Page 73 of Diagnosis Attraction

“Of course. We have clothing ready for the women. You can use the downstairs bathroom.”

Just then, Matt pulled up. Elizabeth ran to him and they embraced. Then they both got the clothing they’d brought along.

In the bathroom, she quickly took off the negligee and tossed it onto the floor. Then, she put on a bra and panties before donning jeans, a tee shirt, socks, and running shoes. When she was dressed, she stuffed the negligee into the trash can and jammed it down, then stood for a moment with her fists clenched. She’d been in Derek Lang’s house of horrors for about an hour, but the women there had been through a much longer ordeal, although they hadn’t been tied up and threatened with torture. At least she hoped not.

She stood for long moments, struggling for calm. She’d been through many terrible experiences in the past few days, but the most recent one was the worst.

When she came out of the bathroom, Donna Martinson was waiting for her. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Better.”

“Dr. Delano is changing in one of the offices,” the director said, leading Elizabeth down a short hall.

“Thank you.”

She went in and closed the door. Matt had also put on the clothes from his bag in the trunk. He had been sitting at the desk with his laptop. He stood quickly, and she looked at the bruises on his face.

“How are you?” she asked.

“Fine.”

She knew the answer was automatic as he came around the desk and embraced her again.

He didn’t have to ask how she was doing. She knew he was listening to her thoughts. And she was doing the same with him.

They clung together, thankful they had made it out of The Mansion.

Silently, they exchanged information.

I left Southwell in the basement,he told her.He probably didn’t get out. What about Mrs. Vivian?

I got her to untie me. After that, I lost track of her. If she’s still alive, she’s out of a job.

She looked up at Matt’s bruised face. “You need medical attention,” she whispered.

“Dr. Delano says I’m all right,” he answered.

What did Southwell do to you?

Kicked me around a little.

He told her about being locked in the basement cell. And she tried to tone down the scene of being tied to the chair and threatened. But Matt caught the gist of what had happened.

The bastard.

He’s dead. And with the fire out, the cops will be able to figure out that one of his men killed him.

I never would have gotten through this without you,she told him.

Yeah, well, I can’t imagine …

He didn’t finish the thought, but she knew what it was. And she felt the same. Neither one could imagine a life that didn’t include the other.

“Are we going to be able to live our lives?” she asked. “I mean, the cops still want to talk to us about Polly.”

“We’ll make sure we can,” he answered with conviction, and she wondered if that was simply wishful thinking.

He caught the question and answered. “I was just writing an e-mail to the Baltimore County detective who was investigating Polly’s death—a guy named Harrison. Unfortunately, explaining what’s been happening is a little tricky. But we lucked out with the sprinkler system. The house didn’t burn up and destroy all the evidence.

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