Free The Tunnel Rats by Stephen Leather Page B

before. She frowned, wondering what it was, cursing herself for being so stupid, but then the shadow moved.and she gasped.
    'I've got a gun,' she said. 'If you don't leave now I'll shoot.'
    There was a soft chuckle from the shadow. 'You didn't have a gun when I checked this morning, Kristine. I hardly think you bought one on the way back from the office.'
    He knew her name, but Kristine was sure that she didn't know who the man was. She sat up, holding the quilt up to cover herself. Suddenly she realised what the man had said. He'd been in her apartment before. She began to panic and her hands shook uncontrollably. 'Take what you want,' she said.
    'I intend to,' said the man. He walked over to the light switch and flicked it on.
    Kristine blinked and tried to focus on the man. He was wearing a grey suit and a white shirt and a conservative tie in muted reds and greens. He looked more like a stockbroker than a burglar or a rapist, but then she'd seen enough police documentaries to know that burglars, rapists and even serial killers didn't always conform to type. His light brown hair was greying prematurely and it was cut short in military style. He was trim and fit but not 58 STEPHEN LEATHER over muscular, and he was, Kristine realised, the type of man she often went out with.
    'Just don't hurt me. Please.' She felt weak and vulnerable and hated herself for it. "\
    'I'll try not to,' he said.
    Kristine was seized by fear. tOh God. Please, take what you want and go!'
    The man pursed his lips and pressed his index finger to them. He was wearing gloves, Kristine realised. Tight-fitting black leather gloves. 'Try to keep your voice down, Kristine. I know how stressful this is for you, but if you raise your voice I'm going to have to use more force than I want to. Do you understand?' He raised his eyebrows and nodded and Kristine found herself nodding along with him. 'I want you to get dressed,' he said. 'There's a blue cotton dress in your wardrobe, the one with the white flowers. Put that on. Are you wearing underwear?'
    'What?'
    'Are you wearing underwear?'
    'No,' she said, her voice trembling.
    'Put a bra and panties on. White.'
    She slid out from underneath the quilt and scampered across the thick-pile carpet to the chest of drawers where she kept her underwear. He watched her, but there was nothing salacious about the way he looked at her. She turned her back on him while she pulled up her panties and put on her bra.
    'Do you work out?' the man asked. ^ 'What?'
    'Do you work out? Exercise? You've got a great body.'
    'Thank you.' The words came out instinctively and she mentally cursed herself for thanking the intruder. She went over to the mirror-fronted wardrobes and pulled open the doors. The blue dress was on a hanger. She took it out and put it on.
    'Let's go to the kitchen,' said the man.
    Kristine was confused. 'What?'
    'The kitchen. Now come on, Kristine, you're not being a very good host, are you?'
    He was so close that she could feel his breath on her face. Kristine stared down at the man's jacket. She had seen enough THE TUNNEL RATS 59 Secret Service agents around Senator Burrow to know that no matter how well a weapon was concealed, there was always a telltale bulge.
    The man smiled. It was an easy smile, showing perfect teeth. 'I don't need one,' he said, as if reading her mind.
    'What?'
    'You keep saying that, Kristine, and frankly I don't think it's especially polite. Didn't your mother teach you to say, “I beg your pardon” or “Excuse me”?'
    Kristine shook her head, now totally confused and unable to speak.
    'Let's try, shall we?' said the man. 'You can say, “I beg your pardon?” can't you?'
    Kristine felt suddenly light headed and for a moment she feared she was going to pass out. She fought to steady herself. 'What do you want?' she asked. This wasn't a robbery. Did he want to kidnap her? That didn't make any sense: she wasn't married and her parents didn't have money.
    'I think you need a drink,' he