"Leave the girl alone, Jerry. You know diddly squat about good art and

can't appreciate something this fine." She turned to the portrait again.

"And this guys fine."

"C'mon, Van"

" Jerry pleaded.

"Move over and let me The woman shrugged, then moved aside..

He squinted at the portrait from across the way, then smirked.

"Don't know crap, do I? What would you say if I told you I know that

guy?"

Ellen felt her heart lodge in her throat. The charcoal snapped in two in her hand.

Vanessa scowled.

"Sur-r-re you do, Jerry."

"Oh, yeah?" Jerry began to finger Vanessa's display of shell earrings,an act designed specifically to irritate her. "This guy just happens tolive in my apartment cqmplex. He drives a gray Mercedes,"

"What's his name?" Ellen felt the words slip out before she could stopthem.

What name is he using now? Hank or Jack or something else?

He reddened perceptibly.

"Actually, I don' know his name. We sorta pass in the parking lot. Anodding acquaintance, if you know what I mean."

A Killer Smile Vanessa pointedly ignored Jero]. and turned her attentiontoward Ellen.

"I thought you said you knew this guy. So how come you don't know hisname?"

Jerry shook his finger in Vanessa's face.

"Leave the girl alone," he said, mimicking her.

"You don't have to give her the fourth degree."

"That's third degree, you idiot. And you just stay on your side of thepartition, you hear me? I'm getting so tired of finding you leering atmy customers."

While Jerry and Vanessa waged the latest installment of their ongoingbattle, Ellen took advantage of the distraction to pack her easel andsupplies.

Neither combatant heard Ellen mutter a hasty goodbye. She slippedthrough the throng, leaving behind the portrait of Jack. It was aself-'inflicted pain she didn't need.

The malevolent wind cut through her coat, flash frcez-ing her before shecould get to the edge of the parking lot. By the time she reached theboardinghouse, she realized she'd lost the feeling in her fingers andtoes.

Mrs. Pritchard took one look at Ellen and hustled her into the sittingroom, a hallowed place where tenants wer seldom invited.

"Stay here by the fire," the woman ordered, "and I'll bring yousomething to warm you up." She disappeared, then returned moments hter,shoving a cup of hot cocoa into Ellefts trembling hands.

The warmth of the mug felt like fire to her frostbitten fingers. Shesipped the scalding liquid, painfully aware of the searing heat thatpoured down her throat.

"What's gotten into you, girl?" Tight-lipped disapproval passed brieflyover the landlady's face.

"With the wind chill factor, it's almost twenty below zero out there!

Something's wrong, isn't it?

Somebody at the flea market bothering you?"

Ellen shook her head.

"No ... that's not it."

A Killer Smile 201 The woman shrugged.

"If you want to talk about it, I'm willing. If not, that's okay, too."

The woman patted her on the shoulder.

Ellen tried not to flinch. Personal contact was one aspect of society she hadn't gotten used to again.

Mrs. Pritchard cocked her head and crossed her arms. "Look, sweetheart.

I don't care why you're hiding, I'm going to assume it's for all the

right reasons." She. paused, then smiled.

"I know you're a nice girl. Don't ask me how - I know ... I just do. I also know Tess Phoenix isn't your real nnme."

My real'. Ellen took a minute to contemplate all her options, butdecided to. rely on fact rather than fiction. "You're right. I'm hidingand its for the right reasons." After a second thought she added, "And my real haree's Ellen. Ellen Coster."

Mrs. Pritchard nodded.

"You know, that name fits you. I never thought you looked like a Tess."

Her thoughtful expression turned into a beatific smile.

"Now you get upstairs, Miss. EHEN Cester, and get into a warm tub. I'll bring you up a little supper in an hour or so."

"But" -- A sneeze interrupted Ellen's protests.

"Bath, supper, then bed." She wagged a-finger at EI-len's red nose.

Unless you want to be sick for the next three days."

"Yes, ma'am," Fllen muttered meekly. The prospect of a hot soak in

bubbles entked her stumbling feet up the Ion staircase to her room.

Ellen sat on the edge of the tub, watching the uneven foam cover the

water as the tub filled. Compared to life on the mountain, this was pure decadence.

Instant hot water, perfumed bubbles. If only it were a hot tub . A

Killer Smile A Killer Smile Anfidpation faded as Jack stepped out of theshadows of the past. She still couldn't get used to equating the facewith the name Hank. The Hank in her memories wore the same features he did while in court.

Belligerent, unhinged, frightening. Jack was none of those things.

She envisioned him in his black tuxedo.

He was dashing. At ease. A threat to her heart but not to her existence.

He clutched two fluted glasses in one hand and a bottle of dark red wine

in' the other. Stepping over the rim of the rob, he sat on the edge and

dangled his feet in the bubbles.

For a brief moment, her imagination zeroed in on the unexpected inconsistency: bare feet and a tuxedo. Then she found herself looking for similarities between his manner and Hank's.

His deadly grin was like a cold hand touching her heart. His brilliant smile failed to thaw the ice that clogged her throat.

"Go away," she demanded between clenched lee th "Quit haunting me."

"I'm not haunting you, Tess. I'm nora ghost, I'm real. I'm flesh and blood, and I live in this city."

"Leave me alone." She removed her robe and slid beneath the blanket of

bubbles, trying to drive away the mental images that haunted her.

She prayed for the fragrant warmth to relax her,. to allow her to regain control.

He poured himlf a glass of wine and savored its bouquet. "You know I can't leave you alone, Tess."

A tear trickled down her cheek.

"You know my name's not Tess. It's Ellen."

"Oh, no." He reached. out to touch her cheek, to wipe away the tear.

"You'll always be my" -- "Tess?" Mrs. Pritchard's voice cut through the haze of fantasy.

"I mean . Ellen, is everything all right?"

Jack dared to offer her a glass of wine, giving her a devilish smile.