Eight

And so Friday afternoon at two, Kara was packed and ready to go, though not eager in the least.  A knock sounded on the door and she opened to see a well-dressed Matthew Connor standing in the doorway.  He wore dark blue jeans and a casual, button-up short-sleeved shirt.  The light blue of the shirt made his blue eyes that much more intense.  His casual elegance froze her for a moment.  He smiled a greeting before he took her luggage and loaded it in the back of his 4x4. 

Well, at least he had some manners, she thought as she locked her front door and came down the steps, trying to calm her nerves.  He held the car door open for her before he went around to the driver’s side.  Kara angrily shoved the thought aside; he had never been anything other than courteous, except for the threat with the painting.  And the threat trumped any manners he might have.

There was a long silence when they left the road leading to her ra