Kate talked to me with her hand cupped lightly under my chin. She was intense. "Alex, you have have to go to a hospital as soon as we get to Los Angeles. I'm serious. As you might be able to tell, this isn't my usual humor-in-the-face-of-adversity approach. You're going to a hospital as soon as we land. to go to a hospital as soon as we get to Los Angeles. I'm serious. As you might be able to tell, this isn't my usual humor-in-the-face-of-adversity approach. You're going to a hospital as soon as we land. Hey! Hey! Are you even listening to me?" Are you even listening to me?"

"I'm listening to you, Kate. I also happen to agree with what you're saying. Basically, that is."

"Alex, that's no answer. That's c.r.a.p."

I knew Kate was right, but we didn't have time for a hospital check-in tonight. Dr. Will Rudolph's trail was still warm, and maybe we could pick up his scent and nab him in the next few hours. It was a slim chance, but by tomorrow the Gentleman's trail could be stone-cold.

"You could be bleeding internally, and you wouldn't even know it," Kate continued to make her case. "You could die right here in this airplane seat."

"I've got some nasty bruises and contusions, and I ache all over. I've got the makings of some first-cla.s.s scabs up and down my right side, where I made my first couple of bounces. I've got to see his apartment before they take it apart, Kate. I have to see how that b.a.s.t.a.r.d lives."

"Half a million or more a year? Trust me. He lives very well," Kate came back at me. "You, on the other hand, could be in bad shape. Human beings don't bounce. bounce."

"Ahh, well, black human beings do. We've had to learn that special knack for survival. We hit the ground, we bounce right back."

Kate didn't laugh at my joke. She folded her arms across her chest and peered out the tiny plane's window. She was angry with me for the second time in hours. That must mean she cared.

She knew she was right and she wasn't backing down. I liked the fact that she was concerned for me. We were actually friends. We were actually friends. What a fantastic concept for men and women in the nineties. Kate McTiernan and I had become friends during both our times of need. We were in the process of compiling that all-important dossier of shared experiences now. It was some kind of dossier so far. What a fantastic concept for men and women in the nineties. Kate McTiernan and I had become friends during both our times of need. We were in the process of compiling that all-important dossier of shared experiences now. It was some kind of dossier so far.

"I like it that we're pals," I finally told Kate in a low, conspiratorial voice. I wasn't afraid to say cute, dumb things to her, almost the way I talked to my kids.

She didn't turn away from the window as she spoke. Still p.i.s.sed off at me. Good for her. I probably deserved it. "If you were really my d.a.m.n friend, you'd listen to me when I'm worried sick and frightened for you. You were in an automobile accident a few hours ago. You fell about thirty yards down a pretty steep ravine, pal. pal."

"I hit a tree first."

She finally turned back to me and pointed a finger at my heart, like a stake. "Big deal. Alex, Alex,I'm worried about your stubborn black a.s.s. I'm worried so much my stomach hurts."

"That's the nicest thing anybody's said to me in months," I told her. "Once when I was shot, Sampson showed some genuine concern. It lasted about a minute and a half."

Her brown eyes held on to mine and wouldn't let go, wouldn't lighten up. "I let you help me in North Carolina. I let you hypnotize hypnotize me, for G.o.d's sake. Why won't you let me help you here? Let me help, Alex." me, for G.o.d's sake. Why won't you let me help you here? Let me help, Alex."

"I'm working up to it," I told her. That was true enough. "Macho policeman have a tough field to hoe. We abhor being helped. We're cla.s.sic enablers. Most of the time, we like it like that, too."

"Oh, cut the psychobabble, Doctor! Doctor! It's self-serving and doesn't reflect you at your best." It's self-serving and doesn't reflect you at your best."

"I'm not at my best. I was just in a terrible accident."

"It went on like that between us for the remainder of the shuttle flight to Los Angeles. Toward the end of the ride, I catnapped peacefully on Kate's shoulder. No complications. No unnecessary baggage. Very, very nice.

Chapter 73.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE California night was still young and probably extremely dangerous for everyone involved. When we arrived at Rudolph's penthouse apartment at the Beverly Com-stock, the LAPD was everywhere. So was the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was police bedlam.

We could see the flashing crimson and blue emergency lights from several blocks away. The local police were justifiably angry for being kept out of the chase by the FBI. It was a very nasty, very political, very sensitive mess. This wasn't the first time the FBI had been high-handed with a local police agency. It had happened to me back in Washington. Plenty of times.

The Los Angeles press posse was there, too, and in full force. Newspaper, local TV, radio, even a few film producers were on the scene. I wasn't happy that many of the reporters knew Kate and me by sight.

They called out to us as we hurried through police lines and barricades. "Kate, give us a few minutes." "Give us a break!" "Dr. Cross, is Rudolph the Gentleman Caller?" "What went wrong up in Big Sur?" "Is this the killer's apartment?"

"No comment right now," I said, trying to keep my head down, eyes down.

"From either one of us," Kate added.

The police and FBI let us inside the Gentleman Caller's apartment. Technical people were busy in every room of the expensive-looking penthouse. Somehow, the Los Angeles detectives seemed smarter, slicker, richer than cops in other cities.

The rooms were spa.r.s.ely decorated, almost as if no one lived there. The furniture was mostly leather but with lots of chrome and marble touches. All angles-no curves. The art on the wall was modern and vaguely depressing. Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko look-alikes, that sort of thing. It looked like a museum-but one with a lot of mirrors and shiny surfaces.

There were several interesting touches, possible clues about the Gentleman Caller.

I noted everything. Recording. Remembering.

His dining-room hutch held sterling silver, bone china, real stoneware, expensive linen napkins. The Gentleman knew how to set his table. The Gentleman knew how to set his table.

On top of his desk were formal writing paper and envelopes with elegant silver trim. Always the Gentleman. Always the Gentleman.

A copy of Hugh Johnson's Pocket Encyclopedia of Wine Pocket Encyclopedia of Wine was sitting out on the kitchen table. was sitting out on the kitchen table.

Among his dozen expensive suits were two two tuxedoes. The suit closet was small, narrow, and oh-so-neat. It was less a closet than a shrine for his clothes. tuxedoes. The suit closet was small, narrow, and oh-so-neat. It was less a closet than a shrine for his clothes.

Our strange, strange Gentleman.

I came over to Kate after an hour or so of touring the Gentleman's place. I had read the local detectives' reports. I'd talked to most of the techs, but so far they had nothing. That didn't seem possible to any of us. The newest laser equipment was being brought from downtown Los Angeles. Rudolph had to have left clues somewhere. But he hadn't! So far, that was his closest parallel to Casanova.

"How are you you doing?" I asked Kate. "I'm afraid I've been lost in my own world for the last hour." doing?" I asked Kate. "I'm afraid I've been lost in my own world for the last hour."

We were at a window overlooking Wilshire Boulevard and also the Los Angeles Country Club. Lots of shimmering car and building lights surrounding an eighteen-hole expanse of darkness. A disturbing Calvin Klein billboard was brightly lit up down on the street. It showed a naked model on a couch. She looked to be about fourteen. Obsession, Obsession, the ad proclaimed. the ad proclaimed. For men. For men.

"I've got my second or third wind," Kate said. "All the world's a hideous nightmare suddenly, Alex. Have they found anything at all?" the world's a hideous nightmare suddenly, Alex. Have they found anything at all?"

I shook my head as I looked at the two of us in the dark, reflective window. "It's maddening. Rudolph commits 'perfect crimes,' too. The techies might eventually match fiber from his clothes to one or more of the crime scenes, but Rudolph is unbelievably careful. I think he has a knowledge of forensic evidence."

"There's enough written about it these days, isn't there? Most doctors are pretty good at absorbing technical information, Alex."

I nodded at the truth of her statement. I'd thought the same thing. Kate had the makings of a detective. She looked tired. I wondered if I looked as exhausted as I felt.

"Don't even say it." I dialed up a smile. "I'm not not going to a hospital now. I think we're done here for the night, though, We lost him, G.o.ddammit, we lost them both." going to a hospital now. I think we're done here for the night, though, We lost him, G.o.ddammit, we lost them both."

Chapter 74.

WE LEFT Will Rudolph's penthouse apartment at just past two in the morning. That made it 5:00 A.M. our time. I was reeling. So was Kate. We called ourselves "the bruise brothers." We were both out of it.

Grogginess, exhaustion, possible internal injuries, they were one and the same. If I had ever felt this badly before, I couldn't remember the time, and didn't want to. We collapsed into the first of our rooms when we reached the Holiday Inn on Sunset.

"Are you all right? You don't look so good to me." Not unexpectedly, Kate resumed her advertis.e.m.e.nt for the McTiernan Medical Group. She was a compelling spokeswoman, actually. She had a way of crinkling her forehead that made her look thoughtful and wise, and highly professional.

"I'm not dying, I'm just dead tired." I groaned and slowly lowered myself onto the edge of the comfy bed. "Just another tough day at the office."

"You're so d.a.m.n stubborn, d.a.m.n stubborn, Alex. Always the macho big-city detective. All right, I'm going to examine you myself. Don't try to stop me or I'll break your arm, which I'm entirely capable of doing." Alex. Always the macho big-city detective. All right, I'm going to examine you myself. Don't try to stop me or I'll break your arm, which I'm entirely capable of doing."

Kate pulled a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer out of one of her travel bags. She wasn't taking "no," "absolutely not," or "no way" as an answer.

I sighed. "I'm not having a physical exam now, and especially here," I told her with as much resolve as I could muster under the circ.u.mstances.

"I've seen it all before." Kate rolled her eyes and frowned. Then she smiled. No, actually she laughed. A doctor with a smile and a nice sense of humor. Imagine that.

"Take your shirt off, Detective Cross," Kate said to me. "Make my day. My night, anyway."

I started to pull my shirt over my head. I half moaned, half yelled. Just taking the shirt off hurt like h.e.l.l. Maybe I was was seriously hurt. seriously hurt.

"Oh, you're just fine fine and and dandy, dandy," Dr. McTiernan p.r.o.nounced with a wicked chuckle. "Can't even get your shirt off."

She bent in close, extremely close, and listened to my breathing with the stethoscope. I could hear her breathing without the help of any machine. I liked the sound of her heartbeat up close like this.

Kate probed my shoulder blade. Then she moved my arm back and forth, and it hurt. Maybe I was banged up a lot worse than I thought. More likely, she wasn't using her gentlest touch while she examined me.

She poked my abdomen and ribs next. I saw stars, but not a peep came from me in protest.

"That hurt at all?" she asked. Doctor-to-patient talk. Detached, professional.

"No. Maybe. Yes, a little. Okay, quite a lot. Ow! That wasn't so bad. Ow! Ow!"

"Getting hit by a train isn't the way to keep the average human body in excellent running shape," she said. She touched my ribs again, gentler this time.

"That wasn't my plan," I said, offering the only defense I had.

"What was was your plan?" your plan?"

"My fleeting thought up at Big Sur was that maybe he knew where Naomi was, and I couldn't let him get away. My ultimate plan was to find Naomi. It still is."

Kate used both her hands to feel my rib cage. She applied pressure, but nothing too extreme. She asked me if it hurt to take a breath.

"To tell the truth, I kind of like this part," I told her. "You have a nice touch."

"Uh-huh. Now the trousers, Alex. You can keep your drawers on if it makes you feel better." A little of her drawl was creeping into her speech.

"My drawers? drawers?" I grinned.

"Your bikini underwear from Gentlemen's Quarterly. Gentlemen's Quarterly. Whatever you're wearing today. Let's see the goodies, Alex. I'd like to see a little skin." Whatever you're wearing today. Let's see the goodies, Alex. I'd like to see a little skin."

"You don't have to show such obvious d.a.m.n glee about this." I was very much awake all of a sudden. I did like the way Kate touched me, though. I liked it a lot, in fact. Different kinds of sparks were starting to fly.

I pulled off my pants. I could not could not get to my socks, not even close. get to my socks, not even close.

"Mmm. Not so bad, actually," she offered her opinion of something or other. I began to feel hot, uncomfortably warm, in the hotel room. Under these circ.u.mstances, anyway.

Kate applied gentle pressure against my hips, then against my pelvis. She asked me to slowly raise my feet off the bed, one at a time, while she kept her hands firmly on my hip joints. Very carefully, she felt my legs from my groin area, all the way down to my feet. I mostly liked that, too.

"Lots of abrasions," she said. "I wish I had some bacitracin ointment on hand. It's an antibiotic."

"I was just thinking the same thing."

Finally, Kate stopped all the probing and poking and pulled away from me. She frowned and wrinkled her nose, nibbled her upper lip. She looked smart, academic, professional as the surgeon general.

"Blood pressure's a little high, borderline, but I don't think anything's broken," she p.r.o.nounced. "I don't like the discoloration on your abdomen and your left hip, though. Tomorrow you'll feel sore and stiff, and we have to go over to Cedars-Sinai and get a few X rays taken. Do we have a deal?"

Actually, I felt a little better after Kate examined me and p.r.o.nounced that I wouldn't die suddenly during the night. "Yes. It wouldn't be a complete day without one of our deals. Thank you for the examination, Doctor... thank you, Kate," I said.

"You're quite welcome. It was an honor." She finally smiled. "You look a little like Muhammad Ali, you know. The Great One."

So I have been told. "In his prime," I joked. "I do dance like a b.u.t.terfly."

"I'll bet. I sting like a bee." She winked and crinkled her nose again. A nice tic of hers.

Kate lay back on the bed. I stayed there beside her. Close, but not close enough to touch. We were at least a foot apart. Very strange, but nice strange. I missed her touch already.

We were quiet for the next minute or so. I glanced over at her. Maybe it was more than a glance. Kate had on a black skirt with black tights, a red peasant blouse. The bruises on her face had faded. I wondered about the rest of her. I held in a sigh.

"I'm not not Nanu the ice queen," she said softly. "Trust me, I'm normal as they come. Frisky, fun, a little crazy. At least I was a month ago." Nanu the ice queen," she said softly. "Trust me, I'm normal as they come. Frisky, fun, a little crazy. At least I was a month ago."

I was surprised that Kate thought I might be feeling that way about her. She was the opposite, warm and compa.s.sionate. "I think you're great, Kate. Truth be told, I like you an awful lot." There, it was out. Probably an understatement at that.

We kissed gently. Just the briefest kiss. There was something right about it. I liked the feel of Kate's lips, her mouth on mine. We kissed again, maybe to prove that the first one hadn't been a mistake, or maybe to prove that it had been.

I felt as if I could kiss Kate all night, but we both gently pulled away. This was was probably more than either of us could handle right now. probably more than either of us could handle right now.

"Don't you admire my self-control?" Kate smiled and said.

"Yes and no," I told her.

I pulled on my hair shirt again. It took some effort, and produced h.e.l.lacious pain. I would would definitely go for X rays tomorrow. Kate started to cry and buried her face in the pillow. I turned toward her and put my hand on her shoulder. definitely go for X rays tomorrow. Kate started to cry and buried her face in the pillow. I turned toward her and put my hand on her shoulder.

"You okay? Hey?"

"I'm sorry. Shoot," she whispered, trying to stop the tears. "I just... I know I don't seem like it most of the time, but I'm freaking out, Alex. I've been been freaking out. I've seen so many horrible things. Is this case as bad as your last one-the child kidnappings in D.C.?" she asked me. freaking out. I've seen so many horrible things. Is this case as bad as your last one-the child kidnappings in D.C.?" she asked me.

I held Kate very gently in my arms. I hadn't seen her quite so vulnerable, so open about it, anyway. Everything suddenly became more relaxed between us.