But Tanek was a very plausible man and even a hint of trouble would displease those paranoid bastards in Medellin. They would say he'd indulged himself at their expense. As a front man, his image had to be pristine.

He would have to protect himself. He would make sure he had a way to nullify the damage Tanek might do his reputation.

He picked up the telephone and quickly dialed a number.

December 28 "Look, Joel. Is that not a lovely scarf?" Tania said. The silk scarf printed with an Egyptian motif hung in the window of a small boutique. "I like Egyptian things. They have a sort of lasting grace."

"Well, our reservations won't last if we don't get to the restaurant in five minutes." Joel smiled indulgently. "You've stopped at every shop along the street and not let me buy you a thing."

"I don't have to own. Looking is good too." She linked her arm through his. "I think you would have done very well in ancient Egypt. They knew a great deal about surgery, you know."

"I prefer modern instruments and medicines."

"Well, I wouldn't like to have brain surgery without a potent anesthesia, but there's something-"

Joel looked at her inquiringly when she stopped speaking. "What is it?"

She smiled at him. "I think I really must have that scarf. Would you run in and buy it for me? I want to look at the purses in that store next door."

Joel shook his head resignedly. "We'll never make it on time."

"Yes, we will. I promise I'll not look in another window until we get to the restaurant."

"Promises. Promises." He went into the shop.

Tania's smile vanished.

He was here, watching her.

No question. Her instincts were screaming and she wouldn't make the mistake of doubting them again.

She permitted herself one look over her shoulder.

She hadn't expected to see him. Maritz was good at this.

But he liked to know she was aware of him. He liked to watch her sweat, to know she was afraid.

She had to strike a balance. She must let him have his fun and not let Joel know Maritz had surfaced.

She moved to the handbag shop next door and looked in the window.

She quickly glanced over her shoulder again.

Does that please you, bastard?

Get your kicks. It's going to be different this time.

"You're scaring me to death," Nell said.

"Nothing to be afraid of yet. I'm being careful and he's in no hurry. He wants to savor it," Tania said. "Do you have a place?"

"The seaside cottage Nicholas rented. It's isolated and would be very tempting to Maritz. Jamie and Nicholas are still there, but that will change soon." She gave her the address and directions. "You're sure Maritz is on the scene? You didn't see him."

"I'm sure. I don't have to see him. We're closer than Siamese twins. I'll call you when he's ready to be drawn into the net."

"I leave for Bellevigne day after tomorrow."

"That's right, it's almost the new year. Happy New Year, Nell."

December 30

Paris

"You're thinner," Nicholas said as soon as she opened the door. "Have you been ill?"

She shook her head. "It seems I was 'abominably fat' and had to shed a few pounds. Madame Dumoit should have seen me before Medas." He looked the same-hard, fit, keen-edged.

He lifted a brow. "May I come in?"

"Oh, of course." She hurriedly stepped aside. She had been staring at him as if she'd never seen a man before. "I wasn't sure you'd be here tonight."

He shrugged out of his coat and threw it on a chair. "I told you I'd be here."

"That was a month ago."

"We've both been busy. But I'd hardly let you go in without a plan." He raised a brow. "Coffee?"

"It's already made." She went into the kitchenette and poured the coffee. "Have you heard from the ranch?"

"I called Michaela last week. Peter is fine. He's moved into the Bar X permanently. I told Michaela to give him your best."

"How's Jamie?"

"Well."

"Is he still at the cottage?"

"No, he came with me to Paris. He's at the Inter-Continental Hotel."

She handed him his cup. "Will he be going with you to Bellevigne?"

He shook his head. "That wasn't in the deal with Gardeaux. I go to Bellevigne alone." He inclined his head to her. "Except for you, madam."

He took the coffee and carried it into the sitting room. He walked over to the mantel and peered down into the fireplace. "Gas?" She nodded, and he bent down and lit the logs. "That's better. I hate wet, chilly nights."

She nodded again. What was wrong with her? She couldn't take her eyes off him. "Sit down." She took her cup and followed him to the couch in front of the fireplace. She knew what was wrong with her. She had missed him.

"Jamie told me Tania is here."

She stiffened. "Not in Paris."

"You haven't seen her?"

"Hardly. She's on her honeymoon."

He gazed at her, and she instinctively tensed. There had been moments when she had felt as if he could read her mind. He must not read it now.

He dropped the subject. "When is Dumoit's fashion show?"

She tried to keep the relief from her expression. "At one in the afternoon. We're being driven down to Bellevigne early tomorrow morning. After the show we're supposed to mix with the guests and show off Dumoit's gowns."

"All day?"

She nodded. "And we change to other gowns in the evening for the party."

"Good." He knelt before the fireplace, took a folded piece of paper from his coat pocket, and spread it out on the floor. "This is the layout of Bellevigne." He pointed to the central floor plan of the detailed schematic. "This is the main house, where most of the action will be going on during the fest. I'll be arriving at eleven at night. The party should be in full swing by the time I get there." He tapped a long rectangle to the side. "And this is the private auditorium where the fencing matches take place. The last one is at three in the afternoon, and the awards given out at six, so it will be deserted by evening."

The auditorium. Fear rippled through her as she remembered Jamie's story about the deadly virus applied to swords as part of Gardeaux's macabre retribution. Her gaze lifted to his face. "Why are you telling me about the auditorium?"

"Because that's where Gardeaux will take me."

She almost spilled her coffee. "No."

"Yes," he said quietly. "It's the only place my plan will work. If he picks up on the lead I gave him, he'll take me somewhere he won't be surrounded by people."

"But he'll have his people there. It will be a trap."

"But I think I can spring it. Gardeaux will make sure I'm not armed, so sometime in the early evening I want you to slip back into the auditorium and tape this .44 Magnum under seat A15." He pulled the gun out of his pocket and handed it to her. "It's the first row middle aisle."

"You think you can spring the trap? What will you do?"

"Manipulate Gardeaux into a position where I can bring him down."

"How?"

"After I get him to the auditorium I'll have to play it by ear. I've done it before."

"He'll kill you."

He smiled. "We always knew that was a possibility, didn't we? But I don't think it will happen this time. Not if you help me."

"It happened to your friend O'Malley."

"Nell, this is the only way. Help me."

He had made up his mind. "Is that all you want me to do?" she asked jerkily.

He tapped another spot on the map. "The drawbridge. It will be guarded, but I doubt if it will be up, since guests will be coming and going. You'll have to get rid of the guards before eleven forty-five. Because at eleven forty-five, you need to be at the fuse box about five yards left of this door." He pointed to the south side of the auditorium on the floor plan. "I want you to douse the lights in the auditorium and then run like hell for the drawbridge. Jamie will be waiting in the woods on the other side of the moat with the car. And I'll be right behind you."

"Maybe."

He ignored the comment. "Gardeaux will probably post a guard outside the auditorium when we go inside. You may have to take care of that guard before you go in the south door. Try to do it quietly, or you might get me killed. How's that for responsibility?"

"More than I thought you'd want to give me." More than she wanted to think about right now. "I expected you to be more selfish."

"I am being selfish. I'm taking Gardeaux." He met her eyes. "And I'm surprised you're not fighting me for the privilege."

She shook her head. "He has to die and I have to be a part of it, but I'm content to let you do it. He's ... remote to me. I've never seen him, never heard his voice. I know he's as much to blame as Maritz, maybe more, but he's not as alive to me. Not like he is to you." Her lips tightened. "But don't try to cheat me of Maritz."

"Let's take one at a time."

"Is that an evasion?"

"You're damn right. I don't want to think about Maritz. I'm terrified at throwing all of this at you."

"Are you? You don't think I can do it?"

"If I didn't think you could do it, I'd have drugged your coffee and locked you up until after tomorrow night." He smiled. "You're smart and you're good and Jamie is right. We should have had you around in the old days." His smile faded. "That doesn't mean I want you within a hundred miles of Bellevigne."

"I have a right to be there."

"You have a right." He winked. "But keep an eye on that coffeepot."

She relaxed and smiled back at him. "Every minute."

"Maybe not every minute." He took her coffee cup away and set it down on the hearth. "It might get in the way." He slowly drew her into his arms. He whispered, "Okay?"

More than okay. Passion. Comfort. Home. Her arms tightened around him. "Okay."

"This was too easy. Maybe I should go away more often." He kissed her. "Or are you providing aid and comfort to one off to the wars?"

"Shut up," she whispered. "I'm going to war too." She needed this. She needed him. She leaned back and started to unbutton her blouse. "I think you should be the one to provide aid."

"Not here." He pulled her to her feet. "Where's your bedroom? I refuse to be seduced in front of a fireplace. It's much too campy."

He was getting dressed, a dim, pale shadow in the predawn grayness of the room.

"Be careful," she whispered.

"I was trying not to wake you." He sat down on the bed. "Why, Nell?"