SURVIVAL INSTINCT

CHAPTER: 17

The morning came all too soon, and Sarah took a shower and brushed her teeth and did her hair, and put on make-up. She then managed to get to South Massachusetts Avenue a little after Nine. Ryan was there before her, sitting on the front steps in the bright glare of the sun, looking disgustingly awake for this time of the morning. "Big date last night?" he inquired dryly when Sarah stopped in front of him. 

Sarah grimaced. "Do I look that bad?"

"There are bags under your eyes and you forgot to put on glitter," Ryan said.

He tugged one of his ears to show her what he meant. She thus felt her own earlobes; they were empty. She squinted suspiciously. "Are you a detective or something?" she asked Ryan. That suggestion earned her an honest, full-throated laugh.

"No darling, I am just a normal man who likes looking at women," Ryan replied.

"From what I understand," Sarah said snidely, "that is what got you that black eye, too."

He grinned. "You have been asking the sheriff about me?" 

Sarah just shrugged.

"Yeah, old Caesar got a little carried away. It was not the first time either. He seemed to mind me talking to Melanie," Ryan said.

"That is what I heard," Sarah replied.

"As it happens nothing is going on between Melanie and me. And it is not Caesar's business anyhow. She has left him," Ryan clarified to Sarah.

"So I understand," Sarah said.

Ryan squinted at her. "And it is no business of yours too, don't you bother to think about it."

"I guess not," Sarah replied. "So are you ready to go inside?" She smiled brightly.

He looked at her for a second; probably debating whether or not to push her further. Then deciding against it, he got to his feet. "Sure."

"Let me just open the door for you, and you can look around as much as you want." Sarah got the new key out of the lockbox and into the lock. "There you go. Have fun."

She pushed the door open and smiled him in. 

But Ryan did not budge. "After you darling," he said to Sarah.

"I think I will just stay out here, if you don't mind," Sarah replied to him.

Ryan grinned. "Are you scared?"

Sarah shrugged.

"Don't worry, I will protect you from ghosts and ghouls." He lifted his arms and wiggled his fingers suggestively, in the manner of ghostly ghoulies everywhere. His muscled bunched under the tight sleeves of the T-shirt.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe I am afraid of you?" Sarah questioned him.

Obviously, it had not, because Ryan looked stunned. For just a second before his face and eyes were smooth and in control again. His voice was light. "I cannot say that it did occur, darling. But now that I know, I will be sure to keep my distance." He ducked in through the door before she had time to answer. 

Sarah pulled a face. She had not meant it that way exactly. In the end, she stayed outside just long enough to give him time, so that hopefully he would have simmered down before she went inside.

"Ryan?" Sarah called out.

"I am in here." The voice came from the back of the house. 

She headed that way. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I am doing?" Ryan questioned her back. He was standing in the kitchen, looking around. Sarah too stepped onto the cracked tiles and did the same.

Back in the olden days when the house was built, the kitchen was a separate building at a safe distance from the main building. That way, the house was protected even if there was a fire in the kitchen. But as time progressed and cooking over an open flame became a thing of the past, people decided they liked the convenience of having a kitchen that was part of the house, and those houses that were not originally built with kitchens, and had one inserted somewhere.

Back home in St. Louis, one of the smaller rooms on the ground floor had been converted to a kitchen. While here an extra room had been added on the backside of the original structure. From the looks of it, it must have happened somewhere in the 1940s, and no further appreciable changes seemed to have been done after that. Except for the new gas stove and refrigerator, which also seemed to be from the 1970s.

"This place needs a complete overhaul," Sarah remarked in her cheeriest, and most professional tone.

Ryan glanced over at her. "You think?" Both his voice and glance seemed to be very hostile.

"Look," Sarah said, "about what I said earlier..."

He shook his head. "No need to apologize. You being ladylike yourself, no wonder. I am not surprised you get fidgety around somebody like me."

"You make that sound like I am hundred-years-old," Sarah said. "I am not nervous. And even if I were, I think anyone would agree I have reason to be careful, knowing what I know about you."

"And what do you know about me?" Ryan turned his entire body facing her. It seemed she had made the mistake of getting his undivided attention. Which was not something Sarah wanted. she took an unobtrusive step backward and saw his lips quirked. "Scared?" Ryan moved a little closer.

"Should I be?" Sarah's voice was steadier than she felt, but with a slight wobble nevertheless.

Ryan grinned. "I do not know. Should you?"

Sarah hesitated. Probably. Here she was in an empty house where another woman had been murdered less than a week ago, and she was alone there, except for an ex-convict who had the opportunity to kill her, and who was leaning over her, looking he would love to take a bite of her. He was too close for comfort, and Sarah could feel his breath stirring her hair at the temple. It took all her self-control to say very coolly, "If I had thought I was in any danger whatsoever, I would not have agreed to meet you. And, of course, I have informed my office where I was going and with whom."

Ryan nodded wisely. "Of course." He straightened up and added, "So if anything happens to you, they will know I did it. Smart."

Sarah nodded. It would have been yes. A pity she had not thought of it until then.

He stepped back, giving her the chance to breathe again, and as he did, they could hear footsteps in the front part of the house. Slow, dragging steps, coming closer. Her heart started beating faster. Ryan took a step forward, between her and the doorway. It could have been one of those automatic guy things, for she certainly had not given him any reason to want to protect her.

The footsteps turned into the hall. Sarah held her breath. Any moment now, they would be able to see someone through the open door. Ryan shifted his weight, distributing it properly for combat. His muscles tensed and he flexed his hand in readiness. Sarah could see then what Tony had meant when he said that he would not want to tangle with Ryan. Even she would not want to tangle with him either, although there was no denying that the way he moved, smooth and controlled like a predatory animal, was indeed very beautiful.

The footsteps stopped. Then a quavering voice called out, "Who is there?"