She stared from the windows to the controller. Had she pushed something by mistake? The vibration was followed by a sudden crash of Plexiglas exploding into the room, as two figures in helmets and protective suits leaped through the barrier, scattering shards of glass likq deadly missiles. As soon as the invaders were on solid" ground, they began to spray the ceiling lights with bullets

Chapter Thirteen.

, Sqq of Plexiglas pinged into the walls. Noel flattqned haqelf to the floor just as the room plunged into darkqss She'd gotten only a quick glimpse of the invaders ? = "qt 'siie'd seen they were wearing padded suits that made : thqm look as if they'd come from outer space. 1'..

Halt! Unauthorized entry, " the automatic sentry qCm droned. Moments laber, a wailing alarm sounded.

One of the intruders swung around and aimed his maq=the gun at the control panel near the door, spraying it ;q a sq of bullets. -qqq=qNoel stared in horror. They knew just where to shoot. eqlse did they know? qq the smoke cleared, the panel was sputtering and q g. Noel held her breath. Had the bullets just out the housq's whole defense setup? computerized voice answered the question. "Sysalert Authorities have been summoned." of the invaders flung a curse in the direction of the Pql, his voice eerily distorted by the hehnet he q,t be a fool. It's a bluff," the other one in term the same mechanical tone. " They don't want ! pers any more than we do. "

Noel fought the fear that Montgomery had sent an invasion force of robots. But She knew damn well they were human or they wouldn't be so worried. Shifting the controller from hand to hand, she wipeqi her sweaty palm on her slacks. The fail-safe mechanism had kicked in. But where was Jason? He had the guns, but she didn't hear any shots. She had to clamp her teeth together to keep from calling out to him.

One of the men looked around the room and then back to the window. "For all I know, this place could be rigged to self-destruct."

"Then where the bleedin' hell are Zacharias and the girl?"

"Make sure your oxygen's working. I'm going to smoke 'em out," the distorted voice shot back.

Noel froze as she heard the hiss of a gas canister. A1most immediately, a heavy, acrid smell wafted toward her, and her eyes started to burn.

A wave of sick fear swept over her. For a moment it was impossible to think, as though the gas had seeped into the cells of her brain and paralyzed them. Then her hand squeezed around the plastic rectangle of the controller , and she felt a sharp corner dig into her palm. She'd forgotten she was holding the thing. But Jason had told her it was better than a gun. If she could remember the right codes. And work them in the dark.

The need to gasp in oxygen was a terrible pressure building inside her chest. Afraid she might black out, she strained to see the controller through a film of tears. Frantically she stabbed at a sequence of buttons she thought she remembered.

Music loud enough to wake the dead blared from; speakers around the room.

"What the bell! " The startled exclamation came from one of the invaders.

Noel blinked to clear her vision. Music wasn't going to save her. But the floor in each room was designed to deliver a powerful electric shock. However, she couldn't turn it on unless she was protected.

Reaching around the side of the sofa, she tugged at a rubberized cushion and pulled it to the floor. _ One of the space-suited men must have picked up the y' scuffling movement, perhaps with a directional mike.

"Over there!" he shouted, whirling and emptying a machine gun clip into the sofa. But the steel shielding held.

"Better have a look: '

Noel's lungs were about to burst. As two pairs of booted feet clumped toward her, she scrambled onto the cushion and keyed in a different sequence of buttons.

Around her island of safety, the floor crackled and sparked.

Across the room, the invaders screamed. Then every ; thing was silent. "Ibrning off the current, she cautiously around the edge of the sofa. The two men lay unqg on the floor. q;.-- lungs on fire, Noel was forced to gasp in a draft of air. '1q'q fumes hit her, and she began to choke. Finally the "f.:--q subsided. e q sq wiped her burning eyes with the backs of her , she longed to suck in a deep breath. She didn't Not until she was out of this room. But where was to go? And where was Jason? qgan to make her way along the wall toward the qqof the house, keeping her eye on the two men. Neiq ttrem stirred.

She was concentrating on not coughing when she felt a large, solid body slide up beside her. Her scream was muffled by a large hand.

"It's me."

"Jason. Thank God. I didn't know if you were okay." With a choking little sob, she turned to him, pressing her face against his shoulder. He held her tightly for several frantic heartbeats, his lips moving against her hair.Then he grasped her arm. "Got to get out of here.""I thought by now we were supposed to have help.""So did I.""What happened to you?""A little scuffle in the kitchen." The sentence ended in a cough, and he tugged on her arm. "We need fresh air" " " Are we trappedq? """ No. ""You're wrong, mate. Raise your hands above your heads and turn around slowly." The order came from one of four men who stood like Darth Vader's shock troops just outside the shattered window. All of them were holding machine guns trained on Noel and Jason.

"Hands up, I said."

Noel complied. Jason looked as if he wanted to reach for the weapon slungover his shoulder."Jason, don't!""She's right. Go for the gun, and you're dead."Jason uttered a low curse and raised his hands.Satisfied that they had control of the situation, the suited figures stepped into the ruined room.

"You've run out of luck, Zacharias," the leader gloated.

Noel could feel tension coming in waves from Jason:: His whole body was

rigid, except for the thumb of huq right hand. From the corner of her eye,

she saw it move rapidly against the keypad hidden in his large palm.

Instantly, sprays of blinding white foam began to shoot from nozzles in the ceiling. He had activated the fire extinguish en

Grabbing Noel, Jason pulled her down, just as bullets tore into the spot where they'd been standing. Foam rose up around them. Within seconds, the men by the window disappeared in a storm of white.

"Move! " Jason whispered into Noel's ear. She began to feel her way along the wall and lost her balance as she tumbled through the invisible doorway.

Whq she looked back into the room, there was nothing to sge but foam rising like a qd q. pnd nothing to hear but muffled exclamations and curses.

Jason clasped Noel's hand as they pounded down the hall. From somewhereabove, she heard a motor. It grew laider, as if a plane was landing on theroof. "qur transportation." Jason breathed a sigh of relief.

Intbe kitchen, two unconscious men lay on the floor. Jason hustled Noel pastthem and up the stairs to the qeoond floor. He pq a different set of buttonson the qqoller, and a glass wall slid open. Fresh air rushed to the room.Noel sucked in a grateful breath and then as the cold wind cut through herfoamqqqmpqenrd clothing. 'qfn the starless black sky, a helicopter hovered,a long hanging from its open door, swaying in the wind the blades. qq sq atit, sagging back against Jason. "I es, you can! I'll be right behind you. " He hoisted p to the first rung.The ladder swayed like a vine in and. Somehow she managed to pull herself tothe next rung, then the next. Finally she reached the open door of themachine, and a strong arm pulled her inside.

Breathing hard, she collapsed into the seat as the helicopter lifted off.

Jason found a blanket and gently wrapped it around her. She closed her eyes and clutched the scratchy fabric, thankful for the escape yet afraid that the worst part was yet to come.

Out of the foam and into the Fryeing pan, she thought.

q q. Icor'qt qooRs opened. Jason gave Noel's hand a quick squeeze beforeshifting his grip to her elbow. She knew if she looked at him, her teethmight start to chatter Or she might begin to scream and not be able to stop.So she kept her eyes on her feet.

In all the times she'd tried to prepare for this moment, she hadn't imagined it beinq like this. She felt fragmented Disorganized.

Still dazed and shaking from their narrow escape, she looked from the intimidating gray walls of Castle Lockwood silhouetted against the night sky to the tall, slender man with the gold-headed walking stick who waited at the edge of the lighted landing pad.

Why hadn't Sir Douglas sent a squad of men to crush the invaders? Why hadn't the helicopter come sooner?

Anger rose inside her as the answer to the question came to her in a terribleflash of insight. The Sovereign had wanted it to happen like this. Hewanted to see how little Mrs. Stepford Wife was going to react to her closebrush with death. Once again, he'd taken advantage of an opportunity thathad come his way.

So what should she do now? How should she play this scene? She struggled to

make her mind function the way it would if it were operating under Frye's control.

Ducking to avoid the blades, she followed Jason toward the man she'd come so far to meet.

The infamous Sir Douglas Frye looked like nothing more than a nattily dressed country squire. Dressed in a Hq'z'is tweed jacket over a ribbed turtleneck and dark slacks, he appeared too fragile to carry the weight of the stories Jason had told her about him. And too benign.

She braced for his scrutiny, but he threw her another curve, turning the full focus of his attention on Jason.

"Well done, laddie. Well done. That jiggery pokery of yours worked perfectly. Montgomery's going to think twice before tryin' to mess me about again."

"I hope so. But I just thought of the basic plan," Jason demurred. "We couldn't have pulled it off without that house of yours: '

"We'll share the credit, then. I'm just thankful we're on the same side."

The words were spoken with apparent sincerity. Yet there was an undertone in Frye's voice that sent a fris son down Noel's spine.

"Always," Jason responded easily.

"It's verra comforting to know that electronic bag of tricks works so well."

"How much of the technology have you transferred to the castle?"

"The bulk of it."

Jason grinned. "I should have known."

"Well, don't keep me waiting, lad. Introduce me to this gorgeous woman." The lord of the manor turned to Noel, treating her for the first time to the full foroe of his deep-set eyes. Perhaps it was the pale blue color that gave them an overlay of malevolent curiosity, but all at once she felt like a sideshow exhibit-the amazing woman with the computer chip. Only she was a fraud, and he was going to do more than demand his money back when he found out.

Jason threw an arm around Noel's shoulder, and she leaned into him. Then, with a nervous twitch of her hand, she brushed a damp strand of hair away from her face.

"Sir Douglas Frye. Noel Zacharias."

"My apologies that we couldn't arrange a safer arrival ," the Sovereign said.

"But I'm sure your husband explained about the criminals who have been trying to interfere with my business operations. Unfortunately, they decided to attack me through the two of you " " " Is it finally over? I want it to be over. I was frightened , " she whispered.

"Of course you were, lass. Rest assured you're safe here with me. Everything is going to be splendid from now on: '

She gave him a trembly smile. "Yes. Thank you: '

As he stared into her eyes, she forgot to breathe. Then he held out his arms, and she commanded her body to move into them as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

She felt his strength as he crushed her against his wiry body. The hug might have passed for avuncular if it hadn't been a shade too familiar. "At last," he murmured "Oh, sir. I didn't really believe your castle would be like something out of a storybook. You don't know hov4 special it is having you invite us here. Jason has been telling me stories all the way up north. But I just wasn't prepared.. " She let the sentence trail off. "" I'd love to show you around. But I'm sure you'd like to wash up after your ordeal. " " "Yes, I would."

Their host led them across a wide drawbridge and into the courtyard. Moments later, Noel heard a grinding sound and spun around. The massive wood-and-metal gate was rapidly closing. She and Jason were shut in. There was no going back. They must play this drama to the end-whatever the outcome.

Sir Douglas laughed when he saw the look of alarm she wasn't quick enough to mask. "Don't trouble yourself, lass. That stout barrier is just part of my security measures They're even better than the ones you just encountered They have to be. This stronghold guards some rare treasures. I'm sure Jason has told you that I make my money buying and selling anything of value." Ancient manuscripts. Prize horseflesh. Information. "

"Yes."

"And what is the main source of my wealth?" he asked suddenly. ' Noel was grateful that Jason had spent hours throwing her such questions. "Gems and jewelry," she answered as if she were accessing information from the chip.

"Quite right. Like the pieces you're bringing me. My men are picking up your luggage now." He patted her arm. "Which reminds me how remiss I've been. I was so sorry to hear about your uncle. He was one of my most faithful suppliers."

"I didn't know he worked for you. But Jason has ex =.;plained it all to me."

"I'm sure so much new information must be a bit :qfusing: ' " fqOh, no.

Everything's so clear-once I think about "' she said brightly. 'She could tell the men were exchanging glanoes above :;.r.

"I'm so glad," the Sovereign replied.

"Jason warned me that the two of you would have business to discuss.""Quite right, lass: Sir Douglas gesturq qq a barely discernible flick of hishand. From the shadows of the portcullis, two men came trotting forward.They were dressed in splendid scarIet-and-black livery that looked as if ithad been copied from an eighteenth-oentury painting. But their physiquesowed more to a twentieth century weight room.

"Terrence. Kevin. This is Jason's wife. Be so good as to take care of her."

"Yes, sir," they both answered. 'two escorts. Did he think she was going toget lost? Noel wondered."You get some rest. I'll see you later," Jason said.When the Sovereign and his lieutenant had departed, Noel looked questioningly at the two servants. They led her through towering doors into an entrancefoyer that reminded her of the State House at Annapolis."Can you show me to my room?""Later. The Sovereign said you'd want to clean up first "

"I-I don't understand: '"We're to take you to the spa. You'll like the shower there. It sprays inall directions. And then Bridget will do your hair "

Noel felt her skin crawl, and she had to press her arms to her sides to keep

from reaching toward the wound thatJason had reopened only a week ago. Last night he'd assured her it wouldpass inspection. Would it? "I'd-uh rather get some sleep now-" she began.

One of the men took her arm. "Sovereign's orders: '"" But- " Noel looked frantically in the direction whereJason and his employer had disappeared."Is there some problem? Shall I call Sir Douglas back?" Kevin asked."No. Please don't bother him." Unwilling to risk further protest, she let the men take her up a wide, curved ' staircase to a second-floor landing with