Flesh

But Kimmy had never had a swollen, discolored jaw and cheek like Alison.

A bruise on her arm, though. She’d shown it to him when they got to Jack-in-the-Box last night.

Should’ve given Barbara a bruise for her arm.

Ever hurts Kimmy again, it’ll be a court order. How could the bitch slug her own daughter like that? How could anybody slug a girl like Kimmy?

Or a girl like Alison?

The guy who did that is dead. A hunk of burnt meat.

Deserved it, the bastard. Pounded Alison, tried to rape and kill her.

Reaching out, Jake lightly brushed the hair upward from the puffed and purple side of her face. He slipped it behind her ear.

“Good morning,” Alison said, her voice quiet and husky. She turned her head, rolling back slightly until her rump touched the edge of the box springs. She smiled lazily up at Jake, but with only the right side of her face. The punished left side didn’t move much.

“I didn’t mean to wake you,” Jake said.

“You didn’t. I’ve been awake for a while.”

“Playing possum, huh?”

“A little bit. Mostly too ruined to move.”

“Hard floor,” Jake said.

“Least of my problems. I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck.”

“You look like you’ve been hit by a Mack truck.”

The right side of her lip curled up, baring some teeth. “That bad, is it?”

“Not that bad. You look pretty fine, all things considered. Did you sleep well down here?”

“Not bad, all things considered. You snore, you know.”

“Sorry.”

“It was nice. Kept me reminded you were there.”

“If you…I would’ve stayed on my own side of the bed, you know. Kept my hands to myself. Especially if I didn’t wake up.”

She smiled slightly with the working half of her face. Then the smile faded and she studied his eyes. “We’ll never know,” she said.

“We’ll never know. Could you use some breakfast?”

“Sure.”

“You can wear my robe. It’s on a chair by the door.”

“Thanks.”

Jake stood up and went to the dresser. He took out his pajama shirt. With his back to Alison, he put it on and fastened the buttons. Then he turned around.

She was sitting cross-legged, the sheet spread over her lap and knees. She hugged the pillow to her breasts. “If you’ve got something more elaborate in mind than Trix or Fruit Loops, I’d be glad to make it. I might as well do something useful.”

“I’ll have you know I’m a pretty fair cook. I haven’t burnt anything…”

Since last night, he thought.

“I trust you,” Alison said. “But I’ll help. What’s a woman for?” she asked, a gleam of something that might have been mischief in her eyes.

“I’ll pick you up a toothbrush. Do you need anything else?”

“I could use some clothes,” Alison said, and took a drink of coffee. “I feel like a convalescent, wandering around in my nightgown and your robe.”

“I could go over to your place and pick up some things,” Jake said.

“How long are you planning to keep me here?”

“As long as possible.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Tonight, anyway,” Jake told her.

“It was Roland who was after me,” she said. “Not that I have anything against sticking around—you’ve got a nice floor. But he’s dead, and he’s the one who wanted to get me. So even if that snake-thing is still alive, there’s no reason to think it would try to find me.”

“I hope you’re right. But it was in the driver of the van when he tried to run down Celia, then it was in Roland when she disappeared. Maybe that’s just a coincidence. On the other hand, maybe it’s the creature that chooses the targets no matter who it’s in.”

Alison curled up her lip. She could’ve done without that theory. “So I just have to lay low until you find the thing.”

“Until it’s accounted for, one way or another.”

“Okay.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Did you know that you spend a lot of time apologizing for stuff that’s not your fault?”

“Sorry.” He grinned.

Alison liked his grin. She hadn’t seen much of it. “When you get back, am I supposed to keep you covered again and look at your back?”

“Yep.”

“At least it’s a good excuse to get your shirt off.”

Jake took a last drink of coffee, set down his cup, and rubbed his mouth with a napkin. “I’d better get going.”

They left the table. Alison walked ahead of him to the front door. “Don’t you wear a uniform?”

“Usually.”

“I’d like to see you in it, sometime. Bet you look dashing. The fuzz.”

“I crashed a patrol car yesterday,” he said.

“That was careless.”

“Yeah. Wouldn’t look right, I think, driving around in uniform in my own car.”

“What time will you be back?”

He shook his head. “I have no idea. It’ll depend on how things go.”

“Well, should I make supper for you?”

“I don’t want you starving. Say if I’m not back by seven, why don’t you go ahead and eat without me.”

“Okay.”

He stepped past Alison and opened the door.

“Watch yourself,” she said.

“You, too. If there’s any kind of trouble—you see someone suspicious hanging around, anything like that—call the station and ask for Barney. He’ll be there, and he knows the whole story.”

“All right.”

“You know where everything is?”

“I’ll be fine, Jake. Don’t worry.”

Nodding, he hesitated in the doorway as if reluctant to leave. Then he started to turn away. Alison touched his arm. He looked into her eyes. She stepped against him, embracing him, tilting back her head. Jake put his arms around her. Holding her gently, he kissed her mouth. When his lips went away, he cupped the back of her head with one hand. She pressed her face to the side of his neck.

“I’d better get going,” he whispered as he stroked her hair.

“I know.” Alison squeezed him hard, then stepped back. “See you later,” she said.

He stared at her. He kissed her once more, then turned away.

Alison stood in the doorway, watching him until the car moved off down the road. Then she shut the door and locked it. She slid the guard chain into place.

She leaned against the door, closed her eyes, and let herself go back to linger a while with the feel of his body against her, the feel of his lips on her mouth.