"Lisa?" Sarah's voice called down the hall. "Someone wants you on the phone."
Lisa wiped her eyes quickly. Who would be calling her on his phone again? Surely not Howard.
Opening the door, she kept her face hidden as she walked down the hallway. She took the receiver from Sarah.
"Hello?" she managed through a constricted throat.
"Lisa? This is Connie. Are you sick? Your voice sounds strange."
"No, I'm fine."
"I tried to call you on your cell phone, but I didn't get an answer. We just turned off the highway, so we'll be there pretty soon. Are you ready?"
"I suppose so."
"Is he close?"
"Yes."
"Do you want to talk to Len, or Howard?"
"Howard."
Immediately Howard was on the line. "Lisa, are you safe?"
"I don't know. I think so. I'm sorry about yesterday. I thought . . ."
"No, you were right. I don't know what came over me to act that way. I should have known how you felt about him."
"This isn't a good time . . ."
Yancey lifted the telephone from her hand. "Who is this?" His voice had an edge to it. He listened for a minute and then his tone was sharp. "She said it wasn't a good time, and it isn't."
Lisa turned and started for her room. His temper was rising by the second. She'd better find a safe place until they arrived.
"Lisa!" His voice shot out after her and she darted for the bedroom.
Once in her room, she slammed the door and locked it against him. She could hear voices in the hall as Sarah questioned him and urged him to calm down. It must have helped, at least to some degree, because when he spoke again outside her door, his voice was controlled.
"Lisa." His voice sounded restrained, but she didn't respond.
She crammed the pictures down into the suitcase. Whatever she couldn't get into it, she would simply have to leave behind.
He turned the knob and pushed on the door. "Lisa," he ordered in a calm voice. "Open the door. I want to talk to you."
"You've said quite enough for one evening," she answered with equal composure.
He was quiet for a minute and she wondered if he'd given up, but no such luck.
"Lisa," his voice was louder and more demanding. "If you don't open this door I'm going to kick it open."