Chapter 129: The Shadow Of Obsession, Part 17, Twenty-Six Years Ago, Property

KLEMPNER

Mitch stands, a hand on one hip, head tilted back. "All right, so I can just accept all this..." She sweeps an arm around the room and to the door... "... and then tell you to get out of my life. Is that one of my choices?"

"No... Don't do that. Mitch, I only want..."

"I'm going now," she says. "This has gotten thoroughly out of hand. I can't imagine what you thought you were doing." She turns, heading for the door. "You'd better make arrangements to reclaim your property."

"I can't. I told you. I've put it in your name. Like it or not, legally it's yours."

She halts. "Really? You actually did that?"

"Yes. I don't know what I have to say to convince you. It's yours. Legally. A gift. To you. From me. If you did throw me out of your life, it would still be your property."

Her head falls, her throat bobbing.

"Won't you at least try it?" I say. "Stay here a few days? I'm going to be away for the next couple of weeks. I wouldn't be here." Her eyes shift to mine. "Yo