“The idea of you screwing some other guy while I’m getting my ass shot off doesn’t exactly thrill me, Karen. There are some things I want to know.”

“Or what?”

“Or nothing. I’m not going to threaten you. Does he want to marry you?”

She swallowed. “Yes.”

“And what have you said?”

“I am married.”

“I see.” He paused, and she misunderstood him.

“That amuses you? I didn’t just fall into bed with him. It took a bit of time—”

“Shut up!”

She stopped.

“All right, when did you say you’d call him?

“I’m not one of your criminals, Joe.”

“When?”

“I won’t tell you—I didn’t give him a specific time.”

“Call him tonight.” His voice thickened and he felt afraid. “You call and tell him what happened here. You’re not going to see him anymore—at least, until I’ve had a chance to think.”

“About what?”

“I’ll tell you, damn it! I’m entitled to something!”

“Joe, you can’t punish me for this. I won’t be punished.”

“I didn’t say anything about punishment! For Christ’s sake, I don’t think you know what you want, and I don’t want anything to happen that doesn’t have to.”

“How do you know what I want?” she cried.

“I know you better than you know yourself! In this case, I’m right and you’re wrong, and you’re going to call him!”

She was silent, cowed because he had outshouted her. She said, “All I can think of are the things you can do to me—in court, out of court. You could hurt me any way you want, and no one would blame you.”

“That’s in your mind, Karen.”

“What am I supposed to tell him?” It was a plea; she wanted to be told what he wanted.

“That I’m home and you’re going to Louisiana with me. That you want to.”

“You expect me to say it?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know.”

She stared at him. “You love me?”

“You know the answer to that. What do you want to believe?”