Chapter 36

She sipped more hot chocolate, then took a deep breath. “I… think I…I want to explain why I…why I stopped seeing you,” she said very softly.

“You…” That’s all I got out when I saw the red dot appear on her chest. I knew it was a laser sight and reacted immediately, without thinking. I tossed my coffee cup aside, grabbed her, threw her to the floor, and started to fall on top of her. When I did that, the kitchen window exploded inward and, as I was falling, I felt something sting my shoulder.

“What…?” Lyca stammered as she lay next to me on the floor.

“We were shot at,” I said softly. I reached down and pressed the button on the little pager-sized box I’d fastened to my belt. It was connected to the electronic panel and would send a signal to the police department, advising them we needed help, and needed it now. “Stay down. I’m not sure whether he can see us or not, but I don’t think he can. And there’s a lot of broken glass here, too. I don’t want you getting cut. Lay still until the