I held her elbow.

"You're shaking. are you cold? Why don't we step outside?" 1 escorted her to the balcony doom. When we stepped out, the heat hit us like a

furnace blast.

She didn't seem to mind the temperature as she drew a deep breath of fresh air. I kept up the friendly banter, amazed at the realism she poured into her act. If she ever decided to go straight, she'd make a helluva actress.

I was just about to throw out the recognition code when a voice interrupted us, "Mr. Glascow t" ' She greeted him like a 1ong-lost relative.

My instincts went on alert and I pivoted, fighting a strong reaction to go for my gun. His name wasn't Gtas-cow. It was Barton. Henry Barton.

And behind the angelic face of Dr. Henry Barton lay the heart of the devil incarnate himself.

"Thank you so much for inviting me," Tess gushed. I was surprised she

was keeping up the charade of innocence.

"It's the least I could do." Barton faced me with a leer. "Did you know this charming child saved my life today, Mr. Alexander?"

196 A Killer Smile A Killer Smile I stared at him. All I wanted was one good shot at the guy. Fist or gun, it didn't matter.

She looked surprised.

"You two know each other?"

"Jack Alexander and I go way back. Way back indeed." Barton faced her.

"Would you join me in the next dance, my dear ?" 4s he wrapped his pudgy hand around her arm, I took a step forward.

"That is," Barton added darkly "if your young man doesn't mind."

'7 mind, all right." I pulled my gun from my jacket and leveled it at Barton's chest, ignoring Tess's theatrical gasp.

The man grabbed her, holding her as a shield.

"Now, Mr. Alexander, let's not air our differences here in public."

The woman tried to speak. '7 don't know what's go" Shut up!" Barton

glared at me.

"I thought it was against your outdated code of chivalry to bring civilians into our governments' disputes."

"Cut the crap; I know she's with you." I took a step closer, and he

tightened his grip around her waist.

Suddenly he had a knife at her throat.

"Give me credit, sir. If I'd wanted to trap you, I'd have used

more-tantalizing bait."

I moved toward him, but he pressed the sharp blade into her skin.

"Get back or I'll ..."

"Do what, Barton?" I kept my voice low, trying to ignore the fear that flashed across her face.

"Kill her, of course."

"Not with a knife." I nodded toward the big man's designer tuxedo.

"Too messy."

Barton nodded.

"How true."

"Hey, wait a minute." The woman began to struggle. "I don't know what's

going on, but I'd appreciate it if you left me out of it."

"Silence!" Barton roared.

I watched her eyes widen as a trickle of blood drippe down her neck and

stained the front of her dress.

She was a flurry of action. She used one hand to pus his arm away, shoved her other elbow into his stomach an, dug her spiked heel into his instep. ds he recoiled in pain she jnished him off by slamming a potted plant across th back of his head. He landed in a limp, dirtied heap,

fell by a person half his size. I almost laughed. Her techniqu was crude but efficient.

She glared at me. 'lre you next?"

teri returned my weapon to its holster, I offered twt open palms to

gesture my compliance.

"See? No gun." took a step closer.

"We need to" -- "You stay away from me!"

I gave her my most disarming smile.

"You don't under. stand."

She took a step backward.

"I said stay back. I'll scream. I swear, I'll scream!"

I saw it in her eyes. She was just the type of broad to produce an

eighty-decibel shriek that could wake the dead. It sure as hell would

alert the other agents waiting for Barton's triumphant return.

I did' what my fictional mentor, James Bond, would have done. I pulled her intb my arms . And kissed her.

Chapter Thirteen.

When an unexpected spring storm started dumping snow on Denver, thestream of bargain-seeking customers at the flea market slowed to a trickle. Ellen soon discovered commerce bowed to the pressure of the elements. While she waited for a nonexistent customer, she pulled out a freshsheet of paper and idly began to sketch. When a familiar face began toappear on the paper, morbid curiosity forced her to complete the pictureof Jack.

In a moment of uncontrolled thought, she wondered if he had a scar onhis head, a legacy of his misadventures on the mountain. To mask herignorance, she added one unruly curl to fall conveniently over. hisforehead. His eyes seemed to stare right through her, mocking her,making a promise she knew a paper image couldn't keep.

Ellen jumped when an intrusive voice purred in her ear.

"Hey,. Tess, who's the hunk?" Vanessa leaned over her table of wares,

and her seashell necklace dangled loosely, hitting Ellen in the shoulder.

Ellen's hand trembled, adding an extraneous line to his collar.

"J-just someone I knew." She scrubbed the line out, begging herself to

stop shaking.

A Killer Smile Vanessa emitted a shrill wolf whistle that hurt Ellen's ears.

"Someone you knew? I wish I 'knew' a guy like that. Ver-ry nice!"

"Who's nice?" Jerry, the concessionaire next door, leaned over the other

side of Ellen's minuscule stall. sides you, that is ." Ellen winced.

Jerry was always a little too eager to en-tar her conversations, whether

invited or not. She'd tried to be pleasant, but her kindness had only served to encourage him.

Vanessa moved to block his view.