She got on her knees and watched, puzzled, as Henry took a large belt from his trousers. He walked up to her, and before she realized what was happening, he smashed the belt hard against her naked b.u.t.tocks.

Lois screamed and started to get up. 'What are you-?'

He shoved her down. 'I told you, darling. We must fight carnal sin.' He raised the belt and struck her again.

'Stop it! Stop it!'

'Stay there.' His voice was filled with fervour.

Lois fought to get up, but Henry held her down with one strong hand and slammed the belt against her again.

Lois felt as though her backside had been flayed. 'Henry! My G.o.d! Stop it!'

Finally Henry stood up and took a deep, quivery breath. 'It's all right now.'

It was difficult for Lois to move. She could feel the open sores oozing. She painfully managed to get to her feet. She couldn't speak. She could only stare in horror at her husband.

's.e.x is sinful. We must fight temptation.'

She shook her head, still speechless, still not believing what had just happened.

'Think of Adam and Eve, the beginning of the downfall of mankind.' He went on.

Lois began to weep, huge gulping sobs.

'It's all right now.' He took Lois in his arms. 'It's all right. I love you.'

Lois said uncertainly, 'I love you, too, but-'

'Don't worry. We have conquered it.'

Which means that will be the last time that happens, Lois thought. It probably has something to do with his being a minister's son. Thank G.o.d it's over.

Henry held her close. 'I love you so much. Let's go out to dinner.'

In the restaurant, Lois was barely able to sit down. The pain was terrible, but she was too embarra.s.sed to ask for a pillow.

'I'll order,' Henry said. He ordered a salad for himself and an enormous meal for Lois. 'You have to keep your strength up, my dearest.'

During dinner Lois thought about what had just happened. Henry was the most wonderful man she had ever known. She had been taken aback by his-what was it, she wondered-fetish. Anyway, that was over. She could look forward to spending the rest of her life taking care of this man and being taken care of.

When they had finished their entrees, Henry ordered an extra dessert for Lois and said, 'I like a lot of woman.'

She smiled. 'I'm glad I please you.'

When dinner was over, Henry said, 'Shall we go back to the room?

'Fine.'

When they returned to their room, they undressed and Henry took Lois in his arms and the pain seemed to disappear. His lovemaking was sweet and gentle and was even more enjoyable than before.

Lois hugged her husband and said, 'That was wonderful.'

'Yes.' He nodded. 'Now we must atone for carnal sin. Get on your knees.'

In the middle of the night, when Henry was asleep, Lois quietly packed a suitcase and fled. She took a plane to Vancouver and called Gary. At lunch, she told him what had happened.

'I'm filing for divorce,' Lois said, 'but I have to move out of town.'

Gary thought for a moment. 'I have a friend who owns an insurance agency, sis. It's in Denver, and that's fifteen hundred miles away.'

'That would be perfect.'

Gary said, 'I'll talk to him.'

Two weeks later, Lois was working at the insurance agency in a managerial position.

Gary had kept in constant touch with Lois. She had bought a small, charming bungalow with a view of the Rockies in the distance, and from time to time her brother would visit her. They would have great weekends together-skiing, or fishing, or simply sitting on the sofa, talking. I'm so proud of you, sis, he'd always tell her, and Lois was proud of Gary's accomplishments as well. He had earned his Ph.D. in science, was working for an international corporation, and had taken up flying as a hobby.

As lois was thinking about Gary, there was a knock at the front door. She looked out the window to see who was calling and recognized him. Tom Huebner. He was a tall, rugged-looking charter pilot, a friend of Gary's.

Lois opened the door and Huebner walked in.

'Hi, Tom.'

'Lois.'

'Gary isn't here yet. I think I heard his plane a little while ago. He should be here any minute. Would you like to wait or-?'

He was staring at her. 'You haven't been watching the news?'

Lois shook her head. 'No. What's going on? I hope we're not going to get into another war and-'

'Lois, I'm afraid I have some bad news. Really bad news.' His voice was tight. 'It's about Gary.'

She stiffened. 'What about him?'

'He was killed in a plane crash on his way here to see you.' He watched the light go out of her eyes. 'I'm so sorry. I know how much you loved each other.'

Lois tried to speak, but she was hyperventilating. 'How-how- how-?'

Tom Huebner took her hand and gently led her to the couch.

Lois sat down and took deep breaths. 'What-what happened?'

'Gary's plane hit the side of a mountain a few miles outside of Denver.'

Lois felt faint. 'Tom, I'd like to be alone.'

He studied her, worried. 'Are you sure, Lois? I could stay and-'

'Thank you, but please go.'

Tom Huebner stood there irresolutely, then nodded. 'You have my number. Call if you need me.'

Lois did not hear him leave. She sat there in a state of shock. It was as if someone had told her she had died. Her mind started flashing back to their childhood. Gary had always been her protector, fighting boys who teased her and, as they got older, escorting her to baseball games and movies and parties. The last time she had seen him was a week ago, and she saw the scene in her mind, unspooling like a blurred film through her tears.

The two of them were seated at the dining room table.

'You're not eating, Gary.'

'It's delicious, sis. I'm not very hungry.'

She watched him a moment. 'Anything you want to talk about?'

'You always know, don't you?'

'It's something to do with your work.'

'Yes.' He pushed his plate away. 'I think my life is in danger.'

Lois looked at him, startled. 'What?'

'Sis, only half a dozen people in the world know about what's happening. I'm flying back here next Monday to spend the night. On Tuesday morning, I'm heading for Washington.'

Lois was puzzled. 'Why Washington?'

'To tell them about Prima.'

And Gary explained it.

Now gary was dead. I think my life is in danger. Her brother had not been killed in an accident. He had been murdered.

Lois looked at her watch. It was too late to do anything now, but in the morning she was going to make the phone call that would avenge her brother's murder. She was going to finish what Gary had planned to do. Lois felt suddenly drained. It was an effort to get up from the couch. She had had no dinner, but the idea of food nauseated her.

Lois headed for the bedroom and fell onto the bed, too tired to undress. She lay there, dazed, until she finally fell asleep.

Lois dreamed that she and Gary were on a speeding train and that all the pa.s.sengers in the railroad car were smoking. It was getting hot, and the smoke made her cough. Her coughing woke her up, and she opened her eyes. She looked around in shock. Her bedroom was on fire, the blaze racing up the curtains, the room filled with smoke. Lois stumbled out of bed, choking. Trying to hold her breath, she staggered into the living room. The entire room was engulfed in flames. She took half a dozen steps toward the door, felt her legs give way, and fell to the floor.

The last thing Lois Reynolds remembered was the flames hungrily licking their way toward her.

CHAPTER 10.To Kelly, everything was happening at a dizzying pace. She quickly learned about the most important aspects of modelling: the agency had given her training courses in image projection, poise, and carriage. Much of modelling was att.i.tude, and to Kelly that meant acting, because she felt neither beautiful nor desirable.

The phrase 'overnight sensation' could have been invented for Kelly. She projected not only an exciting, provocative image, but also an air of untouchability that was a challenge to men. Within two years, Kelly had risen to the top tier of models. She was advertising products in a dozen countries. Much of Kelly's time was spent in Paris, where some of her agency's most important clients were located.

Once, after a fashion extravaganza in New York, before heading back to Paris, Kelly went to see her mother, who looked older and more careworn. I've got to get her out of here, Kelly thought. I'll buy a nice apartment for her, and take care of her.

Her mother seemed pleased to see her. 'I'm glad you're doing so well, Kelly. Thanks for your monthly checks.'

'You're welcome. Mother, there's something I want to talk to you about. I have a plan all worked out. I want you to leave-'

'Well, look who's come to pay us a visit-her highness.' Her stepfather had just walked in. 'What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be strutting around in them fancy clothes?'

I'll have to do this another time, Kelly thought.

Kelly had one more stop to make. She went to the public library where she had spent so many wonderful hours, and as she walked through the door, holding half a dozen magazines, her mind was dancing with memories.

Mrs. Houston was not at her desk. Kelly walked inside and saw her standing in one of the side aisles, looking radiant in a sleek, tailored dress, busily filling a shelf with books.

As Mrs. Houston heard the door open, she said, 'I'll be with you in a moment.' She turned. 'Kelly!' It was almost a scream. 'Oh, Kelly.'

They ran to each other and embraced.

Mrs. Houston pulled back and looked at Kelly. 'I can't believe it's you. What are you doing in town?'

'I came to see my mother, but I wanted to see you, too.'

'I'm so proud of you. You have no idea.'

'Mrs. Houston, do you remember when I asked how I could thank you? You said I could thank you by letting you see my picture in a fashion magazine. Here.' And Kelly put the pile of fashion magazines in Mrs. Houston's arms. There were copies of Elle, Cosmopolitan, Mademoiselle, and Vogue. She was on the cover of each one.

'They're beautiful.' Mrs. Houston was beaming. 'I want to show you something.' She went behind her desk and pulled out copies of the same magazines.

It took a moment before Kelly could speak. 'What can I ever do to thank you? You changed my life.'

'No, Kelly. You changed your life. All I did was give you a little push. And Kelly-'

'Yes?'

'Thanks to you I've become a fashion plate too!'

Since Kelly valued her privacy, her fame sometimes was troublesome. The constant barrage of photographers annoyed her, and she had what amounted to a phobia of being approached by people she did not know. Kelly enjoyed being alone.