CHAPTER SEVEN
Max led Ariel up a short flight of stairs toward the kitchen door, and once inside the room, he put the lights on. Then, the man left the food on the corner kitchen table and invited Ariel to sit on the bench.
“I’ll go to take care of that alarm back-up I told you about,” Max grinned at Ariel. “Just wait a few moments in here,” he shrugged. “If you want, you can start making some coffee or some tea, whatever you want,” he pointed to the coffee maker and the kettle on the counter.
“Don’t worry about me. I will manage just fine,” Ariel said, waving her hand, and an anemic smile upturned the corners of her mouth.
However, Max noticed that her half-smile didn’t reach the light of her eyes, and the man sighed mutely. There was no doubt that something was wrong with Ariel that
