“Everyone believes in greed,” Quinn replied.
“HUNGRY?” NATE ASKED, STANDING IN THE DOORWAY.
Liz was lying on the bed, curled in on herself, her eyes staring at the wall.
“What’s going to happen to me?” she asked. “Am I going to have to live on the run like this forever? And what’s going to happen to Mom? Is she going to have to give up her home? She’s too old for this.”
“You shouldn’t worry about any of that right now. Your brother is going to take care of things.”
She turned to him. “How can I not worry?”
He wasn’t sure what to tell her. He certainly didn’t have an answer. So he said, “Let me get you something to eat.”
“I just want to sleep.”
He nodded. “Sure. Okay, I’ll come back later.”
As he started to turn away, she said, “No. Lie with me. I think that’ll help.”
He smiled. “That I can do. Just let me put the food away first.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
In the kitchen, he gathered the meats, cheeses, and vegetables he’d set out to make sandwiches, and returned them to the refrigerator. He then got a glass and filled it with water.
He was carrying it across the living room when someone knocked on the front door.
He stopped and looked toward the entry, but made no other move.
Another knock. Not pounding, and not a polite tap. Something in between.
Nate remained still, listening. But the exterior hallway was carpeted and the door was thick, so he picked up nothing.
Just as the visitor knocked for a third time, Liz stepped out of the bedroom.
“What’s that—”
Nate held a finger to his mouth, quieting her, then motioned for her to go back into the bedroom. She complied with the first part, but not the second.
Five seconds passed, then ten. If there was to be a fourth knock, it should come within the next fifteen seconds. But those silently came and went.
Though still uneasy, he smiled, and held out the glass. “Thought you might be—”
With a loud crash, the front door splintered inward, flying open.
Nate dropped the glass and raced forward. Grabbing Liz, he carried her into the bedroom, where he dropped her back to her feet, then slammed the door closed.
“Help me,” he said, as he began to push the meager dresser in front of the door. Liz quickly joined him.
Once it was in place, Nate raced to the window and threw it open. The drop was two floors. Ankle-breaking height, especially if you didn’t know what you were doing.
He glanced back, then pulled a sheet off the bed.
“Tie this end around your waist,” he said. “Tight.”
“What are you going to do?” she asked, grabbing the end of the sheet and looping it around her body.
“It’s too far for you to jump, so I’m going to lower you enough so you can drop down without getting hurt.”
“What about you?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you.”
They could hear people running in the apartment.
“Come on. We don’t have time.”
Someone slammed into the bedroom door.
“Climb out,” he said. “I’ll lower you as far as I can, then let go.”
“You’re not going to make it!”
“Don’t worry about me. Just get down, and get the hell out of here. I’ll find you later.”
“Where?”
“Westminster Abbey.” It was the first place he could think of.
Another slam. This time the door cracked.
“Please, Liz.”
She looked reluctant, but climbed over the sill. Nate held tightly to the end of the sheet as he lowered her as
