"Oh, shit," she said, stricken.

"What?"

"Lucas knows."

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, wrapped in warm winter jackets, she and Kidd stood side by side on the Robert Street bridge, looking down at the dark waters of the Mississippi.

Kidd said, "This is the only time since I knew you, all those years, that you ever kept anything that they could stick you with."

"Because it's gorgeous," she said. A gold watch dangled from her fingers. "It's a Patek Philippe, from 1918. I've looked it up-it could be worth anything up to a quarter million."

"And it would hang you, if anybody ever saw it," Kidd said.

"I know," she said. "But I refuse to give it back to a killer."

"It's a shame, though," Kidd said.

"Would you do it if it was a Monet?"

"Jesus Christ, no," Kidd said. "If it was a Monet ... I'd ... I'd ..."

"You'd never drop it in the river," Lauren said. She relaxed her fingers, and the watch dropped like a golden streak through the gray light of winter, and a quarter million dollars disappeared into the black water below the bridge.

"That's it," Lauren said, dusting her hands off. "Not a speck of evidence, now."

"Not a speck," Kidd said, hooking an arm through hers. "C'mon, little housewifey. Let's go get a cheeseburger."

ALSO BY JOHN SANDFORD

Rules of Prey

Shadow Prey

Eyes of Prey

Silent Prey

Winter Prey

Night Prey

Mind Prey

Sudden Prey

The Night Crew

Secret Prey

Certain Prey

Easy Prey

Chosen Prey

Mortal Prey

Naked Prey

Hidden Prey

Broken Prey

Dead Watch

Invisible Prey

Phantom Prey

Wicked Prey

Storm Prey

Buried Prey

Stolen Prey

KIDD NOVELS

The Fool's Run

The Empress File

The Devil's Code

The Hanged Man's Song