Rats 2 (Lair) by James Herbert

Author:James Herbert [Herbert, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction - Horror
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Eleven

Pender tapped lightly on the door. It was late, well past eleven, and there was nothing more anyone could do that night. The lecture hall was deserted now and only a few lights shone in the working area of the Centre itself. He had left the main building and walked over to the separate residential annexe. He knocked again, a little louder.

‘Who’s there?’ he heard Jenny’s voice say.

‘It’s me. Luke.’

The door opened and Jenny peered out at him.

‘I’m sorry if I disturbed you, Jenny. I couldn’t get away any sooner.’

‘It’s all right, Luke. I wasn’t asleep. I’m glad you came.’ She opened the door wide and motioned for him to enter.

The room was small, two beds occupying most of its space with a door presumably leading off to the bathroom. A lamp glowed in one corner, giving the room an intimate feeling, and glass-covered but frame-less prints, together with delicately painted ornaments, bestowed some warmth upon the functional interior.

‘Cosy,’ he commented.

She smiled. ‘I share it with Jan Wimbush. We’ve tried to put some life into it.’

‘I’ve just left Jan. She told me where to find you.’

‘Where is she?’

‘In the kitchen, washing up. She’s had a busy evening.’

Jenny looked angry with herself. ‘I should have helped her out. I’m afraid today’s events have disorientated me.’

‘It’s okay, Will has been helping her. They’re doing fine. Are you still feeling bad?’

‘No, I’m okay now. It was just the shock. The vicar’s housekeeper came running round to the Centre, you see. The poor woman didn’t know what to do when the grounds man told her what he’d found. I went there myself to check. It was so …’

She quickly lowered her face, forcing back the tears; she’d cried enough that day.

Pender felt strangely awkward. He wanted to hold her as he had done earlier, but he was unsure of her mood. One moment she was cold, reserved, the next she seemed to be reaching out, seeking contact.

She lifted her head, pushing away her anxieties. ‘Would you like some coffee? You must be dead beat.’

He grinned. ‘I could do with something stronger, but coffee will do.’

‘How about both? Jan and I always keep a bottle of scotch handy for our frequent mutual sob stories.’

‘You’re terrific,’ he said.

‘Sit down and relax while I get it.’ She pointed to the only armchair and he sank back into it with relief, closing his eyes and resting his head back. The tutor disappeared with an electric kettle into the adjacent room and he heard the sound of running water. ‘Have to be instant, I’m afraid,’ she called out.

‘Anything,’ he answered.

Soon a heavy measure of scotch was in his hand and Jenny was feeding coffee and boiling water into two sturdy-looking mugs.

‘Make it black, one sugar,’ he told her. She placed the steaming mug at his feet, then sat on the single bed, facing him. He took a large swallow of whisky and studied her, wondering how good her legs were beneath the tight jeans. Pretty good, if outward appearance were anything to go by.

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