"Beer." I rdeased a silent prayer of thanks when she slapped a brown

bottle' on the table instead of a foamy mug of questionable cleanliness.

When I looked up, it wasn't the waitress but the bartender who stood over me.

"This is no place for a lady," he announced.

I picked up the brown bottle and watched the moisture trickle down its smooth sides.

"Maybe I'm no lady." The laughter drained from his face. He slapped an

iron grip on my arm, pulled me to my feet and hauled me through a back door.

Pinning me against the wall, he leaned forward, his face a cold mask.

"What sort of trick are you trying to play?"

'" don't play tricks." I almost lost it when I made direct eye contact with him. He was a good-looking son of a gun in a sort of swaggering way.

"Get lost. I've got a job to do."

'91job? Good God. t You're a reporter!"

A Killer Smile "I'm not a reporter." I reached into my purse and

withdrew the gun.

'91nd you're no bartender." I sighted on the top button of his shirt.

"You're right." He started to reach into his pocket but slowed when I

shook my head. Using his thumb and forefinger, he gingerly withdrew a small black wallet. The silver shield caught the harsh light from the naked bulb overhead.

"I'm a private investigator."

I checked the badge, then lowered the gun.

"Then maybe you've heard of the man I'm looking for. I've been after a

guy named Henri Morris for two months. He killed my brother."

The El. untied the apron that hung at his hips, wadded it and tossed it into the shadows.

"Well, you blew it, sweetheart."

"Me?" I allowed the gun barrel to tip up for a moment.

"Yeah, you. I've been on his tail for a month and just about had him

until you, Miss' ollege-Coed, came in, reeking of 'setup' to everybody in the bar.

However, I still plan to make that bastard Mortis pay for killing a

friend of mine named Jeff Monroe." He crossed his artns and shot me a

disgruntled glare. "This isn't the amateur hour, honey. Leave the tough stuff to usprofessionals." I eyed hismuscularphysique, which, in my estimation, ranclear up to the empty space where his brain should have been. I pulledout my own license.

"I'm a El." too. JVAME's Monroe. Jeff was my brother."

He glared at me, and his face finally softened.

"You're Tess."

I nodded. '91nd you are. ?"

He gave me a faded grin. '"'m a total jackass." I nodded in agreement.

'91jackass named. ?"

" Blaine. Jack Blaine."

A Killer Smile A Killer Smile I refused the handshake he offered.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Blaine.

Now kindly put your hands up." I sighted the automatic on a dirty

splotch that marred his white shirt." What? Wait a minute. If you were really Jeff's"--" Shut up. You heard me, hands up. Nice and easy."

Jack's dark eyebrows drew closer as he raised his hands slowly.

"You're making a big mistake."

"It's no mistake, Monsieur Henri. Up against the wall and spread 'era."

I frisked him, di$. covering nothing except that the cocky bastard hadn't fasten the top stud of his jeans. Igpical male.

"Turn around. And keep your hands on the top of your head."

"Tess, you've got to believe" -- He stopped. A cold hatred emptied his eyes of all other emotions as he glanced beyotut me.

I knew the ploy "Sorry. I won't fall for that old trick." The moment

afteri spoke, 4r felt the icy cold metal of a blade press against my

neck.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Miss. Monroe." The real Henri Mortis wrenched the gun out of my hand.

"To confuse this jerk with me? And here I thought you were a professional like your late brother. But since you've proven you're not

a. worthy opponent, I have no other choice l shifted my weight and threwhim off balance, wedging an arm between his lethal fist and my neck. The lights went out. In the darkness, I managed to slither out of his grasp,vaguely aware of a gunshot, of someone's grunt of pain and of beingslammed to the ground. By the time the cobwebs cleared from my head, thelights were back on.

'7 almost had-him, "Blaine complained, reaching down a helping hand, which I ignored.

"We," I corrected. 'md there's still a chance I can catch him."

Jack dabbed at my neck, where Henri's knife had left a small cut.

"Hey, are you sure you're okay? You're bleeding."

"Fine and dandy, "I snarled.

"Now leave me alone., He reigned surprise.

"Is this any way to treat the man who just saved your life?"

It was bad enough he had the audacity to rest his hands on my shoulders,

but to touch my cheek, pretending to remove a smudge? Some story.. rindin all honesty, I shouldn't have been surprised that he had the nerve tokiss me.. But what really shocked me was that I had the unmitigated gallto enjoy it. I was just beginning to relax and really get involved whenhe suddenly broke off. Right when it was getting good. The next thing Iknew, he spun me around and pushed me back toward the wall. Over hisshoulder I spotted Henri, slumped against the doorway with one armraised. I expected the sound of a gunshot, but heard nothing but thewhistle of wd from the flash bf silver coming toward US.

Jack flinched, then paled, struggling to keep his weight from pinning meto the floor as we slid down the wall together. Ven I saw the knife hiltprotruding from his back, I knew how much his protective measure hadmeant.

"Jack[" He opened one eye.

"S-sorry, Tess."

Panic coursed through me like the blood seeping through his shirt.

"Don't die, Jack[ Please?"

He drew in a shuddering breath.

"Maybe next time ..." Silence. Dead silence.

No more next times. A Killer Smile A Killer Smile JACK ROI. T.. FROM THE

BED to the floor with a fluid movement when he heard her screams;Scanning the room from a crouch, he discovered Ellen, writhing in hersleeping bag. A sense of relief flooded through him, easing histhundering heart, but not his pounding head.

She was evidently caught in the throes of a bad dream.

"Ellen, wake up." Moving closer to her, he used one hand to fend away

her clawing fingers as he shook her shoulder.