies," Dagon called out of the door and Kate hurriedly stepped out in front of the wooden, two story building. "And promise me you'll think about what I said!"

Kate kept walking without turning around to look as Dagon pulled away. Then as she got to the top of the steps she turned and watched as the big car turned the corner. She realized that her knees were weak and she felt an odd sensation in the pit of her stomach. Her hand was shaking as she placed the key in the lock. She had never in her life had such a terrible experience.

She entered the apartment as quietly as she could. She and Tim had the downstairs apartment in the building… and she could see that Tim was most certainly asleep in the bedroom. All the lights were out with the exception of the night-light that he kept lit for her in the living room. She breathed a sigh of relief that he was indeed asleep, not knowing just how to cope with what had just happened. She couldn't really tell him about it because she felt oddly responsible for what had happened, as though she had led Dagon on… when she knew that that wasn't true. As she tiptoed into the bathroom, she felt the strange tremor in the bottom of her stomach again. The memory of Dagon's hand touching her sent a chill through her as she closed the bathroom door, and she knew that what was really bothering her was the fact that she had had a moment of pleasure… a split second granted, but pleasure right on.