Page 17

“Yeah, and by rights, you should be in jail soon,” Monica said. “What I think is so despicable is that you would use Pierre in such an awful way.”

Helen’s face was filled with an odd look, but Andy couldn’t decipher its meaning as he and Monica moved Helen opposite Denny at the end of the long counter.

Once they had cuffed her to the bar, Andy checked on Denny, his heart beating steadily.

He suddenly opened his eyes, saw that he was handcuffed to the brass pole, tried to sit up, and groaned. “Who the hell are you? And what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“FBI Special Agent O’Connell at your service.” Monica flashed her badge.

“I’m a state trooper. MacMathan is the name.”

Denny glanced at Helen. “Why isshehandcuffed?”

“We know the whole story.” Monica heated up the milk to make hot cocoa for her and Andy.

Now that was much better than cold water in a chilling blizzard.

Denny quickly looked at Helen as if he thought she had told them the whole story.

“They were a couple of damn peeping Toms,” Helen snarled. “They saw us screwing around.”

“And enjoying it,” Monica said.

“That doesn’t mean—” Helen started to say.

“That you aren’t in collusion in planning this whole kidnapping for ransom matter? Sadly, your new boyfriend was willing to do anything to save you at all costs and would have paid for your release. This sack of garbage only wants money. I guess you too.” Monica poured the cocoa into two mugs, found whipped cream in the fridge, and topped off the cocoa with swirls of cream.

Andy figured Monica was right.

Helen looked at her ex-boyfriend.

Denny shook his head. “That’s not true, honey. You know I love you.”

“So why are you the ex then?” Monica asked.

Helen began to cry, and Andy swore it was all fake.

“He abused me.” Helen cried even harder.

“Oh, that’s a great reason to return with him and con the new boyfriend.” Monica sipped her cocoa and got a dab of whipped cream on her nose.

Before she could wipe it off, Andy came over and licked it off. She chuckled and kissed his mouth. He kissed her chocolaty lips right back and deepened the kiss. Now this was more like it.

“You know, Pierre wouldn’t stop talking about you. I got sick of hearing it,” Helen said.

“I can’t imagine. We dated only for a while.”

“To hear him talk about you, you were perfect. I wouldn’t ever measure up.”

“That’s news to me.” Monica seemed to be sincere about it.

Andy was still surprised she’d dated him and hadn’t mentioned it earlier. He suspected she didn’t want to discuss it now in front of the others.

Denny squirmed to get more comfortable. “With two more of you here and us stuck here because of the blizzard, you know we’ll run out of food soon. Have you looked at the food supplies?”

5

Worrying they might be stuck there for several days, Monica and Andy finished their cocoa, and then she began checking the stockpile of food in the cupboards, fridge, and freezer. “We have enough food here to eat for a while. The blizzard should end soon.”