Hotline to Murder

touching, it didn’t go beyond that. He tentatively placed his arm over her. She snuggled against him and then lay still. He felt tense and wondered how long he could stay like this. He would never fall asleep. At least not for a long….

    CHAPTER 34
    When he awoke, Tony was facing his window, which faced toward the east. And the rising sun. Which had already risen. There was something wrong with this. Oh yes, it was a workday, and he hadn’t set the alarm. He was late already. He carefully got out of bed, trying not to disturb Shahla. It had been a while since he had slept with a woman. What was the proper etiquette? Let her wake up at her own speed.
    Shahla was curled up in roughly the same position in which she had gone to sleep. She had let out a muffled scream several times during the night. Her legs had twitched, as though she were running. Tony had patted her back and said soothing words, trying to calm her. She hadn’t woken up, and each time she had quieted down after a few seconds.
    Tony went to the bathroom and attempted to bring some coherence to his thoughts. Today was Monday. Monday was a workday. And a school day. But was Shahla in any shape to go to school? She was probably all right physically, but emotionally? And was it safe for her to go to school, with the kidnapper on the loose? He had acted boldly, but in a risky manner. He wanted her badly. He might try to snatch her again.
    Tony put on a pair of shorts and went downstairs. While he made coffee, he wondered whether he should take a vacation day in order to stay with Shahla. Or he could just call in sick. But he didn’t like to lie.
    Rasa had gone to her sister’s house for comfort and support. She had said she was returning to Bonita Beach today, but she might not be here until noon or later. She apparently wasn’t going to work, and Shahla’s brother, Kirk, wasn’t going to school.
    Tony was making himself toast when Shahla appeared, still wearing his T-shirt. Her hair was uncombed, and her eyes were a little bleary. She looked vulnerable, but sweet. And although her mood was subdued, she didn’t seem to be depressed or scared.
    “Your clothes are in the dryer,” Tony said. He went the few steps to the utility room and pulled them out of that machine. He handed them to Shahla.
    “Thank you.” She laid them on a chair, then took the bikini bottom, stepped into the leg holes, and pulled it up. She did the same with the shorts.
    There was something intimate about watching a woman get dressed. “How do you feel?” he asked.
    “I’ll be all right. My thigh hurts, my hands hurt, and a few other places hurt, but I’ll be fine.”
    “Would you like some toast? I’ve got strawberry jam.”
    “That would be wonderful. I’m starving.”
    Tony poured orange juice for her to go with the toast. Realizing how hungry she was, he also made eggs and bacon. She ate everything.
    After she had satisfied her appetite, her mood improved dramatically. She kidded Tony about his cooking skills, saying that he could get a job as a short-order cook.
    Tony was glad to see a spark of the old Shahla. He said, “What do you think about going to school? I could drive you to your house to get some clothes and books.”
    “The kidnapper probably knows what school I go to. He knew where I lived.” She hesitated. “I’m not up to school today. And won’t the kids have found out about me?”
    Tony smacked his head with his hand. “We haven’t looked at the news.” He started toward the living room and then said, “Oh, I forgot, I don’t have a television set anymore. But I have a radio.”
    The combination radio-CD player was in the living room. Tony turned on the radio and found a news station. Within a couple of minutes, one of the news anchors said, “Last night, a girl showed pluck and daring by escaping a would-be kidnapper in Bonita Beach.” He told the story, which must have been transmitted to the reporters by Lieutenant Stone. He didn’t say anything specific about where Shahla lived or where she was staying. Tony was referred to only as a friend. His name wasn’t mentioned.
    “Good.” Tony was pleased. “Lieutenant Stone is protecting your privacy. We can take advantage of that. I have to call my office. Go ahead and finish getting dressed, and then we’ll put our heads together and try to create a plan of action. We certainly have more information than we had before.”
    The telephone rang. The downstairs extension was in the