Green Eyes
~ by SilverLeaf ~
Part II
 

Amber recovered herself even as her heart hit her shoes. "Thanks, Peter. Thank you for telling me."

"Say, are you busy tonight?"

"Why?" Had he heard the hurt in her voice? She thought she had better control over herself than this.

"Well, there's a preseason expo game on tonight...do you still like hockey?"

She smiled sadly into the phone. "It's my favorite! Why don't you get Jordan and Jody and ask if they want to come over? We can all watch it here and I'll put together some food."

Peter whooped. "You bet! That sounds terrific! We'll be there."

"Just come through the front and Mai or Joseph will let you back to the stairs."

Kermit had gone. She should have figured -- she'd thrown herself at him last night -- what must he think of her? Probably he had skipped out for a few days to let things cool down. She should never have rushed him. She might not have -- had never done so before -- but she had never felt for anyone what coursed through her when she thought of the mysterious man behind his walls of green glass. Could she have completely misread his feelings for her?

Still in a haze of disappointment, she went about the business of the afternoon -- she went over the applications with the Wangs, then left them to make some preliminary choices while she went out to pick up some groceries for the evening. The unseen watcher was again with her as she walked to the Huan's little corner store and back. Amber might have paid more attention to the sensation had she not been numbed with self-doubt.

Around six, she went upstairs to prepare for her guests. Mai and Joseph knew to call up if they needed her, but she was sure Mai would do a fine job. Joseph was becoming quite the salesman -- his young good looks made him a hit with the older ladies of the community -- and the younger ones, too. But it was his young wife Amber had her eye on: Mai had the potential to manage the store. If these two were the ones she was to sign `The Unturned Page' over to, she had no doubt that Mai would become the shop's driving force.

Amber looked around her flat, making sure there were no signs left of last night's tryst. With Kermit's flight, she did not want to have to talk about it. His tie went in her bedtable drawer; his shirt hung on a hook on the inside of her closet door. She would take both to the cleaners down the block so that on his return, she could render them fresh and pressed to their owner, thereby relieving him of feeling pressured by her.

A hockey game called for food that could be eaten on the sofa, in front of the TV. Amber suspected that Peter, being what he was, would invite some extra folks along. She threw together tortilla chips and cheese, ready to be melted into cheese nachos, then put the chicken wings on cookie sheets for heating, basting sauce handy. A quick spinach and cheese dip for the potato chips took her no time. Lastly, Amber set up a tray of sandwich makings and cut vegetables. No matter how many people Peter brought, no one would leave her home hungry.

Footsteps on the stair alerted her that she had been correct -- more than three people were coming. Peter and Jordan, followed by Skalany, Jody and Blake trooped in. Peter bestowed a brotherly kiss upon her forehead. "I hope you don't mind the extras."

"Not at all," she laughed up at him. "Somehow I knew you'd do this. Where's your father?"

He looked at her, startled. "How did you -- never mind. He'll be along in a minute. And Lo Si is with him."

"Ah. Very good. Go right on in to the living room."

They filed past her, all except Jody who said, "Can I ask you a question about that book you sold me?"

"Sure." She let the blonde lead her a little down the hallway.

"Man, I wanted to warn you about Kermit -- he was there this morning when I left to meet you, but when I got back from lunch he was gone. You have to know -- he does this. I don't think he's completely left the old days behind. From time to time he'll disappear for a few days. When I heard Peter call you about it, I figured you might have taken it wrong."

"Wrong?"

"Well, that he didn't call you himself, that he had Peter do it. I know something's going on with you and him, and you ...well, I thought you ought to know he does this."

"Oh." Amber could think of nothing to say. How had Jody put her finger so exactly on her feelings? She didn't know if she had taken it wrong -- had he left like that due to some mercenary emergency? Whatever was up, he was too far away for her to try to read -- and though she might have had a chance with someone other than Kermit, that man knew too well how to shield his mind. She would just have to see. Maybe she was taking it too personally, but the timing was suspicious, and she'd been treated lightly by men before.

Jordan came looking for her. "Amber? Can I help you with anything?"

Jody didn't miss a beat. "Thanks -- you cleared that right up for me. Can I call you with other questions?"

"Sure. Thanks, Jody. Great -- let's go bring out the food before Peter gets too hungry."

Caine and the Ancient tapped at the doorway right about then, and Amber ushered them in with a smile. Caine said, "Thank you for your hospitality. I hope my son did not presume upon your good nature."

She laughed. "You are always welcome in my home, Caine. You and Lo Si," she gave the old man another smile. "You honor me with your presence. But I never figured you two for hockey fans."

"I am attempting to understand the game, as my son is such a ...fan." The priest told her.

Lo Si grinned. "And I am an old man -- I enjoy watching the young be young."

The nachos melted quickly and the wings took little time to cook. Amber brought out the light beer she had picked up. How they could drink it, she did not know, but they did. She joined Caine in drinking water. The Ancient sipped at a beer, but quickly invaded her kitchen to make a pot of tea for himself.

The evening went well. Amber enjoyed the company of her new friends, and the hockey game was close, with lots of good, clean hockey. She had never liked the gratuitous fighting, preferring the game itself. For a time, she even almost forgot to be hurt at Kermit's defection. She decided that once hockey season began, she wanted to watch the games with this crowd -- they were a boisterous lot. Peter was trying to explain the game to Caine, who merely nodded in response to everything. The Ancient whooped and hollered along with Amber and Blake, even though he did not seem to really care about who was winning.

Amber had not had such fun in ages. Never at a loss for something to do, she had seldom had so many friends at once. Usually, she was set about aiding people from the moment she hit a town -- here in Sloanville, she was beginning to see that she was going to be more of an auxiliary to Caine. The idea of having the luxury to build a life was attractive. It had been a long time since she had felt she had the time to indulge her need for a social life. In recent years, most of her friends had been those she had helped, not people who, like these, seemed to want nothing more than her company.

Her visitors did not stay very late. Skalany and Jody helped Amber clear up, and then she let them out. As she waved them all out of sight, she was aware that her stalker was again nearby. This time, she did begin to wonder. Should she tell someone? But what would she tell them? That someone was watching her, but she only knew because she had ESP? Even if her new cop friends believed her, there was nothing they could do on that information. She locked up, double-checked the alarm and went to bed.

Saturday night Jody took her up on an invitation to come spend a "girl night'. Amber made hot cocoa with whipped cream, and they ate cookies out of the package. Jody had brought a video they had each admitted to secretly wanting to see. It was a real tearjerker -- a four-hanky special. The psychic had not fully realized until now how much she craved a girlfriend to have these cozy times with.

Amber in her green flannel pajamas, Jody in blue, sat huddled on the couch in the dark, watching the late night Cartoon Network shows.

"You're still upset about Kermit, aren't you?" The blonde woman asked.

"Upset might be the wrong word," Amber returned. "I can't believe the timing, and his not telling me himself."

"You really are falling hard for the guy, hunh?"

She looked down -- Jody could not see her flush in the dark of the living room. "Yes."

"Want to talk about it?"

"I...don't know."

"If you do," her friend offered. "You know where to find me."

"Maybe I need to wait until he comes back, and see what happens then. You say he's done this before?"

"Kermit goes away from time to time. I think it's because of old debts getting called in. Then again, every so often he's decided to go look at some ancient ruin or other. Why, I don't know. What I do know is that you shouldn't take it to heart."

Too late. The timing -- that was what made Amber worry -- that and the one small fact she could not ignore -- the fact that he had asked someone else to let her know he was leaving. What could that mean? Then again, did it mean anything? What good was being a psychic if she couldn't get answers to questions like these?

"I guess it's got to do with my history with men," she admitted. "I've not had that good a track record. Every time I think I've found the right one, he does something -- blow town, get with another woman, tell me my life is too weird -- or worse, I end up having to move on and he doesn't even try to ask me to stay."

"You're a psychic," Jody admonished her. "Why don't you use that edge with guys?"

"I'm also an ethically trained psychic," Amber returned miserably. "If I did that sort of thing, it would be kind of like Anakin Skywalker giving in to the Dark Side. I'm not supposed to try to invade or influence people -- although with that Mercenary Man, I have to admit I've been tempted."

"Figures," her friend grumbled. "Get a cool superpower like that, and you just know there's a catch."

Amber had to giggle.

Sunday was a quiet day, which left Amber alone too long with her thoughts. When Skalany called with an invitation to join herself and Jody at Delancy's, the young woman jumped at it. She had a good evening with the two policewomen, trading stories and eating bar food.

She was walking home when the figures jumped her. Right away, she knew that the leader was the same unseen watcher she had felt for days. They were five, surrounding her, moving with a sinuous grace certain martial artists develop.

"We don't need any more damn do-gooders around here," snarled the leader. He was tall. She could see nothing but gleaming black eyes behind the dark ski mask. "The boss wanted us to let you know you're not wanted here."

She turned warily, slowly, using eyes and talent to keep tabs on each of the five. Four of them were still circling her as she responded to the one who seemed to be in charge. "Who's the boss? And why is he so sure no one wants me here?"

"No one else counts," the man told her coldly. "Shang Kai Zeng casts the only vote that matters. There are enough Chinese talents meddling around here -- we don't need any white" he spat the word. "witches sticking their noses in. Go back to your own people, little girl."

"Anyone who needs help is `my people'," she retorted defiantly.

"Very noble," another of the black-clad figured sneered. "We'll put that on your tombstone."

One of them lunged. Amber might be averse to killing, but self-defense was another matter. As Uncle Dougie had taught her, she caught the attacker with a right uppercut. Simultaneously, she attacked two of the others with a mental shriek directed at their spinal cords. It shut down the nervous system temporarily -- just long enough to drop them to the ground and make them want to think about getting back up. The leader advanced with a menacing step and a long black cosh as one of the other two leaped at her, catching her in the gut with a hard kick.

She fought like a wildcat and marked them with her nails through their masks before the rain of blows from the nightstick broke her concentration -- she could not use her talent to keep the other two away with such distraction, and the one she'd clipped was already up and assisting his cronies. The small satisfaction she had known at the feel of her fingernails breaking the skin faded as she recognized that the masks kept their skin from under her nails. There would be nothing for the coroner to identify, and it was beginning to look bad for her. She hoped she might have enough wit left to make herself ready to die. The pain lancing through her middle and her head told her these men were serious -- she had little chance of making it out of this.

Then they were there -- a tall, grey-haired figure in brown and a small man in grey robes with an impish little face. Caine and Lo Si. The Ancient placed himself in front of Amber, sliding gracefully into a defensive posture. He kept himself between her and the assailants. Caine took the offensive, a brown blur to Amber's eyes. He quickly routed the men attacking her, chasing them off with a final contemptuous kick at the leader's hindquarters. Amber tried to laugh at that, but slumped suddenly to the concrete. Caine caught her tenderly, lifting her into his arms. She thought for one moment that he was someone else, someone she could not delude herself from knowing she wanted to see. Her world turned black.

She woke in an unfamiliar white room -- then realized it was the hospital. It was pain that had called her back to consciousness. She hurt.

"You are awake," a soft voice told her with evident satisfaction. She blinked, lifted her head. Lo Si stood beside her, Caine at the foot of the bed. It was Lo Si who had spoken.

"Yes. You came from nowhere! How can I ever thank you?"

"Thanks are not necessary."

"I think they are. If you hadn't come along, I think they would have beaten me to death."

"Perhaps," Caine shrugged. "But we did come, and they did not beat you to death."

"Who is Shang Kai Zeng?" She whispered.

"He is a very powerful man," the priest told her. "You should stay away from him."

"I may not have the option," she told him. "He wants me to leave town."

"Ah."

"But I won't. I won't be driven away by anyone." Her whisper was as fierce as she could force.

Peter appeared, came over and pushed the button to raise the head of the bed. "You don't need to be straining yourself just now," he admonished.

Amber smiled weakly. "How many ribs did they break?"

"None. They just cracked two, luckily," her `big brother' told her. "Mostly you were just bruised inside and out. You're very fortunate. It could have been much worse."

"It would have been," she told him. "If my two guardian spirits here hadn't come along."

"Yeah," he looked over at Caine with a wry but proud smile. "My Pop has a knack for coming along in the nick of time."

"What in the hell is going on?" A voice demanded from the hall. There was chaos in the corridor, like the orderlies were trying to keep someone out of a place he wanted to get into. Apparently they failed. Kermit burst through the doorway. "What are -- Amber!" He was at her side in a flash; face twisted in...was it anger? "What happened to you? I've been trying to reach --" he broke off as he got a good look at her battered face.

"Shang's bully-boys happened to her," Peter told his friend. "Seems our old friend wants this lady out of the way."

Amber turned her head, closed her eyes. Kermit touched her cheek. "Damn. I should have been here. How did they get you, Green Eyes?"

This did not sound like a man who'd run away from her. She cautiously looked back at him. "I was walking home from Delancy's..."

"You what?" His voice took on a dangerous edge.

"I had drinks and a burger with Skalany and Jody -- I was walking home and..."

Kermit's face registered holy wrath. "What in the hell did you think you were doing? We talked about you running at night -- what made you think you could walk alone at night in that neighborhood?"

Indignation crossed her face, but the pain made her wince, ruining the effect. "I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself..."

"Yeah, right. Have you seen your face?" His gentle finger on her cheek belied the anger in his tone. "If that's how you take care of yourself, Green Eyes, remind me not to let you take care of me."

She closed her eyes again. "There were five of them. Usually the creeps who hassle a girl on the street are less organized." Her tone took on an edge. "Besides, who are you to tell me what to do?"

Peter and his father recognized the potential firestorm and withdrew to the doorway. Lo Si withdrew a little way, as well. Peter did not necessarily try to overhear, but he did not try not to, either. It was looking like he had missed something between these two friends of his. He'd hardly given it a thought when he'd gotten Kermit's note asking him to tell Amber he was going away, but now...well, he had apparently been clueless again.

"What are you talking about?" Kermit demanded. That look of righteous indignation had not left his visage.

She had a similar look about her bruised and battered face. "I don't see where you get off telling me anything -- you who took off without a word to me. I thought there might have been something between us -- that finally someone I cared about might care about me, too. Boy, do I feel stupid now! Damn it, you had Peter call me. You didn't care enough to call yourself?"

Kermit sat down in the chair now, removed his sunglasses. "Is that -- oh, Amber, I'm sorry. It's been a long time since I had to worry about someone caring that much about where I was. I haven't had to explain my life to anyone in a long time."

She regarded him silently.

"I actually left you a note. It's probably still in my office." Nobody went into his office when he was away anymore. Paul Blaisdell had been able to do so with impunity, but even Peter knew better now.

Still she said nothing.

"I'm not good at being very close to people. Ask my ex-wives." He thought a moment. "No, don't. If they find out where I am, I might have to start paying alimony again. No, wait -- they did remarry, so I'm off the hook. I'll even find out where they are for you. You check with them -- they'll tell you. I'm rotten at this sort of thing," he was babbling now, and he knew it. Time to shut up. When was the last time Kermit Griffin had found himself babbling? Then again, when had a woman he cared about been beaten like this?

Amber blinked. "Do you mean that?"

"What?"

She almost smiled. "Let's see: you'd really find me the phone number of an ex-wife so I could ask about how bad you are?"

He didn't answer right away. She asked, "You left me a note?"

"Yes."

"And what about the other part of that?"

"What -- the part where I didn't tell you I've come to care about you too much already?" He told her gravely, "You're likely to have to live with me not telling you that. Actively not telling you. That's another thing I'm not good at."

She laughed, winced, tried again more carefully. "I think you do fine."

He very gently kissed an un-bruised spot on her hand. Then, as he put his glasses back on, Peter advanced again.

"Amber, I just got a call. More bad news, I'm afraid. Your store."

She tried to sit up. This time, she managed. She was already healing. Peter and Kermit tried to push her back, but she shook them off impatiently. "Damn it; let me up. I'm a fast healer -- I just can't move too quickly right now. Damn it -- what about my store?"

"There's been some vandalism. We can't tell how much, because there's also been a fire."

"What?" She fairly shrieked. "Was anyone hurt?"

"No, but your apartment has had it. Jody says she was able to get the firemen to save your hard drive and the file cabinet, but I'm afraid the rest is a wash."

She slumped back against the bed.

"Damn." For one moment, the amber-haired woman looked utterly defeated.

"What are you going to do?"

"What can I do? Tomorrow I'll file the insurance claim, and start over. I'll need another storefront." She rallied, sat up again. "I am for damn sure not letting any two bit hood with a match chase me out of here."

Caine stepped forward. "I may be able to assist you in finding another place for a store."

She flashed him a grateful smile. "Thank you. I can buy anything reasonable you find. I'll call the Wangs tomorrow. They'll need to know they are still under my employ, and still getting paid. We should be up and running again by the end of the week."

Kermit smiled to himself. He had to admire her determination. Peter asked, "What are you talking about? The insurance company isn't going to pay out that fast!"

Amber turned her 1000-watt smile on him. The effect was only partially marred by the damage. "Why Peter, you know I have more money than brains. As soon as I can get around without groaning -- probably faster than the doctor would like -- I'll be able to get going on getting things together. Can someone get me to a hotel?"

Peter snorted. "I'd let you stay with me, but I have a one bedroom apartment, and Jordan would just not understand."

She chuckled.

"You could stay in my home," Caine put in.

Kermit put a hand lightly on her shoulder. "No. Hey, Caine doesn't even have electricity. Stay with me. I have plenty of room."

"That's right -- you bought a house, didn't you?" The younger cop asked. "But you're a bit out of Chinatown, aren't you?"

"I'll get you wherever you need to be." He told her.

Amber met his eyes -- well, she met the glasses. Suddenly, she grinned. "How can I turn down that kind of an offer?"

He flashed her that quicksilver smile.

"You're a prince. You're my Frog Prince. Now," she went on petulantly, "Can we get me checked the hell out of here?"

There was no arguing with her. Peter and Kermit were not sure she should leave yet, but Caine did not seem to agree with them, and Amber was determined to get out of the hospital, calling it an `antiseptic edifice'. The Ancient merely smiled his elfin smile and offered her his arm to lean on. She limped with his support to the nurses' station and insisted on checking out right away. Dr. Sabourin finally agreed to let her go, as long as she took it easy.

"Frankly," she said after giving Amber a quick check-over, "I can't believe how much better you are already!"

"I heal fast," Amber replied. "Family trait. Thank you, doctor."

The doctor shook her head in amused exasperation. "You heal fast, Caine here heals others fast...I'll be out of business soon."

Amber, stubborn as she was, could not get out of being wheeled out of the hospital. Kermit pulled his Corvair around as the intern stopped the chair. Caine helped her stand.

"Come to the station in the morning," Peter told her. "We'll get the insurance people on the right track, and take your statement. I'll try to get the Captain to let me work on this one."

"Thank you," she hugged him gingerly, then Caine.

"And you, Kwai Chang Caine -- thank you for coming to my rescue." She turned last to hug Lo Si and bestow a kiss on his old cheek. "And you, for protecting me. Thank you, my Chinese angel."

He twinkled at her. "You owe me now, young lady." Then he told her gravely. "I told you already that there are those who will seek to hurt you. You must be very careful. The danger is not over."

Amber felt a feather-light touch in her mind. The old man grinned again, saying, "I will also keep an eye on you."

Kermit didn't say anything as he pulled the green Corvair out of the lot. Amber leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. Finally, he spoke.

"You could have been killed."

"Yes," she agreed, eyes still shut. "It's a good thing Lo Si and Caine came along when they did."

"I'd say it's a good thing you're not the only psychic around."

"Thought I was done for," she answered conversationally.

"You know, walking around that neighborhood at night alone was stupid." His tone was also casual. "Why in the hell did you walk home by yourself?"

"Because Delancy's is close to the store...was close to the store," she corrected herself. Her store was no longer -- at least not for the moment, and would not be in the same place. "Because I've never been afraid to be alone."

Kermit was silent again for a time, watching the road through his glasses.

Amber opened her eyes, turned to look at him. "It's nice of you to let me stay with you tonight."

"By the time we get there, the night will be mostly gone."

"I've lived on short sleep before."

"What will you do?"

"Catch a ride in with you tomorrow and fill out paperwork for Peter, then see the insurance people, and then see Caine about a new place."

He nodded.

"And maybe buy a car."

He regarded her silently for a moment. "So you're really thinking of staying here?"

"There are worse places than Sloanville."

He flashed that brief grin again. "I sort of hoped you might think so."

Mindful of her injuries, he offered her the guest room. Amber chuckled softly. "Putting temptation out of reach?"

"You're hurt," he told her.

"Yes, I am. But I will be better soon." It was a promise. As it turned out, she slept beside him again. They were chaste enough, but Amber felt herself much reassured with his warmth next to her.

They arrived at the 101st bright and early. Their joint entrance did not go unnoticed, but no one mentioned it. Jody gave Amber a wink on the sly. The honey-tressed woman returned it with a twinkle in her eye and a sheepish grin.  So much for secrets.

"Come on over here," Peter gestured. "I need a statement, and we have to fill out a report."

Kermit went into his office, closing the door. Amber sat in the chair Peter indicated and they got to work.

Once the report was filed, she used Peter's desk phone to call the insurance agent, who agreed to meet her at the property in ten minutes. Her old friend chuckled as she reported this. He directed a look at the closed door.

"I wonder what our buddy put in your policy file."

Amber started. "You think he...?"

"I would be surprised if he hadn't."

Peter and Jody went with her to meet Ross, the agent. Amber walked around what was left of `The Unturned Page' with a lump in her throat and tears threatening. Impatient with herself, she shook them away -- no one had been hurt, and Jody had managed to save all her important documents and her computer. It was only things that had been destroyed, and things could be replaced. She would have been incapacitated had Mai or Joseph been in the shop when it went.

Ross agreed that Providence Insurance would pay out quickly, but Amber's premiums were going to go up. The young woman nodded her acquiescence. She'd never had an incident before, and the alarms she had always used were usually enough of a deterrent. Anyone who could bypass her security was dangerous enough that she did not blame the insurance company for wanting to raise her rates.

She went back to the police station with Peter and Jody. Softly rapping on the door to Kermit's office, she was told to enter.

"Thank you for everything," she began.

He looked up, removed his shades to pinch the bridge of his nose, then smiled briefly and replaced them. "Sure. What in particular?"

"Oh, just everything. I'm about to go see Caine."

"I'm leaving at six. If you want to come back to my place, be here then."

She dropped a light kiss on his forehead. "Check, chief. I think I will need to rely on your kindness another night."

"Then I'll wait for you."

"Shouldn't have to."

She left, then stepped out of the precinct and into the street before she realized that she had not asked Peter how to get to Caine's home. No matter, she shrugged to herself. All she would need to do was find and follow that serenity she had felt from him the moment he'd first stepped into her shop.

Amber found the building and climbed the fire escape to find Lo Si sitting with Caine on a balcony, the two men silently regarding the city.

"Ah...welcome." Caine said softly. "Are you ready to look at a new...store front?"

"You found one already?" She asked eagerly.

Caine shrugged, looking at his old friend. "It was Lo Si who...discovered the place."

The little man grinned up at her from his seat. "I am sure you will be happy with it."

"Then so am I."

"I will take you there. The owner, Jack Ling, will meet us there at one thirty."

He slid off the ledge and bowed to Caine. "Thank you for allowing me to join your meditations. I am an old man and Amber is an injured woman. We will have to walk slowly, so we should start now."

Caine rose with a look at the young woman. He must have seen her eyes, for he said, "Surely you can wait and have a cup of tea before you go."

Amber nodded gratefully. Her ribs were bothering her from the climb up, and she would be grateful for the brief wait before the descent. After a cup of steaming tea she felt much better and followed the brisk old man with barely a wince.

"You will like this new place, I am sure." He told her as he led the way. She was trying to keep up, one hand touching the painful ribs. Suddenly, he seemed to notice her discomfort. "I am sorry, child," he apologized with a smile. "I am forgetting your injuries."

She dropped her pace with a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Lo Si. Usually, I could keep up fine, but I'm afraid I'm a little slow today."

"You must remember to be more careful," he admonished. "Why did you not heed my warning?"

She hung her head. "I'm afraid I didn't think long about it. I've never had anyone out to get me before."

"Tsk, tsk. What do you think I am giving you the warning for? Just to hear myself talk?"

"No, Ancient. I will be more careful."

"Good. Now, here we are."

Amber stopped dead and stared. It was wonderful! Her little Chinese angel had picked a tall, narrow brownstone built in the 1930's. It was the kind of storefront she had dreamed of, with the same old-fashioned windows and door as one sometimes saw on Christmas cards. She clapped her hands together.

"It's perfect!"

"Bloody marvelous," the old man chortled. "I have it on good authority that Jack Ling will sell it at a reasonable price."

A middle-aged Chinese man emerged through the front door Amber was coveting. He strode toward them with his hand outstretched. Lo Si performed the introductions and tagged along as Ling showed the property. There was an attractive little apartment over the store, accessed by both the back stairs and a little lift. The apartment occupied the second and third floors -- two bedrooms and a bath on the top, kitchen, great room, a small office and bath on the second. The rear storage area on the store level was a bit narrower than her last one had been, but Amber was seeing possibilities.

Ling named a figure Amber thought reasonable, and she shook his hand. While he called her bank to verify her first check, she drifted around the retail space with a dreamy look, envisioning where things would go. When she and Lo Si left, she was the proud owner of a new home for `The Unturned Page', complete with keys and the alarm code.

She threw her arms around The Ancient and kissed his cheek, wincing just a little as she let him go.

"You must be careful of your hurts," he admonished, but grinned impishly.

"I'm feeling better already," she told him exuberantly. "It's just beautiful, Lo Si! Thank you!"

She tried to call the Wangs from her cell phone, but the thing did not seem to work. She walked Lo Si back to his flat, and then returned to the precinct. Peter gravely told her,

"I've filed your report, and the Captain is doing what she can, but I'm afraid we aren't going to be able to do much. There's no evidence to hook anyone for the arson, and you didn't get so much as a look at your attackers.

"I was afraid of that," Amber admitted. "I got a couple of them with my nails, but through their masks. I'm afraid all you'd get from under my nails would be wool fibers."

"I guess we could question anyone in Chinatown with scratches on his face, but then we don't even know if they live here."

"Shang Kai Zeng would be foolish to only have people here," she agreed. "He's very clever. Say, I need to use a phone."

He gestured to the one on his desk and went over to Strenlich's office. Amber phoned the Wangs and gave them the news. They were indignant that anyone would do that to her store, but glad to know she would be reopening soon.

Then she called a few suppliers and arranged for restocking, and arranged to have power, telephone and even cable turned on in the building. Finally, she called the cellular phone people, and was told to bring her unit into the nearest store, which was a few blocks away. Jody and Skalany offered to go with her.

"Tough luck, that fire," Mary Margaret said sympathetically. "And how are you feeling?"

"I'll be fine soon," the psychic assured her. "Be right in no time. I just don't understand why Shang is so set on getting rid of me."

"Word has it he likes to dabble in the arcane," the brunette replied. "Keep an eye out, will you? If he can't chase you away, and you're not dead, I'm afraid he may try something else. This is probably not over. I heard Kermit and Blake discussing your next alarm system."

Jody laughed. "Now, that's an idea. Heck, you might not be able to get into your own store!"

The saleswoman checked out Amber's phone while she waited. "I'm more angry than anything," she admitted to her new friends. "This man thinks he can frighten me away, or make me leave by destroying my property. And then to have his bullyboys try to kill me? It's just too much!"

"Miss Adair, this phone service was cancelled Saturday."

"What?"

The young woman behind the counter was apologetic. "I can't understand it. The cancellation fee was paid, and we discontinued service Saturday morning."

"I didn't authorize that."

"I'm sorry, ma'am."

"Who did this? Do you have a record?"

"Well, she signed it `Amber Adair'."

Amber sighed. There was nothing she could do about it now. "Well, I need a new contract, then. And I think I want you to note that any request to alter or terminate the service has to be accompanied by not only my signature, but a photo id."

"Yes, Miss Adair."

That was all she could do for now. The new service established, the three women returned to the station. Amber felt those eyes on her again, but still said nothing. There was nothing to say. As they re-entered the precinct house, she ventured, "Maybe all three of us could get together one evening once I'm in the new place."

"That sounds great!" Jody crowed, and Skalany agreed. They went back to their desks.

Captain Simms opened her office door and asked Amber to join her.

"I understand you've been having some excitement," the older woman said gently.

"Yes, I have. And it's not the kind of excitement I would have chosen. I filed the necessary reports, but Peter doesn't think we'll get anywhere."

"No, I'm afraid not. Even if you were to be able to use your talent to tell us who attacked you, there is just not any physical evidence we could use."

"I understand. Was there something you needed to see me about?"

"I just wanted to make sure you're all right." Karen scrutinized the younger woman.

"I will be soon. And I also guess you want to make sure I'm not going to bring you a major crime wave."

The Captain shook her head. "No, I'm not worried about that. People with strange abilities tend to attract trouble, but that's hardly their doing. I really want to know you're okay. I get the feeling a friend of mine cares about you."

The woman's mind opened for just a moment, and Amber blinked as she `heard' some of the past relationship between this woman and Kermit. Her eyes widened, but she said nothing.

"Amber, you may think me a somewhat reserved person, but I care a lot about my people. Peter Caine and Kermit Griffin are two of my best people -- and Powell and Skalany rank up there as well. If they all find you worth their time and care, I have to, too. I've also made some of those calls I mentioned -- you come highly recommended. Jim Willard in particular told me I should get to know you."

Amber sat up a little straighter. "Thank you. I trust Jim is well. He's a good friend and a good cop."

"Then you'll understand when I ask you to have lunch with us next Monday. He's coming into town then, and would like us to join him."

"I'd be honored. Thank you."

She was dismissed. This woman, Karen Simms, had such a natural sense of authority -- it was easy to see why she made such a good Captain. She reminded Amber a bit of Jim, with whom she had enjoyed a working friendship.

Kermit stepped from his office. "I can get out of here a bit early, if you're ready."

"Whenever you are," she told him. He cocked his head and led the way to the parking lot. Amber added, "I need some clothes, if you wouldn't mind."

"Just tell me where."

Amber did not take long to shop. She merely presented a credit card to the sales clerk and handed the girl a list with her sizes and the items she needed, and then waited with Kermit while the girl rounded them up. That done, they left laden with a number of bags.

"Clothes! Oh, no!" Amber slapped her forehead.

"What is it?" Kermit was instantly alert.

"Your shirt and tie!" She wailed. "They must have been burned along with my stuff!"

He couldn't help it. He laughed. Then he couldn't stop laughing, and sat back in the driver's seat, shaking his head as he tried to bring his mirth under control.

"What is it?" She demanded.

"You." He removed the glasses, wiped his eyes and replaced them. "Your shop is incinerated along with everything you own, you're beaten senseless on the street and the thing you find to worry about is my shirt and tie?"

She smiled hesitantly. "Guess it is pretty foolish."

"I can replace those with no problem. You, on the other hand, are definitely one of a kind."

Still chuckling, he drove them back to his house. "You want to take that rain check for dinner tonight?"

"Let me get a shower and change first," she begged. "I've been in these clothes for two days now, and I think I might be ripe."

"Take your time," he told her. He did not let her go in until he had performed his little coming-home ritual, though. Finally, she went up the stairs and took the shower she'd been dreaming of for hours and slid into new underwear and clothes.

"You still look like a big accident," he told her when she returned to the kitchen. "People are going to think I beat you."

"You think someone'll call a cop?" She teased.

"Are you sure you feel up to eating out?" He asked. "You have two black eyes, among other things."

She sighed deeply. "I hoped I could get away without this, but give me a couple of minutes." She went back up and used some of the cosmetics she'd picked up with the clothes. With enough concelaer and foundation she looked almost normal.

"That's better, Green Eyes. Ready?"

She twinkled up at him. "Whenever you are, my Frog Prince."

He had chosen a rather nice restaurant. The interior was rich with dark wood and subdued upholstery. The maitre d' showed them to a table in a quiet table, where Amber smiled to herself at Kermit's choice of seat -- he had automatically put his back to the corner. She still could not have said why she found him so attractive, but it was, as always, hard to pull her eyes away from his face.

Kermit took pleasure in the view from his side of the table. It had been some time since he'd felt this way -- maybe since adolescence. He had thought of her more than once while he was out of town. Truth be told, he had thought of her almost constantly. New York City had seemed colder than usual this time, and the Arab more annoying. Wilson had a lot to answer for. Kermit had wanted to call her quite a few times over the weekend. He had tried to call from almost the moment he'd touched down, but had been unable to get through. Then Peter's call had come, telling him Amber was at City General...he'd been nearly frantic. If she had been hurt more seriously, or worse, he would have been terribly angry with somebody.

As it was, he was angry. Angry with Wilson, who had called him away with an urgent message that had turned out to be nothing, after all. Angry with whoever had attacked Amber, and at Shang Kai Zeng for ordering it. Angry with Amber for having been out alone and not careful enough. But mostly, he was angry with himself, for reasons he could not fully explain, even to himself. He knew now that he should have phoned her himself when he'd had to leave. How could he have thought it wouldn't matter?

When he'd found her room, and seen her face -- she'd looked like three miles of bad road. It was bad enough that Peter had had to call and tell him where she was: he'd tried the shop phone, her apartment and her cell, all of which had gotten him nothing. But then, to see that he was the last one there when she needed help...Kermit still found himself wanting to smash something. At least it had been Lo Si holding her hand, not Peter. It wouldn't have been right -- Peter had had so much in the way of `the love of a good woman' -- this was his turn. And then when Amber had turned away from him, closed her eyes...he hadn't needed to be a psychic to know something was wrong. At least it was easily fixed -- all he had had to do was apologize. He would not make the same mistake again. He could not promise never to disappear again, but he damn well could make sure to tell her himself.

Amber sipped cautiously at the wine he had selected. It was very good. If she did not watch herself, she might be tempted to drink more of it than was good for her. "Lo Si found me the perfect place. I should be able to move in tomorrow or the day after."

He didn't reply for a minute. Then, "That's good. Still in Chinatown?"

"Of course. I want to stay there a while. Will you help me find a car?"

She was beginning to really love that flash of smile.

"I'll do what I can."

Back at his house, the ex-spy booted up his box and found the online classifieds. Amber paged through them, until she crowed with delight, "This one!"

"You want a Mustang?" He asked in a strange tone.

"Yes, a '67 Mustang! A dark blue one -- this sounds perfect. I'll call this guy tomorrow and take a look at it if I can. Oh, this would be great!"

Kermit merely shook his head. "All right. Then I'd better hit the hay."

She grinned. "Sounds like a plan."

They were a bit less chaste this time, in spite of having to watch Amber's injuries.

She called first thing about the Mustang, while Kermit ate a bowl of oatmeal under her watchful eye. Really, the man had no idea how to eat properly -- he had actually told her he never ate breakfast! Amber was cautious, calling the Mustang's owner so early, but he did not seem to mind at all. He told her to come along and take a look now, if she liked.

Kermit drove her to the address Bob Reed had given, and watched impassively while she looked it over. Bob turned out to be an elderly man, still strong and muscular, with a white beard and a quick grin for the young woman who so enthusiastically appreciated his classic. She drove it around the neighborhood, enjoying the feeling -- she had not driven a car in a long time, and the act imparted a sense of freedom she hadn't known she'd lost. The Mustang was a manual, and she made a mental note to thank Uncle Dougie for teaching her to drive one. Totally enchanted with this piece of automotive history, she wrote a check for Bob's asking price without demur.

Amber waited patiently while Bob called her bank. He hung up, handed over the registration with another smile. "Here y'are, Miss. Drive `er like you love her, is all I ask."

"I will," the young woman gave him her happiest grin. "I do."

"Wouldn't have sold her to you if you didn't."

Kermit smiled briefly at the two of them. "See you for lunch?"

"I'll meet you. The place Peter took us?"

The man nodded and got into his distinctive Corvair. Amber watched him go, then shook hands with Bob.

"Thank you, sir. I promise, I'll take good care of her. I plan to learn how to work on her myself."

That earned her another wide grin. "Then hold, on, Missy." He vanished into his house and reappeared with a battered old book. "Found this at a library sale back in the eighties. It's all you'll need to know. If it isn't in there, you'll have to go to someone with machinery to pull the engine out."

Amber enjoyed the smooth feel of the car as she drove to get the registration changed over. Parking it in back of the new store, she patted it fondly and went in.

She called the phone and power people, and confirmed that service had been switched to her name. A few calls let her know that her personal furniture would arrive tomorrow, along with the cookware she had ordered. The merchandise and display cases would take one more day. She had not felt watched since yesterday afternoon. Things seemed to be settling back down -- maybe Mary Margaret had been wrong, and Shang had decided she was not worth the trouble.

Amber locked up carefully and set the alarm before walking to the post office to get her address changed. She met Kwai Chang Caine and Lo Si along the way.

"Good morning...Amber," Peter's father said in his soft way. He inclined his head.

Amber gave the older men a little bow. "Good morning, gentlemen. Where are you off to?"

"The Post Office," the Ancient told her happily. "I am sending a letter to old friends in China."

"What a coincidence," she laughed. "I'm going that way, myself. May I walk along with you?"

"Of course," the wizened old man told her. "How are you today?"

"A twinge here and there, but I feel much better. I won't be able to keep myself from running much longer."

"When did...Dr. Sabourin wish to...see you again?" Caine inquired with a sharp look.

"I see her tomorrow. I will ask her," the honey-haired girl promised, "before I do anything."

"Good."

"Your face is healing nicely," Lo Si said. "The bruises are already yellowing."

"Yes. I told you, I heal quickly."

The trip to the Post Office took a little time, as people stopped to greet the Ancient with respect, and Caine had to check on those he had helped along the way. Amber was a little surprised at how many people here in Chinatown knew Caine and had sought his help at one time or another.

When they parted ways, she asked Lo Si, "I am very sorry, but I will not have a teapot today after all. Would you be good enough to come tomorrow?"

"I will. What time shall I come?"

"Say, three o'clock?"

"I will be there."

Amber walked past the 101st to the pub Peter had chosen last week. She found a booth near the back and sat. Kermit walked in a few moments later and slid in across from her.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to impose upon you for one more night," she told him with a hopeful smile. "Unless you're tired of me."

"Hardly." He leaned back on the red vinyl bench. "Are you sure you'll only need to stay one more night?"

"My furniture should arrive tomorrow. Are you coming to see it?"

He didn't answer right away, but looked over the menu. "Of course I'll come see your place."

"When?"

"When you invite me."

Amber reached across the laminate table to touch his hand. "You have a standing invitation," she told him. "Any time you like. But I'd really like you to come see it this evening."

"Well, then," he flashed her that smile again. "I'll be there. And I'll have a present for you."

Amber laughed warmly. "I love presents. I'll see you after work, then."

Jody and Blake entered the diner then and saw them. Just as the pair saw her and Kermit, Amber waved with a smile, saying softly, "I hope you don't mind -- I think we're about to have company."

Blake diffidently asked if Kermit would come with him for a minute, and the two men went over near the door. Jody took the spot just vacated across from Amber and told her, "I think they're talking about your new alarm."

"Sh," the woman murmured. "I get the feeling it's supposed to be a surprise."

The blonde sat up indignantly. "Well, they should have said so, then! Skalany and I would never have said anything..."

The two men were returning. Kermit gave Jody a hard look, but slid in beside Amber without comment. They gave Sally their orders and Amber let Jody lead the conversation. It suddenly occurred to her that she had a place here. For the first time in her life, Amber had a home and a stake in keeping it. Oh, maybe she had not bought a house or thought about having babies yet, but she had bought a car. She had what looked like the beginning of an interesting relationship, even if it had mostly been physical to date. She had friends -- two real girl friends, who actually wanted to spend time with her -- not merely people seeking her help. And then there was dear Lo Si, who could brighten her whole day with his elfin smile.

And most curious of all, perhaps, was the fact that her inner heart seemed to have stopped thinking about the next move. For as long as she could remember, there had been a secret little place in her that had always said things like, `in the next store,' or `maybe next time I should'. That voice was silent -- had been silent since she'd arrived in Sloanville.

Jody lightly slapped her wrist. "Hey -- you still with us? Or are you in a psychic trance?"

Amber laughed. "Sorry -- just woolgathering. What were you saying?"

"We're doing the Delancy's thing again tonight. Want to come?"

She glanced at Kermit beside her. He made no gesture, so she said, "Sure. Got a couple things to take care of, so I might be a little late."

"There is no late at Delancy's. Just get there when you can."

Jody and Blake took off soon after eating. Kermit stayed a minute longer. "So...see you at the new shop?"

"Do you need the address, or should I let you have the fun of finding it on the net?" She teased.

"Oh, just this once I guess you could give it to me up front."

Kermit went back to the precinct in a strange mood. Most of the other cops had grown accustomed to him by now and when they saw his expression, steered clear of the man. He noted this with a wry internal grin. This time, they couldn't possibly have read his expression accurately -- he didn't know what the mood was, himself. He wasn't angry, although that was a safe assumption for anyone else to make.

He strode into his office and shut the door; trying to get back to the process he'd been following that morning. It didn't work. A light tap announced Karen Simms. She softly closed the door behind her and sat.

"What's going on with you?"

"Me?" He looked over the monitor at her. "What makes you think something's going on with me?"

She gave him a steady look.

"Amber's got a new shop," he said conversationally.

"That's good. And a place to live?"

"Just like the last one -- an apartment over the store."

"Ah." Was all the Captain said.

He tried unsuccessfully to ignore her, tried to get back into his work. Finally, he threw up his hands.

"All right. The lady's been staying with me while she looked for a new place. She's got furniture and everything coming tomorrow, and she'll be coming back to live in Chinatown."

"And this bothers you?"

"I don't like the idea of her coming right back to where she was attacked. I don't like Amber putting herself right back in Shang's reach. And I'm going to..."

"Miss her?" Karen's voice was gentle. She'd had time to get to know this man, to learn that his tough shell was carefully constructed to protect a man who was not as hard as he liked to pretend.

Kermit took down his green glass walls and met Karen's eyes. "I guess so."

"Have you told her that?"

"No." He put the shades back on. The tone would have warned most off the subject.

Not Karen Simms. "Why not? Why don't you tell her?"

"It's too soon, damn it! I've only known the lady a week."

"Sometimes that's enough."

"And if she gets that `call' she talks about? The call to leave and find others who need her?" He put the keyboard on his lap, deliberately rocked back onto the rear legs of the chair. "I couldn't ask her to stay based on...what? A week? It wouldn't be right."

"It would if you needed her," Karen said very quietly as she rose. "You might think about that."

Kermit grunted. After she had gone, he sat for a long time looking through the window after Karen.

If he needed her?

What a thought.

Amber looked up as Kermit entered the store from the back. She gave him a welcoming smile as she shook the papers together and set them in a stack. "You made it!"

"Hope you don't mind. I asked Blake and some others to come along to help me with your present."

She giggled girlishly. "I just love presents," she told him again.

Blake came forward, holding some sort of electronic box, rolls of wire draped over his shoulder. Kermit produced another roll from beneath his coat. Skalany and Jody, Jordan and Peter followed, each carrying part of the system.

"I thought we were all going to meet at the bar?" The psychic asked.

"We're helping," Jody grinned. "Thought we could all go to the bar after we got this done."

"Kermit didn't think your alarm here was quite what you needed," Blake got out. "This alarm should be far better than anything you can buy."

Amber looked around at her new friends, a suspicious mist rising in her eyes. "And you're all here to put it in?"

The chorus of `yeses' almost loosed the tears.

"Thank you." She managed. "Thank you all." But her eyes told Kermit who she was thanking most of all.

The process took less time than she would have thought. She helped as well, doing exactly what Blake told her. She did cheat a little, sending a tendril of thought towards the little man, making sure she knew precisely what he meant. She probed no further -- would not have violated his thoughts for anything.

When it was all done, Kermit and Blake showed her how to arm and disarm it, how to set it for `home', and made sure she understood. Then the gang went off to the bar. Skalany said with a sly look,

"Don't be too long, you two, or we'll come looking."

Alone with Kermit, Amber merely looked at him for a long minute. "Thank you. You can't know what this means to me."

He cleared his throat. "Yeah, well...why don't you show me around?"

She did so. He seemed suitably impressed with the place. "You sound like you plan to be here a while. Bought the building, bought a car..."

"I keep telling you, I think I'd like to stay here," she said very softly.

"I'd like that."

She pulled his face down to kiss him very thoroughly. "I was sort of hoping you'd feel that way."

They made it to Delancy's. Amber found a space for her new car close to the entrance. As she walked with Kermit into the place, she thought for just a moment that someone was watching. It was not the same person as before, and was gone so quickly she decided she must have imagined it.

Inside, the bar was as warm and friendly as she recalled it, and she spent the evening in a friendly wrangle with Peter over which team would take the Stanley Cup this year. Once more, Kermit remained at her side the whole time, but talked with Frank Strenlich and Kelly. Caine came in with a sturdy brunette, whom he introduced to Amber as Cheryl. Cheryl seemed to know everyone here, and Caine went over to sit with Mary Margaret.

Amber was again swept by the new feeling of having friends. She'd known these people so short a time -- but they all cared about her. Not one of them seemed to have any motive other than friendship.

She followed Kermit to his house, and parked out in front. In the kitchen, Kermit suddenly pulled her close.

"Gonna be different without you here," he said.

"Maybe I ought to leave my toothbrush." She chuckled.

He cocked his head quizzically.

"That way, I'd have an excuse to come back." She explained.

"You don't need an excuse," he told her.

"Nor do you, to come see me," she replied. "But you might want to put some clean shirts in my closet."

The next few days sped by. Doctor Sabourin cleared the young woman to carefully work her way back into her usual routine. Amber and the Wangs got `The Unturned Page' organized, and Amber's apartment was simple to arrange to her satisfaction. By Saturday, Amber thought they would be ready to re-open on Tuesday. Kermit had spent a night in her new place. She was feeling a certain contentment with her new life. She had even begun to think about what she would do when it came time to turn over the store -- and leaving Sloanville was not in her plans.

Jody was coming Sunday night to have another little party -- Mary Margaret had pulled night shift again and could not join them. Amber spent a little time shopping for their evening, then hurried back to her apartment to get ready for tonight -- Kermit had asked her to join him at the opera. Who would have thought? She had to look perfect.

Amber spent quite some time experimenting with her makeup to see what would cover the last of the bruises and complement her dress. Finally satisfied, she was ready just as the buzzer told her he was downstairs. She swept down the stairs with a flair of floor length dress to let him in.

Kermit stood very still to take in the sight. He was in his usual well-tailored suit and a formal dark tie this time. But Amber...she wore a long dress of something soft and shiny-looking, in a color so like her hair it was hard to tell where one stopped and the other started. Her green eyes sparkled up at him. The neckline was low and square, and she must have done something, for there were no traces of the bruising on her face or chest. Her jewelry was simple -- a single strand of richly colored amber beads and matching earrings. Her hair was done up, cascading down over one shoulder. She looked...perfect.

Her grin widened as she saw the very effect she'd hoped for. He looked stunned, and in a selfish little part of her, she exulted. The rest of her was merely relieved she'd managed without going overboard.

"Come up for a minute?" She asked.

"We ought to go," Kermit told her. "As much as I hate to share this with anyone, we don't want to be late."

Amber laughed softly. "What a nice thing to say, detective. Let me get my wrap."

She only took a minute, then let him hand her into his car.

"You look amazing." He said as he drove.

"Thank you," she responded. "You're no slouch, yourself."

The opera was Carmen, and Amber enjoyed it immensely. She was conscious of him beside her the whole time, though. When they went out to the lobby for the intermission drinks, she stayed close to him. The press of people was difficult for her, and their surface level thoughts seemed to be mostly full of who was there to see them. She found herself pulling Kermit along to a secluded corner where their only companion was a middle-aged man of lean build whose thoughts were calm, reliving the joy of the music.

"Are you all right?" Kermit was concerned. He had taken his glasses off to watch the performance, but now they were firmly in place.

"I'm fine," she told him. “There are just a lot of people out there who don't seem to have any control over their minds."

"That would be most people in the world, I suppose." He grinned.

Amber smiled tiredly. "Yes. I find that anyone who studies a martial art or mystic tradition can govern his thoughts. And those who have learned in more dangerous professions," she looked up at him through her lashes.

"A point in my favor, I see."

"More than that, I'd say. But look -- it's time to go back in."

She took his arm once more and they made their way back inside. In the press of people, a man jostled against her, knocking her into Kermit. The man excused himself hurriedly and pushed through the crowd before Amber could reply.

Later, in her apartment, she took a certain sensuous pleasure in the slow, appreciative way Kermit removed the evening's finery from her. She returned the favor.

Sunday evening, Amber and Jody had dinner and girl talk again, and were sitting on Amber's new sofa in their pajamas when Amber suddenly sat bolt upright. She stiffened, and Jody touched her to find every muscle locked fast. The alarm went crazy and five figures erupted through the stairway door. Jody put up a fight, kicking and punching with incredible precision, but she was outnumbered.

Amber could not move.

Jody shrieked and fought madly. Then one of the masked figures clipped her over the head with the butt of his gun and she went limp. Amber watched this in despair -- she could move her eyes now, but no more. She screamed as two of the men -- the same ones who had attacked her only a week ago -- lifted her from the couch and carried her toward the stairs. Unfortunately, the screams echoed in her own head, but no sound came from her lips. Two others had Jody, and the last looked around the apartment before following his comrades down the steps, calmly ignoring the cacophony from the still-shrieking alarm.