“If you are,” she replies before they head around the back of the house and through the gate. The back door is locked and after searching for a key in vain, Daniel grips the doorknob, turns it as hard as he can, and slams his shoulder into it. It flies open with a loud crash and Daniel stumbles in after it. Lynell jumps and looks behind them, fully expecting an alarm to go off.

When nothing happens, Daniel reaches out and pulls her into the house, closing the splintered door behind them.

The house is large, completely empty, and so quiet Lynell can hear her labored breathing.

“Welcome home,” Daniel says after checking each room and returning to Lynell.

“It’s beautiful,” she says, looking up at the large ceiling. The living room has a brick fireplace, wood floors, and a window seat. The kitchen is large with an island and marble countertops.

“The water is on,” Daniel says, checking the kitchen sink.

“It’s stifling hot in here,” Lynell says. She finds the thermostat and taps it, pushes the knob, and scans the edges, but can’t turn it on. Daniel comes up behind her, tries, and also fails. Lynell shrugs. “No air for us, I guess.”

“We’ll open a window.”

“Do you think that’s smart?” she asks.

“Just the windows to the backyard. No one will notice.”

After Daniel opens the windows that can’t be seen from the street, he pulls off his shirt and holds it under the faucet.

“What are you doing?” Lynell says, reaching out to stop him from turning on the water. “That’s your only shirt.”

“Yes, but you can’t get too hot. I don’t want you getting a fever or infection. We don’t have the medication.”

“Danny . . .”

“I’m hot anyway,” he says, turning on the faucet. He soaks his shirt before ringing it out and turning to Lynell. “You should take this off.” He tugs at the bottom of her shirt. “And sleep with this covering you.” He holds up his wet shirt.

“You’re just trying to get me naked.”

“Maybe.” He shrugs with a smile. Lynell rolls her eyes, but she does as he says, handing him her shirt after she pulls it off. “Let’s stay in here tonight,” Daniel says, taking her to the living room. “We can see the front door and have quick access to the back. Not to mention the two open windows.”

Lynell nods and sits in the corner close to one of the windows. She looks out to see the sky already growing dark. “What time is it?” she asks.

Daniel looks at his watch. “Eight.” He sits next to her and rolls up her shirt. He puts it in his lap and gestures to it, saying “Lie down.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll keep watch for a while. I can sleep sitting up.”

Lynell rests in his lap and drapes his cold, wet shirt over her chest. The initial touch makes her tense but her body doesn’t take long to acclimate and relax. “What if he never replies?” she asks.