The Assailant
Page 23
“It’s a nice apartment.”
She walked out of the kitchen and into the living area, her shoulder brushing his as she went by. She took a seat on the daybed.
Hastings turned and leaned against the doorway.
She said, “I guess you’d tell me that it was worth exposing me to stop him from killing other women.”
“I didn’t want to expose you.”
“I know you didn’t. But at least you got rid of him.”
“I didn’t.”
“Right,” she said. “Well, I’ll accept the gratitude for helping you catch him. But I didn’t save your life. I saved my own.”
“Okay,” Hastings said. “Well, thanks just the same.” He started moving to the door.
“Hey, are you leaving?”
“Yeah, I’ve got . . . stuff.” He turned to look at her. “I wish you the best, Rita.”
She smiled at him from her place on the couch, her legs tucked up underneath her. A smile he’d never seen from her before, a friendly warmth in her eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay awhile?”
Oh God, Hastings thought. For she had never looked more desirable to him than she did now. Her face and figure, real. The woman, real. Real to him now.
“Ahhh, I gotta go.” He opened the door. He turned to look at Rita Liu one more time before he went out.
“You know, George,” she said, the smile still in her voice. “You’re not so cool.”