"And no sane man would put up with you."

Five minutes later, Maleah and Derek realized that sometime during their childish argument, Nic and Griff had left the room.

Mike had moved back home a couple of days after Tyler Owens's arrest, but as a precaution, a deputy had remained posted outside her house every night from ten until two for the rest of the week. Although she still got curious stares and an occasional off-color comment from a few men, for the most part, the community as a whole pretty much treated her the way it always had. Some people were friendly, some ignored her, and a few were downright hostile. The Women for Christian Morality hadn't picketed the shop since she returned to work at Treasures, thanks in great part to Patsy Elliott's intervention.

Customers came and went on a regular basis, along with the occasional curiosity seeker. After she had granted Ryan Bonner an exclusive interview-against Mike's wishes-and three articles about her past and present and her connection to the Midnight Killer appeared in the Huntsville Times, Huntsville Times, the media interest in Cherry Sweets and Lorie Hammonds had begun to wane. the media interest in Cherry Sweets and Lorie Hammonds had begun to wane.

She was, slowly but surely, getting her life back on track. Except for her relationship with Mike. It could never go back to the way it had been before, not now that they had become lovers again. And yet neither of them was sure they had a future together. She was still a woman with a notorious past, at least notorious in the eyes of small-town America. If they could move away from Dunmore, escape the narrow-minded bigotry that judged her as unfit wife and mother material, and live in a big city like New York or Chicago or Atlanta, they might have a chance of making it as a couple. But Mike's life was here. His children's lives were rooted in this community, and his mother's family had lived in Dunmore for generations.

She and Mike had agreed that they needed time apart, time to recover from recent events, time to put their lives back in order and make rational decisions about their future.

He and the kids had cooked dinner for her one night and she had cooked for them another night. She and Mike had gone out on one date that had ended with a good-night kiss at her front door. And she was no longer forbidden to spend time with Hannah and M.J.

"No matter what happens between us, I want you and my children to get to know one another a lot better," Mike had told her.

She wanted that, too.

Actually, what she really wanted was the chance to be a good stepmother to Mike's kids, something that might never happen.

"I'm off now," Cathy said as she retrieved her purse from under the checkout counter. "My appointment is at four o'clock." She grabbed Lorie's hands. "I'm so nervous. I've taken four home pregnancy tests and all four were positive, but I want to hear Dr. Evans tell me that I am definitely pregnant."

Lorie and Cathy laughed like schoolgirls.

"Jack is so excited," Cathy said. "He missed out on the whole experience when I was pregnant with Seth, so in a way, this is his first time. You should hear him. He's convinced it's a girl. He's already coming up with names."

"I'm so happy for you." Lorie hugged Cathy. "You deserve the wonderful life you have with Jack."

"You deserve a life with the man you love, too," Cathy told her. "I swear, I want to shake Mike Birkett until his teeth rattle."

The bell over the entrance tinkled loudly as the front door opened and Nell Birkett followed her grandchildren into the shop. "h.e.l.lo, girls," Nell called to them as she came inside and closed her wet umbrella while M.J. and Hannah ran over to Lorie.

"I brought them a little early," Nell said. "It's raining cats and dogs out there and I always drive slower when it's raining. Another thing, I'm going to stop by the farmer's market on my way back from the dentist if it's slacked up some and I feel like it. Thank goodness Dr. Springer could fit me in. This tooth is killing me." Nell rubbed her swollen jaw. "It's probably an abscess. Sure feels like it. And I sure do appreciate your looking after the kids."

"No problem. I love spending time with Hannah and M.J."

"Gotta run." Nell waved good-bye as she headed out the door, reopening her umbrella on her way out.

"Me, too," Cathy said. "I'll call you the minute I leave Dr. Evans's office."

"Don't forget your umbrella." Lorie picked up the bright red umbrella from the counter and handed it to Cathy.

Left alone with the children and a few browsing customers, Lorie suggested that M.J. and Hannah go with her to the kitchenette in the back. "I have milk and cookies. Or c.o.kes and chips."

"Milk and cookies," Hannah said.

"c.o.ke and chips." M.J. grinned.

After settling the children at the table, each with the snack of their choice, Lorie told them, "When you finish eating, clean up after yourselves and then start on your homework. I'll be outside in the shop if you need me for anything."

"Yes, ma'am," they said in unison.

On her way out, Lorie overheard Hannah say, "Miss Lorie would make a great mom, wouldn't she?"

Oh, Hannah, more than anything, I'd love to be your mom.

"If Dad marries her, she'd be our stepmom," M.J. corrected his sister. "But she wouldn't be one of those mean stepmothers. She'd be like a real mom because she likes both of us so much."

I love you both. More than you'll ever know. I love you because you're great kids. I love you because you're Mike's children. I love you because you were almost mine.

Customers came and went and Lorie rang up several nice sales. Mrs. Webber hurried in for a quick look through the blank invitation cards that were on sale, bought two dozen for her sister's birthday party, and hurried off. Paul Babc.o.c.k showed up and took his usual stance at the antique postcard table. Mike called to check on the kids and told her that he'd drop by and pick them up before she closed at 6:00 P.M P.M. One by one, her customers hurried off to their cars, eventually leaving only Paul and a lady Lorie didn't recognize in the store.

The heavy springtime thunderstorm that had rolled into Dunmore, bringing a torrential downpour along with booming thunder and dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning, grew progressively worse. Concerned about Hannah and M.J., Lorie carried two flashlights with her when she went to check on them. She gave one to each of them and cautioned them to stay away from the single window in the room.

"Keep these with you, just in case the power goes out," she told them. "With a storm this bad, there's a good chance the electricity will go out at any moment. During these spring storms, we average losing power at least once a month."

"I don't like the thunder and lightning when it's like this," Hannah admitted.

Lorie hugged the child, kissed her forehead, and said, "You're safe in here. I promise. And as soon as I shoo the last of my customers out the door, I'll close up early and come back in here with y'all until your dad shows up."

That promise seemed to pacify Hannah. Lorie could tell that although he was putting up a brave front, M.J. was a little unnerved by the incessant thunder and repeated flashes of lightning. "Take care of your sister," she told him.

"Yes, ma'am. I will."

When she went back out front, she found the shop completely empty. Good. She was glad she wouldn't have to rush any customers out the door and into the rain. Peering through the full gla.s.s door, she realized she could barely see the sidewalk in front of Treasures, let alone the buildings across the street. Just as she started to flip over the sign to read Closed, a clap of thunder rattled the shop windows, making her gasp and jump. Suddenly the front door swung open, startling her. Buddy Pounders tromped into Treasures, tossed back the hood on his raincoat, and smiled at Lorie.

"It's coming a d.a.m.n monsoon," he said.

"I was just closing up," Lorie told him. "Is there something you need?"

He glanced around the shop. "Are you here all alone? No customers left?"

"No customers," she told him.

"Well, I came by to ask you something," Buddy said.

"You did?" She couldn't imagine what Buddy needed to ask her. Something about Mike maybe?

"I...uh...are you and Mike a couple?" he asked. "I mean, are you two dating each other and n.o.body else?"

She started to tell Mike's deputy that it was none of his business, but instead she said, "Mike and I are trying to figure things out."

"Well, while you're trying to figure things out, would you consider dating somebody else?" Buddy's lopsided boyish grin probably appealed to most women.

"Are you asking for yourself or for someone else?"

"For myself," he admitted. "I've admired you for a long time, Miss Lorie. You're one fine-looking woman and I'd be proud if you'd go out with me sometime."

Lorie managed not to laugh in Buddy's face. He was a sweet guy with youthful good looks to go with his adorable smile. But he was years too young for her, probably not a day over twenty-five. And she was and always would be in love with Mike Birkett.

She placed her hand on Buddy's arm covered by his damp raincoat. "I'm flattered. Very flattered. But right now, I'm not seeing anyone except Mike."

Buddy's face turned beet red. "I sure hope he's got sense enough to marry you. But if he doesn't, well, somebody should tell him that there are plenty of guys who'd be interested, me included."

Smiling warmly, she said, "Thank you, Buddy."

He cleared his throat. "Well, I guess I'd better be going. You lock up after I leave."

"I will." And she did.

With the door locked and the CLOSED CLOSED sign prominently displayed, Lorie headed for the kitchenette. The lights flickered. Oh, dear. She didn't make it across the shop before the lights flickered again. Another deafening roar of thunder, followed by a blinding lightning flash, stopped Lorie in her tracks. The lights went out, sending the entire shop into darkness. Only the fading daylight coming through the gla.s.s door and the display windows across the front of the shop enabled her to see anything at all. sign prominently displayed, Lorie headed for the kitchenette. The lights flickered. Oh, dear. She didn't make it across the shop before the lights flickered again. Another deafening roar of thunder, followed by a blinding lightning flash, stopped Lorie in her tracks. The lights went out, sending the entire shop into darkness. Only the fading daylight coming through the gla.s.s door and the display windows across the front of the shop enabled her to see anything at all.

The children were alone in the back, Hannah probably frightened and M.J. trying to be brave. Since she was halfway across the shop, she decided not to go back and search for a flashlight under the checkout counter. Feeling her way more than seeing, Lorie took small, careful steps, doing her best not to run into anything. Once she reached the back wall, another streak of lightning illuminated the open door leading to the rooms behind the shop. She stepped over the threshold, placed her hand on the wall, and took her time going down the hallway between the storeroom and the kitchenette.

Feeling a whoosh of air coming from somewhere nearby, she stopped and listened. Just as she started to call out to the children, someone grabbed her from behind and placed a sweaty hand over her mouth.

You're mine now. I'll never let you go.

He had been patient. He had waited for such a long time. Too long. Didn't she understand that she belonged to him, that they were destined to be together forever. And there was only one way he could make sure Mike Birkett would never have her, that she would truly be his and only his for all eternity.

He supposed he had known all along how this would end despite how much he wished it could end differently.

We will make love, sweet Lorie, and then...

They would be found lying together, naked lovers whose souls could never be separated.

Lorie tried to scream.

He yanked her backward so that her b.u.t.t hit his groin and she felt his erection pressing against her. She struggled to free herself but he held tight.

"I don't want to hurt you," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "Not yet."

Who was he? His voice was so soft she could barely hear him, but it sounded familiar.

"I've been watching you for a long time," he told her. "I used to stand outside at night and look at your silhouette through your window shades. I wanted you so much. But you never looked at me once. You couldn't see anybody except Mike Birkett."

Was it Buddy Pounders? No, no, it couldn't be Buddy. The voice was too soft, a tenor instead of a baritone. And this man wasn't tall enough to be Buddy. He wasn't much taller than she was. Buddy was six feet tall.

"You are mine, not Mike Birkett's and not the Midnight Killer's. You belong only to me. We are going to be together forever now."

Whoever he was, he intended to kill her, that much was clear. But she'd be d.a.m.ned if she'd let that happen. She had no intention of giving up and going to her death like a lamb to the slaughter.

His lips touched her neck. She shivered.

"You like that, don't you? You want me as much as I want you. G.o.d, Lorie, I want to f.u.c.k you. I want to f.u.c.k you so bad."

He stuck his hand between her legs and kissed her neck. She took advantage of the moment when he was distracted by his own sick desire. She bowed her head and then reared back and bashed him in the nose. He hollered in pain and momentarily loosened his hold on her long enough for her to pull away from him.

"Lorie, is that you?" M.J. called out in the darkness.

Oh G.o.d, the children! How could she have forgotten, even for a moment, that Mike's children were in the kitchenette.

"I thought you were here alone," he said. "Who is that?"

Inching her way along the wall, trying to get farther away from her attacker and stop M.J. before he came out into the hall, Lorie called, "Go back. Do you hear me? Close the door and lock it. Do it now."

A child's frightened scream reverberated off the walls. No, no, no!

"M.J., answer me."

"Help me, Miss Lorie," Hannah cried. "Somebody's got me."

"So help me G.o.d, if you hurt that child, I'll kill you, you sick son of a b.i.t.c.h," Lorie yelled at the top of her lungs.

"This is Mike Birkett's little girl, isn't it?" The man chuckled. "She's a pretty thing, sweet and tender and-"

"Don't you hurt my sister!" M.J. shouted as he moved his flashlight's beam in a semicircle.

That was when Lorie saw Paul Babc.o.c.k standing inside the kitchenette, Hannah hoisted up in front of him, his forearm pressing firmly across her throat. M.J. stood outside in the hall, only a few feet from Lorie.

"Let her go," Lorie said. "Please, Paul, we can lock the children up in the storeroom and then you and I can have our time together, all alone, just the two of us."

Hannah whimpered. M.J. shined the light directly on his sister. Paul's arm tightened across her neck. It would take very little for him to choke her without meaning to or even break her fragile little neck.

"Tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it," Lorie said. "Anything. You name it and it's yours."

She inched closer and closer to M.J. and when she was within touching distance, she held out her hand, wriggled her fingers, and mouthed the words "stay here." Knowing what she wanted, M.J. gave her the flashlight. Holding the light in front of her and keeping it aimed directly at Paul, who was using Hannah's head to shield his eyes from the flashlight's glare, Lorie took small, tentative steps forward until she entered the kitchenette. And then she turned off the flashlight.

"Why did you do that?" Paul asked. "Where are you? I want to see you. Turn the flashlight back on. If you don't, I swear I'll break her neck."

Lorie reached out and ran her hand across the counter and into the sink where she had left a paring knife after peeling an apple for her midafternoon snack.

"Don't play games with me, Lorie," Paul said. "I'll do it. I swear, I'll kill her."

Lorie grabbed the knife, slid it into her pants pocket, and then hurriedly turned on the flashlight and held it under her chin.

"I'm here. See?"