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suddenly disappointed that she had already crossed the threshold into insanity. It would be nice to be able to talk to someone in reality. As she was just about to inform him he was a figment of her imagination, Mr. Scott walked back into the room carrying a large tray of food.
    Preda stared wide-eyed as Mr. Scott rested the feast on the coffee table in front of her. Not only had he delivered on the promised tomatoes, but there were a variety of cheeses, breads, jams, and sliced meats as well. Her mouth watered. She hoped this at least was real. She looked up at Mr. Scott to thank him and realized he was wringing his hands anxiously and awaiting her approval.
    Preda didn’t know if she could speak to him too, but if she was losing her mind anyway, she figured she might as well try. “Thank you,” she said. “This is exactly what I need right now.”
    Mr. Scott slumped into a chair in relief, and Preda shook her head in wonder. She quickly overcame her amazement and started to dig into the food in front of her. As she brought the first piece of fancy cheese to her mouth—she had never tasted any other kind than American—Fiver swiped it out of her hand with his front paw.
    “Oh. I’m so sorry, Fiver. I forgot about you,” she said to the purring cat.
    Mr. Fox and Mr. Scott exchanged amazed glances, and they both started laughing at Preda’s deference to the cat. Fiver disposed of his prize and then looked up at Preda expectantly and licked his chops. Without even thinking she reached down and grabbed him a slice of meat. Both men stared at her as she fed the cat until he finally seemed satisfied and started licking his paws.
    Once she was sure Fiver was finished with his food, Preda gratefully dug into the plate for herself. It was delicious. She thought it was the best food she had ever eaten—although that could have been partly because it had been at least twenty-four hours since her last meal.
    Mr. Scott admonished Mr. Fox as soon as he realized how hungry Preda had been. “I can’t believe you spent all that time with her in the car and didn’t think to feed her.”
    “My main objective was to get her here. Safely,” he said.
    Preda thought he looked a little ashamed under Mr. Scott’s withering glare, and she chuckled under her breath.
    “What is so humorous? Weren’t you starving? You haven’t eaten since yesterday. Why didn’t you speak up?” Mr. Scott was practically yelling at her now.
    Preda laughed harder under his tirade. She felt a little delirious. Her hysteria only heightened as both men stared incredulously at her. They must have finally realized they were harboring a madwoman.
    “Speak up, Mr. Scott?” she asked between fits of laughter. “If you knew anything about me, you would know how impossible that is!”
    Mr. Scott looked slightly embarrassed as realization dawned on him. His anger then turned again on Mr. Fox. “You didn’t tell her anything, did you? She probably thought she was going to prison…or worse.”
    Preda finally calmed down and started to hiccup quietly on the couch. After the reality of what Mr. Scott said finally sank in, she asked, “Where am I going? Can I stay here?”
    Mr. Fox exhaled loudly and answered her. “No. You won’t be staying here. We’re going to take you home.”
    Home? Preda stared at both men expectantly. Her eyes pleaded for more information. She knew he didn’t mean the house she had just left behind. Where could he possibly be talking about?
    “Look, Preda, I know this is hard to believe,” Mr. Fox started. “I also know this has been an incredibly difficult day. You’re not in trouble with anyone here, but you are in danger. There are those who mean to do you harm. You must trust me and do exactly as I say if we are to survive this.”
    Preda was about to start laughing again, but the look on both men’s faces made her think better of it. She kept her silence. She tried desperately to process his words and take him seriously.