“Then how do you know?”

“I just know, okay,” he threw back at her. “I’m not violent.” But the pulse throbbing near his temple, at the hairline not covered by his bandage, said otherwise. “I would never hurt . . . anyone.”

“And this you know. This, you remember.”

The dog growled.

She didn’t break his angry gaze.

“I wouldn’t hurt her.”

He seemed convinced, but she knew how easily he could lie. She said, “You left in a van with that other man and then came back because you knew I was inside.”

“Ralph knew someone was.” He looked at her. “I don’t have rats in my attic.”

“And then you stood out in the freezing weather after just getting out of the hospital?”

“That’s right.” Now he pushed open the door and stepped into the vestibule, the dog with him. Just inside the door, he snapped on a light. “Take a look around. A good one. Instead of skulking with a flashlight or whatever. This is how I found my place, trashed by the police.”

“And whatever happened before,” she said, walking to the living room and staring at the stain on the raised hearth. “Is that blood . . . all yours?”

“Don’t know.”

“Another memory lapse?”

He glared at her, then looked away. “I figure the police will sort it out.” With obvious effort and a grimace of pain, he turned over his recliner and made a gesture for her to sit. “Tell me what you know.” She hesitated, and he added, “You want to figure this out. Correct?”

Nodding, she tried to rein in her own spiraling temper and added softly, “Of course I do.”

“Good. Then tell me.”

Glancing around the disheveled room, she considered. She wanted answers, and here was James, ready to talk apparently. What did she have to lose?

“Megan called me on the way from here. After your fight.” Standing near an empty bookcase, she explained about Megan’s panicked, hysterical call and the next few hours and days of waiting when she didn’t arrive. “I didn’t worry at first. She has a history . . . well, you know, of . . . overreacting.”

He made a sound that could have meant anything. “What was she overreacting to?”

Rebecca leveled her gaze at him. “She thought you two were exclusive. Apparently you didn’t.” When he didn’t respond, she added, “I don’t know why it came as such a shock to her. She knew . . . she knew you.”

She hoped that remark might jog his memory.

If it did, he didn’t show it.