When she came through the door, the first thing she saw was Ben, standing beside the chair she’d been sitting in. A mixture of surprise and pleasure jolted her. “You didn’t have to wait.”
“Yeah, I did. Where would you go and how would you get there?”
“I’m not quite broke. I could call a cab, go to a motel again.”
Ben shook his head. “What cab? Remember the other night?” Fran could not read his expression, but the realization he intended to take responsibility for her in spite of everything came as a relief. She couldn’t recall ever having been so tired, so unable to cope with even the smallest of necessities.
He reached out and grasped her hand. “Come on. There’s a clean bed waiting for you. Whatever else has to be done, like a check on Gambruzzi, will wait ‘til tomorrow.”
Fran let hi
