Chapter Ten

David A few minutes had passed since Nicole and Alex had left. I sat unaccompanied in my charcoal-lit studio in silence, waiting.waiting for something; I couldn't say what. A creak sounded from the hallway, probably sounding Anya's return to her own place across from mine. The sound was slight, but it startled me for a moment. I had not been expecting her back for a while, and it was late enough for me to know that all others in the building were asleep. The knob of my door slowly turned, a quiet movement, but one I never the less could hear. I got to my feet from my sunken-in sitting position in my suede lounge chair and crossed the room to pick up a vase and stand straight and unheard by the door. The wooden door was pushed open and a figure stepped in. I swung the vase, but the person ducked and caught my hand before I could throw a punch. The vase fell and shattered into shards on the wood floor. "Hey, David." It was Anya. "I hope that wasn't expensive." She added, after glancing down at the broken vase. "It was." I chuckled. "Only the best of china can knock you out.It's insured." And then at a whisper I added. "I hope." A sigh issued from within me. I was tired, dog tired, but it was no time to sleep. Alex had called a second ago with his cell to inform me that Nicole had gone to stay with a friend for the night.which gave us a chance to plan things. He wanted to meet at three in the morning...to be sure we weren't seen in conference. I'd go to his apartment. "I assume you know the address." He'd said, after a moment's thought. "And if you don't, which I highly doubt, I'd recommend finding out." Anya looked at me, a tint of concern and a hint of.dare I say it.ardence shown in her dark eyes. The latter was new; something I'd never specifically discerned in her before. In all the years we'd been friends, this was the first thing I hadn't seen coming. And the strangest part was.I almost felt fervent myself.