"Beast!" Someone called after him. "You know you don't want to leave us. And you damn sure don't want to leave her here where any old fool is going to be walking in watching her on that treadmill!"

Christopher's steps faltered and he looked over his shoulder but didn't turn. Lem chuckled in satisfaction. "We'll do what you ain't willing to do."

His chest felt constricted with barely contained rage. "I know what you're trying to do," he said after another pause. "But it ...