When Darkness Falls(73)

“That’s all right.”

Haley peered around the crowded airport gate area. Devon had left to visit the Men’s Room, and no one else sat near-by. They’d been waiting for their flight for six hours. He’d walked and ridden in the car in the sun with no fear, no pounding heart. They hadn’t talked much, other than to expand the cooking fire story to tell Joe and Diana. Mostly they’d sat quietly side by side, arms linked.

In the safety of the airport, Haley had put the thought of Lydia out of her mind. But it made sense that Lydia would think of them.

Lydia sat on the blue vinyl chair next to Haley’s.

“I thought Devon might want this.” She held out a plastic bag. Haley’s hands shook as she took it and peered inside. A razor, a stick of deodorant, a bottle of Nexus shampoo, and Devon’s red toothbrush.

“Once someone’s out of my life, I get rid of everything. And I returned his rental car.”

“Okay.” Haley’s pulse raced. She waited for Lydia to speak again. The only other thing she could think of to say was Aren’t you going to kill me? That seemed wiser left unspoken.

Lydia played with the gold bracelets she wore on her left wrist.

“How did you do it?” Lydia said.

“I’m sorry?” Sorry again. As if Haley didn’t know any other words.

“Turn him human.”

“He stayed in the sun. He made himself stay in the sun, and burned up, and it happened.”

As soon as Haley spoke, it occurred to her she ought to have stayed quiet. Better that Lydia believe Haley had some sort of power.

“Sure,” Lydia said. “He loved that intense pain, and it just happened to turn him human instead of burning him to ash.”

“He stayed in the sun because I told him to stop. So he wouldn’t hurt me.”

“Uh-huh. Threw himself on the sword for you, the way men always do.” Lydia leaned close, her breath hot on Haley’s neck. “I don’t know what you did to him, but you couldn’t have done it if you hadn’t taken him by surprise. That won’t work with me. I’m on to you.”

“Right,” Haley said.

“Good.” Lydia stood.

“So you’re leaving us alone?”

Haley knew she ought to have left it, but she wanted to know Lydia’s intention. If Lydia would tell her.

Lydia put her hands on her hips and laughed. “You thought you were that important? Neither of you is worth risking what I have. This fabulous new life I have. But if you come after me, I’ll fight you. So why don’t we all part as friends?”

Haley stared at Lydia. “Friends.”

Lydia shrugged. “Sure, darling, why not? Give my love to Devon.”

Haley never saw Lydia leave, she was simply there one moment and then gone. Devon returned a few minutes later. “What is it?” He sat down and put his arm around Haley.

She told him.

“So she claims she’ll leave us alone?” Devon said. “Did you believe her?”

Haley nodded. ‘I did.”

They held hands. Haley felt the warmth of the air between their palms, breathed the scent of Devon’s body. The knots in her shoulders loosened, and her heartbeat slowed.

“We can’t, you know,” she said. “Leave her alone. Not when we know what she’s doing.”

“I’ll make an anonymous call to the police when we get home,” Devon said. “I’ll tell them as much as I can. And if that’s not enough—”

Haley squeezed his hand. “We’ll figure it out.”

A woman’s voice called their flight number for boarding. Haley placed the plastic bag with Devon’s things in it in his carry-on bag, and they walked toward the plane that would carry them home.