CINDERMAN Anne Stuart

Chapter One
Nancy Drew, she wasn't. She was a far cry from Brenda Starr, as well. Slin in! throu!h the sterile corridors of Bee"e Control Systems International, her head down, her eyes focused on her "attered snea ers, Su#anna Molloy could feel her heart $oundin!, her adrenaline $um$in!, her "rain !oin! into o%erdri%e. May"e she wasn't cut out for underco%er wor . If anyone reco!ni#ed her, she would "e in %ery dee$ do! dro$$in!s. She was $ersona non !rata around here, ha%in! "een im$ertinent enou!h to as &uestions a"out the cor$orate structure and $olitical affiliations of the mysterious me!acor$oration that had s$run! u$ out of nowhere in the last few years, and ha%in! com$ounded her crime "y as in! those &uestions in $rint. Not that a hu!e multinational com$le' li e BBCSI should "e threatened "y the small trade news$a$er she wor ed for. After all, the Tech-Sentinel had an e'cellent re$utation for hard(nosed re$ortin! in the scientific field, "ut that field was, in fact, &uite small. BBCSI could s&uash the Tech-Sentinel flat, if they wanted. And if they made the mista e of thin in! no one would notice. So far, they'd "een smart enou!h to do no more than offer a few warnin!s, and to refuse to !rant Su#anna any inter%iews. But she wasn't the mild(mannered sort that too re)ection li!htly. Not when she had hints of e'actly what Dr. Daniel Crom$ton was wor in! on. Now she huddled into an o%ersi#e la" coat, remindin! herself that she needed to wal li e a dwee". *ee$ her head down, shuffle her feet, may"e e%en mum"le underneath her "reath. She'd s$ent enou!h of her life amon! the com$uter nerds and scientific misfits to "e a"le to $ass herself off as one. +ust lon! enou!h to !et herself into Crom$ton's $ri%ate la". ,he la" that no one, not e%en his "osses or assistants, was allowed to enter. Su#anna Molloy hadn't !otten where she was "y ta in! no for an answer, she thou!ht, dartin! a surre$titious !lance down the hall. Not that she'd !otten that far "y most standards. A two(room a$artment in an old -ictorian house on the ed!e of a northern California town, a "an account that e$t her in yo!urt and a car that had seen "etter days did not amount to im$ressi%e accom$lishments in the scheme of thin!s. But they were thin!s she'd accom$lished herself. E%erythin! she had, she'd earned. includin! her re$utation. She wondered if she'd "e &uite so determined if it were anyone other than Daniel Crom$ton. She'd met the !reat Dr. Crom$ton on se%eral occasions.all $u"lic rece$tions when the BBCSI hadn't "een a"le to ee$ the $ress at "ay.and it had hardly "een lo%e at first si!ht. She'd decided early on that Crom$ton was one of those men whose e!o was almost as lar!e as his intellect, and in Crom$ton's case that was sayin! a !reat deal. ,he man was le!endary.for his "rilliance, his youth and his chilly manner. ,he fact that he wasn't half("ad to loo at only made him "etter co$y. She whi$$ed around the corner, "reathin! a si!h of relief. It had "een difficult enou!h !ettin! $ast the security !uards in the first $lace. /ne would ha%e thou!ht BBCSI har ed "ac to cold(war technolo!y, !i%en the almost hysterical le%el of $rotection the fortressli e com$le' "oasted. 0ortunately she had friends in low $laces1 the $icture ID with its com$uter scan code was meticulous enou!h to a%oid detection, and the "lue$rint

of the "uildin! would ena"le her to ma e her way to Crom$ton's fortified third(story la" without any "etrayin! hesitation. /nce she !ot there, it would "e u$ to her to !et inside. She had no illusions. ,he $lace would ha%e security that would ma e 0ort *no' seem li e a $u"lic $ar , "ut she wasn't a"out to !i%e u$ if she !ot that far. She had in the ca$acious $oc et of her la" coat a handy(dandy de%ice that would ta e care of any com$uter(coded loc . She'd only "e in trou"le if they went in for somethin! as archaic as a dead "olt and ey. She'd chosen her time well. E%en the most dedicated security frea s and scientific !eniuses li ed to !et home to a hot meal, and it was )ust after fi%e(thirty. Most of the em$loyees were too intent on !ettin! the hell out of the $lace to notice another white( coated em$loyee, and BBCSI was %ast enou!h for her to sim$ly "lend in. 2hen she reached the third floor, she found it deserted. Crom$ton must ha%e already !one home, and the com$uteri#ed loc on his unmar ed la" door would "e child's $lay for the circum%entor one of her friends at the $a$er had set u$ for her. ,a in! a dee$ "reath, she wal ed to the door of the la", listenin! for a moment. Not a sound within, and if she could trust her instincts, which she usually could, the $lace was em$ty. Dou"tless, there were security cameras all o%er the $lace, and she mo%ed closer to the door, the white coat shieldin! her actions as she &uic ly, efficiently tri$$ed the loc and then ste$$ed inside, closin! the hea%y door silently "ehind her. DR. DANIE3 CR/M4,/N stood inside 5enry /s"orn's $lush inner office, im$atient as always. 60or hea%en's sa e, Dan, ha%e a seat,6 /s"orn said, usin! his usual "oisterous charm, somethin! he'd $erfected durin! his twenty years in the cor$orate hi!h life. Daniel was immune to charm. And he hated "ein! called Dan. 6I'll stand,6 he said in his dee$ %oice. 6I won't "e here lon!.6 /s"orn didn't let his irritation show, "ut Daniel new he was feelin! it. 65ell, Dan, you ma e me feel li e a $rinci$al callin! a recalcitrant school"oy onto the car$et.6 6,hat's your $ro"lem,6 Daniel re$lied with e'&uisite rudeness. ,his time he did mana!e to ruffle /s"orn's cheer. ,he older man's small eyes dar ened for a moment, and then he showed his teeth in a sem"lance of a smile. 62e need results, Dan.6 62hen I acce$ted your fundin!, I did so on my terms.6 Daniel found this all &uite tedious, "ut then, most of his life outside his la" in%ol%ed wastin! his time with fools li e /s"orn, and he'd !rown inured to it. 67ou $ro%ide the money and lea%e me alone.6 67es, "ut we need somethin!. A si!n of $ro!ress, of !ood faith. 7ou now, if it were sim$ly u$ to me, you'd "e left to your own timeta"le. But we'%e !ot a "oard of directors, stoc holders, demandin! results. 8eneral Armstead has "een on my tail for a wee now, a"out you.6 Daniel sim$ly shru!!ed. /s"orn !ot u$ and came around the des . 5e was a trim man in his early si'ties, im$ecca"ly dressed, im$ecca"ly mannered. 5e was also a sna e and a liar.

5e $ut his hand on Daniel's shoulder and stared u$ at him earnestly. 67ou now what we're after. And you're the man to do it. 5alf the scientists in the world are tryin! to create cold fusion, "ut our money's on you. If anyone's !oin! to do it, you will.6 Daniel stared at him. 6At this $oint I'm not $articularly interested in cold fusion.6 6Damn it, how could you not "e9 I'd heard you'%e "een concentratin! your efforts on $hysical chemistry, and that's !oin! to !et you nowhere. ,he only way you're !oin! to create cold fusion is with lasers, with.6 6If you want to create cold fusion, /s"orn, I'm sure you can find s$ace for a la",6 Daniel said. /s"orn's hands clenched for a moment, then rela'ed. 67ou now, you're damned annoyin!, Dan. If you weren't so "rilliant, someone would $ro"a"ly wrin! your nec .6 Daniel loo ed down at him. 6,hey could try.6 62e need some results, Dan. At least a $reliminary re$ort. I trust you.6 6If you trust me, why do you need a $reliminary re$ort:6 6I said ; trust you. I'm )ust the lowly CE/. Armstead's head of the "oard of directors, and after s$endin! thirty years in the army, he's used to ha%in! his orders o"eyed. +ust !i%e us somethin!. Anythin!.6 Daniel considered him for a lon! moment. 5e didn't trust him, "ut then, he didn't trust anyone. ,rust was a human emotion and a waste of time, and Daniel Crom$ton ne%er wasted time. It was too $recious a commodity. 5e'd already wasted more than enou!h with this man. 6I'll ha%e one of my la" assistants write you a re$ort.6 67our la" assistants don't now diddly. 7ou don't let them anywhere near your e'$eriments, you )ust ee$ them !lued to com$uters, runnin! theoretical tests.6 6It ee$s them "usy,6 he said. 6I'll ha%e +ac son do it.6 /s"orn didn't e%en "lin , somethin! Daniel could res$ect. Ro"ert +ac son was /s"orn's s$y and stoo!e, and they all thou!ht Daniel was too in%ol%ed in his wor to reali#e it. Daniel didn't trust anyone, "ut +ac son's yu$$ie friendliness had made him more sus$ect than most. 67ou now what the sta es are, Dan,6 /s"orn said. 67ou now what cold fusion could do, I don't need to remind you. Don't you care a"out $ro%idin! unlimited, safe ener!y for the world: Don't you care a"out endin! our reliance on oil($roducin! nations: Don't you want to hel$ ma e the world a "etter $lace:6 6Not $articularly,6 Daniel said with com$lete honesty. 6I'm only interested in my wor .6 6Danny.6 /s"orn "e!an. 6My name is Daniel,6 he said, ruthlessly interru$tin! /s"orn. Dan he could "arely tolerate< Danny was !oin! "eyond the $ale. 6/r Dr. Crom$ton, if you $refer. And as +ac son what I'm doin!. I'm sure he can come u$ with a reasona"le !uess. 0or a s$y, he's &uite intelli!ent.6 5e turned on his heel and started toward the door.

6I'm not finished,6 /s"orn said, soundin! $etulant. Daniel didn't $ause. 6I am,6 he said. And he closed the door &uietly "ehind him. ,he whole thin! was incredi"ly tedious, he thou!ht as he let himself "ac into the la". 5e was so damned tired of dealin! with the cor$orate mentality. 5e'd acce$ted Bee"e's offer se%eral years a!o for a num"er of reasons, includin! the fact that they seemed to ha%e more money and fewer restrictions than anyone else ma in! an offer for his ser%ices, and the offers had "een $lentiful. ,he !o%ernment had wanted him, of course, "ut he'd ne%er "een fond of "ureaucrats. ,he defense industry's offer had "een tem$tin!, "ut in the end he decided he disli ed !enerals e%en more than "ureaucrats. 4ri%ate industry !a%e him the hi%es< academia was im$o%erished. BBCSI had seemed the $erfect solution, a youn! multicor$oration whose ri!ht hand didn't seem to now what its left hand was doin!. A$art from /s"orn and the dece$ti%ely a%uncular 8eneral Armstead, they were an innocuous "unch. ,he cor$oration was lar!e enou!h to hand o%er all its %ast resources and lea%e him alone. =ntil the last few months. ,hey searched his la" at least e%ery other day. It was usually +ac son, "ut sometimes it was one of the other "rilliant "ut com$letely uncreati%e research assistants Daniel had "een !i%en. 5e wasn't $articularly concerned.there was no way they were !oin! to find what he was wor in! on. ,hey were still con%inced he was wor in! on cold fusion, and as lon! as they were loo in! in that direction it would ta e more than all their $uny intellects $ut to!ether to fi!ure out what he was u$ to. 5e'd $resent his results to /s"orn, Armstead and their confederates sooner or later. After all, they'd $aid for it. But not "efore he'd finished with his o"sessi%e chec in! and rechec in!. 5e'd "een a"le to du$licate the results a half(do#en times. 5e wasn't a"out to ma e his disco%eries $u"lic until he was con%inced, and he needed at least a half(do#en more trials. 5e'd "een at the com$uter when /s"orn had issued his summons. 5e headed "ac in that direction, then sto$$ed. Somethin! wasn't ri!ht. 5e turned around slowly, sur%eyin! the sterile, o"sessi%ely neat confines of his s$acious la". 5e hadn't "een wor in! at the hood.that section of the $hysical la" used for dan!erous e'$eriments.for days now, and yet it loo ed different. ,here was a definite odor, somethin! "urnin!, and he started toward it, then halted. 62ho the hell are you:6 ,he intruder had "een in the middle of snea in! toward the door. 5e turned and !lared at her as she stood li e a deer $inned "y a set of headli!hts. E'ce$t there was no fear in her steady !a#e. 6Er.I'm new here,6 she said, soundin! em"arrassed and innocent. E'ce$t that he didn't "elie%e her. 6I'm loo in! for Dr. Smith's la", and I thou!ht this was it.6 6,here is no Dr. Smith at BBCSI,6 he said flatly. 6,here has to "e. Do you now how many Smiths there are in this country:6 she as ed. 6No, and I don't care. And you're no la" assistant. I reco!ni#e you. 7ou're that re$orter. 5ow did you !et in here:6

She strai!htened her shoulders, meetin! him !lare for !lare. 5e couldn't remem"er her name.it was somethin! li e Samantha."ut he remem"ered that loo . 5e su$$osed she was $retty enou!h, if she weren't so damned interferin!. 5e didn't li e interferin! women. 5e li ed them $lum$, $assi%e and silent, content to feed him and stro e him and lea%e him alone when he was wor in!. =nfortunately he had yet to meet such a $ara!on, "ut Samantha or whate%er her name was had to "e one of the worst. 6I'm not that reporter,6 she said, her %oice as cool as his. 6I'm Su#anna Molloy. And if you e%er a!reed to an inter%iew, Dr. Crom$ton, I wouldn't "e forced to !o to such e'tremes to find out e'actly what it is you're doin!.6 67our curiosity )ustifies "rea in! and enterin!, Ms. Molloy: And )ust how did you !et into Bee"e in the first $lace: Someone must ha%e "een hel$in! you.6 6I'm not a"out to re%eal my sources, to you or to anyone. I'%e heard rumors that you're wor in! on cold fusion, Dr. Crom$ton.6 6+ust a"out e%eryone in my field is wor in! on cold fusion. ,hat isn't news.6 5e mo%ed to the tele$hone, $ic in! u$ the recei%er and $ushin! a "utton. 62hat are you doin!:6 6Callin! security.6 62ait.6 She mo%ed &uic ly.!racefully, he had to admit.and disconnected him "efore the call was made. 6+ust a few answers, Dr. Crom$ton. I'%e heard that there's somethin! %ery wron! !oin! on here at Bee"e. ,hat you're wor in! on somethin! e'traordinary, somethin! well "eyond cold fusion, and that there's a !ood chance it mi!ht fall into the wron! hands.6 5e stared down at her. She was tall for a woman, taller than /s"orn, and her eyes "ehind her wire(rimmed !lasses were a clear, intelli!ent "rown. Intelli!ence. 5e hated that in a woman. 62here did you !et your information:6 6Is it true:6 she $ersisted. 6Are you wor in! on cold fusion:6 6No,6 he said flatly. 6,hen it's somethin! e%en more im$ortant. ,hou!h I can't ima!ine what.6 6,hat's the $ro"lem with $eo$le nowadays, Ms. Molloy,6 he said. 6Not enou!h ima!ination.6 She had a wide mouth, one that cur%ed in a reluctant smile that he found oddly fascinatin!. 64eo$le usually say re$orters ha%e too much ima!ination.6 6Don't try to charm me, Molloy,6 he sna$$ed. 6I'm immune.6 5er smile %anished as she stared at him in shoc . 6Charm you:6 she echoed. 6No one's e%er accused me of ha%in! charm "efore.6 6Don't e'$ect flattery from me. 2hat were you doin! in here:6 6I'm certain you're inca$a"le of flattery, Dr. Crom$ton,6 she shot "ac . 6And I was sim$ly o"ser%in!. I didn't touch anythin!. ,hou!h if I were you, I wouldn't !o off and

lea%e an e'$eriment li e that.6 62hat e'$eriment:6 ,he "urnin! smell was stron!er now, and all his instincts were on the alert. 6In the hood. I couldn't tell what you were doin!.you didn't lea%e your la" note"oo out."ut I would thin (6 6I wasn't wor in! on anythin!,6 he said, whirlin! around and startin! toward the hood, )ust as smo e "e!an $ourin! out. It was thic , oily and !reen, accom$anied "y a no'ious odor. 62here's the fire e'tin!uisher:6 Su#anna Molloy shouted throu!h the fumes. 2ithin seconds, they "e!an to en!ulf her fi!ure and the room itself. 68et the hell out of here96 he said, slammin! the hood down o%er the "u""lin!, roilin! mass. 62here's the fire e'tin!uisher:6 she shouted a!ain. ,here was no way he could sto$ the hea%y fumes from esca$in!, no way he could e%en "e!in to !uess what concoction had "een "rewed on his "ench durin! his a"sence. All he could do was !et out of there and ta e Su#anna Molloy with him. 5e could "arely find her throu!h the swirlin! dar ness. 5er "ody was warm, stron!, solid when he "um$ed u$ a!ainst her, and thou!h she stru!!led for a moment, he was a !reat deal stron!er than she was, and he sim$ly dra!!ed her o%er to the door. /nly to find it ine'$lica"ly loc ed. ,he only other e'it to the la" was dan!erously near the hood. 5e heard a sudden roarin! sound. 68et down,6 he shouted, sho%in! her. She had the !all to sla$ him, somethin! he could almost admire, "ut he sho%ed her down on the floor, anyway, co%erin! her with his lar!er "ody, shieldin! her, as the force of the e'$losion roc ed the room, shatterin! the windows and showerin! them with "ro en !lass and somethin! warm and fetid. 0or a moment he a"sor"ed the feel of her "ody "eneath him. And then the hot !luey su"stance "e!an to lea throu!h his clothes, "urnin! his flesh, and he let out a muffled howl of $ain. S=>ANNA 2AS 03/A,IN8. It was dar , hot and cho in!, the stin all around her, yet somehow she was safe. 5is "ody was $ressed down on hers, co%erin! hers, and he was stron!, lar!e, ee$in! her from the e%il that surrounded them. She could feel somethin! hot and wet "e!in to oo#e throu!h her clothin!, throu!h the )eans and the la" coat, small $atches of "urnin! fire, "ut she couldn't mo%e to "rush it away. Crom$ton was $innin! her down. She $ut her arms u$, to $ush him away, then drew them "ac in horror when she reali#ed they were co%ered with a !reenish slime. 5e was moanin! &uietly, and throu!h the !reasy smo e and dar ness she could see that his eyes were closed. 5e had a cut on his forehead, $ro"a"ly from the flyin! !lass, and "lood was $ourin! down the side of his face. Distantly she "ecame aware of other thin!s. ,he "ri!htness of the emer!ency li!hts fillin! the dar ness, the sounds of alarms echoin! throu!h the com$le', the $oundin! on the loc ed door. ,heir "odies were "loc in! it, and Crom$ton was too "i! for her to

mo%e, too "i! for her to crawl out from under him. She reached u$ and cau!ht his shoulders, !rimacin! at the slime that coated her fin!ers. 6Dr. Crom$ton,6 she shouted, "ut her %oice came out hoarse and strained from the smo e. 6Daniel.6 She shoo him. 5e o$ened his eyes and stared down at her. 5e loo ed da#ed, almost innocent, and she was suddenly %ery much aware that he was a man, an attracti%e man, e%en "leedin! and co%ered in !reen slime. ,hen his eyes focused, his mouth curled in dis!ust, and he scram"led off her, sta!!erin! sli!htly. And then he reached down and hauled her to her feet, out of the way, )ust as the door slammed o$en. A moment later they stum"led out into the hallway, assaulted "y noise, "y %oices. 5ands were touchin! her, $o in! at her, tryin! to ma e her lie down, "ut she wasn't a"out to lie anywhere, not with all these $eo$le millin! around, shoutin! at her. She'd "e tram$led. She searched throu!h the crowds for Crom$ton, and for a moment she couldn't s$ot him. ,hen she saw him, towerin! o%er the others, swayin! sli!htly, his la" coat coated with the same !reen slime that was "urnin! her s in. She sla$$ed the restrainin! hands away and started toward him, throu!h the crowds of $eo$le, comin! u$ "ehind him )ust as he cau!ht a youn! man "y the la$els of his s$otless la" coat and slammed him a!ainst the wall. 6+ac son,6 he said, his %oice raw with smo e and fury. 62hat the hell did you do to my la":6 ,he man cau!ht in his !ri$ was white(faced with terror and "a""lin! somethin! incoherent. Crom$ton "ounced him off the wall a!ain, and the man colla$sed in what a$$eared to "e a faint, )ust as Su#anna reached him. 63ea%e him alone,6 she said hoarsely. 67ou'%e "een "urned.6 5e turned to !lare down at her, the "lood oo#in! down his face. 2ith his smo e( strea ed face, his lon! hair, the a"solute ra!e in his e'$ression, he loo ed more li e a $irate than a research scientist. 6I'm not a"sol%in! you,6 he snarled. 67ou $ro"a"ly hel$ed set this u$, and then it "ac fired on you. 7ou're in it with them, and it was a damned luc y thin! you weren't illed.6 67ou're cra#y,6 she !as$ed, ru""in! her slime(coated hands down her le!s, tryin! to !et some of the "urnin! oo#e off her s in. 6Am I:6 5e reached out for her. 5is hands were coated with the stuff, as well, and for some reason she thou!ht of old science(fiction mo%ies, and "ad colds, and all sorts of other dis!ustin! notions. She didn't now what he was !oin! to do to her, not with all those witnesses surroundin! them. Daniel Crom$ton didn't seem the ty$e who !a%e a damn a"out witnesses, and he was in a truly towerin! ra!e. She stared u$ at him, tryin! to loo $u!nacious and failin! entirely, as his hands cau!ht her shoulders. Sur$risin!ly enou!h, they were !entle, not $ainful. 62ho sent you here:6 he demanded. 62hat were you doin! in my la":6 5e !a%e her a small, im$atient sha e, enou!h to rattle her already im$aired e&uili"rium. 6Are you !oin! to answer my &uestions:6 he demanded, i!norin! the BBCSI em$loyees that

crowded around him and the $aramedics who'd arri%ed on the scene. She loo ed u$ at him, into his dar , "roodin! eyes, and that dreamy, s$acey $lace danced o%er her once more. 6E%entually,6 she murmured. And felt herself "e!in to slide into a !raceful faint.

Chapter Two
Daniel cau!ht her as she fell. 5is la" was now an inferno, the flames "elchin! forth from the "ro en door, and he reali#ed if Su#anna Molloy hadn't distracted him, he would "e a dead man ri!ht now. And he wondered why. ,he $aramedics too her away from him, and he let her !o, noticin! at the time that he didn't want to. 5e filed that unli ely reaction in the "ac of his "rain, to "e considered later, as he reluctantly allowed himself to "e "undled onto a stretcher. 2hile he had e%ery intention of wal in! out of the "uildin!, of dri%in! himself to the hos$ital if and when he deemed it necessary, the stren!th in his le!s seemed to !i%e way, and his entire "ac was "urnin! and thro""in! from the !reen !oo$ that had co%ered him. /ut of the corner of his eye he saw /s"orn leanin! o%er +ac son's colla$sed form, and there was no mista in! the air of collusion "etween the two men. Daniel added that to his mental file. 5e was a"out to lift his head to loo more closely, when he felt the $ric of a needle in his arm, too late for him to $rotest. 2ith one last !lance at Su#anna Molloy's unconscious fi!ure on the ad)oinin! !urney, he closed his eyes and went to slee$. 5e'd s$ent some time in $re(med, when he wasn't "usy with his other studies. As he lay facedown in the emer!ency room, while a !rou$ of $hysicians dealt with his "ac , he decided he was well to "e out of that "ranch of science. 0or one thin!, he didn't seem to ha%e the re&uisite sadism. ,hey were scru""in! the s in on his "ac with what felt li e steel wool and tal in! a"out s$orts, for 8od's sa e9 ,hey assumed he was still noc ed out from whate%er they'd $um$ed in his arm, "ut he had always "een resistant to dru!s, and he'd re!ained consciousness )ust as some hel$ful female had stri$$ed off what remained of his $ants. 65e doesn't loo in such "ad sha$e,6 a female %oice o"ser%ed, while someone too what felt li e a ra#or to his shoulder "lades. 5e didn't mo%e. 6Actually he loo s &uite luscious,6 another female said. 62hat ha$$ened to him:6 63a" e'$losion,6 a male %oice, the one interested in foot"all, chimed in. 65e's in worse sha$e than the $atient in 3(?. She only !ot the stuff on her hands. 2hat do you su$$ose this )un is:6 6Slime,6 a woman said with heartless cheer. 6Don't you thin we ou!ht to turn him o%er and see if his front's affected:6 68et your mind out of the !utter, So$hie. 5is front's )ust fine, and it's nothin! you ha%en't seen "efore.6 More scru""in! alon! his "ac "one, the feel of it li e raw coals "ein! du! into his s in. 5e didn't e%en &ui%er, interested to hear how this con%ersation was !oin! to continue. 6/h, I don't now. 5e's $retty cute. 3a" e'$losion, did you say: Does that mean he's !oin! to turn into the Incredi"le 5ul e%ery time he !ets an!ry:6 So$hie as ed. 6-ery funny. 2e're almost finished with him. 2hy don't you chec his $u$ils while I

see a"out !ettin! him u$stairs for o"ser%ation:6 5e felt her wal around him. 5er hands were cool on his face. She started to $ull o$en his eyelid, and he !lared at her. 68et your ru""er(!lo%ed hands off me, woman,6 he sna$$ed. She )um$ed "ac with a startled shrie . She was )ust the ind of woman he usually found attracti%e."lond and $retty and stu$id. 5e wondered how Su#anna Molloy was farin!. 67ou're awa e,6 she said needlessly. A white(coated doctor $ushed So$hie out of the way, tryin! to loo efficient, as if he hadn't "een o"sessed with foot"all a few moments a!o. 6,hat dose of mor$hine must ha%e worn off too &uic ly. Are you in much $ain:6 6Not when you ee$ your hands off me,6 he snarled. 62here are my clothes:6 6Er.we had to cut them off you. Someone from Bee"e Systems was !oin! to see a"out !ettin! you some new ones. 7ou won't "e needin! them for a while. 2e're admittin! you for o"ser%ation.6 6,he hell you are.6 6Dr. Crom$ton, you'%e "een throu!h &uite an ordeal. 2e need to ma e sure you'%e suffered no head trauma, that the !oo$ on your s in won't cause a reaction. 2e need(6 6I need my clothes. If someone doesn't $ro%ide me some within the ne't two hours, I'm wal in! out of this $lace na ed.6 ,he doctor loo ed at him warily, tryin! for a cheerful smile, only to ha%e it fade a!ain. 67ou're iddin!.6 67ou can't ee$ me here a!ainst my will, and you now it as well as I do.6 6It's my $rofessional o$inion.6 6I don't !i%e s&uat a"out your $rofessional o$inion. ,wo hours.6 5e lay "ac down a!ain and closed his eyes. Damn them and their dru!s9 As if his "ody hadn't "een throu!h enou!h, he still had to fi!ht off the effects of the narcotic they'd $um$ed throu!h his system. 68et me /s"orn,6 he said. 6I'm not sure if Mr. /s"orn is still at the hos$ital.6 65e's here,6 Daniel said !rimly. 6,ell him he's !ot fi%e minutes.6 5e was there in less than three, and he didn't come alone. Daniel didn't "other to lift his head, "ut he new that /s"orn had at least two $eo$le in tow. Dou"tless 8eneral Armstead, and either +ac son or may"e one of the 8reen Beret ty$es that mysteriously wandered the halls at Bee"e. 5e didn't care.he was too "usy concentratin! on the stran!e feelin!s that were swee$in! o%er his "ody. Not un$leasant, they seemed to "e see$in! throu!h his a"raded "ac , sendin! little electrical char!es throu!h the surface of his s in. 65ow are you doin!, Dan:6 /s"orn's hearty %oice "oomed. 67ou !a%e us &uite a scare.6 Daniel considered his o$tions for a "rief, satisfyin! moment. /ne of those included

throttlin! /s"orn, a sorely tem$tin! fantasy "ut one which, in the end, would a%ail him nothin!. 5e'd ne%er "een a man who was $rey to his emotions, and he wasn't a"out to "ecome one now. 62hat ha$$ened:6 he as ed in a dece$ti%ely neutral %oice, o$enin! his eyes. 5e'd "een ri!ht. Retired 8eneral +ac Armstead stood a few feet away, his "ulldo! face creased into a loo of concern, one that was "elied "y the alert, dan!erous e'$ression in his colorless eyes. ,he 8reen Beret ty$e was a man named Cole Slau!hter, and he didn't loo any friendlier. Daniel wondered idly what ha$$ened to +ac son. 6/ne of your e'$eriments must ha%e !one awry,6 /s"orn was sayin!. 6=nli e you, of course, "ut you must ha%e for!otten what you were doin!. +ac son said he smelled somethin! "urnin!. If he hadn't alerted security, we mi!ht not ha%e "een a"le to !et you out in time.6 6Ah, yes, +ac son. A useful man,6 Daniel murmured, not "otherin! to deny /s"orn's con%enient theory. 62here is he:6 Daniel wasn't a sensiti%e man, "ut he was an o"ser%ant one, and e%en in his current state he reco!ni#ed the &uic shift of communication "etween Armstead and /s"orn. 5e filed it away for later e'amination. 6Slau!hter dro%e him home,6 Armstead said. 65e was $retty sha en u$ this afternoon after you attac ed him.6 Daniel didn't "other to deny it. 65ow is Ms. Molloy:6 6,he woman who was with you: No one new who she was.she didn't ha%e any identification on her, a$art from a Bee"e ta!, and that was $hony. 2hat'd you say her name was:6 6Su#anna Molloy.6 5enry /s"orn swore with more emotion than he'd shown since Daniel's la" had "lown a$art. 6,he re$orter: 2hat the hell was she doin! there:6 62hat's !oin! on here, /s"orn:6 Armstead demanded. 67our security suc s. I'll ha%e that woman arrested for tres$assin!.6 6No, you won't.6 Daniel le%ered himself u$ to loo at his three %isitors. 6She was there at my in%itation.6 5e wasn't &uite sure why he lied.it merely seemed the ne't lo!ical ste$. 67ou in%ited her:6 /s"orn said. 6But why: 2e don't want the $ress in%ol%ed in our wor . She's too nosy as it is. 5ow do you now she didn't set the e'$losion:6 62as it set:6 Daniel as ed $leasantly. /s"orn reco%ered &uic ly. 6Damned if I now. Industrial sa"ota!e isn't unheard of, and you're not the ty$e to ma e careless mista es.6 6No,6 said Daniel. 6I'm not.6 62e'll ha%e the security staff &uestion her as soon as she re!ains consciousness,6 Armstead announced. 6Slau!hter, see to it. I want answers.6 67ou'll lea%e her alone,6 Daniel said e%enly.

6Daniel, "e reasona"le,6 /s"orn $leaded. 6I always am. Ms. Molloy is a friend of mine. An intimate friend of mine. She was there to s$end time with me, and for no other reason.6 It was a flat(out lie, "ut for the time "ein! his only defense a!ainst /s"orn's tric iness was to lie, and se' was the one thin! the man would find "elie%a"le. 6Do you thin it's wise to slee$ with someone in her $osition:6 /s"orn as ed with !reat disa$$ro%al. 6It de$ends which $osition she's in.6 ,hey didn't e%en crac a smile. 6,his isn't li e you, Daniel,6 /s"orn said. Crom$ton considered it as the door swun! silently shut "ehind the three men. No, it wasn't li e him at all. And he was feelin! oddly $layful for a man who'd )ust sur%i%ed a murder attem$t. 5e had no dou"t whatsoe%er that that was what it had "een. 5e wouldn't ha%e left a %olatile com$ound simmerin! if the $o$e had summoned him. 5e'd had his share of la" e'$losions in the $ast.what research scientist hadn't:."ut what he was currently wor in! on in%ol%ed nothin! more dan!erous than $otential eyestrain and car$al tunnel syndrome. 5e'd "een !lued to his com$uter for months now, chec in! and rechec in!. ,he only wor he'd done under the hood had "een to ee$ the le!ion of s$ies off the scent. 5e sat u$ !in!erly, starin! around him at the sterile e'aminin! room, fle'in! his sore muscles. May"e it was somethin! as elemental as sur%i%in! death that was ma in! him feel so unnaturally ener!etic. ,he sense of well("ein! was thrummin! throu!h him. 8od, he almost felt li e smilin!. 0irst off, he needed to find Molloy, to see what ind of sha$e she was in. Now that he'd identified her, he didn't trust Armstead and his !oons not to harass her. Besides, e%en thou!h he'd ta en the "runt of the e'$losion and the !reen slime, a$$arently she was still unconscious. 5e wanted to see what she felt li e when she wo e u$. 2ould she ha%e the same sense of well("ein!: ,he same tin!lin!, "urnin! sensation in her s in: And he wanted to see if she still had the same ine'$lica"le effect on him, a com"ination of fury and attraction. No one was !oin! to sto$ him from findin! out. A, 3EAS, ,5E R//M was relati%ely dar . Su#anna could hear the sounds of the hos$ital "ehind the curtained alco%e, the &uiet hush of ru""er(soled shoes on $olished %inyl floors, the hiss and thum$ of medical e&ui$ment, the muffled murmur of %oices. She'd "een awa e for a while, alone in this anonymous room, "ut no one had come to chec on her. +ust as well. She felt odd, disoriented, and she wanted time to herself, to consider what had ha$$ened to her. She'd fainted, li e some damned -ictorian heroine. She'd colla$sed !racefully in Daniel Crom$ton's arms, and it wouldn't ha%e sur$rised her if he'd dro$$ed her on the !round. ,he man was not e&ui$$ed with the most ad%anced set of social !races. But she didn't thin he had. She could still remem"er him holdin! her, she could still feel that stran!e, wrenchin! sensation, when they'd ta en her away from him. 5e hadn't

wanted to let her !o. Now where did that a"surd thou!ht come from: If Crom$ton hadn't wanted to let her !o, it was "ecause he'd wanted to sha e the truth out of her. 5adn't he $ractically accused her of sa"ota!in! his la": Brilliant the man mi!ht "e, "ut when it came to common sense he seemed to "e lac in!. If she'd set him u$, she wouldn't ha%e waited around, ar!uin! with him. She would ha%e !otten the hell out of there. 5er hands were "urnin!. She !lanced down at them. ,hey loo ed the same.stron!, lon!(fin!ered, with no )ewelry. She'd seen those hands all her life, and yet suddenly they loo ed different to her. ,he door o$ened silently, and a shadowy form ste$$ed into the dimly lit room. She reco!ni#ed that sha$e, e%en "efore he ste$$ed into the li!ht, and she let out a si!h of relief. 6=ncle -innie,6 she whis$ered, holdin! out her hands to him. 5e ad%anced into the room, a short, s&uat fi!ure, no more than fi%e feet three inches tall and almost as round, wearin! a suit that $ro"a"ly cost more than the entire contents of Su#anna's closet. It didn't hel$. 5is thinnin! !ray hair was $asted across his scal$, and his own rin!s made u$ for Su#anna's lac of )ewelry. 6I "lame myself,6 he said morosely, ta in! her hands in his. 6Don't "e ridiculous, =ncle -innie,6 she $rotested, i!norin! the $ain his !ri$ caused her. 67ou !a%e me a ti$. I followed u$ on it. It )ust !oes to show you were ri!ht((there is somethin! funny !oin! on at Bee"e.6 67ou mi!ht ha%e "een illed,6 he $rotested, releasin! one hand and hea%in! his "ul into a seat "eside the "ed. Su#anna mana!ed a wry smile. 6/nly the !ood die youn!.6 6Don't "e ridiculous, cam. 7ou may "e a"le to fool the others, "ut you'%e ne%er "een a"le to fool your =ncle -innie.6 67ou're not my =ncle -innie,6 she $ointed out. 67ou're 0rancesca's =ncle -innie, and I'%e told you a hundred times I really don't need you to watch out for me.6 -innie wa%ed a $lum$ hand, dismissin! her $rotests. 67ou let me "e the )ud!e of that. A youn! !irl li e you, on your own in a man's world...6 6I'm not that youn!. ,wenty(se%en,6 she $ointed out. 67ou're youn! for your a!e. Now my 0rancesca, she married ri!ht out of that hi!h( $riced colle!e the two of you attended, and she's !ot her hus"and and her hus"and's family to loo out for her. I'm a lonely old man with too much time on my hands. I need someone to fuss o%er, you now that as well as I do.6 6=ncle -innie,6 she said !ently, 6you are neither old, nor lonely, and you certainly don't ha%e too much time on your hands. I don't understand why you $ersist in thin in! I need watchin! o%er.6 6I $romised 0rancesca. Besides, since I'%e retired, I need somethin! to ee$ me "usy.6

67ou ha%en't retired, =ncle -innie,6 Su#anna said. 6I ha%en't "een down to the restaurant in more than a month,6 he $rotested. 67ou may ha%e retired from the restaurant "usiness, "ut you ha%en't retired from your career. 3et's face it, =ncle -innie, you're a croo .6 6I'm a "usinessman,6 he corrected, not the sli!htest "it offended. 6My friends and I, we ha%e in%estments.6 6Rac ets,6 Su#anna su$$lied. 6And we loo after our own.6 6I'm not your own, =ncle -innie.6 6/nce you "ecame 0rancesca's "est friend and colle!e roommate, you "ecame family. And nothin!'s !oin! to chan!e that. 7ou won't let me hel$ you, "ut at least you'll let me warn you. And what do you do: Instead of ee$in! away from dan!er, you wal ri!ht into it with o$en arms.6 Su#anna mana!ed a tired !rin. 6I'm ho$eless.6 6I don't li e what's !oin! on at Bee"e, Su#anna. E%en with my connections, I can't find who's "ehind the or!ani#ation, "ut it doesn't loo !ood. 7ou need to ee$ away from them.6 6At least I don't need to worry a"out BBCSI "ein! run "y or!ani#ed crime,6 she said. 6-ery funny,6 he said stiffly. 6,here are worse thin!s than our little fraternal or!ani#ation. 7ou're out of your lea!ue, there, Su#anna. 3ea%e it to the e'$erts.6 6I don't e%en now what it is I'd "e lea%in!.6 6It's "i!,6 -innie said. 6I ima!ine so, considerin! the way $eo$le are reactin!. Someone tried to ill Dr. Crom$ton today.6 -innie's $ouchy eyes narrowed. 67ou're sure of that:6 6Reasona"ly sure. ,hey almost sent me with him.6 =ncle -innie muttered somethin! in Italian he assumed Su#anna was too innocent to understand. 0ortunately 0rancesca had tau!ht her e%ery dirty word she new, and the force of that e'$leti%e did more to con%ince Su#anna how des$erate thin!s were than anythin! since the la" had first e'$loded. 6So it's !one that far already,6 he muttered, half to himself. 6And now e%eryone nows it.6 6E%eryone nows what:6 6,hat whate%er he was wor in! on, he's succeeded. No one would ris that man's life if he hadn't come u$ with somethin! worth %astly more. 7ou now what his re$utation is, don't you: America's secret wea$on: And if they're ready to sacrifice him, rather than let him cause trou"le, then he must ha%e come u$ with an e%en more effecti%e wea$on.6 62ea$on:6 Su#anna echoed, shoc ed. 67ou thin he was wor in! on some ind of wea$on:6 6E%erythin! nowadays can "e used as a wea$on. If he was wor in! for the !ood of

man ind, do you thin someone would ha%e tried to "low u$ his la", with him in it: No, Su#anna,6 he said sadly. 62hat a"out a little tri$: 5a%e you e%er "een to -enice:6 6I'm not !oin! anywhere.6 6It's not )ust u$ to me. I'll $rotect you if I can, "ut e%en I ha%e "osses. 4eo$le to answer to, and they're all far too interested in what's !oin! on at Bee"e. I can't "e sure I can ee$ you safe. ,he sta es are too hi!h.6 6And e'actly what are the sta es:6 =ncle -innie shoo his head slowly. 6I don't e%en want to !uess. My $eo$le will loo out for you, cara. ,o the "est of their a"ility. But if you ha%e any sense at all, you'll stay as far away from Dr. Crom$ton as you can. ,he man's li%in! on "orrowed time. 2hate%er he's disco%ered has already fallen into the wron! hands, and he's too nowled!ea"le, too dan!erous, to let li%e.6 62ouldn't that "e illin! the !oose that laid the !olden e!!:6 she ar!ued. 6Not when they'%e !ot the formula for ma in! those !olden e!!s. 2ho needs a !oose that you ha%e to feed and ta e care of:6 =ncle -innie said $hiloso$hically. 62hat a"out 4aris:6 6I'm not !oin! anywhere.6 =ncle -innie )ust loo ed at her. 6I'll $ut the word out. No one will touch you. But you ee$ away from Dr. Crom$ton. I don't want any accidents. If and when he !ets his, I don't want you within ran!e. Do you understand:6 6-innie...6 But he'd already mo%ed toward the door, silent des$ite his "ul . 62atch your "ac , cara. And ee$ away from that man.6 5e was !one "efore she could utter another $rotest, and she leaned "ac a!ainst the $illow, lettin! out her $ent(u$ "reath. E%er since =ncle -innie had come into her life almost ten years a!o, he'd "een mysterious and "eneficent, a wise, almost comical fi!ure, there when she needed a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen to her $ro"lems. It had ta en all her determination to ee$ him from $ullin! strin!s for her. If it had "een u$ to -innie, she'd $ro"a"ly "e mana!in! editor at the Washington Post "y this time. But she'd made it "rutally clear that what she had in this life she intended to earn. She'd had too easy a life. She was the only child of dotin! $arents with too much money. 2hen they'd died while she was still in colle!e, all =ncle -innie's $rotecti%e instincts had come into $lay, "ut Su#anna needed to fend for herself. After twenty years of ha%in! thin!s handed to her, she was suddenly out on her own, and she'd "een determined to ma e her own way, without -innie $ullin! strin!s. She'd acce$ted his friendshi$, and e%en the occasional ti$, "ut she wasn't a"out to let him lender any offers on her "ehalf that $eo$le couldn't refuse. Keep away from Dr. Crom$ton, he'd said, and she'd "e wise to listen when a man li e =ncle -innie s$o e. If -innie said Crom$ton was a doomed man, then it was hi!hly unli ely Su#anna could do anythin! to sa%e him, and she wasn't &uite sure she wanted to. ,he man was o%er"earin!, un$leasant and too damned smart for his own !ood. 5e was )ust the ind of man she found most irritatin!, and she $referred thin in! of him as the

enemy. =nfortunately, it wasn't !oin! to "e that clear(cut. Some"ody else saw Daniel Crom$ton as the enemy, someone who used no'ious fumes and snea attac s and who didn't care if someone "esides Crom$ton !ot illed, as well. Su#anna had the choice of sidin! with Crom$ton or sidin! with the forces of dar ness, which meant she didn't really ha%e much choice at all. /f course, -innie had meant for her to steer clear of the whole thin!. But she couldn't. Not with an or!ani#ation li e Bee"e Control Systems International in her "ac yard, one shrouded in secrecy and security worthy of national defense. Crom$ton mi!ht wor for them, "ut she wouldn't $ut it $ast them to "e "ehind that la" e'$losion. May"e it wasn't a murder attem$t. May"e it was )ust a warnin!. But a warnin! a!ainst what: And how in hea%en's name was she !oin! to find out e'actly what he was wor in! on: ,he la" was trashed now. She hadn't found anythin! of interest in the few minutes she'd had "efore Crom$ton's $reci$itous return, "ut she sus$ected he didn't ee$ his most im$ortant wor there. 2hoe%er "om"ed the $lace wouldn't ha%e dared ris destroyin! it. 5is home was the o"%ious $lace to chec . She needed to !et out of this hos$ital and !o chec out the $lace. 5e had to "e in worse sha$e than she was.he'd "een co%ered with that re%oltin! !reen slime that had "urned her hands. 5e'd "e in the hos$ital for days, "ut if she didn't !et mo%in! soon, someone would !et to his home "efore she did. She swun! her le!s o%er the side of the "ed. She was wearin! one of those damna"le hos$ital ni!ht!owns. It was slit u$ the "ac and chillin! her s$ine, and the "athro"e loo ed as if it were made out of ancient dish towels. Nothin!, howe%er, com$ared with the foam(ru""er sli$$ers. Su#anna wondered whether she could fashion a sari out of the sheet. She wasn't alone. ,here'd "een no sound, not e%en a whis$er of noise, "ut the air around her shifted, and she loo ed u$, starin! at the tall fi!ure in the doorway. Another damned doctor, she thou!ht wearily. ,his one in hos$ital !reens, as if he'd )ust come from the o$eratin! room, or was a"out to return to it. 68o away,6 she said flatly. 6I'%e "een $o ed and $rodded enou!h. 7ou're not doin! any more tests.6 5e mo%ed forward, into the $ool of li!ht, and she had an un$leasant shoc as she loo ed u$ into Daniel Crom$ton's dar , cool eyes. She reali#ed that those eyes were tra%elin! u$ her lon!, "are le!s with far too much leisurely interest. And that the feel of his eyes on her s in "urned almost as much as the !reen slime had. 62hat are you doin! here:6 she demanded, wishin! her %oice didn't sound sli!htly hus y. 6,hey said you were unconscious.6 6I'm not.6 6No, more's the $ity. Are you always this $leasant:6 6A"out the same as you,6 she re$lied tartly.

5e i!nored her taunt, mo%in! across the room so silently it too her a moment to reali#e his feet were "are. ,he si!ht of his lon!, narrow feet was so startlin! that she didn't reali#e he'd $ic ed u$ her hand in his and was "usy ta in! her $ulse. 5e "e!an ta$$in! her wrist. She tried to yan away, "ut his fin!ers ti!htened. 6I )ust want to test your refle'es,6 he said in an irritated %oice. 6 ',rust me, I'm a doctor':6 she murmured. 6My refle'es ha%e "een chec ed $lenty, and they're )ust fine, than you. 5ow are yours:6 60ast.6 6+olly.6 6,oo fast,6 he said eni!matically, still holdin! her hand. She only wished she didn't find an odd sort of comfort in it. 65ow do you feel:6 63i e a wall fell on me.6 6,hat was me.6 She felt a moment's com$unction. 6I didn't than you for sa%in! my life.6 5e shru!!ed. 6I'm not sure I did. 5a%e you had any %isitors:6 Su#anna thou!ht of =ncle -innie and was !lad she ne%er "lushed when she lied. 6No. 2ere you e'$ectin! anyone:6 6If a man named /s"orn tries to tal to you, refuse to see him. ,he same !oes for Armstead, and )ust a"out anyone else.6 Curiouser and curiouser, Su#anna thou!ht, starin! u$ at the man. 6Isn't /s"orn your "oss: ,he $resident of Bee"e:6 65e wants to now what you were doin! in my la" at the time of the e'$losion. 5e doesn't trust you, Ms. Molloy. 5e thin s you mi!ht ha%e ri!!ed the e'$losion.6 6And what do you thin , Dr. Crom$ton:6 5e reached out and $ut his hand alon! the side of her nec , his fin!ers lon! and cool and deft a!ainst her heated s in. 6I thin your $ulse is racin!, Ms. Molloy. I thin you need a !ood lon! rest, with no %isitors,6 It was no wonder her $ulse was racin!, she thou!ht irrita"ly. Daniel Crom$ton was a %astly irritatin! man.he was enou!h to stir any"ody's "lood. 62hat a"out you:6 she as ed a"ru$tly. 6I'm !ettin! out of here. But if I were you, Molloy, I'd stay $ut. At least here you're relati%ely safe.6 62hy wouldn't I "e safe:6 5e shru!!ed, an a"ru$t, oddly a$$ealin! !esture. 6I don't now. But it mi!ht "e wiser not to as anyone.6 A moment later he was !one, and she was alone once more in her hos$ital room, usin! the %ery curses =ncle -innie had as she stared at the closed door in frustration.

Chapter Three
Daniel wondered why his feet weren't cold. 5e tended to "e o"li%ious to $hysical discomfort, "ut ri!ht now he was intensely aware of e%ery minuscule reaction his "ody was !oin! throu!h, and wal in! "arefoot down a sidewal at half $ast fi%e o'cloc on a late s$rin! mornin! in northern California should ha%e "een downri!ht chilly. 4articularly since he was wearin! nothin! "ut the loose !reen scru" suit he'd stolen from a loc er at the hos$ital. It wasn't $articularly warm outside.he new that. 5is instincts told him it was ho%erin! around fifty, and yet he felt entirely comforta"le, almost hot. 5is s in no lon!er "urned, "ut it tin!led, $leasantly enou!h, and he felt an odd tic le "etween his eyes. 5is arms were han!in! loosely "y his sides as he mo%ed alon!, and he contented himself with twitchin! his nose a cou$le of times as he stared a"sently at an old -2 "u! $ar ed on a side street. ,he -2 "urst into flames. ,he fire"all of heat threw him "ac a!ainst a "uildin!, and he stayed there, da#ed, uncom$rehendin!. It usually too a !reat deal to sur$rise him, "ut the e'$losion left him in a state of shoc , and it too him a moment or two to steady himself, !lance around to see whether someone had lo""ed a !renade, or a mortar, or whate%er it was $eo$le used to "low u$ thin!s. ,he streets were deserted. 3i!hts were comin! on in the "uildin!s surroundin! him, "ut there was no si!n of anyone around. In the distance he could hear the faint wail of a fire alarm, and decided it was time to ma e himself scarce. 5e duc ed down a "ac alleyway, disa$$earin! into the ni!ht. 5e wasn't in the mood to listen to &uestions, $articularly when he hadn't the faintest idea what the answers were. 2hile he'd ne%er "een one to let the stresses of ordinary li%in! !et to him, the last twenty( four hours had "een enou!h to rattle the most $hle!matic of men. 5e'd had his la" in%aded, he'd "een sa"ota!ed, $o ed, $rodded, and now it seemed as if someone had set off a "om" )ust as he was wal in! "y, and he could hardly count that a coincidence. ,o to$ it all off, he felt stran!e, restless, ed!y and in a towerin! "ad mood. 5e mo%ed throu!h the early(mornin! li!ht swiftly, away from the de%astation of the "urnin! automo"ile, tryin! to sha e the sense of uneasiness that was $la!uin! him. 5e li%ed as anonymously as $ossi"le, in a "o' of a condominium in a "o' of a "uildin!, and "y the time he neared his nei!h"orhood he was runnin!, at the comforta"le lo$in! )o! he'd $erfected. It was !ettin! li!hter "y the minute, it was now close to @1AA a.m., and he wondered whether the hos$ital or Bee"e had anyone out loo in! for him. ,he encla%e of "land, architecturally atrocious "uildin!s came e&ui$$ed with a security !uard and !ate, somethin! he'd ne%er thou!ht much a"out in the $ast. In his current $osition, he wasn't in the mood to tal to anyone, answer &uestions or e%en ha%e to $ut u$ with someone loo in! at him stran!ely. All he wanted was to !et "ac to his a$artment, loc the door "ehind him, lie down on his futon and clear his mind. =ntil he could come u$ with a reason why someone would want to ill him. 5e decided to wait until si', ho$in! a!ainst ho$e that the !uard's shift mi!ht end, and

he could sli$ throu!h when he wasn't loo in!. 5e still had his watch, a fact which sur$rised him, and he stared at it, willin! it to mo%e to si'. 2hen it did, he almost wished it hadn't. ,he $ric lin! sensation that had "een na!!in! at him suddenly washed o%er his "ody full force, and a "lindin! $ain shot throu!h his head, so fierce he thou!ht of the -2 and wondered whether his own "rain was !oin! to e'$lode. 5is stomach cram$ed, and he san to his nees on the $a%ement, no lon!er carin! that the !uard was !oin! to see him. ,he man would $ro"a"ly call the $olice, or at least an am"ulance, and Crom$ton would "e "ac where he started, his esca$e for nothin!. Slowly, slowly, the $ain "e!an to a"ate. ,he rush that s$read o%er his "ody settled into an ed!y ind of heat, and he mana!ed to lift his head, e'$ectin! to meet the security !uard's curious !a#e. /r $erha$s e%en his !un. ,he security !uard was standin! in his little "o', !uardin! the !ate. 5e was smo in! a ci!arette, !lancin! idly in the direction of Daniel's hunched(o%er fi!ure with all the interest of a toad. Daniel sta!!ered to his feet, "oth relie%ed and incensed. Not that he wanted the man to $ay attention to him, "ut he mi!ht at least ha%e shown some concern for the security of the "uildin!. Not to mention the welfare of one of its tenants. 5e ad%anced on the man, an!ry enou!h to "ra#en it out, only to come u$ short. ,he security !uard had his name, which was Doyle, em"la#oned across his $oc et. And Doyle was loo in! strai!ht throu!h him as if he wasn't e%en there. ,he hell with him, Crom$ton thou!ht, circlin! the security !ate and stridin! $ast the o"li%ious !uard, fully determined to i!nore any "elated &uestions or calls to sto$. ,here was no a"ru$t shout or e%en a tentati%e &uestion as Daniel reached the door of his anonymous "uildin!. ,he !uard didn't seem to reali#e he e'isted. It wasn't until that moment that Daniel reali#ed his eys were somewhere "ac at the hos$ital, alon! with his slime(s$lattered clothes, his wallet and his shoes. 65ell and damnation,6 he muttered, wheelin! around, $re$ared to !o to the o"li%ious Doyle and demand that he o$en the door for him. Doyle was no lon!er o"li%ious. 5e loo ed li e a "loodhound who'd scented a )uicy $heasant on the wind. Alert, head coc ed, listenin!, he stared )ust o%er Daniel's head. 2as the man "lind, or drun , or )ust a"ysmally stu$id: Daniel neither new nor cared, he sim$ly wanted to !et u$ to his a$artment, !et out of his stolen scru" suit and ta e a shower, to wash the hot, $ric lin! feelin! from his s in. ,he door o$ened, and an early(mornin! )o!!er ste$$ed out into the cool air. Daniel !ra""ed the door "efore it could swin! shut a!ain, muttered a terse than s and disa$$eared into the "uildin!. 5is fourth(floor a$artment was an easier matter, since he was smart enou!h to lea%e a ey under a loose section of the car$etin! in the hallway. 2ithin moments he was safe inside, the door loc ed "ehind him. 5e was oddly "reathless, sha en, and his "rain was awash with a thousand anomalies, too many thin!s that made no sense, $articularly to his own orderly mind. ,he

way that car had "urst into flames. ,he !uard's o"li%ion. ,he "rief flash of shoc on the )o!!er's face when Daniel had "rushed $ast him. Not to mention the odd, fu##y loo of his hand as he'd o$ened his front door. 5e stared down at his "ody and new somethin! had to "e wron! with his %ision. 5e loo ed fo!!y and sli!htly out of focus "ut when he raised his head, the a$artment was clear and $recise. It was only his "ody that seemed "lurred. 5e ru""ed a hand across his eyes, "ut it didn't hel$. ,he mornin! li!ht was fillin! the ascetic confines of his a$artment, "ut he didn't "other closin! the curtains. ,hey mi!ht "e loo in! for him, and his home was the lo!ical $lace to try to find him. Since Doyle and the )o!!er had "een too slee$y or hun! o%er to notice his return, he mi!ht "e a"le to remain in "idin! for at least the few hours he needed for a shower and a na$. ,he hot water s$at li e tiny needles onto his s in, "ut he was inured to the discomfort. 5e stood in the shower for what seemed li e hours, tryin! to wash away that odd, heated sensiti%ity that co%ered him, "ut it was useless. ,urnin! off the water, he ste$$ed out into his steamed(u$ "athroom, !ra""in! a towel and wra$$in! it around his dam$ "ody. May"e a sha%e would wa e him u$. 5is "athroom mirror was com$letely fo!!ed. 5e reached out and ru""ed the condensation from its surface. And then he ru""ed a!ain. ,here was no reflection whatsoe%er in the mirror, not e%en the towel that was wra$$ed around his torso. ,here'd "een a $hrase he'd read lon! a!o, in some melodramatic no%el. Somethin! a"out one's "lood runnin! cold. Suddenly he new e'actly what that $hrase meant. 5e slammed o$en the "athroom door, headin! for the "edroom and the mirror o%er his dresser. Nothin!. 5e could see the $lain, white(co%ered "ed "ehind him, the unadorned white walls, the $ile of "oo s on the ni!htstand. But he couldn't see his own, sli!htly out of focus, shower(dam$ "ody at all. 6/h, no,6 he murmured, utterly fascinated. 6I'm in%isi"le.6 S=>ANNA C/NSIDERED followin! him. Daniel Crom$ton had sim$ly disa$$eared from her hos$ital room li e a wraith, and if she'd had )ust the sli!htest "it more ener!y, not to mention a sli!htly more modest outfit, she would ha%e clim"ed out of that hos$ital "ed and !one after him. As it was, her feet "arely touched the floor "efore she san "ac , !roanin!. 5er head thro""ed, her s in tin!led, and her tem$er was not the sweetest. Nor was it im$ro%ed "y the sound of %oices "rea in! the early(mornin! hush of the hos$ital corridors. 6I'm afraid I must insist, nurse,6 the man said. 6,here's "een a serious "reach of security at Bee"e, and a &uestion of sa"ota!e. If you won't let me &uestion Ms. Molloy then I'm afraid I'm !oin! to ha%e to ta e action.6 67ou can &uestion her all you want,6 came the tart re$ly, 6durin! %isitin! hours, and if her doctor !i%es $ermission and she's willin!. =ntil then, Mr. /s"orn, you'd "etter

lea%e.6 ,here was a moment of silence. And the unmista a"le sound of crin lin! $a$er that was undou"tedly !reen. 60i%e minutes,6 the nurse said, her shoes s&uea in! as she made her retreat. By the time the door o$ened, Su#anna was lyin! in $erfect stillness, her eyes shut, her "reathin! shallow, not a flic er "etrayin! her awareness. She would ha%e li ed to steal )ust a tiny !lance at this Mr. /s"orn who was so determined to !et his own way. 5e was one of the $eo$le Crom$ton had warned her a"out. An odd thou!ht, an S/B li e Crom$ton loo in! out for her. It could almost ma e her smile. 6Are you awa e, Ms. Molloy:6 Su#anna didn't mo%e. 6,hey told me you'd re!ained consciousness se%eral hours a!o, and no one mentioned !i%in! you any additional dru!s to hel$ you slee$. /$en your eyes, Ms. Molloy. I ha%e no intention of lea%in! until I tal with you.6 Su#anna mana!ed a faint, %ery "elie%a"le snore. ,o her dismay she heard /s"orn seat himself in the $lastic chair "eside her hos$ital "ed. 6If you $refer, we'll $lay it that way,6 he said. 6Allow me to introduce myself. I'm 5enry /s"orn, CE/ of Bee"e Control Systems. I ima!ine a cle%er !irl li e you already new that. 2hat you mi!ht not now is that I can "e a %ery dan!erous man to cross, or a %ery hel$ful man, if I'm feelin! !enerous. 7ou'%e "een a "oil on our "ehind for the last si' months with your incessant &uestions, "ut we'%e "een for"earin!, "elie%in! in the ri!ht of a free $ress.6 /s"orn was the ind of man who "elie%ed in total control of the $ress, "ut Su#anna mana!ed to ee$ from %oicin! that o$inion. 6I want to now what you saw in Dr. Crom$ton's la" "efore the unfortunate accident. 7our hel$ in this matter could "e in%alua"le, and we're nown to reward those who hel$ us.6 It was no accident, Su#anna thou!ht, and you now it. She let out another !entle little snore, wonderin! whether she was o%erdoin! it. 6/n the other hand,6 /s"orn continued smoothly, i!norin! her act, 6you were tres$assin! on $ri%ate $ro$erty. 7ou had a $hony ED ta!, and we ha%en't ruled out the $ossi"ility of industrial sa"ota!e. 2e could $ush it as far as attem$ted murder, Ms. Molloy, and you're our o"%ious sus$ect. I don't "elie%e what Crom$ton told me a"out you for one moment.6 5e was !ood, Su#anna had to admit it. She was dyin! to now what Crom$ton had told him. It too all her formida"le will$ower to ee$ from reactin!. 5e rose, and she could feel him mo%e toward her. 62e'll "e watchin! you, Ms. Molloy,6 he said softly. 6If we can't !et to you here, we'll wait till you lea%e. Sooner or later you're !oin! to tell us what you now. 2hat you saw.6 And she felt his hand on her "reast, s&uee#in! it $ainfully throu!h the layers of hos$ital cotton. She couldn't control her start of $ain, "ut she $layed it throu!h, o$enin! her eyes for

a deli"erately da#ed moment, then shutterin! them a!ain, utterin! no more than a $lainti%e moan "efore she ostensi"ly drifted off a!ain. 6I could almost "elie%e you, Ms. Molloy,6 the nasty little sadist murmured. 6If I were )ust a little more !ulli"le. I'll "e "ac .6 Su#anna almost snorted. She couldn't ima!ine anyone less li e the ,erminator than the "rief !lim$se she'd had of ele!ant, white(haired 5enry /s"orn. E'ce$t that he mi!ht "e )ust as merciless. ,he door closed with a si!h, "ut Su#anna didn't mo%e. She held still, waitin! until she was certain he was truly !one. =ncle -innie had "een ri!ht, "ut then, she'd ne%er had cause to dou"t him in the first $lace. ,here was somethin! e'tremely nasty !oin! on at Bee"e Control Systems, and while sa"ota!e dou"tless had somethin! to do with it, she $ut her money on the dece$ti%ely charmin! !entleman who'd )ust mauled her "reast. If only she new what Crom$ton had told him9 Dou"tless nothin! flatterin!. But it hadn't "een the truth, either, or /s"orn wouldn't ha%e hesitated in ha%in! her arrested for sus$ected sa"ota!e, as he'd threatened to do. /"%iously /s"orn had his secrets, and he wanted to now e'actly which ones of those Su#anna had "een $ri%y to. She let her eyes drift o$en, still ee$in! her "reathin! re!ulated. ,he room was em$ty, the early(mornin! li!ht sendin! stran!e shadows a!ainst the $ale !reen walls. It was )ust after si', and in the far distance she could hear the wailin! sounds of a fire siren. She sat u$, mo%in! &uietly, and slid from the "ed. /ne thin! was certain1 she wasn't !oin! to stay there and wait until /s"orn could summon his !oons to watch o%er her. Assumin! he had !oons to summon. She needed to !et out of this $lace, and she needed to find out what was really !oin! on with Daniel Crom$ton. She'd almost "een illed, )ust "ecause she was in the wron! $lace at the wron! time, and her "reast still thro""ed from /s"orn's nasty !ro$e. She wanted to now what Crom$ton had told him, she wanted to now what the man was wor in! on, and she wanted to now whether either of them was still in dan!er. And there was only one way to find out. She had to as him. No, scratch that.she had to sit the man down and force him to tell her what was !oin! on. E'actly how she $lanned to do that was still a mystery, "ut she'd always relied on her a"ility to im$ro%ise when thin!s !ot a little com$licated. 0irst thin!s first. At least they'd "rou!ht her clothes "ac , a little the worse for wear, her ratty runnin! shoes still usa"le. ,he !reat Dr. Daniel Crom$ton mi!ht ha%e no &ualms a"out !oin! out "arefoot in stolen hos$ital !ar", "ut Su#anna was a little more discreet. 5er "orrowed la" coat had ta en the "runt of the slime assault. Su#anna dressed &uic ly, !rateful that a$art from the tin!lin! in her hands and an odd heat at the "ac of her eyes, she seemed to "e in fairly !ood sha$e. As a matter of fact, the worst of her discomfort still came from where /s"orn had mauled her. Interestin!. ,he corridors were comin! to life as she ste$$ed out of her room, "ut she'd already learned that the "est way to !et away with somethin! was to loo as if you new what

you were doin!. She strode down the hallway &uite $ur$osefully, not dod!in! when she $assed an orderly's curious !a#e, and a moment later duc ed down a deserted stairwell. She was free. If she'd had any sense at all, she would ha%e headed strai!ht home, "arricaded herself inside her second(floor a$artment, $ut somethin! cool and )a##y on the stereo and !one to slee$. But she didn't feel $articularly sensi"le. ,he old -ictorian house she li%ed in was more than a mile away, on the far side of town, her car was $resuma"ly still at Bee"e, and she new for a fact that Dr. Daniel Crom$ton's a$artment was much closer.only a "rief wal away. 5e mi!ht not "e there, of course. But if she'd !otten into a $lace with security as ti!ht as BBCSI, then she had little dou"t she could !et into his a$artment. ,here was no way she was !oin! to rest until she !ot some answers. DANIE3 2AS EN+/7IN8 himself immensely, not in the sli!htest "it distur"ed a"out his new "ody. 5e could feel himself, see himself, al"eit sli!htly out of focus. If he dro$$ed the towel on a surface in front of the mirror he could see that, as well. If he $ic ed it u$ a!ain it seemed to float in midair. If he dra$ed it around him, it disa$$eared. It made no earthly sense, in terms of $hysics or any nown science. 5e tried it with %arious other items. Any $iece of clothin! he held would still "e cor$oreal, "ut once he $ut it on it %anished. 5e wandered throu!h his a$artment, wearin! only a $air of old )eans that he usually $referred not to "e seen in. At least this time he wouldn't ha%e to worry, he thou!ht with dar humor. /nce he $ut food in his mouth, it disa$$eared, and he swallowed half a &uart of his s$ecial multi%itamin ener!y drin that usually sufficed instead of re!ular food, washin! it down with at least a !allon of coffee. 5e turned on the news, somethin! he seldom "othered with, "ut the "rief story a"out the e'$losion at Bee"e was the com$any line. 5e stared at 5enry /s"orn's cool, concerned face and muttered an e'$leti%e. 2hich reminded him. If $eo$le couldn't see him, and that dou"tless e'$lained why the !uard and the )o!!er seemed to "e i!norin! him, would they "e a"le to hear him: All in the nature of scientific e'$eriment, he dialed 5enry /s"orn's unlisted num"er. 5is ruthlessly ele!ant, ruthlessly slim wife, Doris, answered the $hone. 5e'd ne%er li ed her, either the insuffera"ly smu! way she mo%ed throu!h the few social functions he'd "een forced to attend, or the way she'd delicately, unmista a"ly come on to him on one of those same occasions, lettin! her slender, "e)eweled hand rest hi!h u$ on his thi!h. She was a "arracuda, well(suited to her hus"and. 5e started with a little hea%y "reathin!. 6Is anyone there:6 Doris demanded, cool and im$erious as e%er. 5e e$t his %oice low, hus y, unreco!ni#a"le, as he murmured a cou$le of !ra$hic su!!estions he would ha%e "een far more interested in tryin! with Ms. Su#anna Molloy. ,here was a shoc ed inta e of "reath on the other end, lea%in! him in no dou"t that e%en if $eo$le couldn't see him, they could certainly hear him. And then ele!ant Doris /s"orn said, 6I told you not to call me here, Dorfio. 2e'll meet at the health clu", as

always.6 Before Daniel had time to reco%er from his shoc , she'd hun! u$ the $hone. Dismissin! her with a reluctant lau!h, he went a"out his e'$eriments. If he was in%isi"le, $erha$s he had other !ifts, as well. /ne thin! was certain.he hadn't "een in%isi"le in the hos$ital. Su#anna Molloy had loo ed u$ at him out of those distrustful "rown eyes, and there'd "een no mista in! the hostility in them. Nor the reluctant fascination. 2hile Daniel didn't usually waste time $ayin! attention to how $eo$le res$onded to him, in Su#anna's case he didn't consider it a waste. 0or some reason he had yet to fathom, she fascinated him. It only made sense that he'd "e interested in her reaction. 5e must ha%e "een %isi"le as he wal ed throu!h the town. ,hat car e'$lodin! couldn't ha%e "een an accident, not after the e%ents of the day. Someone must ha%e "een waitin! for him, armed with some ind of hea%y artillery. But "y the time he'd reached his a$artment "uildin!, he'd "een !one. 5e could remem"er that stran!e, tin!lin! feelin!, li e a hot flash, that had s$read o%er him )ust as it neared @1AA a.m., and he could only !uess that that was when it had started. ,he &uestion was, how lon! was it !oin! to last: 5e flic ed off the tele%ision, then held %ery still. Someone was outside the door. *noc in!, with a fair amount of insistence. 5e wasn't in the mood for %isitors, or for answerin! the door. It would only "e someone from Bee"e, tryin! to harass him a!ain. If it was someone from wor , it was someone who had few &ualms a"out "rea in! and enterin!. 2hoe%er stood outside his door was fiddlin! with his loc . 5e !lanced around him, considerin! where to hide, and then reali#ed he had no need to. 5e could stand ri!ht there, motionless, soundless, and whoe%er was attem$tin! to "rea into his a$artment wouldn't e%en now he was there. 5e hadn't set the security loc when he'd first come in, a ma)or o%ersi!ht. 5e waited $atiently as the loc finally !a%e and the door o$ened. ,here were any num"er of $eo$le who'd made a recent ha"it of "rea in! and enterin! his $ersonal s$ace, "ut he could only ho$e it was the one $erson he was interested in seein! at that $articular moment. It was. 6Dr. Crom$ton:6 Su#anna Molloy's faintly hus y %oice heralded her entrance. 6Are you there:6 She new damned well he wasn't, ha%in! noc ed loudly. 5e watched as she ste$$ed inside, closin! the door &uietly "ehind her, her "rown eyes swee$in! o%er the li%in! room of his a$artment, loo in! ri!ht throu!h him. 6,y$ical,6 she muttered in dis!ust, stiflin! a yawn. She mo%ed throu!h the li%in! room, !lancin! at the $lain white walls, the $iles of $rofessional ma!a#ines, the lac of anythin! li e a stereo or e%en a ru! on the floor. E%en his old small ,- was $ro"a"ly "lac and white, a rarity in this modern a!e. 65e must "e some ind of mon ,6 she muttered, !lancin! at the narrow futon he occasionally sle$t on. Not e'actly, he thou!ht, sur%eyin! the lon! swee$ of her le!s and the firm, !ently rounded "ottom "eneath her faded )eans. She wasn't his ty$e. But may"e he was ready to chan!e his ty$e.

It ha$$ened so fast he had no warnin!. She turned around, headin! into the itchen, and "arreled, unseein!, ri!ht into him. She fell "ac ward, onto that luscious "ottom he'd )ust "een admirin!, starin! u$ in shoc , starin! at nothin!. ,his could ha%e its ad%anta!es, he thou!ht, wonderin! whether he dared to so far as to touch her. She shoo her head, as if clearin! co"we"s from her "rain, and stru!!led "ac to her feet. 6*ee$ your shirt on, Nancy Drew,6 she muttered out loud. 5e controlled the ur!e to offer her a hand. She wouldn't see it, and if she felt it, she'd $ro"a"ly scream. 5e mana!ed to a%oid her as she mo%ed tentati%ely into the little itchen area he seldom used. 5e heard her o$en the refri!erator, then her remar a"ly !ra$hic curse as she disco%ered )ust how em$ty it was. 6I'm star%in!,6 she moaned to herself. 6And all the man seems to eat is moldy cheese and "eer.6 5e didn't "other correctin! her. 5e mo%ed "ac a!ainst the wall silently, so she wouldn't run into him a!ain. ,he small electronic cloc si!naled it was now ei!ht in the mornin!. 5e felt that same, stran!e flush swee$ o%er his "ody, and he leaned a!ainst the wall, tryin! to control the sudden wea ness in his nees as the $ain shot throu!h him. 5e was shi%erin!, $rayin! for the moment to $ass, when throu!h the fo! of $ain he heard her stran!led scream. 65ow did you !et in here:6 she demanded, her %oice filled with horror. And he o$ened his eyes to reali#e that for the first time in hours, someone was starin! directly at him.

Chapter Four
0or a moment Su#anna couldn't mo%e. 5e stood only a few feet away from her, in the middle of his soulless li%in! room, dressed in a faded $air of )eans that clun! to his narrow hi$s and lon! le!s. 5e wasn't wearin! a shirt, des$ite the coolness of the mornin! air, and Su#anna decided then and there that a scientist shouldn't ha%e such a chest. 5e should ha%e "een $ale and soft and fla""y. Not toned and tanned and su"tly well( muscled. 5e hadn't "othered to tie "ac his hair, and it hun! around his stron!(featured face, ma in! him loo li e a $irate, not a "iochemist with a 4h.D. in $hysics on the side. She mana!ed, )ust "arely, to $ull herself to!ether. 62here did you come from:6 6I li%e here, remem"er:6 he re$lied in an e%en %oice. 67ou're the one who's not su$$osed to "e here. 2here did you learn to $ic loc s:6 She could feel )ust a faint trace of color heat her chee s, "ut she sim$ly tilted her chin with a defiance she didn't com$letely feel. 6I do what needs to "e done.6 6Includin! !oin! to )ail: Brea in! and enterin! is a crime, last I heard, and you'%e done it twice in the last twenty(four hours. 2ere you $lannin! on $lantin! a "om" here, as well:6 5e as ed the &uestion with cool disdain, wanderin! $ast her shoc ed fi!ure to stare out the window, !i%in! her a full, distractin! %iew of his "ac . It was almost se'ier

than his chest. 6Bein! a"le to $ic a loc has nothin! to do with "ein! a"le to set a "om",6 she said, tearin! her !a#e away reluctantly. 62hy should I want to "low u$ your la": /r your a$artment, for that matter: I'm a re$orter, not an industrial s$y.6 5e !lanced "ac at her o%er his shoulder. 6It ma es a !ood story.6 6I'm not that des$erate for a "yline. 7ou don't "elie%e it, either,6 she added with sudden assurance. 62hat did you tell /s"orn a"out me:6 Daniel turned and leaned a!ainst the wall, seemin!ly at ease in his $artially dressed state. If only he'd )ust $ull a shirt on o%er all that !or!eous flesh, she mi!ht "e a"le to concentrate a little "etter. 6So /s"orn came to see you: I thou!ht he would. 2hat did he want to now:6 62hat I saw in your la".6 6And what did you see in my la":6 67ou,6 she said. 6Is that what you told him:6 6I $retended to "e aslee$.6 She remem"ered the "rutal feel of his hand on her, and she couldn't control a sli!ht shi%er of distaste. 62hat did he do to you:6 Crom$ton as ed suddenly. 62hat ma es you thin he did anythin!:6 she countered, acutely uncomforta"le. 6,he e'$ression on your face.6 67ou don't miss much, do you:6 6I'm a scientist. I'm trained to o"ser%e. Did he hurt you:6 0or some reason she didn't want to tell him. ,ell him that the CE/ of a multinational cor$oration !ro$ed her "reast, that an ele!ant, middle(a!ed "usinessman hurt her. It was "oth em"arrassin! and un"elie%a"le. 6Do you thin he's the ind of man who would:6 she said instead. 5e stared at her for a lon! moment. 5e had really wonderful eyes, she reali#ed, "ut then, that was in ee$in! with the rest of him. ,hey were a dar , mesmeri#in! "lue, almost "lac , and yet she could almost ima!ine tiny $in$ric s of !olden li!ht, almost li e flames, at their center. Scientists were su$$osed to "e nerds. 5ow come she !ot tra$$ed with the one !or!eous one: 6I wouldn't ha%e thou!ht so,6 Crom$ton said, dro$$in! down on the uncomforta"le( loo in! futon. 6But you're actin! li e he molested you.6 65ardly,6 she said in her driest %oice. 6And you still ha%en't told me what you said a"out me. 2hate%er it was, he didn't "elie%e it.6 67ou had &uite a con%ersation, considerin! you were $retendin! to "e unconscious,6 he o"ser%ed. 65e was doin! all the tal in!.6 Daniel considered her for a moment, and she wished there was some $lace she didn't

mind loo in!. 5is chest was too distractin!, his eyes, his mouth, his hands were far too stron! and ele!ant. She concentrated on his left shoulder, tryin! to i!nore the "one and muscle. She'd always had a wea ness for sli!htly "ony shoulders, and Daniel Crom$ton's were )ust a"out $erfect. 6I told him you were %isitin! me,6 he said after a lon! moment, stretchin! his le!s out in front of him. 6I didn't want him to )um$ to any conclusions if he heard you'd "ro en in.6 62hy not:6 65e'd "e more than ha$$y to concentrate his ener!ies on $rosecutin! you, when I now $erfectly well you didn't set any ind of incendiary de%ice in my la". 2hoe%er did it would !et away scot(free, while you lan!uished in )ail.6 She $ushed her hair away from her face in what she ho$ed was a suita"ly no( nonsense !esture. 6I ne%er lan!uish.6 ,he smile was small, only a faint &uir at the corner of his mouth. It ne%ertheless mana!ed to transform his entire face, from the austere, ele!ant "eauty to somethin! infinitely more a$$roacha"le. 6I ima!ine you don't,6 he drawled. Su#anna didn't want to a$$roach him. 67ou thin it was set:6 6I see that )ournalist's mind of yours clic in! away. If I had any sense I'd ic you and your &uestions out of here.6 6I ha%en't &uite fi!ured out why you ha%en't,6 she admitted. 5e sur%eyed her with a clinical air, and it too all her self(control not to !lance down at her own a$$earance. She new $erfectly well what she loo ed li e, and she'd ne%er "een one for s$endin! needless time fussin! with her reflection in a mirror. She had "luntly cut, dirty("lond hair, thou!h her mother referred to it as wheat(colored, which certainly sounded a lot more attracti%e. 5er nose was unim$ressi%e, her "rown eyes lar!e "ut dis!uised "y the wire(rimmed !lasses she wore. She seemed taller than a%era!e, her fi!ure the ty$ically ten($ounds(o%erwei!ht American female fi!ure, and she wore an e'clusi%e uniform of "a!!y )eans and rude ,(shirts. ,he current one was a faded fuchsia with the lo!o Eat Buiche and Die em"la#oned across it. She had ne%er "een the ty$e to incite men's $assions, and she dou"ted the estima"le Dr. Daniel Crom$ton e%en $ossessed such $assions. E%en if, loo in! at him stretched shirtless across his futon, she wished he did. 6Neither ha%e I,6 he said, shatterin! any irrational ho$e she mi!ht ha%e had that he har"ored a secret $assion for her. 6May"e I'm $uttin! u$ with you for the same reason $eo$le say they clim" mountains.6 No woman li ed to hear herself mentioned in the same sentence as a mountain, "ut Su#anna swallowed her retort. 6And why do $eo$le clim" mountains:6 6Because they're there.6 Not the !reatest show of confidence, "ut she decided to ta e what she could !et, "efore Crom$ton decided not to trust her. 6All ri!ht,6 she said, !lancin! around the "arren li%in! room for a seat. ,here weren't any, )ust the futon, which was too small for the two of them. She com$romised "y sittin! on the floor, wincin! sli!htly as she san down on

the "are wood. 6Are you all ri!ht:6 5e didn't miss a thin!. She'd ha%e to "e e'tra careful around this man, for more reasons than one. 6+ust a little stiff from yesterday. I'm not used to "ein! tossed on a floor and )um$ed on.6 A!ain that faint !lint of humor in his dar eyes. 6It has its ad%anta!es.6 She wasn't !oin! to let him wow her. 6Not if you're the one on the "ottom,6 she shot "ac . 5e shru!!ed, mo%in! those !or!eous, "ony shoulders of his, and she wondered what he'd say if she as ed him to $ut on a shirt. May"e he could e%en slic that lon! mane of hair "ac , find himself some "all$oint $ens and a $oc et $rotector. 5itch his )eans halfway u$ to his arm$its, or "etter yet, find somethin! $olyester to wear. It would "e a ma)or mista e to let him !uess what ind of effect he was ha%in! on her. She tossed her hair "ac , meetin! his !a#e defiantly. 62ho do you thin sa"ota!ed your la":6 she said. 6And do you thin they meant to hurt you, as well:6 6I ne%er said I thou!ht my la" was sa"ota!ed.6 68i%e me a "rea , Crom$ton,6 she sna$$ed. 67ou aren't the only $erson around here with a "rain, e%en if yours is as o%ersi#ed as your e!o.6 6All ri!ht. 0or ar!ument's sa e let's say someone set a "om" in my la". 7ou're the o"%ious sus$ect, "ut for now we're !oin! to assume you had nothin! to do with it. 7ou sim$ly ha$$ened to "e in the wron! $lace at the wron! time.6 6,hat's a matter of o$inion,6 she said. 6It's !oin! to ma e !reat co$y.6 6I'm sure it will. 2hen I let you write it.6 "Let me write it:6 she echoed, incensed. 6I'd li e to see you try to sto$ me, "uster. ,here is such a thin! as free s$eech, and a free $ress, and.6 6And if you want me to coo$erate and tell you e%erythin! I now, then you'll ha%e to coo$erate with me,6 he interru$ted smoothly. 6I don't want anythin! !oin! $u"lic until I'm sure it's safe.6 6And you !et to decide:6 6,a e it or lea%e it.6 5e was maddenin!. 5e also held all the cards, and Su#anna new it. Much as she wanted to tell him off, throw his conditions "ac in that too(handsome face, she had too much sense. ,he truth a"out what was !oin! on at Bee"e, rife as it was with industrial sa"ota!e, would !i%e her career the ind of "oost most $eo$le only fantasi#ed a"out. Add to that what =ncle -innie had referred to as America's secret wea$on, and she had a story that would $ush her to the to$ of her $rofession. 6I'll ta e it,6 she said firmly. 6/n one condition.6 62hat's that:6 67ou ee$ me with you. 7ou can call me your research assistant, your si!nificant other, your sister or your house ee$er. I don't care. 7ou )ust ma e sure I'm in on thin!s.6

6My research assistants are wor in! on their 4h.D.'s.6 6I already ha%e mine. Stanford, CDEE, in $hysics,6 she said succinctly, ho$in! he'd "e im$ressed. 5e wasn't. 6I don't ha%e a sister, and I don't need a house ee$er.6 She !lanced around the $ristine confines of his a$artment with trans$arent contem$t. 67ou certainly don't.6 6So I su$$ose that ma es you my mistress.6 She "lushed. It was the curse of her $ale, frec led com$le'ion, an inheritance from her Danish mother. 6No,6 she said flatly. 6,hin I'm !oin! to ta e ad%anta!e, Molloy:6 he said. 6=se it as an e'cuse to !ro$e you:6 She remem"ered 5enry /s"orn, and she shi%ered. 6I now scientists,6 she said. 67ou s$end so much time in the la" your hormones !o awry, and it wouldn't matter if I loo ed li e a truc dri%er in dra!. 5ow a"out your cousin from out of town:6 5e shoo his head. 6Santa Cristina is a small town, Molloy. 7ou're too well( nown. If you won't $ose as my mistress, how a"out a date: 2e can still "e in the courtin! sta!e, not the fallin!(all(o%er(each(other sta!e.6 67ou have "een loc ed in your la" too lon!,6 she o"ser%ed coolly. 6Mistresses, courtin!. 7ou must ha%e read historical romances in your childhood.6 A!ain that small, de%astatin! smile. 6I'%e read my share.6 She didn't "elie%e him for a moment. 6In this day and a!e, courtshi$, if it e'ists at all, consists of sharin! la" tests "efore $eo$le do the deed,6 she said $rimly. 65ad a lot of e'$erience, ha%e you:6 6More than you'%e had,6 she shot "ac , i!norin! the fact that she hadn't !one to "ed with anyone since her short(li%ed, %ery unsatisfactory en!a!ement three years earlier. 67ou want to com$are con&uests:6 67ou're not addin! me to your list,6 she warned him. 6I wasn't aware that I was as in!.6 She wanted to hit him. 6+ust in case you were considerin! it,6 she said stonily. 6I'm forewarned,6 he said, still with that annoyin! trace of amusement. 6/ ay, so we're not su$$osed to "e lo%ers. 5ow a"out friends:6 She could "e )ust as cynical. 6,hat mi!ht "e e%en harder to "elie%e.6 She startled him into lau!hin! out loud. 62hy don't we let them draw their own conclusions:6 62hat if someone as s:6 6I'm entirely ca$a"le of refusin! to answer rude &uestions. I ima!ine you could do so, as well. 7ou don't stri e me as the most coo$erati%e $erson I'%e e%er met.6 5e rose from the futon, his mo%ements smooth and !raceful as he wal ed to the window, and she

watched, unwillin!ly, the $lay of muscles "eneath his s in. 6Aren't you cold:6 she demanded, una"le to stand it any lon!er. 5e !lanced o%er his shoulder at her. 6No,6 he said. 6Are you:6 6As a matter of fact, this room is downri!ht chilly.6 5is dar eyes too on an a"stract loo . 6Interestin!,6 he said. 6I was thin in! of o$enin! a window.6 65ow a"out turnin! on the heat instead:6 5e'd turned "ac to stare out the window, and somethin! o"%iously cau!ht his eye. =na"le to resist, she rose and )oined him, ee$in! her shoulder away from his as she !lanced down at the neat little landsca$ed yard that ad)oined the $ar in! lot. 62hat's so interestin!:6 she demanded, wishin! she hadn't mo%ed &uite so close, unwillin! to "etray her discomfort "y mo%in! away. /ne thin! was sure.he was &uite warm. She could feel the heat of his "ody throu!h the inches of s$ace "etween them, throu!h her layers of clothin!. 6,hat car down there. I don't remem"er seein! it "efore.6 67ou'%e memori#ed all the cars that $ar here:6 she said, dis"elie%in!. 5e !lanced down at her, and the sensation was unner%in!. 5is !a#e was as heated as all that "are s in, which was far too close to hers. 6I ha%e that ind of mind,6 he said. 6It doesn't re&uire any effort on my $art.6 6May"e there's a new tenant.6 6No. ,wo men were sittin! in it, starin! u$ at this "uildin!. ,his window.6 62here are they now:6 6,hey're o%er there tal in! to the security !uard. I wonder...6 5is %oice trailed off as Su#anna leaned forward to !et a "etter loo at the two men. She felt her arm "rush a!ainst his, and she controlled her ner%ous start. She didn't now what was wron! with her. Men didn't ma e her ner%ous. 4articularly men li e Daniel Crom$ton, no matter how une'$ectedly !or!eous he was turnin! out to "e. She concentrated on the two men. ,hey were almost ridiculously anonymous, with their dar suits and their "land, middle(a!ed, middle(class faces. And Daniel was a"solutely ri!ht.they were in dee$ con%ersation with the security !uard, and all three of the men were starin! directly at their window. 6,hey'%e !ot an out(of(state license $late,6 she said &uietly. 6Either that, or it's some sort of official one. I can't &uite read it from this distance.6 5e tilted his head to stare at the !ray sedan, focusin! intently, and then ru""ed his nose a"sently. 6I thin it's !ot /re!on $lates,6 he said after a moment, mo%in! closer, his arm restin! a!ainst hers. 6I can )ust ma e them out....6 5e twitched his ele!ant nose, starin! at the "ac of the sedan. ,he e'$losion shattered the mornin! &uiet. ,he shoc of it noc ed Su#anna "ac a!ainst Daniel, and his hands came u$ to catch her, holdin! her a!ainst his hot, hard chest for a "reathless moment.

She couldn't mo%e. 5e was "urnin! u$, so hot his hands "urned throu!h the soft cotton )ersey of her ,(shirt, so hot that the smooth s in of his chest scorched her "ac , so hot that she melted a!ainst him, wantin! to sin into that heat, lose herself in the !lorious warmth of him. And then the !low of the fire down "elow $ulled her out of her momentary wea ness, and she )er ed herself away, uneasily aware of the fact she hadn't wanted to mo%e at all. If the touch of her "ody a!ainst his had distur"ed him e%en a fraction as much as it had distur"ed her, he didn't show it. 5e sim$ly leaned $ast her, loo in! out the window, a cool, calculatin! e'$ression on his face. 6Must "e another car "om",6 he murmured. "Another car "om":6 Su#anna shrie ed, thorou!hly rattled. 62hat are you tal in! a"out:6 6,he same thin! ha$$ened when I was wal in! home this mornin!. A car e'$loded.6 5e didn't seem unduly concerned "y it all. 6And you thin it's a coincidence:6 she demanded. 6No.6 5e loo ed down at her, and there was an unreada"le e'$ression in his dar , fire(lit eyes. 6I thin someone's tryin! to ill me.6 It was such a melodramatic statement, said in such a matter(of(fact tone, "ut Su#anna could hardly ar!ue with it. Not with the testimony of her own eyes. 6May"e I don't want to han! around, after all,6 she said uneasily. 6And miss your chance at the scoo$ of the century:6 he murmured. 6,hin of the fame and fortune.6 6I can't en)oy fame and fortune if I'm cau!ht in the crossfire.6 She wasn't seriously thin in! of wim$in! out. She'd ne%er "een a coward in her life, and she wasn't a"out to start now. ,em$tin! as the thou!ht mi!ht "e, she wasn't &uite ready to turn her "ac on Daniel Crom$ton, if for no other reason than her insatia"le curiosity. 67ou thin you can $rotect yourself:6 he as ed idly, mo%in! away from the window as the resultin! chaos of the fire lost his interest. 6Do you thin you can $rotect me:6 67ou're $ro"a"ly safer with me, e%en thou!h it ma es thin!s more difficult, as far as I'm concerned.6 5e shru!!ed. 6It's u$ to you, of course. It ma es no difference to me.6 ,he thou!ht ran led. Another man would want to $rotect her, "ut then, she'd ne%er "een one who needed $rotection. Still, the man mi!ht at least show a trace of concern for her well("ein!. 67ou aren't !ettin! rid of me that easily, Crom$ton,6 she said. 6I didn't li e !ettin! "athed in !reen slime any more than you did. I'd ind of li e to find out who was "ehind it.6 5e didn't mo%e for a moment. 6,hen let's !o,6 he said finally. 5e'd mana!ed to startle her. 68o where:6 6,o the scene of the crime, of course. If we want answers, Bee"e is the $lace to find

them.6 At least he'd ha%e to $ut on a shirt. She %iewed that $ros$ect with definite mi'ed feelin!s. 6I don't su$$ose you ha%e anythin! to eat in this $lace: I'm star%in!.6 6,here's some %e!amin in the refri!erator.6 62hat's that: It sounds li e "u! s$ray.6 5e'd disa$$eared into the "edroom, and she resisted the im$ulse to ti$toe after him and watch him !et dressed. 6It's a nutritional drin ,6 he said. 68i%es you all the nutrients, and you don't ha%e to "other with food.6 6Bother with food:6 she echoed, a!hast. 60ood is one of life's !reatest $leasures.6 6It's a waste of time,6 he said, rea$$earin! in the "edroom door. 5e was "uttonin! a cham"ray shirt o%er his lean, muscled chest, and he'd sho%ed his feet into a worn $air of hi!h to$s. 6As a matter of fact, I'%e "een told it tastes li e "u! s$ray.6 6I thin I'll $ass. ,here's a fast(food $lace on the way. I need coffee.6 6I don't su$$ose you ha%e a car.6 6It's out at Bee"e.6 6So is mine. I !uess we run.6 6Run:6 Su#anna echoed, horrified. 6Are you cra#y: Nothin! short of life or death would ma e me run. 7ou must "e some sort of health fanatic.6 6Not $articularly. Runnin! enlar!es the arteries, which is always "eneficial.6 6My arteries are )ust fine,6 she said firmly. 63et's call a ta'i.6 62e could wal .6 6,a'i,6 she re$eated. 6And we'll ha%e him sto$ on the way.6 DANIE3 5AD NE-ER REA3I>ED how !ood he'd "e at mani$ulation. ,he %ery stu""orn and sur$risin!ly luscious Su#anna Molloy had done e'actly as he wanted her to, with only the sli!htest "it of su"tle $roddin!. ,here was no way he was !oin! to let her out of his si!ht, "ut he new $erfectly well she'd fi!ht that unless she thou!ht it was her idea. It was sim$le enou!h to dan!le his coo$eration in front of those myo$ic "rown eyes. ,he fact of the matter was, he was intent on ee$in! her with him, for a num"er of reasons. 0or one thin!, she'd "een in the same e'$losion Fhe'd "een in, an e'$losion that seemed to raise his "ody tem$erature and !i%e him the uncanny a"ility to disa$$ear. 5e didn't now what else he could do, "ut he sus$ected his stran!e side effects weren't at an end. 5e wanted to see if she was similarly affected. ,here was always the chance she was "ehind that e'$losion in the la", thou!h he dou"ted it. 5e laid the "lame s&uarely at 5enry /s"orn's door, and he hadn't missed Su#anna's s&uirm of discomfort when he "rou!ht u$ his name. Somethin! had ha$$ened "etween them, and Daniel intended to find out what. 5e also meant to find out who his enemies were, and who were his friends. And then, of course, there was the little matter of sheer, un"ridled lust. Ms. Su#anna Molloy ha$$ened to ha%e the uncanny a"ility to $ush all the ri!ht "uttons. 5e wasn't used to "ein! at the mercy of his $hysical nature. 5e dran %e!amin to fuel his "ody, ran to

ee$ his ener!y at $ea , "ut in !eneral he e$t his a$$etites under ri!id control. Molloy endan!ered that control. If he had any sense he'd ee$ away from her, "ut he wasn't feelin! $articularly sensi"le. 5e was feelin! ad%enturous, ed!y and hot. And that heat was directed at Su#anna Molloy.

Chapter Five
A cou$le of hours later, Daniel was still distracted "y the woman. 5e had to admit it .Su#anna Molloy fascinated him. It was a no%el situation. ,here was little that interested him outside of his wor , "ut he was findin! the "undle of contradictions that had $ic ed the loc to his a$artment to "e downri!ht mesmeri#in!. Enou!h so that he was almost ready to i!nore the &uestion of who or what was "ehind the sa"ota!e at Bee"e. 5owe%er, e%en if he wanted to i!nore it and concentrate on Molloy, he dou"ted whether she'd ha%e any $art of it. She seemed to ha%e her own a!enda, and she didn't stri e him as the sort who'd let anythin! !et in her way. Daniel Crom$ton wasn't the sort of man who followed anythin! "ut his own inclination. 0ortunately, ri!ht now his inclination followed &uite closely with Su#anna's. 5e was more than willin! to !i%e in to her wishes, as lon! as they do%etailed with his. She sat as far away from him as she could in the "ac of the ca", a foam cu$ of coffee in one ca$a"le(loo in! hand, some dis!ustin! "rea fast concoction in the other. It smelled li e e!!s and sausa!e and !rease, and she was eatin! it with o"%ious relish. 5e'd !i%en her the a$$ro'imate cholesterol count when she'd first unwra$$ed it, "ut her succinct re$ly had mana!ed to shoc him into silence, e%en as it amused him. Clearly Ms. Molloy fancied herself one tou!h lady, from the ti$s of her "lac leather runnin! shoes to the to$ of her sil y strai!ht hair. ,oo "ad that the faintly yearnin! e'$ression in her wonderful eyes "etrayed her. ,oo "ad her mouth was deliciously %ulnera"le when it wasn't curled in hostility. She didn't li e him, he new that much. But he was also &uite certain he could chan!e her mind, if he set himself to do so. ,he &uestion was, why was he e%en considerin! such a thin!: 5e leaned "ac in the corner of the ca", inhalin! the aroma of coffee and !rease and old ci!arettes, and he smiled faintly. 5is "eha%ior was com$letely uncharacteristic, a fact which distur"ed him only sli!htly. 5e'd "ecome too $redicta"le in the last few years. 5e was more than ready to chan!e his ways, and Su#anna Molloy offered him the $erfect means to do )ust that. 62hy are you loo in! at me li e that:6 she demanded, delicately lic in! the !rease off her fin!ers li e an ele!ant cat. 63i e what:6 67ou're smir in! at me,6 she said. 6I don't trust men who smir .6 She had a trace of shinin! !rease on the side of her mouth. 5e felt the sudden, irrational ur!e to iss her there, to taste it. 5ow %ery odd. 6I'm not smir in!,6 he said with an attem$t at se%erity. 6I'm sim$ly smilin!. 7ou amuse me.6 67ou're easily amused.6 As the ta'i a$$roached the front entrance to Bee"e Control

Systems International, she leaned forward and s&uinted throu!h her wire(rimmed !lasses. 62here's my car:6 she demanded sus$iciously. ,he $ar in! lot was $ractically em$ty, which was to "e e'$ected on a Saturday mornin!. 0or some reason the researchers at Bee"e weren't encoura!ed to wor on wee ends. 62here did you lea%e it:6 5e leaned forward and handed a ten(dollar "ill to the lon!(sufferin! dri%er. 6Not far away from that ridiculous car,6 she said, clam"erin! out of the ta'i and starin! around her in dismay. It was only a little after nine, and Daniel could see the faint mist risin! from the surroundin! fields. It was a cool mornin!, and he still felt hot. 62hich ridiculous car:6 he as ed e%enly. 67ou mean the 0errari:6 6Is that what it is: I wouldn't ha%e thou!ht anyone wor in! here could afford such a thin!. I can't ima!ine s$endin! that much on somethin! to dri%e you to wor .6 6I can.6 She turned to loo at him, an arrested e'$ression on her face. 6,hat's your car:6 6It is. I ha$$en to li e craftsmanshi$.6 5e was half e'$ectin! another snotty comment from her. Instead, she merely loo ed at him, considerin!. 6Isn't it a little small for you: 7ou must ha%e to dri%e lyin! down.6 6I can do any num"er of thin!s lyin! down,6 he said, ee$in! his face a $erfect "lan . Sus$icion dar ened her wonderful eyes for a moment, then she clearly dismissed it, una"le to "elie%e he would "e indul!in! in e%en the faintest innuendo. /"%iously she didn't thin him ca$a"le of su!!esti%e remar s. 5e was ca$a"le of a !reat deal more than that, when so mo%ed, and Su#anna Molloy mo%ed him, more than anyone in his recent memory. 6I want to now where my car is,6 she said. 6/s"orn $ro"a"ly had it towed.6 6I'll ill him.6 6Bloodthirsty, aren't you: 2hat ind of car did you ha%e: Some yu$$ie(mo"ile:6 6Not li ely. It's an old wrec that "arely runs.6 6,hen sto$ whinin!. If /s"orn illed it he'll ha%e to re$lace it, and Bee"e seems to ha%e unlimited money. 7ou $lay your cards ri!ht and you mi!ht end u$ with a 0errari yourself.6 5e watched with fascination as she ru""ed a surre$titious hand across her "reast. 5e would ha%e "een more than ha$$y to do the same, a fact which still sur$rised him. ,he heat was risin! in his "ody, and he reached u$ and unfastened another "utton of his cham"ray shirt. 6I don't want a 0errari, and I'm not the ind of re$orter who ta es "ri"es, Dr. Crom$ton,6 she said se%erely. 6I want my own car, and I'm not whinin!.6 68lad to hear it. I'm !oin! in to chec on the la". If you want to ee$ har$in!, feel free to stay here. ,hat, or you can come with me.6

She was torn, he could see it. 5e irritated the hell out of her, thou!h he e'$ected that wasn't a difficult tas . Anyone who wore a shirt that said Eat Buiche and Die had to ha%e an attitude $ro"lem. ,hat was somethin! that didn't "other him in the sli!htest. 5e was !enerally considered to "e socially im$aired, thou!h he felt his own $articular "rand of charm was underrated. 5e had yet to e'ert it on Su#anna, and he couldn't hel$ "ut wonder what her reaction mi!ht "e. She'd $ro"a"ly offer him &uiche. 6I'm comin! with you,6 she said. 62e can worry a"out my car later.6 6I new you were a sensi"le woman.6 N/2 257 DIDN', S5E 3I*E the idea of Daniel Crom$ton considerin! her a sensi"le woman: ,he fact that he res$ected her "rain, not her "ody, was a "lessin!, wasn't it: E%en if she ha$$ened to find him distractin!ly attracti%e. 5is "lue shirt was un"uttoned halfway down his chest, a fact which irritated her. 2ho did he thin he was. some loun!e li#ard: All he needed was a cou$le of !old chains to com$lete the loo . E'ce$t that he was far too lean and mean to "e a loun!e li#ard. ,hat "ristlin! intelli!ence shone in his dar , mesmeri#in! eyes, twisted his cynical mouth, and his &uic , decisi%e ener!y wouldn't now the meanin! of the word lounge. She )ust wished he'd "utton u$ his damned shirt. +ust as she wished she had a sweater. She'd "een cold since she left the hos$ital, and she should ha%e as ed the man for somethin! warmer to wear. /nly the fact that she didn't want to wra$ herself in any of his clothin! had sto$$ed her. 5e distur"ed her, and she wasn't &uite sure why. ,o "e sure, he was annoyin!ly handsome. Condescendin!, im$atient, "rilliant, arro!ant. ,here were any num"er of reasons why she didn't $articularly li e him. 2hat she couldn't fi!ure out was why he mana!ed to !et to her. She was used to "rilliant men, im$atient men, and 8od nows the %ast ma)ority of them tended to "e arro!ant and condescendin!. It made no sense that she reacted so stron!ly to Daniel Crom$ton, and had since she'd first seen him, at a Bee"e $ress conference months a!o. If it hadn't "een for =ncle -innie's inside ti$, she would ha%e "een more than ha$$y to ee$ her distance from the man. She didn't li e feelin! %ulnera"le. She could feel the heat emanatin! from his "ody. Stran!e, that. It was a cool day, and yet he was wal in! around, half(undressed, warmth radiatin! from his s in, and he wasn't e%en sweatin!. She mi!ht almost ha%e thou!ht he had a fe%er, e'ce$t the man seemed dis!ustin!ly healthy. May"e he new the effect he had on her, the irrational attraction that was $uttin! her in such a towerin!ly "ad mood. She wouldn't $ut it $ast him. She had only one way to defend herself. *ee$ as "ristly as $ossi"le. She mi!ht find the man luscious, "ut that didn't mean she had to "etray herself. She followed Crom$ton into the anonymous white "uildin!, ee$in! her head down. E%en on a Saturday mornin! with an em$ty $ar in! lot, the security des was well

manned. She didn't reco!ni#e the uniformed !uard. 7esterday it had "een an elderly man. ,oday it loo ed li e a 8reen Beret. Crom$ton didn't e%en "other to slow his headlon! $ace. 5e $ut one of those stron!, ele!ant hands under Su#anna's el"ow, and she almost screamed, "itin! down on her li$ to sto$ her shrie . 5is flesh was "urnin! hot a!ainst her own chilled s in, and it too all her self(control not to )er away from him. 6Dr. Crom$ton,6 the !uard !rowled. 6No %isitors are allowed on the $remises today.6 Daniel e$t mo%in!. 6,his isn't a %isitor.6 6I'm sorry, sir, "ut she doesn't ha%e security clearance.6 ,hey were already at the ele%ator. 6/f course she does,6 Crom$ton sna$$ed. 6Do you thin I'd "rin! someone in who'd com$romise my wor : 2hat ind of fool do you thin I am:6 ,he 8reen Beret was made of sterner stuff, and he didn't &uail in the face of Crom$ton's "itin! contem$t. 6Sir, I'm !oin! to ha%e to as you to come "ac while I !et clearance for your friendGGG6 ,he ele%ator door swished o$en. 67ou !et clearance,6 Daniel said. 62e'll sto$ on our way "ac .6 5e hauled Su#anna into the ele%ator, $unched the "uttons, and a moment later the doors closed and the tiny "o' "e!an to rise. Su#anna did not li e enclosed s$aces. She'd used the stairs yesterday, ostensi"ly "ecause she was less li ely to "e cau!ht, "ut really "ecause she ne%er trusted ele%ators. ,he ca!e "e!an to rise smoothly, and then it )er ed to a halt, throwin! Su#anna "ac a!ainst the smooth metal walls. 6Damn,6 Crom$ton muttered. Su#anna mana!ed a strained smile, ho$in! she could fool him. 62hat ha$$ened:6 6I'd thin it was o"%ious. ,he security !uard sto$$ed the ele%ator.6 6Between floors:6 She couldn't ee$ the hollow note out of her %oice. Daniel was "usy $ushin! the %arious floor "uttons, all to no a%ail. 6Not for lon!. 5e'll $ro"a"ly try to "rin! us "ac down.6 ,han 8od, Su#anna thou!ht de%outly. 65owe%er, I intend to sto$ him.6 5e sho%ed o$en the metal door a"o%e the "uttons and reached in, comin! out with a handful of multicolor wires. 62hat do you thin you're doin!:6 ,hey'd already started to descend once more, somethin! she could only %iew with relief. 6I'm sto$$in! him.6 5e yan ed, hard, and the ele%ator sto$$ed once more. ,he li!hts flic ered, and then the tiny ca!e was $lun!ed into claustro$ho"ic dar ness. She thou!ht she did scream then, thou!h in the tiny airless cu"icle it came out as nothin! more than a hel$less whim$er. It was $itch("lac , airless, smotherin!, and the heat was suddenly intolera"le, an inferno, emanatin! from Daniel Crom$ton's dan!erously "eautiful "ody. 6Su#anna.6 5is %oice was dee$, cool and infinitely $atient, and she reali#ed distantly

that it wasn't the first time he'd said her name. She had "ac ed u$ a!ainst the walls of the ele%ator, "ut e%en the coolness of the metal a!ainst her s$layed hands couldn't calm her. 6,he emer!ency li!ht,6 she mana!ed to cho e out. 6Doesn't seem to "e wor in!.6 A!ain that cool, soothin! tone. 6Are you afraid of the dar :6 It was so cold in there, cold and hot at the same time, li e "urnin! ice. She $ushed herself harder a!ainst the unyieldin! walls, wishin! she could )ust disa$$ear. 6No,6 she said, tryin! to sound hostile, nowin! that she sounded scared. 5e'd crossed the %ast, dead s$ace of the $itch("lac ele%ator, and he was standin! close, %ery close. 0or the first time she didn't find it threatenin!. ,he dan!er from the suffocatin! dar ness was far worse than the dan!er from one distractin!ly attracti%e man. 6Claustro$ho"ic:6 he murmured a!ain, coa'in!, soothin!. 6No,6 she said, furious that her %oice wa%ered. 6I )()()ust don't C(C(C(li e ele%ators.6 ,he touch of his hand on her arm was tentati%e, !entle, accustomin! her to his $resence rather than !ra""in! her out of the dar ness li e a fiend from hell. She could feel the heat in his fin!ers, and e%en in the dar ness she could see them.lon!, ele!ant, stained with com$ounds, mar ed with nic s and scars from lon!(a!o e'$eriments. She wanted those hands on her, holdin! her a!ainst the smotherin! dar ness. She needed those hands on her. 2hen he $ulled her into his arms she didn't e%en $retend to resist, )ust closed off her "rain, with all its dou"ts and an!er, all its warnin!s. She san a!ainst Daniel Crom$ton's fiery "ody, a"sor"in! the heat, and shut her eyes, as his hand cu$$ed the "ac of her head and $ushed her face a!ainst his shoulder, !ently, $rotecti%ely. A tiny mutinous $art of her cried out that she didn't need $rotectin!. But that $art was &uic ly silenced, as she a"sor"ed his heat, his stren!th and his comfort. As her $anic ed heart"eat "e!an to slow, the icy chill of fear left her, and she was a"le to "reathe once more. 5e seemed to now moments "efore she did that she needed to $ull away. 2hen he released her, the dar ness slammed a"out her once more, "ut this time she could co$e. She too a dee$ "reath, willin! the $anic to retreat. 6Better now:6 5is %oice was infinitely $ra!matic, as if holdin! her in his arms was a common$lace occurrence. 60ine,6 she said, wishin! she could ha%e $ut a little more ed!e into her %oice. ,hou!h she sus$ected, e%en in the dar ness, that she couldn't fool him. 6Can we !et the hell out of here:6 6Certainly.6 She heard a rustlin! in the dar ness, a muffled, shiftin! noise that made her want to scream. A moment later a s&uare of $ale li!ht a$$eared in the ceilin!, and she could see Crom$ton's %a!ue outline. 67ou first,6 he said. 6=nless you're afraid of hei!hts, as well.6 6I'm not afraid of anythin!,6 she shot "ac , an o"%ious lie. 62hat do you mean, me first:6

6If you want to !et out of this ele%ator, there's only one way, and that's u$.6 6I'm not a"out to.6 6It's u$,6 he said ruthlessly, 6or stay here for what will $ro"a"ly "e another two hours. And you'll do it alone. I'm out of here.6 67ou now what I li e a"out you, Dr. Crom$ton:6 she as ed in a sil en %oice that almost mas ed her $anic. 6No, what:6 6A"solutely nothin!.6 As a matter of fact, she wasn't $articularly cra#y a"out hei!hts. She was e%en less fond of clim"in! u$ward throu!h a narrow, constricted tu"e, a"o%e an o")ect that mi!ht suddenly start mo%in! and end u$ s&uashin! her a!ainst the ceilin! of the "uildin! li e a fat "u!. But she wasn't a"out to s$end a minute lon!er in that ele%ator than she had to. 4articularly not alone. 68et me out of here, Crom$ton,6 she muttered, mo%in! toward him, $er%ersely !lad that the dar ness hid the e'$ression on her face. 6=$ you !o,6 he said, $uttin! his "i!, hot hands on her waist and hoistin! her u$ward with a total effortlessness that )ust mana!ed to !et throu!h her fear enou!h to astonish her. She reached out instincti%ely as he $ushed her throu!h the o$enin!, his hands slidin! down her hi$s to cu$ her rear "efore she mana!ed to !ra" hold of somethin! and scram"le out of his way. A moment later he'd %aulted u$ "eside her, and in the im$ro%ed li!ht she could see his eyes !leamin! in the shadows. 6,hat was easy enou!h.6 6,oo easy, Crom$ton. I wei!h a hundred and thirty(se%en $ounds.6 6,hat's not my fault, Molloy. 7ou eat too much !rease.6 It would "e a waste of time to hit him. She could at least wait until he'd !otten her out of this $lace. 6I mean you don't seem the sli!htest "it strained.6 6I'm used to liftin! wei!hts.6 ,he hell with waitin!, she was !oin! to hit him. 62e're not tal in! a"out a male( dominated distortion of aesthetics, Dr. Crom$ton,6 she said icily. 62e're tal in! a"out.6 62hy are we wastin! our time tal in!: I thou!ht you wanted to !et out of here.6 6I do.6 6,hen sto$ com$lainin! a"out your wei!ht and follow me.6 She s$ent a moment fondly contem$latin! his immediate demise, when li!ht "e!an to stream into the ele%ator shaft. It too her a moment to reali#e he'd reached o%er his head and was $ryin! o$en the doors to the ne't floor. 2ell, may"e she wouldn't ill him after all. +ust hurt him %ery "adly. 6Clim" u$,6 he offered.

6I'll need a hand.6 6,he doors will close a!ain.6 6I can $ry them o$en. I may not lift wei!hts, "ut I'm far from a wea woman.6 6I ne%er made the mista e of assumin! you were wea . Ne%ertheless, you wouldn't "e a"le to o$en them yourself. Clim" u$.6 6But how...:6 6=se my "ody,6 he said "landly. ,he su!!estion was startlin!, until she reali#ed what he meant. 6I don't now...6 63isten, I want to !et out of here as much as you do, and I'd li e to do it "efore they !et someone in here who can o%erride the system and ma e this thin! start u$ a!ain. Now mo%e your "utt, Molloy, or I'll mo%e it for you.6 She'd hurt him with a !reat deal of $ain, she thou!ht fondly, reachin! out to touch him. 5e was hot, somethin! which didn't sur$rise her. ,he odd thin! was, his clothes were cool to the touch. She could feel the tension in his muscles. It was an unner%in! e'$erience, "ut as far as she could see, she really had no choice. 6All ri!ht,6 she said in a ti!ht little %oice. 65ow do you e'$ect me to do this:6 68ra" hold of my shoulders and start clim"in!.6 5e hadn't tied his hair "ac , and it "rushed a!ainst her fin!ers as she settled them on his shoulders, the cool cham"ray "eneath her hands. 5e was holdin! %ery still, ee$in! the doors o$en, his arms directly o%erhead. 6I don't thin this is !oin! to wor ,6 she said, "itin! her li$. 6,hin how much fun you're !oin! to ha%e, stom$in! all o%er me. =se your feet, Molloy.6 She "raced one snea ered foot a!ainst his le!, her fin!ers di!!in! into the "unched( u$ shoulder muscles, and tried to hoist herself u$. 5er nee slammed into his stomach, her foot came $erilously close to his !roin, and the feel of his iron(hard "ody "eneath hers was incredi"ly distractin!. 5e was wearin! a wide leather "elt, and she mana!ed to rest her foot a!ainst it, $ushin! herself u$ward. 5er stomach was face le%el, and she could feel the warmth of his "reath a!ainst the #i$$er of her )eans. 5er foot sli$$ed, and she fell a!ainst him, his face "uried in her crotch. It didn't ta e his muffled lau!hter to send her flyin! u$ward throu!h the $ried(o$en doors, "elly(flo$$in! onto the car$et. She scram"led out of the way, rollin! o%er in time to see him follow her, )ust as the door slammed shut "ehind him. ,he $ower was out in the hall, as well, "ut the midday sun mana!ed to send s&uares of li!ht into the corridor, and Su#anna san "ac , drin in! in the diffuse "ri!htness of the day and the "lessed feel of the floor "eneath her. 62as that, "y any chance, a $ass, Molloy:6 he in&uired. 68o to hell, Dr. Crom$ton,6 she said, $ullin! herself u$ri!ht. 5e was standin! there

in the shadowed hallway, tall, su$erior, a !leam of moc in! humor in his dar eyes. Now was the time to ill him. 63et's !et mo%in!,6 he said, reachin! out a hand. 62e $ro"a"ly won't ha%e much time "efore Bee"e's $ri%ate army arri%es.6 She loo ed u$ at him. 5is shirt had come un"uttoned, $ulled out of his )eans, and she remem"ered the feel of his s in "eneath her clutchin! hands. 6May"e I'll wait to ill you,6 she muttered, $uttin! her hand in his outstretched one. 5is was much lar!er. It closed around hers, warm and stron!, and he $ulled her to her feet. 6,hat mi!ht "e wise,6 he murmured. 6Not much farther, Nancy Drew. Come on.6 And he left her to race after him down the hallway, once she'd !otten o%er her initial shoc .

Chapter Six
,his situation was !ettin! more and more interestin!, Daniel thou!ht, mo%in! down the dar ened hallway at a "ris $ace. Des$ite his on!oin! fascination with his research $ro)ect, he found he'd !otten into a rut recently. Certainly the last twenty(four hours had $ro%ided enou!h no%elty to ee$ him entertained for the ne't twenty(four years. 5e was immensely stron!. It had ta en %ery little effort to $ry o$en those $neumatic doors, %ery little to send Su#anna's well(rounded fi!ure u$ and o%er the $ortal and into the hall. 3e%erin! himself after her had also "een sur$risin!ly sim$le. 5e wished he had a moment to e'$eriment further, "ut he wasn't a"out to do that with an audience. 5e wanted to ee$ Su#anna with him, "ut he wasn't &uite ready to share what was !oin! on with his "ody. 0ortunately she seemed willin! to accom$any him, thou!h he didn't ha%e any illusions a"out her moti%es. She wanted the truth. She wanted a story, a scoo$, and she'd "etray him in a flash if she had to. 5e had no intention of !i%in! her the chance. 5e o$ened the fire door to the staircase. 6,hin you can handle this:6 he as ed. 6,he emer!ency li!hts are out here, as well.6 62hen you $ull the $lu! you don't settle for halfway measures, do you:6 she said. 6I can do it.6 She mo%ed $ast him, into the en%elo$in! dar ness of the hallway, and as her "ody "rushed "y he could smell the faint trace of soa$ that clun! to her. It was sur$risin!ly erotic. 5e let the door swin! shut "ehind him, followin! her u$ the stairs in the in y dar ness. 5e could see her &uite clearly, hear her stru!!le to control her ner%ous "reathin! as she clim"ed, slowly, steadily, her hand clutchin! the metal stair rail. 67ou're there, aren't you:6 she called out, her %oice "etrayin! only a trace of her ner%es. 6Ri!ht "ehind you,6 he said, wonderin! why she couldn't see him when he could see her &uite clearly. She'd $aused, and she was starin! in his direction in the dar ness, "ut her own !a#e was unfocused. 67our eyes...6 she said.

Instincti%ely he closed his lids. 62hat a"out them:6 6Nothin!,6 she mum"led. 6Must ha%e "een my ima!ination.6 5e heard her turn away and continue to mount the stairs, and he waited a moment "efore he followed her. 2hat had she seen in his eyes: ,he third floor smelled of smo e and chemicals. ,he hallway was deserted, thou!h at the far end he could see the ru""le that had once "een his doorway. A yellow ta$e stretched in front of it, thou!h Daniel dou"ted that there'd "een a $olice in%esti!ation. Su#anna's color was decidedly $ale, thou!h she loo ed ha$$ier to "e out of the dar ness. 65ow much time do you thin we'%e !ot:6 64ro"a"ly not enou!h,6 he said, mo%in! $ast her. 6I )ust want to ta e a &uic loo around, see if I can find out what ind of de%ice they used, and then we're out of here.6 6De%ice: 7ou sound $retty certain it was sa"ota!e.6 5e !lanced at her, one $art of his mind ta in! in the way the ,(shirt clun! to her "reasts and remem"erin! the feel of her "ody as she'd scram"led u$ him, the rest "ein! coldly analytical. 6I don't ma e mista es,6 he said sim$ly. 6Ne%er:6 5e $aused lon! enou!h to consider it. 6Not that I can remem"er.6 ,he la" was a sham"les. It stan of chemicals, of smo e, of fire e'tin!uisher foam and wet, charred wood and melted $lastic. Most of the !reen slime had "een washed away "y the fire hoses, "ut a little $ool of the stuff remained under one of the wor "enches, and he s&uatted down, starin! at it for a lon! time "efore he scoo$ed some u$ in a $lastic dish he'd "rou!ht alon! for the $ur$ose. 62hy are you doin! that:6 Su#anna was leanin! o%er his shoulder, close enou!h to touch him. 6Do you thin that stuff caused the e'$losion:6 6No.6 5e rose, comin! u$ "eside her, near enou!h to touch her if he wanted to. 5e wanted to. 6I thin it's a "y($roduct of what I was wor in! on, com"ined with whate%er was used to start the fire. It's mutated into somethin! that I intend to identify.6 5e tuc ed the $lastic dish in his hi$ $oc et. 6Did you !et any of the stuff on you:6 6+ust a little. 7ou too a "ath in it.6 6So I did,6 he murmured. 6I wonder.6 5e sto$$ed. 6,hey're comin!.6 6I don't hear anythin!.6 6Don't you: ,hey're comin! u$ the north stairwell. a"out two fli!hts down. I'd say we ha%e a"out one minute at the most.6 67ou can't hear them that far away96 she sna$$ed, "ut he could see the definite alarm in her "eautiful "rown eyes. 6,rust me,6 he muttered, ta in! her hand in his and startin! out of the ruined la" at a run. 0or once she didn't ar!ue. She sim$ly followed him, no &uestions as ed, as he dod!ed de"ris, racin! down the deserted hallway on silent feet. 5e darted into Buchanan's la", slammin! the door "ehind them and closin! them in

shadowy dar ness. Buchanan had left se%eral months a!o, and the la" had sat em$ty since then, des$ite Daniel's "est efforts to co(o$t it for his own uses. Not that it was as lar!e as Daniel's la", "ut it came e&ui$$ed with a "ac staircase, leadin! directly to the roof. 62here are we !oin!:6 Su#anna finally demanded, "reathless. 62hy are we runnin!: 7ou don't thin we're in any real dan!er, do you:6 5e thou!ht there was a !ood chance that they were in a !reat deal of dan!er, "ut he wasn't a"out to e'$lain it to a nosy re$orter. 6I don't now. I )ust want to !et out of here. Call me $aranoid.6 67ou're $aranoid.6 5e turned to loo at her. 67ou want to wait around for them to come find you:6 6I ha%e a ,(shirt that says +ust Because 7ou're 4aranoid Doesn't Mean ,hey Aren't /ut ,o 8et 7ou,6 she re$lied. 68ood !irl,6 he muttered, mo%in! toward the door at the "ac of the la". 6Don't call me a !irl,6 she sna$$ed, mo%in! $ast him and reachin! for the metal door no". /f course it didn't "ud!e, and she yan ed harder, mutterin! under her "reath. 6I don't su$$ose you ha%e a ey for this:6 6No.6 6,hen we're stuc .6 She turned and !lared at him, her wheat("lond hair tum"lin! into her eyes. 6,hat's a safety door.reinforced steel. =nless you can $ic loc s, there's no way we're !oin! to !et $ast it. Brute force )ust won't cut it this time.6 6I wonder,6 he said, half to himself, mo%in! $ast her, i!norin! the im$ractical ur!e to touch her. 5e too hold of the shiny steel no", notin! the loc . And then he turned it, crushin! the tum"lers when they tried to resist, $ullin! o$en the door with no effort whatsoe%er. She stared at him for a moment, then "ac at the door latch. ,he metal wor in!s had "een $ul%eri#ed "y some massi%e force. 65ow did you do that:6 she !as$ed. 6Shoddy wor manshi$,6 he re$lied. 67ou first. ,hree fli!hts u$, and if the door's loc ed u$ there, we'll o$en it.6 5er $artin! !lance was wary, "efore she %anished into the shadowy staircase. Daniel watched her for a moment, a$$reciatin! the cur%e of her rear in the faded )eans, "efore he turned to loo at the door. 5is stren!th was &uite im$ressi%e. 5e really needed to !et out of here, away from witnesses, and e'$eriment further. ,here had to "e a limit to it, and he needed to find that limit. 5e didn't want to accidently in)ure someone. 5e ste$$ed into the narrow staircase, $ullin! the dama!ed door shut "ehind him, ho$in! it would esca$e detection, at least for the time "ein!. 5e could hear Su#anna mo%in! u$ward, her snea ered feet cautious. She was ner%ous a!ain, the dar ness of the $assa!eway !ettin! to her, and he told himself he ou!ht to catch u$ with her, hold her hand, e%en $ut his arm around her. +ust to reassure her, he told himself %irtuously. 5ell, !i%en his un$redicta"le stren!th, he could carry her the rest of the way and "arely notice the "urden. 5e rather li ed that idea.

,here was an odd, sic ly sweet smell in the stairwell, not unli e rancid meat and rotted fruit. ,he hi!her he clim"ed, the stron!er the stench, and he wondered what Su#anna was doin!, why he could no lon!er hear her tentati%e footste$s, her ner%ous "reathin!, why she wasn't com$lainin!. 5e found her on the landin! )ust "efore the final fli!ht of stairs to the roof. She wasn't alone. She was standin! utterly motionless. ,he s yli!ht o%erhead illuminated the area, "ut Daniel dou"ted she was !rateful for the li!ht. It shone down on the cor$se of Ro"ert +ac son. 6Is he dead:6 Su#anna's %oice came out as no more than a whis$er. Daniel ste$$ed farther, intellectually !ratified at ha%in! identified the stench. 6Most definitely,6 he said. 6Don't you see the "ullet hole in his.6 64lease96 Su#anna "e!!ed in a stran!led %oice. 62hy don't you !o on u$ ahead: I'll "e ri!ht with you.6 62hat are you !oin! to do:6 6Search his "ody. 7ou want to hel$:6 She disa$$eared u$ the final fli!ht of stairs with a &uiet shrie of $rotest. 2hen he reached her side a few moments later, she was leanin! a!ainst the loc ed fire door, her hand o%er her mouth, her eyes wide "ehind the wire(rimmed !lasses. 6Are you !oin! to throw u$:6 5e was unalarmed at the notion, sim$ly curious. 6No.6 She too a dee$, shudderin! "reath. 6Can we !et out of here: ,his door is loc ed, as well, and I'%e chec ed. It's %ery solidly $ut to!ether.6 67ou'd "e sur$rised.6 5e tem$ered his stren!th this time, turnin! the no" )ust enou!h to "rea the loc , not enou!h to $ul%eri#e it. 5e o$ened the door for her, $ushin! her throu!h into the fresh air "efore she could loo too closely. 5e started across the deserted roofto$ at a fast $ace. 6Come on,6 he said. 6If our luc holds, we'll "e out of here "efore they reali#e it.6 6And if it doesn't:6 62e mi!ht end u$ li e +ac son "ac there.6 2ron! words. She swayed for a moment, and her $ale face loo ed e%en chal ier. 5e started "ac , ready to catch her if she fell, "ut she mana!ed to strai!hten her "ac and s&uare her shoulders. 6Not if I ha%e anythin! to say a"out it,6 she muttered. 68ood !irl.6 6Sto$ sayin! that. I'm not a !irl.6 6Ar!ue with me once we're out of here,6 he said. 6In the meantime, !et your delecta"le "utt in !ear.6 S=>ANNA 2/=3DN', 5A-E thou!ht Daniel Crom$ton was the sort of man who noticed "utts, delecta"le or otherwise. No one had e%er referred to that $art of her anatomy in such flatterin! terms, and she concentrated on that, rather than the %ision, the

smell, of the dead man in the stairwell, as she followed Crom$ton o%er the side of the "uildin! and down a metal fire ladder to a deserted $ar in! lot. /r almost deserted. ,here was a +a!uar $ar ed there, slee , forest !reen and Su#anna's dream car, and she stared at it for a moment when she reached the !round, a wa%e of co%etousness swee$in! o%er her. 6If we're !oin! to steal a car, I o$t for that one,6 she said. Crom$ton loo ed at her. ,he man was inhuman. 5e seemed to acce$t decayin! cor$ses as nothin! more than an intellectual e'ercise, he didn't reco!ni#e such a thin! as a loc ed door, and she was "e!innin! to !et the feelin! that there was somethin! %ery different a"out Dr. Daniel Crom$ton. ,hat first stretch of hallway had "een eerie enou!h. ,ra$$ed in the suffocatin! dar ness, she'd turned "ac , loo in! for some ind of com$anionshi$, and had found only a $air of eyes !lowin! in the dar ness. It had to ha%e "een her ima!ination. In the in y dar ness she could "arely see his silhouette, and that odd shinin! had disa$$eared in a moment. Still, she'd tried "oth of those steel doors. 2hile she'd ne%er $retended to "e a su$erwoman, she had a certain amount of stren!th, and those doors were loc ed ti!ht. 7et Crom$ton had o$ened them with no %isi"le effort whatsoe%er. 62ho says we're stealin! a car:6 6I don't now where mine is, and they'll "e watchin! yours,6 she $ointed out. 6It doesn't ta e someone with your e'alted IB to fi!ure out that much.6 6,hat +a!uar "elon!s to 5enry /s"orn, and he's formida"le enou!h without us ta in! his $recious car. 2e're ta in! the 0ord o%er there.6 Su#anna followed his !a#e. It was a "orin! enou!h %ehicle, two door, late model, indiscriminate color. ,hey'd $ro"a"ly "lend in well enou!h, if that was their wish. 6I'd still rather ha%e the +a!,6 she said, trottin! alon! "ehind him. /f course the car was loc ed. She stood at the $assen!er door, throwin! him a moc in! !lance. 6Are you !oin! to ri$ the door off the hin!es this time:6 she murmured. 6It mi!ht "e easier to sim$ly unloc it,6 he said, $ullin! a set of eys from his $oc et and doin! so. She slid into the front seat "eside him, rollin! down her window to let some of the suffocatin!ly stale air out, as Crom$ton started the car and $ulled out of the $ar in! lot at an im$ressi%e s$eed. E%en with the wind "lowin! throu!h the o$en window it was too hot. It too her a moment to remem"er she was ee$in! com$any with a human furnace. 6If this isn't your car, whose is it: 5ow'd you ha$$en to !et the eys:6 she demanded, fastenin! the seat "elt around her. 6I don't thin you want to now.6 5orror swe$t o%er her. 6It isn't96 Daniel shru!!ed. 6+ac son isn't !oin! to need it anymore. It was sim$le enou!h to find his eys.6 She loo ed down at the set han!in! from the i!nition. ,he ey rin! had a shamroc han!in! from it. It certainly hadn't $ro%ided much luc for the late +ac son. 67ou're sic ,6

she said, sin in! "ac a!ainst the seat. 6+ust $ractical. S$ea in! of which, I thin we'd "etter !et out of town for a while.6 62hy:6 6Because this isn't )ust a case of industrial sa"ota!e or attem$ted murder. Someone actually mana!ed to ill +ac son, and whoe%er it was used a fair amount of detail and ima!ination. I don't thin they're !oin! to sto$ there. 2here do you li%e:6 62hy:6 6I thou!ht you mi!ht want to $ic u$ some clothes. Assumin! they're not watchin! your $lace.6 62hat ma es you thin I'm !oin! with you:6 6Molloy, you'%e !ot it made. 7ou're in on a murder. ,hin of the "iddin! wars on your mo%ie ri!hts.6 6Sorry, Crom$ton, you ha%en't !ot hero $otential,6 she sna$$ed, i!norin! the fact that he was "etter(loo in! than almost any actor she could thin of. 62ho says I'm not the %illain:6 ,hat mana!ed to silence her. It was a startlin! thou!ht. She'd !one alon! with him, ar!uin!, "ut trustin!, $uttin! her life in his hands. ,o!ether they'd found +ac son's "ody, and yet Daniel had loo ed at it as if it were nothin! more than a la" e'$eriment !one awry. Could he ha%e illed him: Did he find out that +ac son had tried to sa"ota!e his la", and shoot him in a ra!e: She !lanced o%er at his $rofile. 5is lon! hair "lew in the wind, away from his stron!(featured face. 5e loo ed cool, remote, inca$a"le of human emotion. If he e%er wanted to ill someone, he was smart enou!h to !et away with it. 6?H 2est 4eacoc .6 5e !lanced o%er at her. 6I "e! your $ardon:6 67ou as ed where I li%ed. It's ?H 2est 4eacoc . +ust off of 5i!h Street.6 6Does that mean you're comin! with me:6 6As you $ointed out, it's the scoo$ of the century. I'm !oin! to "e your shadow.6 5is mouth cur%ed in a faint, moc in! smile. 67ou mi!ht find that harder than you thin .6 6I can rise to the challen!e. Do you now where we're !oin!:6 6Somewhere I can thin . 7ou don't tal all the time, do you:6 6De$ends on my mood.6 68od hel$ me,6 he muttered. But for some reason he didn't loo the sli!htest "it distressed. As far as they could tell, no one was watchin! the old -ictorian(style house where she rented her a$artment. Crom$ton stayed in the car while she ran inside and filled an old duffel "a! with a do#en ,(shirts, all the clean underwear she could find and enou!h

toiletries to ee$ her human. She yan ed her clothes off, throwin! them in the trash, and &uic ly $ulled on a new ,(shirt and )eans. It was ridiculous, "ut she felt as if the smell of that lon!(dead cor$se was clin!in! to her. ,he sooner she could ta e a lon! hot shower, the "etter. Daniel was waitin! for her in the sedan, his lon! fin!ers drummin! on the steerin! wheel. 67ou're fast,6 he said a$$ro%in!ly. 67ou e%en mana!ed to chan!e your clothes.6 6I try not to waste time.6 6Nice ,(shirt,6 he said, $ullin! out into the late afternoon traffic. She !lanced down at the one she'd !ra""ed. So Many Men, So 0ew Bullets, it read, in "lac in on a red "ac !round. She thou!ht "ac to +ac son and shi%ered. 5e headed out onto the hi!hway, mo%in! north into the mountains. She san "ac a!ainst the cushions, closin! her eyes in sudden e'haustion. She must ha%e drifted off, for the ne't thin! she new, they were $ar ed outside of a %ery seedy(loo in! motel, somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and the di!ital cloc on the dash"oard read I1?A. 62here are we:6 she as ed with a yawn. 6/n the "ac side of "eyond,6 he said. 6I'%e !ot us a room for the ni!ht. I'%e "een dri%in! around, dou"lin! "ac , and I don't thin they're li ely to find us. 2e're Mr. and Mrs. Smith.6 65ow ori!inal. 2e're sharin! a room:6 She mi!ht almost ha%e wished he'd res$onded with a leer. Instead he sim$ly loo ed sur$rised. 6I thou!ht the intention of this was to ee$ each other ali%e. 2e can't do that if you're in another room.6 6Don't worry, Dr. Crom$ton,6 she said wearily. 6I'm not accusin! you of ha%in! lustful desi!ns on my fair "ody.6 5e didn't e%en "lin . A to en $rotest wouldn't ha%e done her e!o any harm, "ut Daniel wasn't ade$t in the art of social lies. 5e sim$ly stared at her for a moment. 6Do you want me to:6 he as ed "luntly. It was !ettin! dar . A fortunate thin!, since her damna"ly fair s in heated u$ at his artless &uestion. 6No,6 she said flatly. 5e nodded. 6I see,6 he said. Somethin! a"out his tone of %oice wasn't $articularly reassurin!, "ut "efore she could identify what it was that "othered her, he'd clim"ed out of the car and headed for the door of their room. She !ra""ed her duffel "a! and followed him, tellin! herself she was !lad the "i! oaf was totally lac in! in chau%inistic manners. 6Room num"er thirteen,6 she noted, ste$$in! inside. 6+ust our luc .6 62hat's wron! with num"er thirteen:6 She didn't "other enli!htenin! him.she was too "usy sur%eyin! the room in dismay. At least there were two "eds. ,he $lace was decorated in early American tac y, from the oran!e &uilted "eds$reads to the Nau!ahyde furniture. She chec ed "eyond, to the tiny s&uare of "athroom with its stall shower, and si!hed. 6All the comforts of home,6 @he

said. 6I wonder where Norman Bates is.6 62ho's Norman Bates:6 6Didn't you e%er see Psycho " 6No.6 She shoo her head a!ain. 60or a "rilliant man, Dr. Crom$ton, you're ama#in!ly i!norant.6 If he heard her, he i!nored the remar and "usily closed the curtains a!ainst the !atherin! dar ness. 6It's hot in here,6 he said in a low %oice. /ddly enou!h, a chill swe$t o%er Su#anna's "ody. 6I'm !oin! to ta e a shower,6 she said, dum$in! her duffel "a! on the "ed nearest the "athroom and rumma!in! throu!h it. 5e had a strained loo to him, almost haunted. 68o ri!ht ahead.6 She $aused in the "athroom doorway. 6Are you all ri!ht:6 60ine. ,a e your shower. ,hen we can see a"out findin! somethin! to eat.6 ,here was somethin! wron!. ,he room was almost suffocatin!, and heat emanated from the man at the window. 5e refused to loo at her, and she shru!!ed. 6It's almost si' now,6 she said. 6I'll "e ready to !o out at si'(thirty.6 60ine,6 he said in a muffled %oice. 6,a e your shower.6 5E 2AI,ED =N,I3 ,5E D//R shut "ehind her. ,he $ain was lancin! throu!h his "ody .intense, swee$in! shafts of a!ony. 5e heard the water runnin!, the sound of it hittin! her "ody as she ste$$ed "eneath the s$ray, and then he let !o, sin in! down on the "ed as the shi%erin! swe$t o%er him. 5e closed his eyes for a moment, then o$ened them a!ain. 5e stared down at his le!s, "ut they were %a!ue, out of focus, and he new it had ha$$ened a!ain. /nce more he was in%isi"le. And he didn't now how in hell he was !oin! to e'$lain that to Su#anna Molloy.

Chapter Seven
Daniel Crom$ton had "een $ro$erly reared, the only child of elderly, intellectual $arents. 5is mother had %ery strict rules of $ro$riety, and e%en as a toddler he'd "een e'$ected to "eha%e as a !entleman. At the ad%anced a!e of thirty(four he new $erfectly well that he ou!ht to lea%e the room and return when he was once more %isi"le. 5e wasn't !oin! to. 6I'm !oin! out,6 he called throu!h the closed "athroom door. 6I'll "e "ac in a cou$le of hours.6 5e heard her s$uttered $rotests as he wal ed hea%ily to the front door, o$ened it, and closed it &uite loudly. And then he mo%ed, his snea ered feet silent, to the %ery corner of the room and sat down !in!erly on the "ed. 6Crom$ton, don't you dare lea%e me96 Su#anna shrie ed, stic in! her head out of the "athroom door. 5er hair was wet, she didn't ha%e her !lasses on, and her "rown eyes focused myo$ically around the confined s$ace, mo%in! $ast the s$ot where he sat $atiently, not lin!erin!. 6Damn the man,6 she muttered, mo%in! "ac into the "athroom,

lea%in! the door a)ar. 5e wondered idly whether he could !et u$, mo%e across the room and $eer inside the "athroom door without her hearin! him. 5e'd ne%er had any %oyeuristic tendencies. e%en when he was a hormone(cra#ed teena!er he'd "een more interested in the anatomical anomalies of the centerfolds than their unli ely charms. But he found he had a sudden ur!e to see what Su#anna Molloy loo ed li e under her ,(shirt. 2hether she was cur%ed and soft, slee and muscled, or a com"ination of the two. /ddly enou!h, it didn't really matter to him. 0or some reason he wanted her. whether she was $lum$ or lean. It was her "rown eyes, her stu""orn mouth, her wary nature that turned him on. It made no sense, "ut then, little had in the last twenty(four hours. 5e'd )ust risen when she came "ac out of the "athroom, and he had to "ite "ac the !roan of disa$$ointment. She was already $artly dressed, wearin! a $lain white $air of $anties and a ,(shirt that read 2hen 8od Made Man She 2as /nly *iddin!. 5er hair was com"ed "ac from her freshly scru""ed face, and she was wearin! her !lasses once more. 5e fro#e, afraid to !i%e away his $resence, and loo ed at her. Come to thin of it, may"e he wasn't disa$$ointed. She had lon! le!s, "eautiful le!s, not Bar"ie doll le!s "ut the ind that could wra$ around a man. She hadn't "othered with a "ra, and the ,(shirt clun! to her wet "ody, her wet "reasts, and he watched her, wishin! he could see her ni$$les, cursin! "ecause the room was too warm. She had an ele!ant !race when she thou!ht no one was watchin! her, and she crossed to the door to $ut the chain u$. 62here is that man:6 she muttered underneath her "reath, $eerin! out the window. /f course, there was no si!n of him, and he watched, wonderin! what else she was !oin! to say. She mo%ed o%er to the mirror that hun! a"o%e the chea$ $ine dresser. It should ha%e reflected his own "ody, as well, "ut it didn't. 5e stood there, seein! what she was seein!, )ud!in! what she was )ud!in!. 6All ri!ht,6 she said out loud, $ullin! her hair "ac away from her face. 6So you're no !reat "eauty. No one e%er said you were.6 5e was tem$ted to disa!ree, "ut he wisely e$t his $eace, wantin! to hear more. 6And )ust "ecause the !reat Dr. Daniel Crom$ton ha$$ens to "e unfairly "lessed with more than his fair share of loo s, it hasn't !ot a thin! to do with you. At least I don't ha%e to loo at him for a while. 4retty is as $retty does, and the man is o%er"earin!, cold( "looded and arro!ant.6 5e wondered a"out that. It seemed a fairly accurate assessment. 5e did tend to "e o%er"earin!.otherwise he wasted too much time tryin! not to tread on the tender feelin!s of utter fools. Arro!ant... $erha$s. 5e new what he wanted, what he was interested in and what "ored him. 2hat interested him ri!ht now was Su#anna Molloy. Not to mention the stran!e thin!s that e$t ha$$enin! to his "ody. But oddly enou!h, he found his o"li%ious roommate a hi!her $riority. As for his "ein! cold("looded, that seemed to ha%e chan!ed recently, in more ways than one. 5e was hot, "urnin! u$, with a ind of dry heat that could set somethin! on fire. And he was e%en hotter when he loo ed at her.

E%en if he was in%isi"le, his "ody was ca$a"le of reactin! humanly enou!h. Starin! at her "reasts in the mirror, he found he was !ettin! aroused. ,hat was odd, as well. 5e usually !ot turned on when he had a na ed, willin! woman in his "ed. 5is erections, his lo%ema in!, as well as e%erythin! else, were always ruthlessly efficient. Not toni!ht, howe%er. 5e shifted his )eans, decidin! he mi!ht "e "etter off sittin! down on the "ed. 5e lowered himself slowly, silently, !in!erly, then reali#ed with sudden horror that the reflection of the oran!e &uilted "eds$read suddenly wrin led. Su#anna fro#e. She whi$$ed around, starin! at the s$ot where he sat motionless on the "ed, and for such a fierce youn! woman she loo ed scared s$itless. 6Daniel:6 she mana!ed to croa . 5e didn't say a word. If he could )ust hold himself still, she'd $ro"a"ly decide she'd ima!ined it. E'ce$t that the &uilt was "unched u$ "eneath him, and if she tried to strai!hten it, she'd run ri!ht into him. 67ou're here, aren't you:6 She mo%ed toward him, and he had to admire her coura!e in the face of her controlled $anic. 6I don't now how, "ut you're here, in the room. I can feel you watchin! me. Say somethin!, damn it96 Still he e$t silent. She'd "e "etter off not nowin!. ,here was no !uarantee he could ee$ her from /s"orn, Armstead and their nasty crew, and if they found out what had ha$$ened to him, thin!s would !o from "ad to worse. It was more than o"%ious what Bee"e Control Systems International wanted from him, and he'd "een a fool to "lind himself to their machinations. 4eo$le didn't ill for $atents and co$yri!hts, they didn't sa"ota!e la"s and ris illin! their ma)or researcher, unless they decided they had what they needed. 2hat they needed was somethin! they could use to control the world, and they thou!ht he had it. ,hey thou!ht he was the one man who'd finally created cold fusion. And they weren't !oin! to use it to sol%e the world's ener!y crisis. ,hey were !oin! to use it for wea$ons. 2hen the sta es were that hi!h, the li%es of two little $eo$le didn't mean a hill of "eans. 5e'd heard that line somewhere.he couldn't remem"er where."ut it seemed to fit. ,he less Su#anna Molloy new, the "etter. But the $ro"lem was, she loo ed as if she was a"out to cry, and he new she wasn't the sort of woman who cried easily or often. ,he thou!ht of her tears didn't distress him any more than the $ossi"ility of her throwin! u$ after she found +ac son's "ody. 5e wasn't the ind of man who fell a$art at the si!ht of a woman's tears. But for some reason he didn't want to see her cry. 6I'm !oin! cra#y,6 she whis$ered to herself in sudden $anic. 6I'%e !ot to !et out of here.6 She di%ed for her duffel "a!, dra!!in! out a $air of )eans, and it too all his self( control not to lea$ for her, to try to sto$ her. 5e was countin! on her to calm herself down, so he wouldn't ha%e to re%eal himself, when the utilitarian "lac $hone "eside the "ed shrilled. It startled her into a &uiet scream< it startled him into mo%in!. 5e saw the shift of the mattress in the mirror, "ut Su#anna was too "usy starin! at the $hone.

She started toward it, and he new he had to sto$ her. It mi!ht %ery well "e only the des cler , "ut he dou"ted it. ,hey'd "een found already. 5er hand was on the recei%er, hesitatin!, when he finally s$o e. 6Don't answer it,6 he said. 5e couldn't see her face now, )ust her strai!ht "ac , the tension in her shoulders. And then she mo%ed her hand, turned and stared at the em$ty "eds. 62here are you:6 she as ed with remar a"le calm. 5e rose. She was still starin! at the disarran!ed "ed. she didn't now he was comin! closer, close enou!h to touch her, close enou!h to $ull her into his arms. 5e resisted the im$ulse, "ut )ust "arely. She'd "een throu!h enou!h, and he was a"out to $ut her throu!h more. 6Ri!ht here,6 he said softly. And Su#anna Molloy, tou!h and fearless, colla$sed in a dead faint at his feet. I, 8A-E 5IM A C5ANCE to e'$eriment. 5e nelt down "eside her, slidin! his arms under her lim$ "ody, and lifted her u$. 5e mi!ht ha%e "een liftin! a cloud of sil , and yet he new "y loo in! that Su#anna Molloy was a solidly "uilt youn! lady. She smelled of sham$oo and soa$ and tooth$aste, clean and fresh and un"eara"ly erotic, and he wondered )ust how conscienceless he was "ecomin!. She was out cold, and he was sorely tem$ted to. 5er eyes fluttered o$en. 5e was carryin! her toward the "ed, and he could feel her muscles stiffen in his arms, and new she was a"out to scream. 5e couldn't "lame her. As far as she could see, she was floatin! throu!h the air. 5e dro$$ed her down on the "ed, a"ru$tly enou!h to sur$rise the scream out of her. She stared u$ at him, or at least, in his !eneral direction, and the loo of a"solute horror on her face was far from flatterin!. 6I thou!ht you were !lad you didn't ha%e to loo at me,6 he said. She )um$ed, startled. 62here are you:6 6Standin! ri!ht in front of you.6 5e wanted to touch her a!ain, "ut he wasn't sure whether she could handle it or not. 5er ner%es seemed to "e on the ra!!ed ed!e, and while he didn't usually waste time worryin! a"out other $eo$le's needs, in this case it seemed to matter. 62hat ha$$ened to you:6 5e wandered o%er to the window, !lancin! out into the ni!ht. 6I don't now,6 he said honestly. 6It has somethin! to do with the la" accident. ,he !reen slime, I su$$ose. It certainly wasn't anythin! I was wor in! on.6 5er head mo%ed, her eyes followin! the direction of his %oice. 6,his isn't the first time it's ha$$ened:6 5e smiled. She was shar$.he li ed that a"out her. Almost as much as he li ed her lon! le!s and her "reasts and her feisty ton!ue. 6It ha$$ened this mornin!. Si' o'cloc this mornin!, to "e e'act. It lasted e'actly two hours, and at ei!ht o'cloc I was %isi"le a!ain.6

67ou were there when I "ro e into your a$artment.6 67es.6 67ou were watchin! me. 8od, I "um$ed into you96 she said, remem"erin!. 67es,6 he said a!ain. 67ou weren't !oin! to tell me:6 5er tem$er was returnin!, the color risin! in her $ale chee s. 62ere you )ust !oin! to sit there and watch me undress, you $er%ert:6 65ardly a $er%ert. An interest in an unclothed female "ody of certain attractions isn't the sli!htest "it a"normal.6 6Certain attractions:6 she echoed, reactin! )ust as he'd e'$ected. 6Besides, I'm not certain how much I can trust you. 2ho's to say you won't !o to the !ational "n#uirer and sell your story:6 6,hey wouldn't "elie%e me,6 she said flatly. 6E%en ta"loids ha%e some standards. 2hat else:6 62hat do you mean "y that:6 6,here's more than "ein! in%isi"le. 7ou "ro e those doors at Bee"e, didn't you: And what a"out the ele%ator door:6 6I seem to "e fairly stron!,6 he allowed. 65ow stron!: Arnold Schwar#ene!!er stron!: ,he Incredi"le 5ul stron!: 8od#illa stron!:6 6I'm not sure. I'm still findin! out e'actly what's !oin! on,6 he said, turnin! to stare at her. She still wasn't wearin! a "ra, a fact which had tem$orarily esca$ed her. ,he )eans she'd $ulled on were a ti!hter fit than the ones she'd worn earlier, and they encased her lon! le!s. 5e si!hed. 62hat do you want from me:6 she as ed &uietly. 62hat ma es you thin I want anythin! from you:6 6Don't try to tric me, Dr. Crom$ton. 7ou may ha%e an IB of ICJ, "ut that doesn't mean the rest of us are idiots. 7ou "rou!ht me alon! for a reason. 2hat is it:6 5e considered it.and her.for a lon! moment. 67ou want the truth:6 She nodded, $ushin! her dam$ hair away from her face. 6It's usually for the "est.6 5e mo%ed "ac , across the room, sto$$in! in front of her. 6,here are a num"er of reasons.6 She )um$ed when he s$o e, startled. 6Can't you stay $ut:6 she demanded with some as$erity. 6I can't see you, you now.6 67ou'll ha%e to !et used to me snea in! u$ on you.6 6Charmin!,6 she sna$$ed. 62hy did you "rin! me alon!:6 5e decided to "e efficient. 6Num"er one,6 he said, countin! on unseen fin!ers, 6I wasn't sure which side you were on. 7our arri%al at Bee"e was, to say the least, sus$icious. I thou!ht you mi!ht ha%e "een "ehind the la" e'$losion, and it would "e

"etter to ha%e you in si!ht.6 6I wish I could say the same for you,6 she muttered. 62hat else:6 6Num"er two,'' he said, 6you were slimed as well as I was, thou!h you didn't !et as thorou!h a coatin!. I wanted to see whether you were affected, as well. Num"er three, I need someone to hel$ me o"ser%e the chan!es in my "ody, document them. ,hey mi!ht $ro%e de"ilitatin!, e%en fatal. I'll need someone I can count on to record them. 7ou're a scientific re$orter.I can trust you to ee$ trac of what's ha$$enin! to me.6 6Is that all:6 She didn't loo $articularly !ratified at the trust he'd shown her, "ut then, he wasn't e'$ectin! !ratitude. 6,here are other considerations,6 he said in his most offhand %oice. 6I wasn't sure if you already new what was ha$$enin! to me, and I didn't want you tellin! anyone a"out it. 2e're "etter off ee$in! it a secret, at least for now.6 6And:6 6And what:6 6Any other reason:6 None a$art from o%erwhelmin! animal lust, he thou!ht to himself, smilin! wryly. 5e didn't thin Su#anna was ready to hear that. 6Isn't that enou!h:6 62ho says I want to "e your do!s"ody:6 she demanded. 67ou'%e !ot one of the ma)or &ualifications,6 he said smoothly. 67our nature.6 ,o his sur$rise, her face creased in reluctant amusement. 6Are you "y any chance callin! me a "itch, Dr. Crom$ton:6 she as ed. 67ou must admit, I ha%e $lenty of reason to "e irrita"le.6 6Aren't you always this way:6 67ou "rin! out the worst in me.6 She $ulled her le!s u$ underneath her, and he could see she was "e!innin! to lose her wariness. 5e wondered if she'd lose it enou!h to let him touch her. 5e dou"ted it. 6I wouldn't !et too comforta"le if I were you,6 he said. She stiffened. 62hat do you mean:6 6I don't now who was callin! here, "ut I don't li e it. I thin we'd "etter lea%e. And you're !oin! to ha%e to dri%e.6 She coc ed her head. 6I su$$ose I am. I su$$ose I'm !oin! to ha%e to carry the "a!s, as well:6 5e nodded, then reali#ed she couldn't see. 6I thin "ein! in%isi"le will ha%e its ad%anta!es.6 65ow lon! is it !oin! to last:6 6A reasona"ly educated !uess would say two hours. ,hat's how lon! it lasted this mornin!. I disa$$eared at @1AA a.m., rea$$eared at ei!ht. I disa$$eared at @1AA $.m. toni!ht, so I ima!ine...6 5e !lanced down at his arm, "ut the watch attached to his wrist was )ust as "lurred and out of focus as the rest of him.

She seemed to !uess what his $ro"lem was. 6It's se%en(fifteen. If you're ri!ht, that would !i%e you another forty(fi%e minutes.6 She rose, and if the hand that $ushed her dam$ hair away from her face trem"led sli!htly, she i!nored it. 67ou're ri!ht, let's !et out of here. I don't su$$ose you ha%e any idea where we can !o:6 6*ee$ headin! in the same !eneral direction. I had a destination in mind.6 67ou feel li e sharin! it:6 6Not $articularly. ,hat way you won't now anythin! if we !et se$arated.6 6Charmin!,6 she said, sli$$in! her feet into her snea ers. 6,hey can torture me, "ut I won't "e a"le to tell them anythin!.6 67ou'%e "een readin! too many "ad "oo s. No"ody's !oin! to torture anyone.6 6It didn't loo as if your friend +ac son had too !ood a time,6 she sna$$ed. And then she closed her eyes, suddenly loo in! %ulnera"le. 6I shouldn't ha%e said that.6 62hy not: It's true. 0or what it's worth, +ac son didn't deser%e what ha$$ened to him, "ut he wasn't an innocent %ictim, either. 5e was some"ody's s$y, $ro"a"ly /s"orn's, and I wouldn't "e sur$rised if he set the de%ice that almost illed the "oth of us.6 6Ne%ertheless, he was a human "ein!, and he didn't deser%e to die li e that,6 she said sternly, !ra""in! her duffel "a! and reachin! for his "a!, too. 62or in! on your sainthood, Molloy: It'll ta e more than that to con%ince me.6 She o$ened the door, $atiently waitin! for him. 6I don't need to con%ince you, Dr. Crom$ton. 7ou weren't "lessed with many human &ualities to "e!in with, and what little you had seems to ha%e disa$$eared with the rest of you.6 She smiled sweetly. 6It's )ust a shame you didn't lose your %oice, as well.6 5e couldn't %ery well ar!ue with her. ,he door was o$en, the li!ht o%erhead illuminatin! her dar "lond hair, illuminatin! the su$$osedly em$ty room. 5e had no choice "ut to follow her. 5e couldn't e%en close the door "ehind him. Not with the des cler starin! out, insatia"ly curious. 6Are you !oin! to ta e care of the doors:6 he demanded, as she settled into the dri%er's seat with seemin! ease. 6Damn,6 she said, scootin! "ac out to slam the motel door, then mo%in! around to o$en the $assen!er door for him. 5e new she was comin!, and he deli"erately didn't mo%e, lettin! her "arrel into him, catchin! her arms in his stron! hands, lettin! her chest rest a!ainst his. 5e'd un"uttoned his shirt a!ainst the incessant heat of his "ody, and her "reasts throu!h the thin cotton )ersey were hard, $e""led, and he new damned well it wasn't from the cold. She )er ed away, rattled, and he was )ust as !lad she couldn't see his face. She'd already warned him she didn't li e it when he smir ed, and he had little dou"t he had a full(fled!ed smir across his face. 6,ell me when you're in,6 she said "etween her teeth. 6I wouldn't want to slam the door on your foot.6 5e clim"ed in &uic ly, nowin! she'd $ro"a"ly "e tem$ted to do )ust that. 6All set.6

She muttered somethin! "eneath her "reath, slammed the door and returned to the dri%er's seat. ,he des cler was still watchin!, and Daniel had no dou"t he'd made note of the license $late num"er. ,he $owers that "e were already on their trail, and Daniel wasn't &uite ready to deal with them. Not until he had a "etter idea of the limits and e'tents of his new "ody. 5e turned "ac , !lancin! at the dar sedan $ar ed two doors down from their room. ,hat car hadn't "een there "efore. 5e didn't li e the loo s of it.the smo ed windows, the hea%y steel. ,hat car's $resence wasn't a coincidence. ,he des cler had $ic ed u$ the tele$hone. 68et a mo%e on, Molloy,6 Daniel said. She didn't waste her time ar!uin!. 4uttin! +ac son's car in !ear, she too off, ta in! the corner at a dan!erous s$eed, racin! out into the ni!ht. Daniel loo ed "ac . ,he door to the ad)oinin! room o$ened, and he could see someone in a uniform that loo ed sus$iciously familiar. Cole Slau!hter. 5e !lanced "ac at the sedan, tryin! to !au!e whether it was $owerful enou!h to catch u$ with them. 5e stared at it, "lin ed and scrunched his nose a"sently. ,he e'$losion sent +ac son's car s iddin! across the $a%ement. Su#anna swore as she tried to re!ain control, s$innin! the steerin! wheel and $um$in! the "ra es des$erately. ,hey were headin! sideways for a streetli!ht, and at their s$eed Daniel dou"ted they'd "e a"le to a%oid it. But at the last minute she $ulled out of the s$in, strai!htened the wheels and too off into the ni!ht. 3ea%in! the anonymous sedan en!ulfed in flames.

Chapter Eight
6/h, no.6 ,he %oice "eside her was hushed, literally disem"odied, and yet distractin!ly solid. 2hen Su#anna slammed her foot down on the accelerator, the car shot forward and she continued dri%in!, hunched forward o%er the steerin! wheel li e a "at out of hell. An a$t fi!ure of s$eech. ,he flames shot into the s y "ehind them, sendin! !houlish shadows across the road ahead. Su#anna yan ed the wheel, turned into an alleyway and s$ed onward, away from the si!ht, the sound, the smell of the "urnin! automo"ile. She waited until they were out on the hi!hway, away from the small town with its oran!e s y. 62as anyone in the car:6 she as ed &uietly. She didn't dare !lance at the em$ty seat "eside her. If she thou!ht a"out it she'd "e com$letely frea ed out. Better to )ust "e $ra!matic a"out the whole thin!. So the man "eside her was in%isi"le. Stran!er thin!s had "een nown to ha$$en. She wasn't sure what, "ut they must ha%e. 6I don't thin so,6 the %oice said after a moment's silence. She couldn't resist. She !lanced o%er at the em$ty seat, then swer%ed. 6Do you ha%e to wear your seat "elt:6 she demanded, thorou!hly rattled. ,he shoulder harness hun! sus$ended in midair, the la$ "elt "uc led across an

in%isi"le la$. 65a"it,6 the %oice said, and she heard the clic of the seat "elt releasin!. 60or!et it. Do it u$,6 she said, starin! ahead of her. 6I ima!ine you could !et hurt if I mana!ed to crash this suc er, and ri!ht now I'm feelin! distur"ed enou!h to do )ust that.6 6,hen slow down.6 6Bac seat dri%er,6 she muttered, ne%ertheless doin! as he su!!ested. 62hat ha$$ened with that car: 2as it another "om":6 Silence for a moment. 6Sorry, I was sha in! my head. I don't thin it was a "om", any more than the other two were.6 5e $aused. 6I thin ;did it.6 6,his is definitely weird,6 she muttered under her "reath, not darin! to loo in his direction. 6So how do you thin you did it:6 6I don't now. ,hen a!ain, I don't now how I !ot in%isi"le, or how stron! I am, or anythin! else. I'm learnin! as I !o alon!. All I now is cars ha%e e'$loded after I'%e stared at them.6 6But e%ery car you loo at doesn't e'$lode.6 6No. ,here has to "e more to it than that.6 She heard the faint crea of the seat, and she could only !uess that he was shiftin! around, tryin! to !et more comforta"le. 62e need to !et away from e%ery"ody, so I can e'$eriment.6 6I don't now that anyone's !oin! to "e %olunteerin! their car for the sa e of science,6 she $ointed out. 6,his one will do nicely. ,he sooner we !et rid of it the "etter.6 6And how do you intend to re$lace it:6 Silence a!ain. 6+ust dri%e,6 he muttered. 65ead towards the mountains. Route JA.6 6Do you now where we're !oin!:6 67es.6 She waited for more clarification, "ut there was utter silence. She'd ne%er reali#ed how much she relied u$on "ody lan!ua!e and facial e'$ressions to read $eo$le. 6All ri!ht,6 she said finally. 6Mind if I turn on the radio: Sittin! ne't to you !i%es me the cree$s.6 She startled him into lau!hin!. It was a %ery se'y lau!h, "ut then, she'd already nown that a"out him. 0or an arro!ant, starchy scientist, Dr. Daniel Crom$ton was e'tremely se'y. At least, as far as she was concerned, and she should ha%e nown "etter. ,hat wry amusement in his %oice tra%eled down her s$ine to lod!e somewhere low in her "elly, and she wanted to s&uirm. 68o ri!ht ahead,6 he said. 6I'll try not to "e intrusi%e.6 6,hat shouldn't "e too much of a challen!e,6 she shot "ac . ,he radio didn't im$ro%e matters. 2hoe%er was $ro!rammin! the music on the only station that came in clearly must ha%e had an o%erload of hormones. ,he $laylist was a hardheaded woman's ni!htmare. Chris Isaa was doin! his werewolf im$ersonation on 62ic ed 8ame,6 his %oice sinuous and insinuatin!. ,hat was followed "y Mar%in 8aye and 6Se'ual 5ealin!,6 which had Su#anna shiftin! in the "uc et seat and wishin! to 8od

she could see what Crom$ton's reaction to all this was. ,he final son! was Bruce S$rin!steen's 60ire.6 At that $oint Su#anna leaned o%er and turned the music off, thorou!hly sha en. An unseen hand "rushed hers, and the music came on a!ain, slowly roc in!, entirely su!!esti%e. 6I want to hear it,6 he said. 6I don't.6 6,ou!h. ,he irony is irresisti"le.6 6Buy the CD then.6 6I own it.6 She turned to stare at him in sur$rise, seein! only her reflection in the $assen!er window. She turned "ac , cursin! under her "reath. 6I saw your a$artment, Dr. Crom$ton. 7ou don't e%en own a CD $layer, and the only dis I saw was Neil Diamond's $reatest %its. 7ou li%e li e a mon , and I can't say much for your taste in music.6 A!ain that damna"ly se'y chuc le. 6If you choose to "elie%e that, !o ri!ht ahead, Molloy.6 67ou're "e!innin! to $iss me off. Are you !oin! to stay in%isi"le, or will I "e a"le to see you lon! enou!h to hit you:6 she demanded. 6I ha%e no idea. I chan!ed "ac at ei!ht this mornin!. May"e in two minutes I'll "e %isi"le a!ain.6 She !lanced at the di!ital cloc on the dash"oard. Se%en fifty(ei!ht. Bruce was finishin! u$, and Su#anna felt uncomforta"ly warm. Not that she wasn't used to it. 0rom the first moment she'd "een around Daniel Crom$ton she'd felt her tem$erature rise, and it wasn't )ust the furnaceli e heat that emanated from his s in, seen and unseen. She had to face it, the man made her hot. ,he radio station too $ity on her, launchin! into a s$iel for the ind of car she'd ne%er "e a"le to afford and wouldn't ha%e wanted, anyway, and the seconds tic ed away. 6/ne minute to !o,6 his disem"odied %oice murmured. ,hen came an ad for la'ati%es, and Su#anna felt herself cool off. =ntil, 8od hel$ her, a sultry male %oice started discussin! condoms. ,he cloc clic ed to E1AA $.m. Dr. Daniel Crom$ton remained in%isi"le. 6So much for that theory,6 Su#anna said, ho$in! to drown out the con%ersation on late' sensiti%ity. 6Damn,6 he muttered. 6I don't thin I li e the thou!ht of remainin! in%isi"le.6 She had a sudden, horrifyin! thou!ht. 6Are you wearin! anythin!:6 She didn't ha%e to see his !rin to now it was there. 6Interestin! &uestion, Molloy. 2hat were you ima!inin!:6 65ow come I can't see your clothes: 7ou aren't wearin! the stuff that !ot dowsed with the slime, I now. Did you... I don't want to now.6 She thou!ht she'd already "een unner%ed enou!h, "ut the notion that he mi!ht "e

sittin! ne't to her in the co#y front seat of the com$act car, that lon!, ele!ant "ody of his undressed, was enou!h to ma e her want to dri%e off the road. Es$ecially with the condom ad now o%er and 2ilson 4ic ett comin! on with 6In the Midni!ht 5our.6 6Don't $anic, Molloy. 2hate%er I $ut on.or in.my "ody seems to disa$$ear. If I )ust hol& it, it seems to float throu!h s$ace. I'm still dressed.6 6It could $ro%e em"arrassin! if you were to suddenly remateriali#e,6 she said in her coolest %oice. 60or whom: 7ou or me: Besides, I'm com$letely material now. 7ou )ust can't see me. Much as you. damn.6 5is %oice suddenly shar$ened, and there was no missin! the thread of $ain. Su#anna slammed on the "ra es, starin! at the em$ty $assen!er seat. 62hat's wron!: Don't )ust sit there, Daniel, say somethin!9 Are you hurt: Are you...6 Before she could finish her sentence she saw the outline, %a!ue, indistinct, slowly comin! into focus. She'd for!otten how tall he was, and how he would crowd into the tiny seat of a com$act car. She'd for!otten how lon! his le!s were, too. 5e had an arm across his flat stomach, and as his face came into %iew there was no missin! the e'$ression of $ain. 6Damn,6 he muttered a!ain, closin! his eyes. 6It hurts, Daniel:6 she as ed softly. 6E%ery time.6 65ow much:6 5is eyes flew o$en, and he !lared at her. 6Enou!h to ma e your sadistic little soul ha$$y, Molloy.6 5e !lanced down at his "ody. 6I ta e it I'm %isi"le a!ain:6 6Can't you tell:6 6Not for certain. I loo )ust a "it out of focus.6 5e slid down in the seat with a weary si!h. 6,hree $ast ei!ht.6 6May"e you'll stay in%isi"le for lon!er and lon!er,6 she su!!ested. 5a%in! him "eside her, suddenly %isi"le, should ha%e "een reassurin!. Instead, she found herself e%en more ed!y. 6More li ely the cloc s aren't synchroni#ed,6 he drawled. 62hy si' to ei!ht o'cloc :6 62hy in%isi"le:6 he countered. 68od only nows. *ee$ dri%in!, Molloy. ,he sooner we !et to my $lace, the sooner I can start wor in! on some answers.6 6Is that where we're !oin!:6 6I ha%e a ca"in in the mountains,6 he said reluctantly. 5e rolled down the window, starin! out into the ni!ht. 60ortunately no one nows a"out it. I ee$ it %ery $ri%ate, and there's no way the $eo$le at Bee"e can find us there.6 67ou thin we'll "e safe:6 6May"e for a day or two. ,hen they'll find us, and who nows what'll ha$$en.6

6/h, don't try to comfort me with reassurin! lies,6 she said "itterly. 6+ust tell it li e it is.6 5e !lanced at her, and she found herself wishin! that wry, cle%er smile was still in%isi"le. It had far too $otent an effect on her. 6Are you worried, Molloy: I thou!ht you were too tou!h to let a little thin! li e a me!alomaniac me!acor$oration intent on murder !et you u$set.6 6All in a day's wor , Dr. Crom$ton,6 she shot "ac . 67ou called me Daniel "efore.6 6A sli$ of the ton!ue. I thou!ht you were dyin!.6 5e nodded, amusement in his dar eyes. 6I li ed it,6 he said. 6I'll let you now when I'm dyin! a!ain.6 S=>ANNA M/33/7 2AS &uite a woman. 2hether Daniel wanted to admit it or not, there was no !ettin! around the fact that she was tou!her, smarter and far more determined than any woman he'd e%er met. It wasn't that she met the challen!e of ha%in! her com$anion literally disa$$ear on her that was so im$ressi%e. It was the fact that it o"%iously scared her, scared her s$itless, and yet she still mana!ed to deal with it. Bra%ery without ima!ination was worthless. Resolution when you new the conse&uences was far more honora"le. /n to$ of that, she was the se'iest thin! he'd e%er seen. She still wasn't wearin! a "ra, a fact he'd "een a"le to a$$reciate as he sat "eside her, in%isi"le. 5e would watch her lon! le!s as she shifted !ears, the $lay of her arms as she cornered, the soft swell of her "reasts "eneath the ,(shirt. 5e could watch as her ni$$les hardened in res$onse to the undenia"ly erotic music. 5e was half tem$ted to see whether he could !et away with touchin! her, "ut he didn't dare. Not this time. She was wal in! a ti!htro$e of reaction. If he ha$$ened to "rush a!ainst those luscious "reasts, she'd $ro"a"ly scream and wrec the car. 5e'd !i%e her time. Not that that was a commodity they were $articularly "lessed with, "ut "y the time they reached his ca"in, out in the "ac of "eyond, they'd $ro"a"ly ha%e at least twenty(four hours of $eace. ,wenty(four hours for him to find some sort of answer as to what had ha$$ened to him. And twenty(four hours to !et her in "ed. 5e'd ne%er set out to seduce a woman "efore. It was )ust one more no%el e'$erience, and he wondered idly whether the !reen slime had affected his li"ido, as well. 5e didn't thin so. 5e'd reacted to her in the moments in his la", "efore the world and his life had e'$loded. Much as he would ha%e li ed to chal it u$ to the aftereffects of the accident, he didn't thin he could count on it. At "est, ha%in! his life noc ed sideways may ha%e sim$ly chan!ed his $riorities a "it. Before whoe%er had illed +ac son mana!ed to catch u$ with them, he wanted to ma e sure he'd had a chance to see whether Su#anna e%er sto$$ed snarlin! lon! enou!h to $urr. 65ow are we doin! for !as:6 5e e$t his %oice low, "ut she )um$ed, anyway. 62e'll need some.6

6,here's a truc sto$ u$ ahead. I'%e only sto$$ed there once "efore, so $eo$le aren't li ely to reco!ni#e me. 2e can !et somethin! to drin , may"e some food. It's !oin! to "e a lon! ni!ht.6 65ow far are we tra%elin!:6 67ou don't need to now. Suffice it to say we're not ta in! the most direct route. 2e'll "e there "y dawn.6 6I'm not dri%in! all ni!ht96 she $rotested. 6I am. I don't usually "other with much slee$. 7ou can try to !et some rest.6 60or some reason, I don't feel $articularly slee$y,6 she said with moc innocence. 5e had the rash desire to lean forward and iss her soft, cynical mouth. 5e would, "ut not now. 67ou'%e li%ed too staid a life, Molloy,6 he said calmly. 67ou're not used to life in the fast lane.6 6In the fast lane on a "ac road:6 she muttered. 6May"e. ,here's the truc sto$.6 62hy is there a truc sto$ on a "ac road:6 6Beats me. 7ou want to as them:6 6No. I want a "athroom, I want a Diet Co e, and I want somethin! to eat.6 6,hey can $ro%ide all three.6 5e filled the tan while Su#anna disa$$eared inside the Buonset hut "uildin!. +ac son's credit card was lyin! in the !lo%e com$artment, and he used it without com$unction. +ac son was "eyond worryin! a"out un$aid "ills, and the !ood fol s at Bee"e mi!ht "e a little slower in tracin! it. At least it mi!ht slow them down a "it. By the time he'd $ulled u$ under the !lare of the streetli!hts and !one in to find Su#anna, his sense of uneasiness was increasin!. She was sittin! at a "ooth, a hu!e !reasy ham"ur!er and french fries $iled in front of her. 5e slid in o$$osite her, only to find the same no'ious mass de$osited in front of him. 6I'm not hun!ry,6 he told the slatternly waitress. 67ou !ot a $ro"lem with the food, sonny:6 the woman demanded, "eefy arms a im"o. 62e're ha%in! a fi!ht,6 Su#anna interru$ted $rom$tly, slidin! the "ottle of catsu$ across the ta"le toward him. 5e cau!ht it automatically. 6Eat u$, honey. I $romise I won't "u! you a"out +unior's re$ort card.6 5e stared at her "lan ly, "ut a$$arently the waitress was satisfied. 6Eat u$,6 she said, in what was meant more as a threat than a su!!estion, and disa$$eared "ac into the itchen with a stately waddle. 6I don't eat meat,6 he said. 62hy not: Moral o")ections: 8i%en that you're considered America's secret wea$on, I find that )ust a tiny "it hy$ocritical,6 she said, $ic in! u$ a french fry and $o$$in! it into her mouth.

62here did you hear that:6 he as ed in a %ery &uiet %oice. 6My =ncle -innie. 5e nows e%erythin!.6 6And what else did he tell you a"out me:6 She tore her attention away from her mound of french fries when she felt the sudden tension in the air. 5e'd already learned, howe%er, that she wasn't easily intimidated. 65e told me you were so "rilliant they couldn't e%en measure your IB. ,hat no one nows what you'%e "een wor in! on, "ut it's "i!. -ery "i!. Somethin! that could chan!e the future of the world. I don't li e thin!s li e that, Dr. Crom$ton. I don't li e the thou!ht of one man ha%in! that much $ower.6 6I don't.6 6All ri!ht. I don't li e the thou!ht of one man ha%in! that much nowled!e or that much a"ility. Someone could control you. E%ery"ody has some %ulnera"ility. All they ha%e to do is find yours, and you're $utty in their hands.6 6I dou"t it,6 he said, stretchin! out in the "ooth and ta in! the mu! of coffee in his hands. It felt cool to the touch. 6I don't tend to ha%e reco!ni#a"le wea nesses,6 he said, starin! at one of the first wea nesses he'd e%er noticed. 6And why do you thin we're runnin!: If /s"orn, Armstead or their !oons catch u$ with us, I'm not sure what would ha$$en. 7ou'd thin they'd want to ee$ me !oin!, "ut they may ha%e !otten some misleadin! information. ,hey may thin they ha%e e%erythin! they need from me.6 6Do they:6 she as ed, for!ettin! a"out her french fries for the moment. 6No.6 ,o his sur$rise she didn't as him any more. She sim$ly nodded, leaned "ac and concentrated on her food with a dedication that was sin!le(minded and erotic. 5e stared down at his own $late. Nothin! short of star%ation could !et him to touch the ham"ur!er, "ut the $otatoes were smellin! sur$risin!ly !ood, and he needed somethin! to cut the taste of the reheated coffee. 6,ell me a"out =ncle -innie,6 he said, startin! in on the fries. 6Nothin! to tell. 5e's not really my uncle, he's my colle!e roommate's uncle. 5e loo s out for me.6 6I'm a fairly o"scure $erson. 5ow would he ha%e heard of me:6 She shru!!ed, mana!in! an innocent smile. 6Beats me.6 5is hand shot out and cau!ht her wrist. 5e did it !ently, afraid of his a"ility to hurt her, "ut there was no esca$e, and a flash of $ure ra!e a$$eared in her warm "rown eyes as she tried to )er away. 6Don't lie to me, Su#anna,6 he said &uietly. 6I'%e !ot to$ security clearance, and if someone has heard of me, it's someone who shouldn't ha%e. 2ho and what is =ncle -innie:6 67ou're hurtin! me.6 6Answer me.6 65e's )ust someone who loo s out for me.6 5e increased the $ressure on her wrist, )ust sli!htly, and her face $aled. She was lyin! to him, and he couldn't afford to let her do

that. 5is life de$ended on it, $erha$s hers as well, if he hadn't "een wron! in trustin! her. But he couldn't let her ee$ anythin! "ac . 62ho is he:6 he as ed one more time. She wanted to ee$ resistin!, he could see that. 5e could read the stru!!le, the furious acce$tance. 65is name is -incen#o Darta!lia. 5e's retired from the restaurant "usiness and he has certain contacts.6 65e's or!ani#ed crime,6 Daniel corrected flatly. 62hat has he !ot to do with Bee"e:6 6Nothin!. 5e's )ust heard thin!s, that's all. 5e warned me...6 She too a dee$, sha y "reath. 62arned you a"out what:6 6,o ee$ away from you.6 5e stared at her for a lon! moment. 65e was ri!ht,6 he said, releasin! her wrist. 6But you didn't listen.6 6I'm not in the ha"it of listenin! to !ood ad%ice,6 she said. She didn't ru" her wrist, "ut he new she wanted to. 65e heard rumors a"out somethin! !oin! on at Bee"e, and I decided to in%esti!ate. /"%iously I !ot more than I "ar!ained for.6 6/"%iously,6 he said &uietly. 6I'%e learned one thin!, thou!h. 7ou and 5enry /s"orn ha%e a !reat deal in common.6 5e held himself %ery still. 62hat's that:6 67ou "oth li e hurtin! $eo$le when you want somethin!.6 6/s"orn hurt you:6 She smiled at him. It was a cool, "rittle u$turnin! of her !enerous mouth, and he almost thou!ht he could see the faint sheen of tears "ehind the !lasses, in the de$ths of her defiant "rown eyes. But Su#anna Molloy wasn't the ind of woman who'd e%er cry. 2ho'd e%er let a man li e him ma e her cry. 6I'm tou!her than that,6 she said. 65e tried.6 She $ushed her $late away. 6I'll meet you at the car.6 6Are you !oin! to run away:6 She rose, and he noticed for the first time that she'd somehow found the time to $ut on a "ra. It was the least he deser%ed as $unishment. 6No,6 she said. 6I ha%e a sta e in this as well as you do. But, Crom$ton...6 she leaned forward, smellin! li e flowers and french fries, utterly delicious. 67es:6 67ou $ut your hands on me a!ain and I'll cut your li%er out.6 5e watched her saunter out into the $ar in! lot, nowin! his weren't the only a$$reciati%e male eyes mar in! her course. 5e could almost smile at her threat. Almost.if he weren't so thorou!hly dis!usted with himself.

5e told himself he'd had no choice. And it didn't matter. 5e'd ne%er hurt a wea er, more %ulnera"le human "ein! in his life. And the fact that he wanted her. needed her. made him e%en sic er. 5er wrist had "een delicate "eneath his encirclin! fin!ers, the "ones and s in %ulnera"le. 5e thou!ht a"out what he'd done to the loc ed door at Bee"e, and he wanted to throw u$. 2hat had /s"orn done to her: 5e already had a score to settle with the man. Su#anna had )ust u$$ed the ante. And it was only coincidental that when he smashed his fist into /s"orn's fat, smilin! face, he'd "e aimin! at his own, as well. 5e'd hurt her, and he'd had no choice. And the damna"le thin! was, he mi!ht ha%e to do it a!ain.

Chapter Nine
Su#anna had already ta en the $assen!er seat, fastened the "elt around her and closed her eyes "y the time Daniel )oined her. 5er wrist thro""ed, and she wondered whether he'd actually hurt her, or if it was sim$ly the heat from his s in. She didn't care. 5e'd used force on her, somethin! she wouldn't easily for!i%e. So what if he was dro$( dead !or!eous in a remote sort of way. She didn't need !or!eous. She needed tenderness, !entleness and decent "eha%ior. She turned her face toward the window, away from him, to hide the reluctant smile that cur%ed her mouth. /ne of her worst $ro"lems, she'd learned lon! a!o, was that she saw herself far too clearly. 3ife would "e a !reat deal easier if she had some illusions a"out her own sweetness and !entleness. She'd left a num"er of her fa%orite ,(shirts "ehind, includin! the one that read ICK Sweetheart.?DK Bitch. Don't $ush it96 She wished she was wearin! it ri!ht now. It mi!ht remind her who she wanted to "e when she !rew u$. 67ou must "e used to su"ser%ient females,6 she muttered. 6If I am, you're a refreshin! chan!e.6 She "it her li$ a!ain, ho$in! he wouldn't notice. But Crom$ton was a damna"ly o"ser%ant man. 67ou couldn't "e smilin!, could you:6 he as ed in an astonished %oice as he started down the two(lane hi!hway. She !a%e u$, turnin! "ac to him. 62hat can I say: 3ife's too "i#arre to "e ta en seriously.6 5e stared at her for a lon! moment, at the last minute turnin! his attention "ac to his dri%in! "efore they ended u$ in a ditch. 5e dro%e in com$lete, utter silence for another fi%e minutes, lon! enou!h for Su#anna to re!ret her remar , lon! enou!h for her to "e!in to drift off to slee$. 6I'm sorry I had to hurt you.6 5is %oice was &uiet, so low she should ha%e missed it. 5e'd $itched it that way deli"erately, and she new he wasn't the sort of man who a$olo!i#ed. No more than he was the sort of man who made a ha"it of "ullyin! $eo$le. 5e did what he had to do, and

$ity any $oor creature who !ot in his way. But she wasn't a $oor creature< she could stand u$ to him. 6+ust don't do it a!ain,6 she muttered. She wasn't e'$ectin! it. 5e reached o%er and $ic ed u$ her hand as it lay loosely in her la$. 5er muscles ti!htened as she started to $ull away, and his own !ri$ !rew stron!er. She wasn't sure how a tu!(of(war would end, "ut suddenly she didn't care. She let her hand lie in his for a moment, watchin! in fascination as he "rou!ht it to his mouth. 5is li$s were "urnin! hot and dry as they $ressed a!ainst the side of her wrist, where he'd crunched her "ones to!ether. ,he heat was li e an electric current, shaftin! throu!h her, and she turned, loo in! at him, wantin! to mo%e closer to that source of heat and stren!th. But if he saw her reaction, he $retended he didn't. 5e set her hand "ac in her la$ and e$t his face turned into the ni!ht. 68et some slee$,6 he said. 62e'%e !ot a lon! way to !o.6 She turned her face away a!ain, uncertain what she wanted to say or do. She closed her eyes, fei!nin! slee$, and within moments illusion "ecame reality, as he dro%e throu!h the endless dar ness, the &uiet drone of the car's en!ine lullin! her to slee$. She wo e u$ se%eral times durin! the ni!ht, turned to loo at him, then drifted off a!ain. ,he man wasn't human, she decided slee$ily. No man could "e so sin!le(minded, so im$er%ious to $hysical needs and discomfort. She sle$t a!ain, dreamin! erotic dreams .that his lon!, ele!ant hand s immed her chee , "rushed a!ainst her "reast, cau!ht her hand in his once more and $ut it in his la$. And she didn't $ull away in maidenly horror. 5e was hot for her, ready for her, as he dro%e throu!h the ni!ht, and her hand on him was a ind of claimin!. 2hen she finally surfaced from slee$, it was li!ht outside. ,he radio was on, $layin! softly, somethin! old and "luesy, and Su#anna shifted in her seat, a slee$y smile on her face. And then she screamed. 6Damn96 he cursed, and the car swer%ed off the road, comin! to a sto$ halfway u$ an em"an ment. 67ou scared the hell out of me. Did you ha%e to scream:6 6Did you ha%e to disa$$ear a!ain:6 she shot "ac , furious, ho$in! he wouldn't notice that her hands were trem"lin!. 6It wasn't u$ to me,6 his disem"odied %oice said, as the !earshift le%er was $ut "ac into re%erse, the steerin! wheel turned, and as the car started down the $ostdawn road a!ain. 6And I was ri!ht.this cloc is three minutes fast.6 She !lanced down at the di!ital cloc . It was almost se%en. At least she'd missed close to an hour of Daniel's unner%in! a$$earance. /r lac thereof. 6Shouldn't I "e dri%in!:6 6,he road's deserted. ,here aren't many $eo$le li%in! out this way. If anyone loo s too closely, they'll )ust assume this is a British im$ort with the steerin! wheel on the o$$osite side.6

6,hat's $retty farfetched.6 6,his entire situation is farfetched, "ut it's damna"ly real,6 Daniel re$lied. 62e're not too far from my $lace now, and with luc we won't "e $assin! anyone. +ust let me concentrate on the dri%in!, and we'll "e there "y ei!ht.6 6+ust as well,6 she muttered. 6I'd ha%e a hard time followin! you otherwise.6 Su#anna wasn't sure what she'd "een e'$ectin! when they arri%ed at their mysterious, final destination almost an hour later. 5e'd called it a ca"in in the woods, and she'd e'$ected somethin! rustic, with no amenities, )ust a reclaimed hunter's cam$. Either that, or another s&uare "o', as soulless and modern and characterless as Daniel's a$artment. ,he reality was astonishin!. 5er com$anion sto$$ed the car at the foot of a narrow, windin! $ath, unfastenin! the seat "elt and ta in! the eys. 62e're here,6 his %oice announced. 62here:6 she demanded, loo in! around her at the em$ty clearin!, the tall, dar trees all around. ,hey hadn't $assed e%en a shac since she'd "een awa e, and she'd yet to see any si!n of a "uildin!. 6I'm not in the mood for a tent or a ca%e, Dr. Crom$ton.6 She felt the air "rush "y her, warnin! her, and then his hand on her chin, cu$$in! it, tiltin! her face u$ward, until she s$otted the house. It $erched halfway u$ a cliff, and was made of !lass and stone and wood, li e some sort of new(a!e tree house. If he hadn't mo%ed her head she would ha%e missed it. As it was, the house "lended in $erfectly with the surroundin!s. 65ow do we !et there:6 62e wal .6 6I was afraid of that.6 She didn't "other to ee$ the mournful tone from her %oice. 5e was still cu$$in! her chin, and she could feel his lon! fin!ers a!ainst her )aw, delicate, stron!, ridiculously erotic to her confused mind. And hot. 67ou can let !o of me,6 she said caustically. 5e did, &uite $rom$tly, and she had no idea whether there was any reluctance in him. /ne moment he was touchin! her, in what felt uncannily li e a caress, in another he was !one. ,he door o$ened and closed, and she could only assume he'd clim"ed out. She followed, !ra""in! her duffel "a! as she went, unner%ed to see his own can%as "a! floatin! in the air. 6I wonder,6 she said deli"erately. ,he can%as "a! ahead of her sto$$ed mo%in!. 62onder what:6 6If you too a cold shower, would the water si##le:6 She heard him lau!h, that damna"ly, se'y lau!h. 6I ha%e no need of a cold shower, Molloy.6 De$ressin! thou!ht. 6No, I su$$ose you don't,6 she said !rimly, wonderin! if one would hel$ her irrational state of lon!in!. 6It wouldn't do any !ood,6 he added cry$tically. 0or a moment she considered his words. 2ould his "ody tem$erature withstand an

icy "ath: /r would his li"ido: As far as she new, the man didn't ha%e a li"ido. And she had suddenly de%elo$ed far too much of one. It must ha%e come from ha%in! s&uashed it down for so lon!, she thou!ht. She'd i!nored any little trace of attraction she'd felt for the men she'd met durin! the last few years, and that s&uashed, downtrodden se'uality had decided to assert itself at the most damna"ly incon%enient of times. She could fi!ht it. She was tou!h. And fortunately Daniel Crom$ton had no se'ual interest in her whatsoe%er. Ri!ht: 63ead the way,6 she said wearily. 6=nless you'd rather wait until you're %isi"le a!ain.6 62hat time is it:6 67ou're wearin! a watch.6 6I can't see it.6 6/h.6 She !lanced at her own. 6,en of ei!ht.6 6I don't want to wait. Mo%e away from the car.6 62hy:6 6A little e'$eriment. Come o%er here.6 She mo%ed in the direction of his %oice, tryin! to &uell the uneasy feelin! that washed o%er her. She wal ed to the ed!e of the narrow, sna in! $ath that led u$ the cliff and sto$$ed "y the duffel "a! that had recently floated throu!h the air. 6Is this far enou!h:6 she as ed in a dece$ti%ely e%en %oice, "racin! for the feel of his hands on her. 60ar enou!h.6 5is %oice was a"stracted. She stood there, unmo%in!, listenin! to the wind rush throu!h the tall $ines o%erhead, "rin!in! the scent of fall and resin to her nostrils. Nothin! ha$$ened. 6Damn,6 Crom$ton muttered. 6I can't do it.6 6Can't do what:6 6Can't ma e the car e'$lode. I was certain...6 ,he force of the e'$losion noc ed her down. 2here +ac son's little car had once stood, a fire"all eru$ted, shootin! flames into the s y. Su#anna lay on the !round, watchin! in horror, the heat en%elo$in! her. She tried to rise, "ut somethin! $ushed her "ac down into the dirt, somethin! unseen. 6Stay down,6 he ordered, "ut there was no $anic in his %oice. Merely a distant, sort of fascinated sound. She did as he told her. Not that she had much choice. A hand rested "etween her shoulder "lades, ee$in! her $ressed to the earth, as the remnants of the automo"ile flamed furiously, "urnin! out of control, and "lac smo e "illowed toward the s y. She closed her eyes for a moment and shuddered. 2hen she o$ened them, the first thin! she saw was his thi!h. 5e was sittin! cross(le!!ed "eside her, starin! at the inferno, his hand still holdin! her down.

6It must "e after ei!ht o'cloc ,6 she muttered, stru!!lin! to sit u$. 5e released her, castin! a cursory !lance o%er her dou"tless rum$led fi!ure. 6I fi!ured it was. ,he cram$s weren't &uite as "ad this time. May"e I'm !ettin! used to it.6 65ow did you do it:6 5e nodded in the direction of the "urnin! car. 67ou mean that I'm not &uite sure. I concentrated on it, "ut nothin! ha$$ened. I thin my nose itched, and I may ha%e "lin ed a few times. I'll ha%e to try to isolate it a little "etter. 0ind out whether it only wor s on cars, what causes the e'$losion, whether I can ma e other thin!s.6 6I don't now if there'll "e any more cars to s$are,6 she said, her %oice caustic. 65ow are we !oin! to !et out of here now that you'%e incinerated our only form of trans$ortation:6 5e had the !race to loo momentarily a"ashed. 62e couldn't !o in +ac son's car, anyway. ,hey'd "e loo in! for it.6 67ou don't thin anyone's !oin! to notice the little "onfire we )ust had:6 6Not li ely. 2e're in a %ery remote s$ot.6 5e rose, and she loo ed u$, way u$ the len!th of his )ean(clad le!s. 8od, it was a sin to "e as !ood(loo in! as he was, she thou!ht wearily. 63et's ho$e so.6 She stru!!led to her feet, ready to sla$ away any hel$in! hands. 5e didn't offer. 5e was already startin! u$ the narrow windin! $ath into the woods, and she had no choice "ut to follow. She $aused at the ed!e of the clearin!, ta in! one last loo at the charred remains of +ac son's car. 2hate%er had torched it had "urned so hotly that e%en the frame had colla$sed into the smolderin! em"ers. It no lon!er e%en loo ed as if a car had "een sittin! there. ,he smo e had dissi$ated into the clear "lue s y, and only the lin!erin! smell remained. ,hat and the "lac ened circle of earth. She shi%ered a!ain, des$ite the lin!erin! warmth. And, hoistin! her "a! to her shoulder, she started after Daniel. ,he woods were dar , o%er!rown, the $ath stee$ and sli$$ery from early mornin! dew. Daniel for!ed onward, ma in! no effort to wait for her, and Su#anna stru!!led to ee$ u$, cursin! underneath her "reath. She'd )ust a"out !i%en u$ ho$e of e%er reachin! the to$, when Daniel sto$$ed short, and she "arreled into him, a"sor"in! the solidity of his warm "ody, catchin! herself on his arms for a moment "efore she released him. 6Doesn't loo li e anyone's "een here,6 he said in a meditati%e %oice, still not mo%in! out of her way. She craned her nec around him, ta in! in their destination. It was li e nothin! she'd e%er seen. A "i#arre, cra#y &uilt of a ca"in, it seemed co""led to!ether of wood and !lass, iron and tile, a mishmash of found o")ects and odd humor. ,he door loo ed as if it "elon!ed to an En!lish castle, the windows on either side were crescents set in the thic walls, the roof was the !reeny metallic of old co$$er. It loo ed li e the Se%en Dwarfs' cotta!e on dru!s, and Su#anna stared at it, enchanted. 6,his is yours:6 she "reathed, ra$idly ad)ustin! her o$inion of the staid Dr. Daniel

Crom$ton, as she'd had to so fre&uently in the last forty(ei!ht hours. 6,his is mine.6 5is %oice was neutral, e'hi"itin! neither $ride nor em"arrassment. 62here did you find it: Did you trade some cra#ed old hi$$ie for it:6 5e finally mo%ed out of the way, ad%ancin! down the ornately $atterned "ric wal way and reachin! u$ o%er the %astly hi!h door to fetch a ey. 6No.6 5e o$ened the door, standin! aside with one of the first shows of !allantry she'd seen him e'hi"it, and ushered her in. She fell in lo%e. It was an e'traordinary $lace, full of ma!ic and mystery. ,he walls were of stained wood and co%ered with ta$estries, &uilted han!in!s, romantic watercolors and tem$estuous oils. ,here were "oo s e%erywhere.in cases linin! e%ery s$are inch of wall, $iled on the floor, underneath ta"les. ,he furniture itself was a "lissful mismatch.a Danish modern oa ta"le with three "aronial(style chairs. A wide, o%erstuffed sofa co%ered in rum$led En!lish cotton, a "rass(and(steel ta"le sha$ed li e an ele$hant. It was a traditional decorator's ni!htmare. It was wonderful. She turned "ac to !lance at Daniel's o"li&ue face. 6/"%iously you ha%en't owned this $lace for lon!,6 she said, touchin! a ru""ed !reen %el%et cushion with lo%in! fin!ers. 62hy do you say that:6 5e closed the door "ehind them, and the li!ht filtered in from the crescent windows, meetin! the "la#e of li!ht from the window on the far wall, with its e'$ansi%e %iew o%erloo in! the forest "elow. 6Because you ha%en't had a chance to saniti#e it yet.6 She $ic ed u$ a "oo , caressed it and $ut it down a!ain. It was, of all thin!s, a 8eor!ette 5eyer re!ency. 67ou for!et, I saw your a$artment. If you had the chance, you'd stri$ this $lace "are and $aint e%erythin! white.6 62hy do you thin I own this $lace:6 It was a sim$le &uestion, and she considered it. 67ou $ro"a"ly "ou!ht it "ecause it was so remote. 7ou're not the most socia"le of creatures, and you $ro"a"ly li ed the fact that $eo$le would ha%e a hard time "otherin! you here. Do you ha%e a tele$hone:6 6No.6 6Electricity: A tele%ision: Radio:6 6,here's a !enerator, "ut no outside source of communication.6 She nodded. She wanted to ic off her shoes and colla$se into the hu!e, o%erstuffed sofa, ta in! the 5eyer "oo with her. She restrained herself, "ut )ust "arely. 67ou see. It $ro%es my $oint. 7ou own this $lace "ecause you're an antisocial curmud!eon.6 6If you say so.6 5e mo%ed ahead of her, o$enin! u$ the windows, lettin! in the fresh forest "ree#e. ,here was still a tan! of fire lin!erin! in the air, a fact which "rou!ht their circumstances home all too shar$ly. 6I'm not sure what there is for food. I don't tend to "other with it, "ut there'll "e enou!h %itamin drin for "oth of us.6 6Be still, my heart,6 Su#anna said. 62here do I slee$:6 0or a moment there was silence, lon! enou!h that she turned to !lance at him. 63i e the fi%e(thousand($ound !orilla, anywhere you $lease,6 he said li!htly. 6,here's a loft u$stairs with a "ed, and there's the sofa. ,a e your $ic .6

62here are you slee$in!:6 A!ain that char!ed silence. And then he shru!!ed. 6I told you, I don't slee$ much.6 5e dro$$ed down onto the hu!e sofa, stretchin! his lon! le!s out in front of him. 6I do,6 she said flatly. 6And I need some coffee. 7ou don't mind if I e'$lore:6 "'i casa es su casa," he said, slidin! down on the sofa and closin! his eyes for a moment. She stared at him. 0or a man who didn't slee$ much, he loo ed unuttera"ly weary. 5e was used to life in a la"oratory, not s$endin! his time in%isi"le, settin! thin!s on fire, runnin! for his life and findin! dead "odies. 5e $ro"a"ly wasn't used to ha%in! anyone else around, either. All thin!s considered, she was $ro"a"ly luc y he hadn't set her on fire in a fit of $i&ue. She searched for the itchen first. It was a small alco%e off the li%in! room, with o$en shel%es filled with an odd assortment of sta$les.dried "eans, "rown rice and somethin! that loo ed sus$iciously li e !ranola filled an assortment of mason )ars. She found instant coffee and creamer, a tiny !as sto%e and a sin that after a moment or two of rusty shrie s !ushed out clear mountain water. She made a &uic in%entory. 5e was ri!ht, there wasn't much. Cans of sou$, lots of them, than hea%ens. Crac ers, $owdered mil , e%en $owdered e!!s. Could someone ma e a $owdered(e!! omelet: She had a feelin! she was a lon! ways from her last &uarter($ounder and fries. She found a hand(thrown mu! and filled it with the coffee. She'd always hated instant, "ut that mornin!, in that mysterious, enchanted little house, it tasted "etter than any cu$ made from freshly !round "eans she'd e%er had. She too the ste$ u$ into the li%in! room to tell Crom$ton )ust that, only to find him stretched out on the sofa, sound aslee$. 5e'd un"uttoned his shirt, and e%en from halfway across the room she could feel the heat in his "ody. 5e'd damned well "etter not s$ontaneously com"ust, she thou!ht !rimly, starin! at him. A$art from the fact that it would "e a waste of a !or!eous male, she didn't want to ha%e to deal with it. ,hou!h it seemed as if this $articular !or!eous male was already !oin! to waste. ,here was a wor room off to the left of the li%in! room, and for once Daniel's $assion for order seemed to rule. Boo s lined the walls, stac ed ha$ha#ardly, "ut the wor surfaces were "are and $ristine. More 8eor!ette 5eyer. And science fiction, hardco%ers, $a$er"ac s, e%en a stac of comics. It was all %ery stran!e. ,he walls were far from "are. ,hey "ore $ainted murals with stran!e, mythic ima!es. ,here was nothin! o"%iously se'ual a"out them, and yet their sensuality seemed to reach out and entwine itself around her loins. 5ow could the man concentrate in a room li e this: It had the same !lorious %iew of the %alley "elow. She o$ened the window, lettin! in the fresh cool "ree#e, and $eered out, loo in! for any si!n of ha"itation. ,here was none as far as she could tell. Daniel was ri!ht, they were remote and safe. At least for now. It too her a while to find the narrow stairs u$ into the loft. It was a small room, with a in!(si#e mattress at an an!le on the floor. 3i!ht flooded in.a !reeny, forest li!ht.

and the windows were co%ered with a filmy white cloth that loo ed li e s$iderwe"s. ,he dresser was "lac (la&uered Chinese, the ru! was a ilim, the "ed $iled with anti&ue &uilts and laced $illows. 2ho had li%ed here, and why had they !i%en it u$ to an ascetic !rouch li e Daniel Crom$ton: 2hen she came "ac down the stairs she $aused, loo in! at the man slee$in! so $eacefully. 5is lon! "lac hair had come undone from the stri$ of material he'd used to tie it "ac , and it flowed around him. In re$ose he loo ed different. She would ha%e thou!ht he'd loo youn!er, more %ulnera"le, "ut nothin! could "e farther from the truth. In slee$ he loo ed e%ery year of the thirty(four she new him to "e, and the ele!ant features of his handsome face loo ed intimidatin!. She mo%ed closer, %a!uely wonderin! how dee$ly he sle$t. She could feel the heat emanatin! from him as she a$$roached. 5e'd un"uttoned his shirt, and she could see his smooth, slee ly muscled chest "eneath the denim shirt. She reached out a hand, to touch his forehead, to see if she could !au!e his tem$erature, when his eyes flew o$en to meet hers. 63oo "ut don't touch,6 he said in an un"eara"ly &uiet %oice. She was mesmeri#ed, "y the dar ness in his eyes, "y the stillness in his face. 62hy:6 she whis$ered. 6Because if you touch me, I'll ta e you. And I don't thin you're ready for that.6 ,he words shoc ed her into momentary silence. And then she fou!ht "ac . 67ou're really arro!ant, you now that, Dr. Crom$ton:6 5e smiled then. A slow, de%astatin!ly se'y smile that would ha%e melted her "ones if they weren't loc ed stiff with fury. 6I now,6 he said. 6And you're still not ready.6

Chapter Ten
5e couldn't ha%e meant it. Su#anna leaned a!ainst the wooden counter in the tiny itchen, starin! into her mu! of instant sou$. Daniel Crom$ton was hardly the ty$e to tal a"out ta in! her, li e some romance hero "ent on forced seduction. 5e was doin! it to moc her. But for once there had "een no moc ery in his dar , still eyes. ,hey had "een deadly serious, and she'd stum"led "ac from him, away from his heat, his intensity, away from tem$tation that was "oth a threat and a $romise. 5e'd risen from the o%erstuffed sofa, stretched, and he'd loo ed li e a different man than the hide"ound Dr. Crom$ton. 5is muscles mo%ed sinuously "eneath his s in, and he loo ed real, and dan!erous, and far too human. And Su#anna had run. She could hear him mo%in! around in the li%in! room, "ut she e$t still, unwillin! to face him for the moment as she concentrated on the watery sou$. She was feelin! warm herself, not uncomforta"ly so, and there was a faint tin!lin! in her hands. 4ro"a"ly stress and e'haustion, she told herself. ,hat would e'$lain her idiot attraction to a man li e Crom$ton, as well. Momentary insanity, caused "y not enou!h slee$. 6Did you find somethin! to eat:6 5e stood in the doorway, filled it, and she wished she could tell him to "utton u$ his

shirt a!ain. She couldn't. the heat from his "ody filled the small itchen, "athin! her. 6,here's not much. 2hat a"out you:6 She was $roud of the e%en tone of her %oice. 6I can ma e my %itamin drin .6 5e didn't mo%e into the room, a fact for which she could only "e !rateful. It was a small itchen. 2ith him there "eside her, it would "e un"eara"ly cram$ed. Dan!erously so. 67ou need somethin! else. Aren't you human: Don't you ha%e any $hysical needs:6 2ron! &uestion. 5e )ust loo ed at her for a moment, and the tem$erature in the itchen shot u$ another cou$le of notches. 6,here should "e food in the free#er,6 he said. 6I stoc ed it "efore I left last time, "ut I don't usually "other with it.6 67ou ha%e a free#er:6 6A !as one. In the shed.'' She mana!ed a )aunty smile, ho$in! to cut the tension in the room. 6May"e I won't star%e to death after all. ,he only thin! that would ma e life com$lete is a "ath.6 6,o the ri!ht of the li%in! room.6 6,here's a "athroom, as well:6 6It's $ositi%ely sy"aritic.6 She had to wait till he mo%ed from the doorway. She trailed alon! "ehind him, throu!h the li%in! room, $ast a narrow door she hadn't noticed, then sto$$ed short. 68od,6 she "reathed, 6it's hea%en.6 ,he "athroom was lar!er than the itchen. ,here was a stall shower made of a#ure tiles, a hu!e whirl$ool tu" encased in redwood, a stained(!lass s yli!ht lettin! in filtered rays. 6,he hot water's !as(fired, as well. 7ou can sit in the tu" for hours.6 6Daniel, I lo%e you,6 she muttered, "rushin! $ast his hot "ody. She turned around, a "eatific smile on her face. 62ho did you "uy this $lace from: It's the most wonderful house I'%e e%er seen in my life.6 6I "ou!ht the land from a friend of mine. I own a"out four hundred acres, he owns the rest. ,hat's why I fi!ure we're relati%ely safe here. ,he surroundin! forest is $ri%ate land.6 She had a sudden, unner%in! thou!ht. 67ou "ou!ht the land:6 6A"out fi%e years a!o.6 6,hen how did this house !et here:6 She didn't want to hear the answer. It would set all her $reconcei%ed notions awry. 6I "uilt it.6 65ow did you !et wor men out here, $lum"ers, electricians...:6 6No,6 he corrected her. 6I "uilt it. Myself.6 5e was watchin! her, !au!in! her reaction. 62hen it conies ri!ht down to it, construction, $lum"in! and the li e is %ery mathematical. And I'%e always had a certain a$titude for math.6 She )ust stared at him. She'd fallen in lo%e with this stran!e, une'$ected little house. ,hat it was the creation of a man she already found far too distur"in! to her senses, that it

reflected his heart and soul and mind, was somethin! she wasn't ready to acce$t. 6En)oy your "ath,6 he said, turnin! and lea%in! her there. She heard the music as she lay in the tu", the cool, her"(scented water flowin! around her. Somewhere in that outer room "e had a stereo, and the music filled the $lace. Another anomaly. She would ha%e thou!ht he'd li e free(form modern )a##, somethin! arrhythmic, atonal, entirely intellectual. Instead, it was the unmista a"le sound of 3yle 3o%ett, sin!in! somethin! $lainti%e and soulful. Any man who listened to 3yle 3o%ett couldn't "e all "ad. She didn't want to come out. She didn't want to loo into his eyes a!ain and see that cool, detached interest. 5e was far too tem$tin! as it was. 2hen she emer!ed from the tu", she'd "e calm, matter(of(fact, im$er%ious to her own irrational strea . She'd ma e them somethin! for dinner, and if thin!s went as scheduled, she'd watch him disa$$ear $rom$tly at @1AA $.m. She'd ha%e an easier time with him if she didn't ha%e to loo at him, didn't ha%e to ee$ her !a#e from his thin, sur$risin!ly erotic mouth. Didn't ha%e to i!nore his eyes, the set of his shoulders, the lon!, lon! le!s and muscled torso. ,o!ether they could fi!ure out what they were !oin! to do ne't. She certainly couldn't stay out here indefinitely, e%en if no one could find them. She'd !o cra#y. E'ce$t that $art of her wanted to drift. ,o lie in this cool tu" of water, to float throu!h this $atchwor &uilt of a house, to smell the $iney air and "reathe in the sunshine. She couldn't rid herself of the notion that she'd come home. And she wasn't ready to lea%e it &uite yet. 2hen she finally rose from the tu", her "ody was still too warm. She com"ed her wet hair, slathered some cream on her s in and $ulled on the clean clothes she'd "rou!ht with her. She sur%eyed her ,(shirt with a$$ro%al. It read If 2e Can Send /ne Man to the Moon, 2hy Can't 2e Send ,hem All: 4erha$s Daniel would !et the messa!e. She only wished he would. DANIE3 M/-ED /N,/ the narrow "alcony that hun! out o%er the %alley, and dran in the cool air. 5e let his shirt fla$ around him in the "ree#e as he leaned forward, !ri$$in! the railin!. 5e couldn't ima!ine e%er "ein! cold a!ain. /ddly enou!h, he wasn't $articularly uncomforta"le. It was a dry ind of heat, "urnin! inside him, fillin! him with an ed!y ener!y. Su#anna was wanderin! around his house, a cu$ of instant coffee in her hand, a wary e'$ression on her face. 5e didn't "lame her. She didn't now what to ma e of him. She'd decided he had to "e iddin! when he told her he wanted her, and she'd $ulled away from him, ee$in! her distance, treatin! it all as a )o e. It didn't feel li e a )o e. 5e wasn't used to wantin! anythin! as "adly as he wanted Su#anna Molloy. Ri!ht now it was all he could do to stand out in the afternoon li!ht and concentrate on his erratic $owers. She'd s$ent an hour in his sy"aritic "athroom, and when she'd emer!ed, fresh(faced, dressed in another defiant ,(shirt, loo in! at him out of wary "rown eyes as if he were a $olar "ear who'd wandered into town, it had ta en all his concentration not to !ra" her.

5e didn't consider for a moment that she mi!ht "e wary of his frea ish new $owers. Molloy was made of sterner stuff than that. She was afraid of her own reaction to him. Somethin! which $leased him enormously. 5e heard her a$$ear "ehind him on the narrow "alcony. 62hat are you doin! out here:6 she as ed &uietly. 6A little scientific e'$erimentation. I want to see whether I can set anythin! on fire.6 She mo%ed $ast him and leaned out o%er the railin!. 5e allowed himself the lu'ury of admirin! the lush cur%e of her hi$s in the faded denim. 6Do you thin that's wise:6 she said. 6I don't thin a forest fire would sol%e anythin!.6 67ou're ri!ht. But from what I'%e o"ser%ed so far, the heat is so stron!, and so concentrated, that whate%er catches on fire sim$ly disinte!rates "efore the "la#e has a chance to s$read. I want to see if I'm ri!ht.6 6And if you're wron!:6 6Science is a far ris ier "usiness than most $eo$le reali#e. If you don't ta e chances, you ne%er learn anythin!. See that tower throu!h the trees: It's an old metal watchtower, from "ac in 2orld 2ar ,wo. It has no earthly use.6 6So you're !oin! to $ut it out of its misery:6 6I'm !oin! to try.6 5e leaned forward, concentratin! on the wire structure, tryin! to remem"er how he'd mana!ed to detonate the car. 5e stared, and nothin! ha$$ened. 6May"e it only wor s when you're in%isi"le,6 she su!!ested after a lon! wait. 6No. Remem"er the $ar in! lot outside my condo.6 62hat ma es you thin you're res$onsi"le:6 6An educated !uess.6 5e tried "lin in! a few times, "ut nothin! ha$$ened. 5is nose itched, and he scrunched it. ,here was no sound from that distance. +ust yellow(white flames roc etin! into the s y where the o"ser%ation tower had once stood. 6Damn,6 Su#anna said softly. At least he'd "een ri!ht a"out one thin!.nothin! else cau!ht. 2ithin moments the fire was sim$ly a !ray $lume of smo e, "illowin! s yward. She turned to loo at him. 6Can you do anythin! "esides metal:6 6I don't now. 4ic somethin!.6 She $eered o%er the "alcony, then $ointed to a clearly dead, hu!e white $ine that lay in the midst of fallen trees. 6,ry that one.6 ,he s$eed of it shoc ed him. 5e loo ed, he "lin ed, he scrunched, and the tree "urst into flames. ,hey watched in tense silence to see whether the fire would s$read to the others, fallen tim"er, "ut it sim$ly flamed out at the underside of the tree, lea%in! nothin! "ut ash and charred fra!ments. 64retty neat tric , Dr. Crom$ton,6 Su#anna said in a cool %oice. 68rot any other little talents:6

5e loo ed at her. She was tryin! to loo "las@, "ut he could see the worry in her "rown eyes "ehind the wire(rimmed !lasses, see the faint an'iety in her soft mouth. 6I don't now,6 he said. 6But I'm !oin! to find out.6 5is eyes narrowed. 67ou sure you're feelin! all ri!ht:6 5e new it was cool out on the "alcony. 5e didn't feel it, with his ele%ated "ody heat, "ut neither did she. She seemed $erfectly comforta"le wearin! only a ,(shirt. 6I'm feelin! fine. 2hy shouldn't I "e:6 67ou !ot dowsed with the slime, as well. I can't fi!ure out why you ha%en't "een affected.6 63uc y me.6 6Do me a fa%or. 4ic an o")ect, stare at it for a moment, "lin and scrunch your nose.6 62hy:6 6Indul!e me.6 6I feel li e somethin! out of 'Bewitched,'6 she muttered, leanin! forward. 6,hat tree down there. ,o the left of what used to "e the o"ser%ation tower.6 She did as he'd ordered, concentratin!. Nothin! ha$$ened. 6,ry it a!ain.6 6,rust me, Daniel, I don't ha%e your a"ility to turn inanimate o")ects into cinders,6 she sna$$ed. 67ou're the su$erman around here.6 6I wish I could "e sure.6 6/f what:6 6Any num"er of thin!s. ,hat I was the only one affected. ,hat it was only inanimate thin!s.6 She stared at him. 62hat do you mean:6 62ho's to say I can't incinerate another human "ein!:6 5e'd ho$ed sayin! it out loud would ta e some of the horror out of the notion. It only made it worse. 5e $ushed away from the railin!. 6I'll "e in the la", wor in! on the slime. May"e I can "rea it down enou!h to find some answers.6 6An antidote:6 6If need "e. Ri!ht now I thin we're !oin! to need all the ad%anta!es we can muster. I don't thin the $eo$le at Bee"e are !oin! to for!et a"out us.6 62hat ma es you thin they now I came with you:6 6,hey now,6 he said. And he wal ed away from her. 2hile he could still ma e himself do it. S5E DIDN', MEAN to fall aslee$. She was )ust !oin! to lie down for a while on the sur$risin!ly comforta"le mattress u$stairs, )ust close her eyes and feel the cool air across

her s in. 2hen she awo e, it was $itch(dar , and she could only ho$e it was after ei!ht and she'd missed Daniel's disa$$earance. She fum"led around for her !lasses, then turned on the li!ht "eside the "ed. 5er scream echoed throu!h the eccentric little house. She heard Daniel, the $oundin! of his footste$s u$ the narrow fli!ht of stairs, and while she'd mana!ed to &uiet her screams, she couldn't catch her "reath. She felt her hands and face !row num" as she !as$ed for air, and the dar ness was all around her, and she was !oin! to die, she new it, the !reen slime had sim$ly ta en lon!er to !et to her, "ut it was !oin! to ill her. 5ard hands cau!ht her arms, sha in! her. 6Sto$ it,6 he said. 67ou're hy$er%entilatin!. Sna$ out of it96 She "it "ac her cho ed $rotest. Some distant $art of her "rain told her that he'd "e $erfectly ca$a"le of sla$$in! her if he thou!ht she needed it. She too a dee$, shudderin! "reath, tryin! to force her $anic down. 68ood !irl,6 he murmured, $ullin! her into his arms, a!ainst the fiery heat of his chest. 5e was wearin! a ,(shirt.she could feel the soft cotton "eneath her clutchin! fin!ers, and "eneath that the solid "one and muscle. It calmed her, as nothin! else would. 6Don't call me girl,6 she muttered, "uryin! her face a!ainst his shoulder. She could feel his smile. 67es, ma'am. 2hat ha$$ened: 7ou're not the ty$e of woman who has hysterics.6 She $ulled away reluctantly, starin! u$ at him throu!h her !lasses. 6I'm "lind,6 she said sim$ly. 0or a moment he didn't mo%e. 62hat do you mean "y that: It's after ei!ht.e%en I can see my reflection in the mirror.6 6I told you, I'm "lind. I turned on the li!ht and e%erythin!'s a com$lete "lur.6 6Blurred is "etter than "lind,6 he said flatly. 6Can you see some thin!s "etter than others: 2hen I'm in%isi"le my "ody loo s "lurred to me, "ut e%erythin! else is in focus.6 6I'm not in%isi"le,6 she sna$$ed. 6I now.6 5e sounded )ust as rattled, which sur$rised her. 6+ust answer the &uestion. Is e%erythin! fu##y:6 67es.6 She could see his outline as he sat on the mattress, watchin! her. 6Descri"e it. In detail.6 6It's the slime, I now it. I'%e "een feelin! hot all afternoon. Not a sweaty ind of heat, )ust a dry, tin!lin! ind of warmth.6 She shi%ered. 62hen I lay down a few hours a!o I could see $erfectly. Now it feels as if my !lasses are coated with -aseline.6 0or a moment he didn't mo%e. 6Interestin!,6 he murmured. And reachin! out, he $luc ed her !lasses off her face. E%erythin! focused, with a swiftness that was com$letely disorientin!. She stared at him in the half(li!ht, shoc ed. 6,his is im$ossi"le,6 she said in a hushed %oice. 6Is it:6

6I'%e worn !lasses since I was in the third !rade. I can't see a thin! without them.6 67ou can now.6 She too her !lasses from him and held them u$. 6/h, my 8od,6 she said &uietly. 62elcome to the world of miracles,6 he drawled. 5e reached out and $ut his hand alon! the side of her nec in what felt alarmin!ly li e a caress. She tried to )er away, then stilled. 6,hat's "etter. I'm only tryin! to chec your $ulse,6 he said. 6Most $eo$le use the wrist.6 6,he carotid artery is a "etter indicator. 7our $ulse is racin!.6 6I'%e had a shoc ,6 she said, stu""ornly i!norin! the fact that his hand, strayin! inside the nec of her ,(shirt, was dou"tless res$onsi"le for at least $art of her condition. 67our s in is warm. Not as warm as mine, "ut warmer than it was,6 he o"ser%ed in a detached %oice. 63et me listen to your heart.6 5e mo%ed to $ress his head a!ainst her "reasts, "ut this time she'd had enou!h. She )um$ed off the "ed and s ittered away from him. 6My heart's )ust fine, than you,6 she said. 6I wonder why it too so lon! for it to affect you,6 Daniel murmured, suddenly analytical. 6It's "een more than forty(ei!ht hours since the la" e'$losion, and I started "ein! affected almost immediately.6 64ro"a"ly "ecause I didn't ta e a "ath in the stuff,6 she said crossly. 67ou !ot the full "runt of it. I only had a little on my hands.6 5e loo ed at her, an arrested e'$ression on his face. 6I ee$ for!ettin! you ha%e a mind.6 6Do you really:6 she said acidly. 6I !uess it's my "lond "im"o loo s.6 6No,6 he said fran ly. 6But you are distractin!.6 She wasn't sure how she wanted to res$ond to that, so she a%oided it, !ettin! "ac to more im$ortant matters. 6Did you learn anythin! a"out the slime:6 6Not yet. 7ou can't rush these thin!s.6 6I thou!ht we didn't ha%e much time.6 She was tryin! to rile him. She failed. 67ou ha%e a $oint. I'm !oin! "ac to wor .6 5e rose, and she !ot a !ood loo at the ,(shirt he was wearin!. 6Eat ri!ht, e'ercise, die anyway,6 it said. 5ardly reassurin!. 62hat a"out dinner:6 6I'll ma e myself a %itamin drin .6 6No, you won't. I'll ma e us somethin!.6 A wry smile cur%ed his mouth. 67ou're feelin! domestic, Molloy: I wouldn't ha%e thou!ht it of you.6 6I'm feelin! hun!ry,6 she corrected him. 6And you need solid food, not %itamin

drin . I want you to "e in to$ $hysical condition.6 5is smile widened. 6Any $articular reason:6 6I'd li e us to sur%i%e.6 5e touched her a!ain. A "rief, tender caress on the side of her face, a whis$er of a stro e "efore he dro$$ed his hand a!ain. 62e will, Molloy. I $romise you.6 She made him $asta, with e%ery ind of %e!eta"le she could find thrown into the sauce. 5e "arely noticed her when she "rou!ht a tray into the la", which was no lon!er the s$otless o$eratin! room it had once seemed. 4ara$hernalia was strewn o%er the counters, and she sho%ed a $ile of $a$ers out of the way and dum$ed the tray down. 6Eat,6 she said. 6E%entually.6 5e didn't mo%e from the microsco$e. 6Eat,6 she re$eated firmly. 6I'm !oin! to stay here and "u! you until you do.6 5e lifted his head, focusin! on her as if he'd for!otten her %ery e'istence until now. 5e $ro"a"ly had, she thou!ht wryly. 5e !lanced at the o%erfilled $late and sniffed warily. 62hat's in it:6 6Broccoli, e!!, !reen $e$$ers, onions, mushrooms, $ea $ods and cheese.6 6No "eef:6 6,here is no "eef. Not unless I !o out and rustle a cow myself,6 she said !rum$ily. 68ood.6 5e hunched one hi$ onto a stool and too a for ful. 5e ate half the $late, slowly, methodically, and then loo ed u$ at her with dawnin! sur$rise. 6It's !ood,6 he said. 6/f course it's !ood. I now how to coo . 7ou )ust don't now how to eat,6 she !rum"led. 5e didn't ta e offense. 68ood $oint,6 he said, rededicatin! himself to his dinner. 5e finished it, ate the !arlic "read and then loo ed u$ ho$efully. 6Dessert:6 6I thou!ht you didn't care a"out food.6 67ou're ha%in! an insidious effect on me.6 5e rose, mo%in! toward her, and it was all she could do not to "ac away from him. She'd "een feelin! warmer, "ut his heat still far outstri$$ed hers. 6Dessert:6 6I'll "rin! it in,6 she said in a resi!ned %oice. 62hat a"out coffee: /r are you !oin! to insist on some !odawful her" tea:6 6Coffee,6 he muttered, considerin! it. 62ith caffeine. 3ots of it.6 5e turned and went "ac to the microsco$e, dismissin! her $resence. She was half tem$ted to ta e the tray and slam it o%er his head. 2ho did he thin she was.his maid: ,hen a!ain, she didn't necessarily want his $resence. As lon! as he was immured in his la" she could i!nore him. /r, at least, ma e a damned !ood sta" at it. 5e didn't loo u$ when she "rou!ht the coffee and "rownies in, and she left. 5e

$ro"a"ly wouldn't notice cold coffee, she thou!ht, stuffin! her fourth "rownie into her mouth. She ste$$ed out onto the "alcony, lettin! the cool air rush o%er her. ,he moon was "ri!ht o%erhead, almost full, and she could see a rin! of frost around it. It was a cold ni!ht. And she could "arely feel a chill. She thou!ht a"out the man "ehind the closed door, his erratic $owers and the uncanny effect he had on her. She was in trou"le.in %ery dee$ trou"le.since the moment she'd first snuc into Bee"e head&uarters in search of the elusi%e Dr. Crom$ton. ,he sooner this whole mess was resol%ed, the "etter for her heart and mind. Because she was reali#in!, des$ite her "est efforts, she'd done more than fall in lo%e with the man's house. She'd "e!un fallin! in lo%e with the man himself, and there was no future for a !irl re$orter and America's secret wea$on. 4articularly when he turned into a downside %ersion of a su$erhero.

Chapter Eleven
Daniel ru""ed a weary hand across his eyes. 5e was !ettin! nowhere. Each time he thou!ht he was on the %er!e of isolatin! the com$onents of the slime, the solution esca$ed him. 5e'd "een wor in! for hours, sto$$in! only lon! enou!h to wander into the dar ened itchen and !et himself more "rownies and coffee. 5e'd eaten half a $an of the "rownies.he'd ne%er reali#ed he had a sweet tooth. 5e hadn't $aid much attention to the coffee, "ut at least it had e$t him !oin!. =ntil now. 5e !lanced at his watch. It was &uarter $ast fi%e in the mornin!. 5e had forty(fi%e minutes "efore he %anished a!ain. 5e had a hard time wor in! when he was in%isi"le. ,he "lurred outline of his hands distracted him as he wor ed at the microsco$e, and he'd )a""ed himself in the eye more than once when he'd miscalculated. Su#anna had disa$$eared hours a!o, and he could only assume she was in the loft, aslee$. 3yin! there, $ro"a"ly wearin! nothin! more than a ,(shirt, her warm "ody soft and rela'ed in slee$. 5e wondered what would ha$$en if he issed her. Closin! the la" door silently "ehind him, he started u$stairs to find out. 5e sto$$ed halfway u$ the narrow fli!ht and turned, instinct callin! to him. ,he door was o$en to the narrow "alcony, and he could see her out there, "athed in moonli!ht, hands clutchin! the railin!. And he reali#ed with shoc that there was a li!ht snow fallin!. 5e was wron! a"out the ,(shirt. She was wearin! a short, sil y ind of ni!ht!own, the ind he'd seen in a -ictoria's Secret catalo! he'd once $erused, for scientific $ur$oses, of course. It clun! to her cur%es in a caress, and he wanted to follow those lush cur%es with his hand. 5e came out on the "alcony "ehind her. 6It's snowin!.6 She didn't turn. She must ha%e nown he was there. Snow was driftin! down onto her "are shoulders, lin!erin! for a moment, then meltin!. 6I had a dream a"out the man we found in the stairwell.6 6+ac son,6 Daniel su$$lied. 5e mo%ed closer, tryin! to warm her with his heat. She was cold, he could see it in the faint "lue color to her soft li$s, he could see it in the hardness of her ni$$les a!ainst the sil . 5e wanted her ni$$les hard. But he wanted to "e

the one who made them that way, with his mouth. 6It was an awful way to die.6 6I'm not sure if there are any !ood ways.6 She turned and loo ed at him, sorrow in her healed eyes. 62ho do you thin him: And why: 2as it the same $erson who tried to "low u$ your la":6 illed

6I thin +ac son was res$onsi"le for that. And I don't now why he was illed. May"e he new too much. May"e he was tryin! to dou"le(cross them. May"e he'd )ust outli%ed his usefulness.6 6It sounds li e a +ames Bond no%el.6 5e shru!!ed, mo%in! closer. She was shi%erin!< he was hot. She'd made a )o e a"out a cold shower si##lin! on his s in. 5e was sur$rised the snow didn't disa$$ear in a cloud of %a$or when it landed on his arms. 6It's not a no%el,6 he said. 6=nfortunately it's real.6 67es,6 she said, 6it's real.6 Suddenly she ru""ed her arms. 6I'm cold,6 she added, sur$rised. 63et me warm you.6 5e $ulled her into his arms, and after a momentary resistance she let him. ,he tremors that rac ed her "ody increased, and he scoo$ed her u$ effortlessly, carryin! her "ac into the li%in! room and slidin! the door shut "ehind him. 6Damn,6 he muttered "eneath his "reath. 6I didn't !et the heat !oin!.6 6,hat's all ri!ht,6 she murmured slee$ily. 67ou're %ery warm.6 5e !lanced down at her. 5e was more than warm, he was hot.for her. 6All ri!ht,6 he said, mo%in! to the hu!e old sofa, sin in! down and "rin!in! her with him. She was still sha in! from the cold, and $erha$s somethin! else as well, and if he were a decent, honora"le man he'd set her down and find her a &uilt, wra$ her u$ and lea%e her "e. 5e didn't feel the sli!htest "it decent, or honora"le. 5e sat "ac , cradled her a!ainst him and cau!ht her chin in his hand. She stared at him out of those newly focused eyes, wary, waitin!. But she didn't mo%e when he $ut his mouth a!ainst hers, slowly, deli"erately, his li$s on hers. 5er mouth was cold, and he warmed it. 5er li$s were dry, and he moistened them. 5e $ressed his thum" a!ainst her )aw !ently, and her mouth o$ened "eneath his, so that he could taste her, and he heard a &uiet little si!h, a moan of $leasure that could ha%e come from her, or from him. 5er "ody warmed, softened, flowed a!ainst his. She lay curled in his la$, her hands clutchin! his shoulders, as he issed her, issed her until he was ready to !o u$ in smo e, "reathless, mindless, cra#y with the heat and the need. She was soft and slee$y a!ainst him, and her ton!ue met his, shyly, with a touch of ea!erness that )ust a"out destroyed him. 5e "ro e away, trailin! slow, hun!ry isses down the slender column of her nec , and she arched a!ainst him as his hand closed down o%er one "reast. It fitted his hand $erfectly. Cool throu!h the sil y material, it wanned, swelled a!ainst him, and he wanted to taste her there, too. ,here were "uttons, damna"le tiny $earl "uttons down the front of the ni!ht!own. 5e i!nored them, slidin! the thin stra$s down o%er her arms, "arin! her small, $erfect

"reasts. And then he fro#e. 6Did I do that to you:6 he demanded, $ullin! away. ,he mood was shattered. 5er eyes, dreamily half(closed, now shot o$en. Color flooded her face, and she yan ed the ni!ht!own u$, "ac in! away from him on the wide sofa. 6Do what:6 she mana!ed to cho e out. 6,he "ruises. /n your "reast.6 She tu!!ed the !own around her, a wasted effort, !i%en the s im$iness of the thin!. 6No.6 6,hen who did:6 A sudden, dauntin! thou!ht entered his mind. 5e'd ne%er for one moment considered that she mi!ht "e in%ol%ed with someone. ,he li%id "ruises on her "reast mi!ht ha%e "een !ladly recei%ed, the "y($roduct of a little rou!h se'. 68o away,6 she said, curlin! u$ in a little "all, turnin! her face away from him, into the sofa cushion. 5e $ut his hand on her shoulder, felt her coolness, and he turned her, careful to tem$er his stren!th, refusin! to let her hide from him. 62ho did it:6 5e could see "y the e'$ression in her eyes that it had come from no demandin! lo%er. 6/s"orn,6 she said finally. 6In the hos$ital room, when I was $retendin! to "e unconscious.6 ,he fury that swe$t o%er him was so stron!, so $owerful that he thou!ht he mi!ht e'$lode with the force and heat of it. 5e wanted to smash his fist into /s"orn's fat, unctuous face. 5e wanted to storm and ra!e and ill. ,he emotions startled him. 5e wasn't used to them, to the need for re%en!e, the fierce $rotecti%eness, any more than he was used to the o%erwhelmin! lust he felt for the woman curled u$ in the sofa, her face hidden from him. Com"ined with an odd, soul( shatterin! tenderness. 5e too a ste$ away from the sofa, tryin! to !o%ern his an!er. 6,here are ad%anta!es to this,6 he mana!ed to say in a dece$ti%ely cool %oice. She lifted her head to loo at him, startled. 5er chee s were still flame red, "ut her mouth was soft, sli!htly swollen from his isses, and he wished to 8od he wasn't still hard. ,hat he could sim$ly wal away from her, concentratin! on his an!er. 62hat do you mean:6 5er %oice was &uiet, wary. 5e leaned a!ainst a "oo case. 6I'll !et a chance to see whether I can turn a man to cinders as &uic ly as I can a car.6 She thou!ht he was iddin!. She mana!ed a wea chuc le. 6If /s"orn holds still lon! enou!h for you to e'$eriment.6 6I'll ma e sure he does.6 Somethin! in his !rim tone $enetrated her self(consciousness, and she loo ed at him. 6No, Daniel. I won't let you ill another human "ein!. 7ou're too ci%ili#ed. It would end u$ destroyin! you.6 6I'm not nearly as ci%ili#ed as you thin . I ne%er ha%e "een. 7ou'%e made any num"er

of assum$tions a"out me, and most of them ha%e "een wron!.6 She !lanced around her. 6I was wron! a"out the house,6 she admitted. 6But I'm not wron! a"out you. By nature you're cold, methodical, controlled. 7ou're not a man ruled "y his $assionsGGG6 5e'd hauled her from the sofa "efore she had time to finish, $ullin! her u$ ti!ht a!ainst him, her "reasts $ressed a!ainst his chest, her hi$s a!ainst his unmista a"le erection. 6If you thin I'm cold, Su#anna,6 he said in a &uiet, dan!erous %oice, 6then you're for!ettin! what my hands feel li e when they touch you. If you thin I'm methodical or controlled, then you ha%en't "een $ayin! attention. And if you thin I'm not ruled "y my $assions ...6 5e issed her then, hard, his hand threadin! throu!h her hair to hold her head still, his mouth wet and hun!ry on hers, !i%in! her no chance to e%ade him. She didn't want to. 2ith a little whim$er of $assion, she threaded her arms around his nec , archin! into his em"race. 5e lifted her a!ainst him, and her lon! le!s wra$$ed around him. ,o!ether they tum"led "ac onto the sofa, and her hands were slidin! u$ under his ,(shirt, cool, arousin!, as her mouth answered his, and he was ready. ,he first cram$ hit him with the force of a "low to the stomach. 5e fell "ac , away from her, as if he'd "een shoc ed. 5e willed the damned $ain to sto$< "ut it didn't.it washed o%er him, and he new what was ha$$enin!, and there wasn't a thin! he could do to sto$ it. 5e shuddered, and there was a flash of "one(chillin! cold swee$in! o%er him, and his )aw loc ed in a !rimace of $ain "efore he shut his eyes, tryin! to ride that $ain. 2hen he o$ened them a!ain, Su#anna was across the room, white(faced. 5e loo ed down and saw the too(familiar fu##y outline. 5e'd %anished a!ain. S=>ANNA 2AN,ED ,/ SCREAM and cry. She felt "uffeted "y emotions, feelin!s she hadn't e'$erienced in years, if e%er. 5er "ody was hot, aroused, e'&uisitely sensiti%e, her mouth tender. And the damned man had the !all to disa$$ear. She had no idea where he was. 5er own heart was "eatin! too wildly, her own "reath comin! too ra$idly, for her to hear his. She whirled around, headin! for the stairs, stal in!. An unseen hand cau!ht her wrist, haltin! her a"ru$tly. She could feel the tensile stren!th in his fin!ers, and she remem"ered how easily those fin!ers had turned the metal loc to $owder "ac at Bee"e head&uarters. 5e could do the same to her "ones. But he wouldn't. Des$ite the dan!er she had seen in his eyes, des$ite his insistence that he was far from ci%ili#ed, she new he wouldn't hurt her. 63et !o of me, Daniel,6 she said in a %ery &uiet %oice. 5is fin!ers encircled her wrist, his thum" stro in! the $ale, "lue(%eined $ulse. She could see the mo%ement of her s in "eneath his touch, "ut she couldn't see his hand. And then he let her !o. She sensed him mo%in! across the room, away from her, "ut he had a !ift for silence, somethin! that was $articularly frustratin!. 6I'm !oin! to !o for a wal .6 5is %oice came from o%er "y the door. 6I'll "e "ac at ei!ht.6 67ou don't need to !o,6 she found herself sayin!.

67es, I do.6 ,here was no missin! the su$$ressed %iolence in his %oice. ,he door slammed "ehind him, and she was alone, "itterly alone in the cold house. She missed him. Missed the heat of his "ody, the stren!th in his arms. Missed his mouth. She'd "een ready to let him stri$ off her clothes and ta e her, ri!ht there and then, on that o%erstuffed sofa that was almost as wide as a "ed. 2hile she should "e than in! her luc y stars that fate had inter%ened, she found instead that she was merely sha in! with frustrated reaction. She too a fast shower, a hot one, to warm her chilled s in. It wasn't until she was $ullin! on a ,(shirt that the o"%ious "it her. Daniel Crom$ton wanted her. 2anted her &uite "adly, $ossi"ly as much as she wanted him. ,here was no dis!uisin! the $assion in his mouth, the tension in his hands, the state of his arousal. She sat down on the mattress, stunned. She could come u$ with all sorts of reasons why this reali#ation should "e disastrous. It was $ro"a"ly )ust a case of a"stinence ma in! the heart !row fonder. 5e $ro"a"ly had a "e%y of willin! females, "ac in Santa Cristina. May"e it was the dan!er that had caused his li"ido to react, ma in! him reach for the nearest, the only female. May"e he was the ind of man who sim$ly had to ma e a $ass at e%ery woman. /r may"e, )ust may"e, he was as drawn to her as she was to him. 0or whate%er mysterious reason, no matter how im$ractical it mi!ht seem, there was somethin! "etween them, somethin! dar and dan!erous, somethin! "ri!ht and trium$hant, somethin! that went "eyond $etty misunderstandin!s or e%en the fate of the world. She mo%ed to the window, loo in! out into the mornin! li!ht. It was cool and o%ercast, and she could see the "lac ened lea%es that had "een hit "y the hea%y frost. 5ow lon! would he "e !one: And what was he $lannin! to do when he came "ac : 4retend it ne%er ha$$ened: /r finish what he started: And she didn't now which $ossi"ility fri!htened her more. IN ,5E END, it didn't matter. Daniel didn't return at ei!ht o'cloc . By nine o'cloc Su#anna "e!an to worry. By ele%en she was furious. By twel%e she was terrified. By one she went in search of him. ,here was a li!ht rain fallin!, more of a mist than an actual cloud"urst. She followed the $ath, dee$er into the woods, all the time fi!htin! the &uestions that hurtled themsel%es at her head. 2hat if he'd stayed in%isi"le this time: 2hat if /s"orn and his crew had cau!ht him: 2hat if he'd decided he'd do "etter on his own, and he'd a"andoned her: She e$t clim"in!, as the rain started soa in! into her ,(shirt, chillin! her to the "one. She couldn't stand to !o "ac to that ca"in alone, not nowin! what had ha$$ened to him. In the distance she thou!ht she cau!ht a faint whiff of smo e, and she felt a sudden fore"odin!. She "e!an to hurry, scram"lin! her way u$ward as the $ath stee$ened, slidin! in the mud and scra$in! her arm, !ra""in! hold of old roots to haul herself u$ toward the

rid!e. 2hen she finally reached the clearin!, she $aused, momentarily stunned "y the !lory of the %iew. And then she was e&ually stunned "y the si!ht of Daniel, sittin! cross(le!!ed on the wet !round, com$letely %isi"le. 5e didn't seem aware of her a$$roach. 5e was "usy starin! at a row of se%eral $iles of refuse, "rush and twi!s and the li e, and as she watched he set each one aflame. Su#anna scram"led to her feet, seethin!. 5e !lanced at her o%er his shoulder, then turned "ac to his little e'$eriment, dismissin! her as easily as he'd dismissed her this mornin!. She wal ed o%er to him and stood directly "ehind him, wonderin! how she could hurt him. She was loo in! around, tryin! to find somethin! to hit him with, when he leaned "ac a!ainst her le!s, his head a!ainst her thi!hs, the warmth shootin! throu!h her li e an electric current. She reached down. 5is lon! "lac hair hun! wet and loose on his shoulders, and she sifted her fin!ers throu!h the sil y len!th. And yan ed, as hard as she could. 5e let out a truly satisfyin! shrie of $ain, lea$in! away from her. 5e ended u$ crouched on the !round, starin! at her, shoc and affronted di!nity warrin! for control. 62hat the hell did you do that for:6 he demanded. 6,hat hurt.6 67ou'%e "een !one for hours,6 she said coolly. 6I was afraid somethin! had ha$$ened to you.6 6Somethin! did ha$$en to me. A cra#y woman tried to $ull my hair out.6 5e !lared at her. 6I don't understand what your $ro"lem is. I told you I was !oin! for a wal .6 67ou left the house at si' o'cloc this mornin!. ,hat was more than se%en hours a!o. I was afraid you mi!ht ha%e fallen off a cliff.6 6It $ro"a"ly wouldn't ha%e hurt as much,6 he said, ru""in! his scal$. 6As a matter of fact, I was wor in!. I tend to for!et a"out time when I'm in%ol%ed in somethin!.6 6Do tell,6 she said acidly. 6And what ha%e you disco%ered:6 ,o her increased discomfort he suddenly smiled at her. 6Any num"er of thin!s. I found I could re!ulate the area in which I direct the flames, and the intensity, as well. I can scorch somethin!, or turn it to ashes. It's all a matter of control. I also chec ed the limits of my stren!th. I could $ush o%er that tree o%er there,6 he nodded in the direction of a !ood(si#ed $ine tree that lay on its side in the mud, its roots "rutally e'$osed, 6"ut I couldn't lift it. My %ision is the same.no '(ray ca$a"ilities, and I'm not.6 he !lared at her a!ain 6.im$er%ious to $ain. I don't thin I &uite &ualify as a su$erman. My ma)or talent seems to "e reducin! thin!s to cinders.6 6/ ay, you can "e Cinderman,6 she said. 6It has a nice rin!. I "et the !ational "n#uirer will lo%e it.6 6Don't e%en thin it.6 She was findin! an e%en more satisfyin! re%en!e than yan in! at his hair. 6,hey $ay &uite well, I hear. Es$ecially if you'%e !ot somethin! uni&ue, and you, my dear Daniel,

are definitely ta"loid material. It's too "ad we can't throw in a Cinderman diet and tryst with 4rincess Di, "ut e%en so, I ima!ine we can drum u$ a fair amount of interest. I could e%en $ut my story out for auction. I could "e set for life.6 She'd !one too far. ,he tension in his shoulders rela'ed sli!htly, and he rose slowly and !racefully, the rain "eatin! down around them on the hi!h $lateau o%erloo in! the forest. 67ou may not have a life,6 he said. 6Not if /s"orn and his $als ha%e their way.6 62hy: 2hy should they want to ill you, and me, as well: 2hy did they murder that man in the stairwell: And don't !i%e me that +ames Bond cra$ a!ain. I want to now e'actly what is !oin! on.6 5e considered it for a moment, watchin! her, and she half held her "reath, waitin! for another lie, another denial. Instead he came toward her, ta in! her hand in his and leadin! her "ac toward the stee$ $ath. 6I want answers,6 she said, tryin! to hold "ac . She mi!ht )ust as well ha%e tried to sto$ a ra!in! "ull. Daniel e$t mo%in!, and his !ri$ on Su#anna ne%er loosened, so that she was forced alon! after him, s iddin! a "it in the mud. 67ou'll !et your answers,6 he said, startin! down the stee$est $art. 6But first I need a hot shower, some coffee and somethin! to eat.6 67ou can ma e your %itamin drin .6 5e !lanced "ac at her, and there was that damna"le, seducti%e sweetness in his smile. 6I thin I'%e de%elo$ed a taste for "rownies,6 he said. 6Amon! other thin!s. Come alon!, Su#anna.6 0ollowin! him down the narrow, windin! $ath !a%e her $lenty of time to thin of re%en!e. Ne%er once did he let !o of her hand< e%en when she slid and s idded into him, he a"sor"ed the "low with calm determination. She could always $ush him off the "alcony, she thou!ht. /r may"e !et him to try his incendiary $owers on a $ro$ane tan . ,he house loomed u$ out of the mist, sooner than she would ha%e thou!ht. 62ait a minute,6 he said, finally releasin! her hand, not noticin! that she did her "est to snatch it to her in affronted di!nity. 6Stay $ut.6 5e ad%anced on the house silently, doin! a swift sur%eillance. 5e disa$$eared "ehind it, then came "ac . 6I don't thin anyone's "een here,6 he said. 6If you thou!ht someone mi!ht show u$, why did you lea%e me here alone:6 she demanded. 6/h, I new you were more than a match for any of Armstead's little army who mi!ht ha$$en to show u$. 7ou could $ull their hair,6 he said cheerfully. ,he "alcony, she thou!ht, fumin!, "rushin! $ast him as she entered the house. It was dam$ and chilly inside, and Su#anna shi%ered. 6I'm !oin! to chan!e my clothes.6 ,he moment he closed the door "ehind him the tem$erature rose, as if someone had

)ust turned on the heat. 6Some coffee would "e nice, to !o with the "rownies,6 he said. She )ust loo ed at him. 63earn to coo .6 3ord, the man shouldn't ha%e a smile li e that9 +ust when he was already dri%in! her cra#y. 67ou can teach me,6 he said. 6Daniel...6 she called after him. 5e $aused, loo in! "ac at her. 62hat:6 She didn't now what she wanted. 5im to touch her, him to iss her, him to disa$$ear "ac into his la" or the ether or where%er so he wouldn't "e so infuriatin!, so distractin!, so irresisti"le. 6Don't ta e all the hot water,6 she said. 7ou could ta e a shower with me, his mind said, so clearly that she thou!ht she heard his %oice s$ea the words. 6All ri!ht,6 he a!reed after a moment. She watched him !o, sha en. It had "een her ima!ination. ,he result of 8od new what ind of stress. She couldn't ha%e heard his thou!hts.it sim$ly wasn't $ossi"le. But it wasn't $ossi"le that her twenty(year nearsi!htedness had suddenly "een cured, and it wasn't $ossi"le that Daniel Crom$ton could set thin!s on fire and turn in%isi"le from si' to ei!ht e%ery mornin! and e%enin! and ha%e su$erhuman stren!th. Ne%ertheless that was e'actly what had ha$$ened so far. And now she could read his mind. It was a !ift she could ha%e done without, and if it were u$ to her she'd shut it off. But it wasn't necessarily u$ to her, any more than Daniel could control whether he turned in%isi"le or not. She could only ho$e he'd fi!ure out an antidote to the !reen !oo$ fast. Before she de%elo$ed any more unner%in! talents.

Chapter Twelve
Su#anna stri$$ed off her rain(sodden clothes, $ulled on fresh ones and sat cross( le!!ed on the futon mattress. She didn't want to loo at Crom$ton, didn't want to !i%e herself the o$$ortunity to read his mind. ,oo much had ha$$ened in the last forty(ei!ht hours or so, and she wasn't &uite ready to deal with all the ramifications. She didn't want to "e a"le to loo into Crom$ton's cool, dar eyes and see what he thou!ht of her. ,here were some thin!s "etter left un nown. ,here were $iles of "oo s and news$a$ers in the "edroom as well as e%ery other s&uare inch of the house, and she !ra""ed for the first thin! she could reach. ,o her ama#ement she found it was a "oo on the S$anish ridin! school in Austria, an odd choice, "ut in ee$in! with the catholic nature of his li"rary. 5e seemed to ha%e a "oo on almost e%ery su")ect, and his interests were a"surdly %aried. She'd seen science fiction, "oo s on car mechanics, financial !uides, what seemed to "e the com$lete wor s of 8eor!ette 5eyer and +ane Austen, the history of costume, mi'ed in with "oo s on scientific su")ects so arcane that e%en she, with her 4h.D., was a$$alled. She'd ne%er "een $articularly interested in horses, "ut as she heard Daniel lea%e that

a"surdly lu'urious "athroom she o$ened the "oo and immersed herself in the te't, determined not to let an errant thou!ht, either hers or his, stray into her consciousness. 6I sa%ed enou!h hot water for you.6 5is %oice floated o%er the "alcony of the loft "edroom. She didn't answer, concentratin! instead on the fine $oints of dressa!e. =ntil she heard his %oice at the "ottom of the stairs. 6Su#anna:6 She didn't want him comin! u$ there. She didn't want to "e in the same small area, loo in! at him, remem"erin! what had ha$$ened in the $redawn, remem"erin! the feel and the touch and the taste of him. 6I'm fine,6 she called "ac . 6I'll ta e a shower in a little while.6 Silence, and she held her "reath, starin! fi'edly at the words as they swam in front of her. 6I'll "e in the la" then,6 he said. 6I'm not li ely to surface until you come and !et me.6 60ine,6 she said airily. Come and !et me, his mind echoed in hers, and she $ushed her face closer to the "oo , tryin! to $ush his thou!hts away. A moment later the door to the la" closed, and she "reathed a si!h of relief, rollin! onto her "ac , the "oo for!otten at her side. ,here was a roof window a"o%e and the autumn dus was already settlin! around the funny little ca"in. She could see the massi%e $ines o%erhead, swayin! in the wind. Des$ite her dry clothes, she was still chilled, and she $ulled the du%et around her, turnin! her face into the $illow, closin! her eyes, closin! her mind, shuttin! out the dou"ts and fears that had "een $la!uin! her. She ne%er thou!ht she was the ind of woman who had dou"ts and fears. She was tou!h< she met challen!es head(on. But these recent challen!es were too much for her. She wanted $eace, she wanted comfort, 3ord, she wanted someone to ta e care of her9 An e'tremely odd notion, when she'd learned throu!h her life that the only $erson she could rely on was herself. She wanted to rely on Daniel Crom$ton. She wanted to now that she didn't ha%e to watch her "ac , that he'd "e watchin! for her. +ust as she could watch out for him, as well. She wanted a $artnershi$, true lo%e, ha$$y e%er after, all that stu$id, $re$ro!rammed, fairy(tale stuff that she'd resisted all her life. And she wanted it with Daniel Crom$ton. She could hear him mo%in! a"out in the la". If she held herself %ery still, she could hear his thou!hts "u""lin! around in his "rilliant mind. 5e wasn't thin in! a"out her, he was thin in! a"out the !reen slime. A reassurin!, disa$$ointin! reali#ation, Su#anna thou!ht with a wry !rin. And $ullin! the du%et o%er her head, she fell aslee$. 0/R ,5E 0IRS, ,IME in his life, Daniel was ha%in! trou"le concentratin!. As he hunched o%er the microsco$e, ad)ustin! the field, he e$t thin in! a"out Su#anna. A"out the ma!nificent ra!e in her warm "rown eyes, no lon!er fettered "y !lasses, the force in her hands as she'd yan ed on his hair, the fury that had %i"rated throu!h her tall, !or!eous

"ody. 5e had loo ed at her out on that rain(swe$t rid!e, at the ra!e and frustration in her face, and nown that she lo%ed him. 5e was still reelin! from that nowled!e. She was fi!htin! it.he new that full well. She didn't want to fall in lo%e, and he couldn't "lame her. 0rom what he'd o"ser%ed, it was messy and incon%enient, distractin! e%en the most disci$lined mind from more im$ortant matters. 3oo what it was doin! to him. 5e lifted his head, stunned at the reali#ation. 5ell and damnation, he was not !oin! to fall in lo%e with Su#anna Molloy. She was "eautiful, "rilliant, cantan erous and an intrusion into his well(ordered life. E'ce$t that his life had "een far from well(ordered recently. 5a%in! his la" "lown u$, "ein! co%ered with !reen slime, turnin! into.what had she called him: Cinderman: .had all "een far from con%entional. 0allin! in lo%e would "e the cou$ de !race, and he had e%ery intention of fi!htin! it tooth and nail. ,hat didn't mean he didn't re%el in the fact that the mi!hty Su#anna Molloy had fallen. And he had e%ery intention of ta in! ad%anta!e of that fact, as soon as she'd hold still enou!h for him to !et her in "ed. 5e mi!ht e%en marry her. 5e'd ne%er considered marria!e, "ut ha%in! s$ent forty( ei!ht hours with the cran y Ms. Molloy, he could see it would definitely ha%e its ad%anta!es. 5e'd disco%ered an a"solute cra%in! for "rownies. And for Su#anna Molloy. 5e wondered idly how much con%incin! she was !oin! to need. She was %ery, %ery "ri!ht.that was $art of what drew him to her. 5e could sim$ly state the o"%ious ad%anta!es of a union, and if she were as sensi"le as she was intelli!ent, she'd a!ree. In his e'$erience, women were seldom sensi"le. E%en the "est and the "ri!htest of them, and Su#anna fitted or e%en transcended that cate!ory. She mi!ht "e )ust as li ely to throw his well($lanned su!!estion in his face. 5e leaned "ac , starin! out into the dar enin! s y. May"e he'd sim$ly ha%e to seduce her into com$lyin!. It had certain a$$eal. If it hadn't "een for the damned cloc , he would already ha%e accom$lished )ust that, and there'd "e no more ar!uments a"out who was !oin! to slee$ where. /r may"e, )ust may"e, he was "etter off ee$in! his distance. Su#anna affected him as no other woman had. Enou!h so that he was sittin! o%er his microsco$e, starin! out into the twili!ht li e a lo%esic calf instead of wor in!. 5e needed to concentrate. 5e needed to sto$ thin in! a"out Su#anna. And the surest way to do that was either to !et rid of her or to slee$ with her. If he was truly sensi"le he'd o$t for the former. But then, !ood sense had ne%er "een his forte. 5e'd s$ent his life followin! his intellect, his instinct, his inclination. And while this time those three thin!s had $arted com$any, he was !oin! to !o with instinct and inclination. 5e was !oin! to ma e lo%e to Su#anna Molloy so thorou!hly that he wouldn't e%en need to thin a"out her for days. And then may"e he could sol%e the riddle of the mutated !reen slime, and )ust what it had done to him.

Si' o'cloc came with damna"le re!ularity, one of the few constants in a world !one awry. 5e sat "ac when the first cram$ hit him, cursin! under his "reath, tensin! a!ainst the $ain. It ri$$led throu!h him, cold and "lindin!, and then he was !one. 5e rose, furious with himself for wastin! so much time when he could ha%e "een wor in!. /f the hours since they'd "een "ac at the house, he'd s$ent the %ast ma)ority dreamin! a"out Su#anna's le!s, wra$$ed around his "ac . And while there was nothin! he wanted more than to !o in search of her, to see )ust how lim"er those lon!, "eautiful le!s were, now wasn't the time to do it. E%en if she couldn't see him, she could feel his touch, and he didn't thin she was ready to do it with the In%isi"le Man. 2hat he needed was more "rownies. 5e ste$$ed out into the li%in! room as &uietly as he could, closin! the door "ehind him. ,here was no sound from Su#anna, and he !lanced u$ at the loft. A li!ht was "urnin! a!ainst the encroachin! dar ness, "ut he could hear the e%enness of her "reathin!, the &uiet steadiness of her heart"eat. She was aslee$. ,he "rownies were !one. 5e considered headin! u$stairs after her, then chan!ed his mind. Instead he threw himself down on the sofa, $ro$$in! his head on his arms. 5e listened to the steady thum$ of her heart"eat, concentratin! on it, feelin! his own heart "eat in rhythm with it. 5e let himself drift, then slide into the slee$ he'd "een resistin!. 5E 2/*E 2I,5 A S,AR,, the dar ness all around him, and then he heard the sound of the shower. 5e lay on the sofa, ima!inin! her in there, water sluicin! down o%er her s in. 5e wanted to !o in and lic the water off her. Instead he waited for her, listenin!. 0or once fate was ind to him. ,he door o$ened, and Su#anna ste$$ed out, her eyes searchin! the li%in! room warily. She was wearin! nothin! "ut a towel. A towel that was definitely too s im$y for her tall, wonderful "ody, and she clutched it to her li e a lifeline as she ti$toed across the room, headin! for the stairs. And then she sto$$ed, startled, li e a doe cau!ht in the headli!hts of an oncomin! car. 6Damn it, are you in here, Crom$ton:6 she demanded furiously. 68uilty.6 5er face swi%eted toward the sofa and the sound of his %oice. 6Close your eyes.6 67ou trust me:6 ,he thou!ht amused him. 6Enou!h to close your eyes if you say you ha%e.6 6I'%e closed my eyes,6 he said $rom$tly, honestly. ,he tension in her "ody lessened sli!htly, and she scam$ered across the room, towel trailin! "ehind her, and raced u$ the stairs to the loft, and out of si!ht. 6,han you for "ein! a !entleman.6 5er stiff %oice floated o%er the ed!e of the "alcony. 6My $leasure,6 he murmured. 6But to "e $erfectly fair, I ou!ht to tell you I can see throu!h my eyelids.6 ,he "oo came sailin! o%er the "alcony, landin! dan!erously close to his head. 5e

rolled out of the way in time, and he found himself !rinnin! li e an idiot. It was )ust as well she couldn't see him. She'd $ro"a"ly sla$ the smir off his face. 67ou now, Molloy, you're !oin! to !i%e Armstead's and /s"orn's !oons a run for their money when they show u$ here,6 he drawled. 67ou )ust need to im$ro%e your aim.6 She leaned o%er the "alcony, !larin!. ,he ,(shirt she'd $ulled on read I 3o%e My Attitude 4ro"lem, and her wet hair hun! down li e somethin! out of a fairy tale. 6At least I'll "e a"le to see what I'm aimin! at,6 she sna$$ed "ac . And then there was a sudden, stunned e'$ression on her face. 62hat ma es you thin they'll find us:6 6,hey will. It may ta e them a while, "ut they ha%e resources at their dis$osal that effecti%ely destroy any secrets we mi!ht ho$e to ha%e. ,hey're !oin! to find us, Su#anna. And they're !oin! to try to ill us.6 5er face was already $ale, "ut e%en in the shadowy li!ht he could see the ashen color increase. 62hy would they destroy America's secret wea$on: Don't they ha%e a use for you any more:6 6,hey'%e !ot two $ro"lems. /ne, they now that I'm not !oin! to wor for them any lon!er. As lon! as they left me alone, !a%e me $lenty of money, then I was reasona"ly content. ,hey would ha%e !otten their hands on whate%er I disco%ered in the lon! run, so they may as well foot the "ill and let me wor in comfort. And two, they don't reali#e that they don't ha%e com$lete documentation of my wor . If they did, they wouldn't ris harmin! e%en a hair on my head.6 62hat is it:6 5e was !ettin! a cric in his nec , starin! u$ at her. 62hat is what:6 he as ed testily. 62hat are you wor in! on:6 67ou'%e "een tryin! to find that out e%er since you snuc into my la". I'm really not interested in $layin! Romeo and +uliet. Come down from your $erch and I'll tell you.6 She loo ed wary. 6I'm not sure if I "elie%e you.6 62hat ha%e I !ot to lose: 2e may "oth "e dead tomorrow. 7ou mi!ht at least now what you're dyin! for.6 6I ha%e no intention of dyin!,6 she said, comin! down the stairs, ee$in! her face a%erted from his !eneral direction. 6+ust as well,6 he said. 6I ha%e no intention of lettin! you !et illed.6 At least, not if I can hel$ it, he added to himself. She $aused at the "ottom of the stairs, her head coc ed to one side, as if she were listenin!. 6And what if you can't hel$ it:6 5er echoin! of his thou!hts unner%ed him for a moment. 67ou for!et,6 he said in a $assa"le drawl. 6I'm Cinderman. A"le to lea$ tall "uildin!s in a sin!le "ound. 0aster than a s$eedin! "ullet, more $owerful than a locomoti%e...6 6Not that I noticed,6 she said, ed!in! her way o%er to the sofa. 67ou're stron!, "ut I ha%en't noticed you "ein! $articularly fast. As for "ein! a"le to lea$ tall "uildin!s...6 6Don't "e so literal.6 5e started to mo%e closer, slowly, silently, not wantin! to scare

her away. 5e wanted to "e near her. ,o loo at her, the hi!h chee "ones, warm "rown eyes, the erotic, touchin! %ulnera"ility in her wide mouth. 5e wanted to see whether she was wearin! a "ra or not, he... She crossed her arms across her chest, !larin! at him. 67ou're still a%oidin! my &uestions, Crom$ton. 2hat are you wor in! on:6 5e wasn't a"out to tell her it was somethin! e%en more $owerful than cold fusion. She wouldn't "elie%e him, and the more she new, the !reater her dan!er. If she understood the details of "i(le%el molecular transfer, she'd "e. 67ou're cra#y,6 she !as$ed. 6,here's no such thin! as "i(le%el molecular transfer.6 5e !a%e u$ tryin! to snea u$ on her. 5e crossed the room in three swift, noisy strides, clam$in! his hands down on her shoulders and swi%elin! her around to face him. Not that she could see him. 2hich was )ust as well. 5e'd $ro"a"ly only scare her if she could read his e'$ression. 62hat did you say:6 ,here was no way she could miss the &uiet menace in his %oice "ut as usual, she didn't let it cow her. 6I said, there's no such thin! as "i(le%el molecular transfer. 7ou now as I do that it's a fairy tale, a mad scientist's fantasy. ,he sort of thin! that e$t Merlin "usy. It doesn't e'ist.6 6It does.6 5e'd mana!ed to shoc her into silence. It was only tem$orary, of course. 6E%en you aren't that smart, Crom$ton,6 she said wea ly, "ut he could see she "elie%ed. 62hy do you thin they call me America's secret wea$on: I'%e de%elo$ed somethin! so $owerful, so le!endary, that the world as we now it would "e chan!ed fore%er if it !ets out.6 62hat do you mean, i( it !ets out:6 6,he !ood fol s at Bee"e don't e%en reali#e what they'%e !ot under their nose. ,hey thin it's cold fusion, and they're willin! to ill for it.6 6Bi(le%el molecular transfer would ma e cold fusion seem as archaic as an A("om". But what a"out the $ractical a$$lications: Surely you can't ha%e !otten that far:6 She still seemed stunned "y the ma!nitude of his disco%ery. As she should "e. 5e released her arms, and she san down on the sofa. 62hat !ood would it "e without $ractical a$$lications: 4ro%en theory is all fine and !ood, "ut you ha%e to "e a"le to ma e it wor .6 6And you can ma e it wor ,6 she said in a hollow %oice. 6E'actly who are the fol s at Bee"e: 7ou said they would ha%e !otten their hands on it sooner or later, so you decided to wor for them. 2ho are they: ,hey're not or!ani#ed crime, or =ncle -innie would now. Are they CIA: ,he !o%ernment: 2hat in 8od's name is Bee"e Control Systems International:6 5e considered wal in! away. She wouldn't "e a"le to find him, ma e him answer &uestions he'd ne%er answered "efore. E%en if she could see him, she wouldn't "e a"le to do that. But the damna"le thin! was, he wanted to tell her. 0or the first time in his life, he

wanted to tal to someone a"out the con%oluted world he'd "een li%in! in. 6Bee"e stands for BB. Bi! Brother. And that's e'actly who su$$orts and owns Bee"e. 7ou're wron! a"out or!ani#ed crime. ,he "oard of BBCSI is com$osed of some of the most $owerful $eo$le in the country. ,hey'%e !ot Mafia, they'%e !ot four(star !enerals. 0BI, CIA, the far ri!ht. All the most $ower(hun!ry, $aranoid !rou$s that ma e u$ this country's $ower elite.6 6I thou!ht the cold war was o%er.6 67ou thou!ht wron!. At least, it's not o%er as far as these $eo$le are concerned. ,hey're con%inced the Russians are )ust "idin! their time, stoc $ilin! wea$ons. ,hey thin the sooner they can nu e the Middle East out of e'istence, the "etter. ,hey're loo in! for some nice clean way to !ain control o%er the world, and then they can ma e their own rules.6 6And you went alon! with that:6 she demanded, o"%iously horrified. 5e shru!!ed, "ut of course she couldn't see that. 6I didn't $ay much attention to who was $ayin! the "ills. ,he same ind of $eo$le are in char!e, whether you wor for the !o%ernment or academia. 7ou )ust learn to ee$ your secrets.6 65a%e they !ot yours:6 She could "e a liar, he thou!ht coolly, dis$assionately. She could "e a $lant, a $racticed actress hired "y /s"orn and his crew to ferret out his secrets. If he told her the truth, trusted her, he could "e si!nin! not only his death warrant, "ut the fate of the world, as well. 6I'm not a liar,6 she said. 67ou can trust me.6 5e considered it for a moment. And then deli"erately made the first ste$. 6,hey only ha%e half of them. +ac son was co$yin! my research durin! the last few months.I had a safety loc on the system that recorded e%ery time security was "reached, and who did it. But I e$t a !reat deal of my research se$arately, with me.6 62here:6 5e smiled, a wintry smile that she couldn't see. 6/n a CD dis . It loo s li e an audio dis instead of somethin! for the com$uter. ,he only way you could tell it was a R/M dis was if you tried to $lay it on the stereo.6 62ould it destroy the dis if you did that:6 62hy: Are you thin in! of !oin! "ac to my a$artment and findin! the rest of my research: ,he "oys at Bee"e are %ery ea!er to !et their hands on it. 7ou could "e a %ery rich youn! woman, set for life. If they didn't decide to ill you, as well.6 6Stuff it, Cinderman,6 Su#anna sna$$ed. 6I don't deser%e that. And it's not necessarily the smartest thin! you'%e e%er done. It's !ot to "e that Neil Diamond CD. Anyone with any "rains would wonder what you'd "e doin! with somethin! li e that. Someone could "rea into your a$artment, ta e it, and you'd "e u$ a nasty cree without a $addle and they'd ha%e the $ower to chan!e the world, and $ro"a"ly not for the "etter.6 6Not really.6 She $eered throu!h the !atherin! dar ness, "ut there was no way she could see him.

5e held %ery still, ee$in! his "reathin! &uiet, not wantin! to !i%e away his $resence. 62hat do you mean "y that:6 6I mean there's a crucial $iece of the $u##le missin!, "oth from my research in the com$uters "ac at Bee"e and from the CD R/M.6 6And where is that $iece of the $u##le:6 6In my "rain.6 6Don't "e ridiculous,6 she shot "ac . 67ou can't rely on memory for somethin! that im$ortant.6 6I can. I ha%e a $hoto!ra$hic memory. 7ou'd "e ama#ed at the stuff I ha%e crammed into my "rain.6 She rose, starin! in the direction of his %oice, and he wondered coolly whether now was the moment of truth. 2hether she would tell him who and what she really was, and what she wanted from him. 5ad he "een wron! to trust her: 6Damn you,6 she said in a low, furious %oice. 65ow dare you:6 65ow dare I what:6 5e was momentarily astonished. 65ow dare you &uestion who and what I am:6 she said, stal in! toward him. 6I'%e let you dra! me to the "ac end of "eyond, do your disa$$earin! act, lie to me, then treat me li e you trust me, when all the time you'%e "een standin! there thin in! I'm some ind of $enny ante Mata 5ari, out to steal your secrets and then cut your throat. If I could only see you, I'd "e more than ha$$y to...6 She wal ed ri!ht into him, and his hands came u$ to ca$ture hers. Before he could thin a"out what he was doin!, he did what he'd "een wantin! to do. 5e $ulled her into his arms and $ut his mouth on hers, silencin! her. She didn't fi!ht, e%en thou!h he could feel the ra!e and resistance in her "ody. She stood there in the circle of his arms, lettin! him iss her, and she felt cool and still a!ainst his heat. 5er lac of res$onse should ha%e "een a deterrent. It only increased his determination. 5e used his ton!ue, slidin! alon! her lower li$, and she o$ened her mouth for him, reluctantly, and her arms mo%ed u$ around his waist as she softened a!ainst him, a"sor"in! his warmth, a"sor"in! his need, until she was suddenly issin! him "ac . 5er hands clutched at him ti!htly, and her heart was $oundin! fiercely a!ainst his. 5e reached u$ and cu$$ed her face, his fin!ers slidin! into her shower(dam$ hair, and he $ulled her away and stared down at her. 6/ne &uestion, Molloy,6 he said in a ras$y %oice, only sli!htly "reathless. She closed her eyes and "ecame %ery still, waitin!. 62hat is it:6 65ow lon! ha%e you "een a"le to read my mind:6

Chapter Thirteen
Su#anna tore herself away from him. 5er li$s were hot, "urnin!, from the feel of his mouth a!ainst hers. 5er s in was on fire, itchy, and yet she only wanted the feel of his "ody a!ainst hers. /nly the touch of his flesh would soothe her.

She turned her "ac on him, starin! out into the !atherin! dar ness. 6I hate tryin! to tal to you when I can't see you.6 65ow lon! ha%e you "een a"le to read my mind:6 ,he &uestion came a!ain, ine'ora"le, and she new there was no esca$in! it. She wasn't &uite sure why she wanted to. 6I can't read your mind,6 she said. 6I can hear thou!hts. And it's only "een since we came "ac from the rid!e.6 She turned and loo ed "ac at the em$ty s$ace where she assumed he was standin!. 6I don't li e it.6 6I can't say I'm any too cra#y a"out it, either,6 he drawled. 62hat am I thin in! a"out now:6 6If I could find you I'd sla$ you,6 she said. 67ou're thin in! a"out my "reasts a!ain.6 6,hat mi!ht )ust "e a lo!ical !uess. ,ry a!ain.6 She closed her eyes for a moment, o$enin! her mind. And then she shoo her head. 6It doesn't wor .6 62hat do you mean:6 6I mean I don't seem to "e a"le to control it. Errant thou!hts filter throu!h, when I least e'$ect it, "ut if I try to reach out for your mind, I )ust !et a "lan . 3et's face it, Mr. S$oc I'm not. ,here's no -ulcan mind(meld for me.6 6May"e if you touched me.'' 6No, than you,6 she said shar$ly. 6It unner%es me enou!h as it is.6 She ran a hand throu!h her dam$ hair, ta in! a dee$ "reath. 62hat time is it:6 6I don't now. I can't see my watch.6 She was cold. It seemed at times that the only way she would e%er !et warm was to "e near him. And yet that was a dan!er far !reater than anythin! she'd ima!ined so far. 0ree#in! to death was a dreamy, $ainless way to !o. Death "y fire was terrifyin!. And yet, li e a moth, she was drawn to the flame. ,he heat of her $ossi"le destruction "ec oned to her, and she didn't now how much lon!er she was !oin! to "e a"le to resist. She heard his swift, $ained inta e of "reath, and for a moment she didn't reali#e what it si!nified. 5e remateriali#ed slowly, fu##ily at first, and she forced herself to watch him. 6Is it !ettin! worse:6 she as ed &uietly. 5e leaned "ac a!ainst the wall, ta in! dee$ "reaths. 5is rum$led white shirt was un"uttoned, han!in! loose around him. She'd felt that s in a!ainst her when he issed her, wondered what he'd "een wearin!. Now she could see it, see his lean, muscled chest, the faded, ti!ht )eans that clun! to his lon! le!s, his "are feet on the $olished wood floor. 5is hair was tied "ac , his face loo ed se%ere, remote, and she wanted to cross the room and taste his mouth a!ain, now that she could see it. 6Ei!ht o'cloc on the dot,6 he said, !lancin! at the thin !old watch he wore on one tanned wrist. 5e loo ed u$ at her, and there was a dar , haunted e'$ression in his eyes. 6I'm !ettin! tired of this.6

6Su$er$owers aren't all they're crac ed u$ to "e:6 she said, deli"erately ee$in! her distance, when she felt the $ull, as stron!ly as a ma!net on a $iece of steel. 62hat do you thin , oh swami mind reader:6 he countered. 6I li e "ein! a"le to see without my !lasses.6 5e shru!!ed. 6I ima!ine I could come in handy on a cam$in! tri$, if someone for!ot the matches.6 6I'd do well on tele%ision !ame shows.6 6I could !et a )o" mo%in! $ianos for a li%in!.6 She smiled. She couldn't hel$ it. She didn't want to, "ut somehow the ludicrousness of the situation !ot to her. 62e ma e a ridiculous $air,6 she said wryly. ,he silence, the heat in the room, was $al$a"le. 6I wouldn't say that,6 he said. 6Come here, Su#anna.6 ,he wariness in her "ody flared into a moment of outri!ht $anic. It had "een leadin! to this for a lon! time. 3on!er a!o than the moment he'd come "ac to his la" and found her there. It had started with their %ery first confrontation, at one of Bee"e's unctuous $u"lic relations efforts. She'd clashed with him then, and she thou!ht he'd dismissed her with his ty$ical scientific arro!ance. She new otherwise now. 5e remem"ered that first clash. 5e was remem"erin! it now. 6Don't,6 she said, tryin! to shut it off. 6Come here, Su#anna.6 It was her choice. It always had "een. She stood "y the "alcony, and the chill of the autumn ni!ht radiated throu!h the !lass door, sin in! into her "ones. It was cold and dar and lonely there. And safe, "ut was it a safety worth the $rice: She loo ed at him, tryin! to !au!e how much he wanted her, and the lon!in! was so stron!, so fiery, it warmed her from across the room. I "urn for you, his mind said, his eyes dar and haunted. And the choice was made. She wal ed across the room slowly, her eyes ne%er lea%in! his. She felt stran!e, disoriented, %ulnera"le when she sto$$ed in front of him, for the first time allowin! herself to )ust loo at him in the stillness. She was a tall woman, fi%e feet nine in her "are feet, "ut he was far taller, si' feet $lus se%eral inches. 5e still shouldn't ha%e "een intimidatin!. 5e wasn't "ul y and "loated li e a "ody"uilder.his frame had the slee , well(muscled !race of a lon!( distance runner. And he was hot, so %ery, %ery hot. And she'd "een cold for so lon!. 5e made no mo%e to touch her. 62hy do I fri!hten you, Molloy:6 he as ed, his %oice low, enticin!. 62hat ma es you thin you do:6 5is smile was sli!ht, self(de$recatory. 6May"e I can read minds, as well.6 It was a horrifyin! thou!ht, one she dismissed almost immediately. If he new e%en a fraction of the confused, downri!ht lustful thou!hts that had in%aded her mind, he wouldn't "e standin! there, watchin! her, not touchin! her. If he could read her mind he'd

ha%e her down on the hardwood floor, her clothes scattered around them. 67ou don't fri!hten me,6 she said. 6Don't lie.6 It was softly s$o en, ed!ed in steel. 6I'll do anythin! I $lease.6 A!ain that faint, tauntin! smile. 68o ri!ht ahead,6 he murmured. 6I dare you.6 And there was a !limmer of de%ilry in his dar eyes. She was a tou!h woman. Not the sort to "ac down from a challen!e. And 3ord, the man was challen!e $ersonified. 5e was wron!.it wasn't him she was afraid of. It was herself, her reaction to him. 5er undenia"le %ulnera"ility, when she'd s$ent so much time fi!htin! any si!n of wea ness. She tried to read his thou!hts, "ut all she came u$ with was a frustratin! "lan . ,here was no safety net. ,he ne't mo%e was u$ to her. Entirely. She lifted her hands and touched him. She rested her fin!erti$s a!ainst his shoulders for a moment, feelin! him throu!h the soft white cotton of his shirt. ,he heat was a $al$a"le thin!, runnin! throu!h her fin!erti$s, down her %eins, "urnin! li e a !lass of neat whis ey on a frosty afternoon. She "ro e the contact, ste$$in! "ac , and she felt his cry of denial. But he didn't mo%e, didn't say a word. 5e )ust waited. 0or her. She wondered how lon! his $atience would last. Not much lon!er than hers. She too a ste$ "ac , toward him, and she new that this time she wouldn't run. 6I don't want...6 she "e!an, then sto$$ed. 6Don't want what: ,his:6 She shoo her head. 6I don't want to need you.6 6Can you sto$:6 6No.6 She reached u$ and $ut her hand a!ainst his mouth, and his li$s were warm, "urnin!. She wanted that mouth on her "ody. 5e issed her hand, !ently. 5e reached out and too her other hand, "rin!in! it slowly toward him, !i%in! her $lenty of chance to $ull "ac . 5e $laced it on his chest, o%er his heart, a!ainst his s in. She could feel the "eat of his $ulse, hea%y, sensual, sli!htly fast a!ainst her hand. /utside, the rain had "e!un once more, "ut inside they were safe and warm and dry. She crossed the final ste$, comin! u$ a!ainst his lar!er, hotter "ody, tra$$in! their clas$ed hands "etween them. She mo%ed her hand away from his li$s and slid her fin!ers throu!h his lon! dar hair, loo in! for answers in his dar , fathomless eyes. But the answers weren't there to see, and she could either run or trust. And she'd decided she wasn't !oin! to run. 5e leaned down and issed her then, %ery !ently, a wordless reassurance that it was !oin! to "e all ri!ht. And she reali#ed that, conscious decision or not, she trusted him. 2ith her life. 2ith her "ody. 2ith her soul.

2ith her lo%e. She o$ened her mouth "eneath his, deli"erately in%itin! him. And then there was no !entle wooin!. ,he heat that had "een slum"erin! in his "ody flared u$, and his mouth slanted across hers, drin in! dee$. She could hear his thou!hts then, a )um"le of them, riotin! throu!h "oth their minds .dar , erotic, untamed, so fierce and so e'$licit in their demands that Su#anna felt her own res$onse i!nite. 5e slid his hands under her ,(shirt, cu$$in! her "are "reasts, and she arched a!ainst him, needin! his touch, needin! his heat, needin! his mouth. 5e $ulled the ,(shirt o%er her head and sent it sailin! across the room, and she was standin! within his arms, wearin! nothin! "ut her )eans. She was no lon!er cold, she was "urnin! u$, and she wanted more, and more, and more. 5e "ent down and scoo$ed her u$ effortlessly, holdin! her ti!ht a!ainst him. 7ou don't ha%e to "e tou!h all the time, his mind said, and she melted "ac a!ainst him, !i%in! u$ the stru!!le for inde$endence. 5e was ri!ht((she didn't ha%e to fi!ht anymore. 5e too her o%er to the wide couch, lowerin! her down, followin! her, and she $ushed the white shirt from his shoulders, her hands lin!erin!, touchin!, learnin! him. ,here were no words, no whis$ered assurances, no tiny )o es to set her at ease. In utter, a"sor"ed silence he unfastened her )eans and $ulled them down her le!s, tossin! them away. In silence he touched her, his lon! fin!ers slidin! "etween her le!s, coa'in! them a$art, and he leaned forward and $ut his mouth on her "reast. ,he sensation was fierce, "urnin!, e'&uisite, and she heard her "reathless cry of lon!in! as she arched "ac a!ainst the soft cushions of the hu!e sofa. 5er entire life centered "etween her le!s and in her "reast, and he was drawin! the life from her, settin! her on fire. 5e mo%ed his mouth to her other "reast, suc lin! dee$ly, and she felt hot tears of lon!in! and confusion fill her eyes, as she reached down for him, not sure of what she wanted, only certain that she did. 5er "reast felt dam$ and cool when he mo%ed his mouth away, trailin! hot, "itin! isses down her torso. And then he $ut his mouth "etween her le!s, une'$ectedly soon, and she $ut her hands on his shoulders, unsure. 5e sim$ly co%ered her hands with his, the heat of them soothin! her dou"ts, and she let herself sli$, slide into a dar and wonderful $lace, full of "ra#en ima!es and uns$o en desires, lost, whirlin! in a ind of mad s$lendor that shar$ened into a "lindin! clarity as she clima'ed a!ainst his mouth. She was only %a!uely aware of him mo%in! u$ and o%er her, shuc in! his )eans, neelin! "etween her trem"lin! le!s. She waited, watchin! as he $rotected her, wantin! to reach out and touch him, to do it for him, still too sha y and shy to mo%e. And then he was $ressin! a!ainst her, slidin! dee$, fillin! her with one sure thrust, and he was so "urnin! hot that she was "urnin! with him, $ushin! her "ody a!ainst his, her lon! le!s ri!ht around his hi$s, wantin! more, wantin! all of him, e%erythin! he was willin! to !i%e, resentin! anythin! that came "etween them, e%en the thin "arrier of late'. 5is hands cu$$ed her hi$s, $ullin! her more ti!htly a!ainst him. 5is mouth crushed

hers, and she heard him, the words, siftin! throu!h his mind, lo%e and lust and lon!in!, stri%in! for an end that was only a "e!innin!. She clutched at him, shi%erin!, "uildin!, shatterin! once more as she felt him e'$lode in her arms, a white hot flame of $assion that seemed to last an eternity. 2hen she o$ened her eyes, she found him colla$sed on to$ of her, his lon! hair in her face, his heart still $oundin! furiously a!ainst her. 5e was hea%y, and she didn't mind for e%en a moment. She felt "etter than she had in her entire life. 5er "ody was hot, ner%eless, com$letely sated, her mind at ease. And her heart.her heart was full of an indescri"a"le feelin! that had a %ery sim$le definition. And that was love. She heard the word shift throu!h his mind, unconsciously "efore it was $ushed away in sudden fear. If she as ed him for those words, he mi!ht !i%e them to her, "ut it was no !ood as in!. ,hose words had to "e freely !i%en, out of his need, not hers. 5e lifted his head and loo ed at her, and she could feel his dou"t. But she couldn't sense where that dou"t had come from. 6Are you all ri!ht:6 he as ed, his %oice "arely more than a whis$er. 5e was worried he mi!ht ha%e hurt her, that much was clear. She couldn't resist. ,here was no way she could sto$ the wide, smu! !rin that cur%ed her mouth, any more than she could sto$ the warmth that filled her inside. 6I'll sur%i%e,6 she said. 5e stared at her for a lon! moment. And then he smiled too, a slow, sensuous !rin that tem$orarily "anished the shadows that lin!ered around them. 5e $ut his mouth a!ainst hers, offerin! a slow, lin!erin! iss. 5e was still dee$ inside her, and he was !rowin! hard a!ain, and she was !rowin! dam$ and hot, and her hands slid around him as she issed him "ac , losin! herself in the sheer hea%en of his mouth. 2hen he finally $ulled away from her, she let him !o reluctantly. 6No,6 she said. 5e $aused, starin! down at her. 6No:6 he echoed. 6No, you can't use a condom twice. At least, I don't thin so,6 she added truthfully. 6I for!ot you could read my mind.6 6Not all the time.6 62hat else ha%e I "een thin in!:6 She found, to her ama#ement, that she could "lush. 3yin! "eneath him in the shadowy li%in! room, his aroused "ody still ti!ht within hers, she could "lush. 6I !uess that's answer enou!h.6 5e $ulled away, slowly, reluctantly. 6I'll "e "ac .6 ,here was an old &uilt o%er the arm of the sofa, and he tossed it around her na ed "ody. 6Don't !o anywhere.6 She snu!!led down in the cushions, closin! her eyes with a si!h. /dd, that tem$orary resentment of the $rotection he'd used. She was smart enou!h, mature enou!h to understand the necessity of it. But for the first time in her life she'd felt li e a lo%esic fool, wantin! e%erythin! from her lo%er, willin! to ris an un$lanned $re!nancy and

worse in her need to "e close to him. 5e came "ac to her. She heard an odd sound, and loo ed u$ to see him dro$ a $ile of red foil $ac ets on the floor "eside the couch "efore he nelt down "eside her. 6Second thou!hts:6 he as ed. 6Re!rets:6 6Should I ha%e:6 she answered, tryin! to read his thou!hts. But they were shuttered, im$ossi"le to detect. 5e sim$ly shoo his head. 6No,6 he said. 6,his has "een a lon! time comin!.6 5e "rushed her hair away from her face, then frowned. 67ou were cryin!.6 6I su$$ose so.6 6Did I hurt you: I'm not certain of my stren!th. 7ou should ha%e said somethin!.6 She sto$$ed his mouth, sittin! u$ and lettin! the co%er dro$ to her waist, $uttin! her li$s a!ainst his. She let her mouth rest !ently a!ainst his, touchin!, tastin!, her ton!ue slidin! a!ainst his firm li$s, lettin! his mouth o$en a!ainst hers so she could iss him fully. 2hen she $ulled "ac , she mana!ed a sha y smile. 6I always cry when I'm ha$$y,6 she said. 6And you were ha$$y:6 6-ery.6 65ow are you ri!ht now:6 6I could "e ha$$ier.6 5is smile was slow, sensual, as he $ic ed u$ her hand in his, his thum" stro in! the "ac of it. 6I ha%e a few ideas,6 he murmured, and he $ut her hand on him, the sil y stren!th of him, already hard for her. 5er fin!ers wra$$ed around him, !ently, learnin! him, her fin!erti$s soft and &uestin!. 6I ha%e a few of my own, Dr. Crom$ton,6 she re$lied. 6I'm sure you do, Molloy,6 he said as his "reath cau!ht in reaction. 6I ima!ine you can "e e'tremely in%enti%e.6 6,ry me.6 6I ha%e e%ery intention of doin! )ust that.6 And $ullin! the co%er away from her, he $ulled her "ody u$ a!ainst his, heat a!ainst heat, and his mouth co%ered hers. ,5E RAIN S,/44ED. ,he s y was still cloudy, and Su#anna rolled onto her "ac , loo in! out the roof window into the !atherin! dawn. She was still mostly aslee$, her "ody floatin! in some wonderful da#e of e'hausted $leasure. She wondered where Daniel was. And then she new. She reached o%er and touched him. 5e was closer than she'd reali#ed, "ut she didn't wa en him. /r, at least, she could only assume she didn't. 5e made a snorin! sort of !runt, and she felt the futon shift "eneath them, and then she was wra$$ed in his arms once more, her chee $ressed u$ a!ainst his chest. A chest she couldn't see. More's the $ity, she thou!ht idly, reachin! her hand u$ to !ently stro e his arm. 5e had a truly "eautiful chest. She'd always thou!ht she li ed lots of hair on a man. 5e had %ery little, )ust "one and muscle and !olden s in.

5e'd carried her u$stairs at one $oint durin! the ni!ht, and she couldn't "e &uite sure when. She'd "een clin!in! to him, le!s wra$$ed around his waist, and he'd "een "uried dee$ inside her as he mounted the stairs. ,hey'd colla$sed at the to$, finishin! there on the "are wood, and )ust mana!ed to crawl to the "ed. At some $oint they'd e%en ended u$ in the hot tu" to!ether, "efore colla$sin! into a dee$, e'hausted slee$. She $ressed her face a!ainst him, inhalin! the scent of his s in, the lin!erin! smell of the soa$ they'd used with erotic a"andon. /utside, the world was a dar , threatenin! $lace. Inside, in this ma!ical little house, e%erythin! was )ust wonderful. She could smell a faint trace of !asoline. An odd scent, one she hadn't noticed "efore, and she wondered if it had anythin! to do with Daniel's $eculiar $owers. 2as he somehow a"le to $ro)ect somethin! inflamma"le: 5er "ody had tensed, and he was awa e "eside her, his arms ti!htenin! around her. 62hat's wron!:6 5is %oice was slee$y, )ust "ecomin! alert. 6I thou!ht I smelled !as. I wasn't sure....6 6I smell it, too,6 he said, and she found herself released. 6Someone's here.6 5e was already off the "ed, and she had the eerie sensation of watchin! clothes float throu!h the air as he !ra""ed them, then watched them disa$$ear as he $ulled them o%er his "ody. 6Stay $ut,6 he ordered. 6I'm !oin! to chec on thin!s.6 6,he hell I will,6 she said, sittin! u$. An in%isi"le hand sho%ed her "ac a!ainst the $illows. 6Don't "e an idiot, Molloy. If someone's out there, they won't see me. ,hey sure as hell will see you. =se your "rain for once.6 67ou mean, as o$$osed to last ni!ht,6 she countered, stun!. She couldn't see him, "ut she could hear his thou!hts. 0eel his cool, an!ry withdrawal. 6,hat's your decision,6 he said finally. 67ou can occu$y your time fi!urin! it out. But if you try to follow me, I swear I'll $unch you.6 6I always wanted an a"usi%e lo%er.6 6Su#anna...6 68o away, Daniel. I'll "e a !ood little !irl and stay $ut.6 She could feel his reluctant smile. 6I thou!ht no one was su$$osed to call you girl.6 She found she could smile, as well, des$ite her "ad mood. 6So I'm feelin! a little !irlish today. 8o out and sa%e the world, Cinderman. ,he little woman will "e waitin! with a hot meal.6 She felt the air rush "eside her, and then he issed her, hard. She closed her eyes.it was too disorientin!, "ein! issed "y an in%isi"le man. 5is isses were shatterin! enou!h. She reached u$ to clutch his shoulders, "ut he sli$$ed away from her. 6I new I could count on you.6 She leaned "ac on the mattress, una"le to watch him lea%e. ,he "ottom sheet was $ulled halfway off, the du%et was on the floor, and she reached and $ulled it o%er her. It was already cooler without him in the room. ,he tem$erature had dro$$ed, and her inner

warmth had turned to ice. 5e was en)oyin! himself, damn it. She felt the e'citement "la#in! throu!h him as he went in search of the intruder. 5e was loo in! forward to this, a su$erhero confrontin! e%il. She wanted to sla$ him. She wanted to clutch him and tell him to "e careful, for 8od's sa e. She wanted to lie in "ed with the co%ers o%er her head and $ray for him to return safely. She heard the door o$en, the footste$s in the "i! room "elow, and she rose from the "ed, leanin! o%er the "alcony with the du%et clutched around her, ready to offer him a $ro%ocati%e in%itation. ,he words died in her throat as she reco!ni#ed the man "eneath her, wanderin! throu!h Daniel's $recious house, his ele!ant, cruel hands riflin! throu!h the $a$ers and "oo s that littered the $lace. 5e didn't loo u$, didn't reali#e she stood there, watchin! him in "emused horror. 62here the hell are you, Crom$ton:6 he muttered under his "reath, slammin! o$en the door to the la". No answer, of course, and no si!n of him. Su#anna wondered if he was in the house, or if he was outside, loo in! for their intruder. And would he reali#e the man inside was a far cry from the ci%ili#ed "usinessman he a$$eared to "e: 3oo in! down at 5enry /s"orn's $ale, $in head, she could only ho$e so.

Chapter Fourteen
Su#anna "ac ed away from the "alcony as silently as she could. 5er clothes lay scattered on the li%in! room floor "eneath her, "ut she was a"le to rifle throu!h her duffel "a! and come u$ with another $air of )eans and a ,(shirt. She'd )ust $ulled it o%er her head when she felt the eyes on her, and she new they weren't Daniel's unseen eyes. She turned, slowly, ta in! a dee$ "reath to control her sudden $anic. 5e was standin! there, "loc in! the narrow stairway, and he loo ed im$ecca"le, unruffled, des$ite the smell of !asoline that clun! to him. 62e'%e "een loo in! for you, Ms. Molloy,6 he said in a charmin!, !enial %oice. 67ou now, I didn't "elie%e Daniel when he told me you two had somethin! !oin!, "ut I !uess I was wron!. 7ou certainly ha%e a well(screwed loo .6 She "arely "lin ed at his deli"erate crudeness. 62hat are you doin! here, Mr. /s"orn:6 67ou were awa e two ni!hts a!o, weren't you:6 5e too a ste$ closer, a small, sadistic smile on his face. 6I thou!ht you mi!ht "e, e%en thou!h you mana!ed to hide it. May"e you ha%e a taste for $ain.6 6Not $articularly.6 She sounded %ery cool, somethin! she could con!ratulate herself on. /f course, she felt more than cool. She felt chilled to the "one. 6Don't ma e this difficult, Ms. Molloy. 2here is he:6 62here is who:6 5e closed his eyes, si!hin! in !enteel e'as$eration. 6I don't mind doin! my own

dirty wor , you now,6 he confided. 6It's "een years since I'%e "een in the trenches, "ut an old soldier ne%er loses his touch. If for no other reason, this latest de"acle has "een instructi%e. But I don't care to $rolon! it any further. I ha%e $eo$le who want answers, and I intend to $ro%ide them. 2here is Dr. Crom$ton:6 6Didn't you see him when you came in:6 6No.6 62e heard you,6 she said in a dulcet %oice. 65e went in search of you. I wouldn't "e sur$rised if you wal ed ri!ht $ast him and didn't see him.6 6Not li ely,6 he said with a snort. 6I'm !oin! to want you to come downstairs, Ms. Molloy. -ery slowly and carefully.no sudden mo%es or shouts for hel$.6 62hy should I:6 6Because I ha%e a !un. I now how to use it. I'm actually &uite !ood with it,6 he said in a calm, measured %oice. 6I thin I would start "y shootin! you in the throat. ,hat way you wouldn't "e a"le to call for assistance.6 She hadn't e%en noticed the !un in his hand. It was small, "lac and undou"tedly ca$a"le of doin! all he said and more. She $ut an in%oluntary hand u$ to her throat, and his smile widened. 6Come alon!, Ms. Molloy. 3et's !o downstairs and wait for Dr. Crom$ton to return.6 62hat if he's left:6 she as ed, mo%in! slowly, carefully ahead of him, down the narrow fli!ht of stairs. 62hat if he's !one for hel$:6 62here could he !o: ,here's no one around for miles. If it weren't for my contacts, we would ne%er ha%e found this $lace.6 62e:6 She too a "rief, surre$titious !lance around the li%in! room. It was cold down there, icy, and she new that Daniel must still "e outside. ,he smell of the !asoline was e%en stron!er downstairs, and there was no way she could dismiss her sense of im$endin! doom. 6Surely you must reali#e "y now that Bee"e has limitless resources. ,he finest minds, the !reatest talents of this country, ha%e lent themsel%es to Bee"e, and I can say &uite truthfully that there's no sto$$in! us.6 6No sto$$in! you from what:6 /s"orn smiled li e a rat. 65a%e a seat while we wait for the !ood doctor.6 5e !estured with the !un, and Su#anna didn't ma e the mista e of thin in! she had any choice in the matter. She too the seat he $ointed at, $uttin! her hands in her la$ and tryin! to still her $anic. 6No sto$$in! you from what:6 she as ed a!ain. 6/ur no"le cause. /ur $atriotic duty. 2e're not fools, Ms. Molloy, e%en if 2ashin!ton seems to "e o%errun these days with "leedin!(heart li"erals. ,hose who i!nore their history are doomed to re$eat it. If we're fools enou!h to see isolation, to let those third(world countries fend for themsel%es, then we're as in! for the colla$se of the =nited States as a world $ower.6 6I didn't now we were lettin! them fend for themsel%es,6 she "e!an, watchin!

warily as /s"orn drew a thin nylon cord out of his $erfectly tailored $oc et. 6,he hell with economic hel$ or economic sanctions. Blac mail won't !et us what we want,6 he said, tuc in! the !un in his $oc et and ad%ancin! on her, the nylon cord e'tended. 6Arms. 2ea$ons. ,hat's the only $ower these $eo$le will understand.6 65ow does Dr. Crom$ton fit into that:6 She tensed herself. She could fi!ht "ac . 5e wasn't any taller than she was, and he was a !reat deal older. She had a chance a!ainst him, as lon! as he $ut that !un away. 65e's "rilliant. Buite our most %alua"le asset. 2e assumed he was wor in! on cold fusion, and if he'd mana!ed to $erfect it we would ha%e "een in the cat"ird seat.6 6,hen why were you tryin! to ill him:6 /s"orn loo ed dis!runtled. 62e were fed the wron! information. ,hat fool +ac son said he'd $erfected it, that he was only a lia"ility. If Crom$ton suffered from a fatal la" accident, there'd "e no one to interfere with our $lans for cold fusion.6 62ouldn't that "e illin! the !oose that laid the !olden e!!:6 she as ed, and in the far recesses of her mind she heard Crom$ton's dis!runtled reaction to "ein! called a !oose. 62e wouldn't ha%e needed him any lon!er. 5e's not the only "rilliant scientist in the world. 2ith his research, we could ha%e hired other, more $ractical men, and !one on to de%elo$ a $ower "ase such as the world has ne%er seen.6 6But thin!s went wron!.6 /s"orn !rimaced. 6,han 8od. /nce +ac son had time to $ut all the research to!ether, we new we were in trou"le. 2hate%er Crom$ton was wor in! on, it had nothin! to do with cold fusion. It didn't resem"le anythin! anyone could reco!ni#e.6 6So why don't you ill him:6 6I'm not a fool, Ms. Molloy. I didn't !et where I am today "y i!norin! $otential. 5e's America's secret wea$on. 2hate%er that ama#in! "rain has come u$ with will "e worth "illions. ,rillions. ,he entire national de"t. I'm ta in! him "ac with me, if I can.6 6And if you can't:6 5e smiled. 6,hen sooner or later someone will "e a"le to ta e his research and ma e sense of it." 62hat are you !oin! to do with me:6 62hy, nothin! at all, my dear. +ust tie you u$ so you won't interfere. I $romise I won't tie you so ti!htly that you won't "e a"le to loosen your "onds within a cou$le of hours.6 She shoo her head. 62hat ma es you the e'ecutioner, Mr. /s"orn: I would ha%e thou!ht that duty would "e left for underlin!s. /r do you ha%e a taste for illin!:6 6My dear !irl,6 he said in his unctuous %oice, 6I don't usually waste my time with enforcement duties. But this has $artly "een my res$onsi"ility, lettin! thin!s !et out of hand li e this, and I want to ma e sure thin!s are handled ri!ht from now on. Besides, I ha%e a certain talent.6 5e was standin! close enou!h that she could smell his colo!ne,

mi'ed with the scent of !asoline. It was %ery ele!ant, e'$ensi%e colo!ne. 5er father had used it, as well. 64ut your hands at your sides, my dear, and I $romise I won't tie them too ti!htly.6 She loo ed u$ at him. 2here was Crom$ton: 6,hat answers one &uestion,6 she said, ee$in! her hands folded in her la$, her muscles coiled to s$rin!. 62hat's that:6 67ou're not $lannin! on $uttin! that ro$e around my wrists. 7ou're $lannin! on stran!lin! me with it.6 She'd mana!ed to shoc him out of his slimy e&uanimity. 6My dear !irl,6 he $rotested, mo%in! closer, the nylon ro$e stretched ti!ht "etween his two soft white hands. 6I can read your mind,6 she said sa%a!ely. 6And don't call me girl)" 5e lun!ed for her then, "ut she was too fast for him, duc in! and rollin! out of the chair, onto the hard wood floor. 6Daniel96 she screamed as /s"orn fell on to$ of her, the ro$e sna in! around her throat. She !ra""ed at it with her hands, "ut the man was murderously stron!, "rutally efficient. 5is nee $ressed into her "ac as he wra$$ed the ro$e twice around her nec . ,ime stood still. 7ears a!o she'd read an article a"out a woman who'd almost "een stran!led to death "y a maniac. She'd "een sa%ed, "ut the loss of o'y!en to her "rain had left her in a wheelchair, her ner%es and muscles useless. Su#anna clawed at the ro$e, tryin! to scream a!ain, "ut it was too ti!ht. No sound came out, and she new she was !oin! to die. Better that than to "e left a li%in! cor$se. But she hadn't "een a"le to tell Daniel she lo%ed him, she lo%ed him... ,he wei!ht disa$$eared from her "ac with shoc in! s$eed, the tension slac ened from the ro$e around her throat, and she yan ed it away, cou!hin! and cho in!, "arely aware of her surroundin!s. And then she heard /s"orn "a""lin!. She sat u$, da#ed. ,he man who'd tried to stran!le her lay s$read(ea!led on the floor, a loo of !la#ed horror on his face. 62hat's !oin! on here:6 he !as$ed. 6I'm !oin! to ill you, /s"orn.6 Daniel's %oice came from thin air, cool, unyieldin!, deadly. /s"orn stared around him, tryin! to see the source of that %oice. 62here are you, Crom$ton:6 he demanded, !ettin! "ac some of his "luster. 67ou now I wasn't really !oin! to hurt the !irl. I was )ust tryin! to scare her.6 6Don't call her girl," Daniel said in a ti!ht, lethal %oice. 6,hirty seconds more and she would ha%e $assed out. Another minute and she would ha%e suffered $ermanent "rain dama!e. But you weren't !oin! to hurt her, were you, 5an :6 5is %oice was sa%a!e as he called the di!nified old man "y his totally ina$$ro$riate nic name. 6Any more than you were !oin! to hurt her when you mauled her in the hos$ital. 2here did you !et your trainin!, /s"orn: 7ou're too youn! to "e a Na#i, e%en if you ha%e the $ersonality for it.6 /s"orn sat u$, his e&uili"rium momentarily "ac in $lace. 6It's some ind of remote s$ea er, isn't it:6 he said with renewed self(confidence. 6And )ust so you don't underestimate me, I should tell you I !ot my trainin! with the "est. ,he CIA tau!ht me

e%erythin! I now. Now where are you, Crom$ton, and how did you mana!e to throw me: 2as it some sort of electric shoc :6 5e "rushed a s$ec of dust off his rum$led )ac et. An in%isi"le hand $unched him in his shoulder, noc in! him "ac ward. 6It's a shoc , all ri!ht,6 Daniel said. 6Su#anna, I want you to !et out of here.6 She'd mana!ed to $ull herself to!ether, )ust "arely. 5er throat was on fire, and the smell of !asoline was !rowin! e%en stron!er. 6I won't let you ill him, Daniel,6 she said. 67ou can't sto$ me.6 6Daniel, if you ill him, you'll "ecome )ust li e him.6 6Do you thin I !i%e a damn: I don't s$end my life worryin! a"out $etty notions of morality. 5e hurt you, he was !oin! to ill you.6 6Daniel...6 68et out of here.6 /s"orn lay "ac on the ru!. 6Don't lea%e me,6 he croa ed. 6I don't now what's !oin! on here, "ut don't lea%e me alone.6 6,he $ro"lem is, /s"orn, that you're not alone,6 Daniel said in a sil en %oice, close enou!h to him that /s"orn must ha%e felt his "reath on his face. /s"orn )um$ed a mile, scuttlin! "ac ward till he came u$ a!ainst the wall. 6Is this what you'%e "een wor in! on: Some ind of in%isi"le ray:6 6It's the side effect of that little la" e'$losion you and +ac son manufactured for me,6 he said. 6+ust one of the "enefits of ha#ardous wor . By the way, did you ill +ac son, or was it Armstead's little army:6 /s"orn's color was !hastly. 5e stared strai!ht ahead, li e a "lind man. 6It's hot here,6 he cho ed, loosenin! his tie. 6It was you, wasn't it: 7ou'%e !ot a taste for such thin!s. I'm sure Armstead didn't tell you to come and ill Su#anna. 7ou )ust decided to show a little initiati%e.6 6I don't ta e orders from Armstead.6 6/h, "ut you do. 7ou're an errand "oy, /s"orn. A fi!urehead for Bi! Brother, doin! what they tell you, ta in! your $unishment li e a man. Are you ready to die:6 6Daniel96 Su#anna shrie ed in $rotest. /s"orn lurched to his feet, throwin! himself toward the sound of Daniel's %oice, arms outstretched to to$$le him. 5e connected with nothin! and went down hard. 5e lay there, $antin!, and when he tried to rise, somethin! in the middle of his "ac sho%ed him downward a!ain. Su#anna could only su$$ose it was Daniel's foot. 6I'm not the only one who's !oin! to die,6 he whee#ed, his face twisted and male%olent. 67ou're !oin! with me, and your !irlfriend, as well.6 62ho ha%e you !ot waitin! for us, /s"orn:6 Daniel's %oice was sil y with menace. 6/ne of Armstead's mercenaries:6 6I don't need anyone. ,his $lace is set to "low, and I'm the only one who can sto$ it.

8et off me, and this whole con%ersation will "e academic.6 /s"orn tried to !et u$, "ut the in%isi"le foot stayed $lanted in the center of his "ac . 65ow lon!:6 /s"orn's $ale face had a !rimace of trium$h. 63et me u$,6 he said a!ain. 6/r the !irlfriend !oes u$ with us.6 6Bastard,6 Daniel muttered, "ut Su#anna could sense him mo%e away from the $rone man. It shouldn't ha%e come as a sur$rise when unseen hands wra$$ed around her arms and hauled her to her feet. 68et out of here, Su#anna. 8et down the hill as fast as you can, and ee$ your eyes o$en for any of his little "uddies.'' 6Not without you,6 she said in a raw, ras$in! %oice. 6I'll "e ri!ht "ehind you.6 65ow will I now that:6 she said stu""ornly. 5enry /s"orn had mana!ed to clim" to his feet, and he stood there, swayin!, his $erfect white hair mussed, his ele!antly !roomed face a mas of %iolent ra!e. 67ou'll ha%e to trust me.6 Daniel's hands were stron!, unyieldin!, as they $ushed her toward the door. She was still fi!htin! him, e%en nowin! that she was a dan!erous distraction. 6Are you !oin! to ill him:6 she demanded in a hoarse whis$er. She heard his lon!(sufferin! si!h, and she could )ust ima!ine the e'$ression on his face. She $ut out her hand and touched him, connectin! with his chee , "rushin! a!ainst his mouth in a last caress. 65e deser%es it,6 he muttered. 6If I weren't such a sentimental fool, I'd throw him o%er the "alcony.6 0or me, she wanted to as , "ut was afraid to. 0or you, he thou!ht, and she heard it, e%en thou!h he wouldn't say the words aloud. And she smiled u$ at him. 6I'll wait for you at the "ottom of the $ath.6 ,hen she was !one. 6She's not !oin! to !et %ery far, Crom$ton,6 /s"orn said in a casual %oice. 5e'd strai!htened his sil tie, and his $ale $in hands weren't e%en sha in!. Daniel turned from his s$ot "y the door. 5e new what /s"orn had in mind. As lon! as he could en!a!e him in con%ersation, he could $in$oint his location. Daniel had no intention of !i%in! him that ed!e. 65a%en't you reali#ed "y now )ust how far(reachin! Bee"e is: 7ou scientists, with your dreams and your heads in the clouds... you don't ha%e any idea what real $ower is all a"out. Bee"e is a"out $ower. ,here's no $lace she'll "e safe. E%en if you lied to her, and I don't ma e it down this hillside, Armstead and his men will "e waitin!. If she doesn't !o "ac to Santa Cristina, they'll still find her. It may ta e a while, "ut those men are dedicated. Sooner or later they'll run her to !round, and they'll wi$e her e'istence off the face of the earth.6 Daniel mo%ed slowly, silently toward the slidin! doors leadin! onto the narrow "alcony. 5e'd ha%e to $ass /s"orn to !et out there, and while he new he could mana!e

to accom$lish that without ma in! any noise, he was afraid his "ody heat would !i%e him away. But he had to !et out of there. /s"orn assumed he hadn't noticed the innocuous little "o' tuc ed into a corner of the dec , or the almost trans$arent wires leadin! away from it. 5e'd underestimated his o$$onent, a fatal mista e. Daniel wasn't a man who missed anythin!, and he'd noticed that "o' instantly. 5e had to !et rid of it, or the whole house that he'd "uilt with his "are hands would "e a $ile of cinders. And he'd $ro"a"ly "e in the ashes, as well. /s"orn too a ste$, "loc in! the center of the door. 6I'm afraid not, Crom$ton. 7ou'%e "ecome too !reat a lia"ility, des$ite your undenia"le !ifts. I'm afraid your usefulness is at an end. It's a $ity, too. 0or a man with your intellect, you could ha%e had anythin! you wanted. 7ou always struc me as such a ruthless, $ractical man. 7ou'%e chan!ed.6 Daniel was standin! directly in front of him. 67es,6 he said finally. /s"orn )um$ed, "ut reco%ered himself with im$ressi%e s$eed. 67ou'%e "ecome $ractically human,6 he o"ser%ed. 62hat in 8od's name ha$$ened to you: Don't tell me you'%e "een fool enou!h to fall in lo%e with that !irl:6 6Don't call her a !irl,6 Daniel said a"sently. 6Is that it: 5as true lo%e made an idiot out of you:6 6Not e'actly,6 Daniel drawled. 6It was more li ely a case of !reen slime.6 5e heard the chan!e. ,he &uiet, merciless little hum of the "o' on the $orch suddenly went into a hi!h($itched s&ueal, so $ainful that Daniel held his ears for a moment. /s"orn didn't mo%e, o"%iously deaf to the sound. 5e didn't ha%e any time to waste. 6/ut of my way,6 he snarled, sho%in! at him. 5e'd for!otten /s"orn's trainin!. ,hose dece$ti%ely soft hands shot out and cau!ht him, and /s"orn mana!ed to $ull him off "alance, "efore Daniel loosened himself and tossed the man away. =nfortunately he tossed him toward the !lass doors. /s"orn went crashin! throu!h, landin! in a hea$ on to$ of the incendiary de%ice. 0or a moment Daniel didn't mo%e, ho$in! to 8od /s"orn was noc ed unconscious, ho$in! that for once Su#anna had listened to him and made her way down the hill, ho$in! that there was some way out of this mess that had "lown u$ out of nowhere. /s"orn rose, the "o' in his hand. 6I always wanted to die for my country,6 he said, a fanatic li!ht !leamin! in his eye. 6Crom$ton,6 he murmured, 6you're toast.6 Instinct too o%er. Daniel hadn't reali#ed he could mo%e so fast. 5e could hear the metal contacts clic to!ether )ust as he lea$t o%er the "alcony. ,he force of the "last sent him head o%er heels, and then he was fallin!, fallin!, o%er and o%er, throu!h the tall $ines, down the stee$ cliff to the roc y led!e "elow. ,he flames were "ehind him, shootin! into the s y, "lac and in y, and he new /s"orn was dead. As he would "e, once he hit the !round. 5e could hear her scream of dis"elie%in! horror. And then e%erythin! went "lac , as the !ranite led!e rushed u$ to meet him, and his last thou!ht was a faint re!ret that he'd

ne%er told Su#anna he was in lo%e with her. And now it was too late. S=>ANNA SAN* ,/ 5ER *NEES in the mud. 6No,6 she moaned. 6No, no, no.6 But there was no answer to her stran!led cries. +ust the crac le of the "la#in! house as the fire consumed it, and the cry of the wind in the trees o%erhead. 6Daniel,6 she whis$ered, "ut there was no answer. She scram"led to her feet, clawin! her way "ac u$ to where the house had stood. ,he heat was suffocatin!, the smo e cho in!, the house ca%in! in on itself. 6Daniel,6 she screamed in her raw %oice, "ut there was no answer. In that tiny clearin! that had once held a ma!ic cotta!e and now held only a "la#in! inferno, there was no one left ali%e to hear her.

Chapter Fifteen
Su#anna had no idea how lon! she nelt in the clearin!, "lasted "y the heat of the "urnin! "uildin!, or what made her stru!!le to her feet. She mo%ed "ac down the narrow trail li e a ro"ot, her mind a deli"erate "lan . She had only one thou!ht. Daniel was dead, and she had to run.away from the men who illed him, and away from the nowled!e of his death. She needed to run as far and as fast as she could, find some $lace to crawl into. And then may"e she could mourn. ,he +a!uar sat $ar ed at the "ottom of the hill, directly o%er the s$ot where +ac son's sedan had "een incinerated. Daniel would ha%e li ed to ha%e made ashes of that car, as well, with /s"orn inside. She wondered whether he'd started the fire. If he had, it would ha%e "een an accident. Des$ite the ruthlessness in his %oice, he wouldn't ha%e murdered /s"orn in cold "lood. And he wouldn't ha%e destroyed his "eautiful house. /s"orn must ha%e ri!!ed somethin!, determined to destroy them all. And she had esca$ed. It was no comfort, none at all. She stared at the hunter(!reen lu'ury car and wondered what ind of luc she'd ha%e hot(wirin! the thin!. She o$ened the $assen!er door, e'$ectin! the "lare of antitheft de%ices. Instead she !ot a discreet little "u##, so &uiet and well("red that it too her a da#ed moment to reali#e that /s"orn had left the eys in the i!nition. She slid into the dri%er's seat and slammed the door "ehind her. It was "listerin!ly hot in the car, oddly so, considerin! the early mornin! hour. She )er ed the seat forward and turned the ey, half e'$ectin! the car to e'$lode. It started with a throaty $urr, and she tore "ac down the narrow, rutted dirt road with a com$lete disre!ard for the ele!ant car she dro%e. She $unched on the air(conditionin!. 5er hands were trem"lin!, her mind a careful "lan . All she wanted to do was dri%e, and ee$ on dri%in!, as far away from her conscious thou!hts as she could !o. 0or a moment she closed her eyes, tryin! to hear Daniel's thou!hts, to find out for sure if he was really dead. Nothin! answered her, not e%en the "reath of an emotion. Daniel Crom$ton was !one, wi$ed out, incinerated from the face of this earth. Cinderman was cinders. She heard the faint moan of an!uish, and she sho%ed a fist in her mouth to &uiet it. She couldn't let !o now. She had to !et away, as fast as she $ossi"ly could. She )ust had to

wait until she found a $lace to hide. It was still un"eara"ly hot. ,he heat was comin! from the em$ty "ac seat, and she wondered whether the heatin! system in the car was malfunctionin!, sendin! warmth out the "ac ducts. She couldn't afford to s$end the time chec in!. She cran ed the air( conditionin! hi!her, sho%ed her "are foot down on the accelerator and e$t !oin!, $ullin! out onto the narrow $a%ed road with a s id of tires. ,he "lessed num"ness lasted less than an hour. It lasted until she ha$$ened to !lance at the di!ital cloc on the leather(and(wood dash"oard, in time to see that it was now only ei!ht o'cloc . ,he confla!ration at the ca"in had ha$$ened in a deathly short $eriod of time. It was the hour for Daniel to re!ain his %isi"ility. But Daniel was !one.there was no more "ody to a$$ear. ,he first so" too her "y sur$rise, sha in! her "ody. ,he second one was e%en worse, tearin! her a$art, and out of sheer self($reser%ation she slowed her manic s$eed, as the tears streamed down her face and her "ody was rac ed with so"s. 6I can't stand it,6 she we$t, $oundin! the steerin! wheel. 65e can't "e dead.6 She !lanced in the rear%iew mirror, to ma e sure no one was $ullin! u$ "ehind her as she cre$t alon! the road, her "ody sha in! with misery. In the rear%iew mirror a$$eared the dishe%eled face of Daniel Crom$ton. 6I'm not,6 he said "landly. Su#anna $rom$tly ran into a tree. 2hat little self(control she'd still owned disa$$eared as the car stalled out, and she "uried her face in her hands. She heard the rear door o$en, heard her own dri%er's door o$en, "ut when he $ut his hands on her she lost it com$letely, screamin! at him, "eatin! at him, fury and $ain and relief e'$lodin! from her in a wild ra!e. 5e was so stron!. 5e sim$ly $ulled her into his arms, out of the car, held her flailin! fists with one hand, tuc in! her a!ainst him as he san down on the !rass. And then she "e!an to wee$, !reat u!ly so"s that tore her a$art. 5e said nothin!. 5is "ody was stron! and so hot that it s$read warmth throu!h her suddenly chilled flesh. 5is hand was soothin! her tan!led hair. She had no idea how lon! her cryin! fit lasted. ,he s$asms that rac ed her "ody slowed, then stum"led to a halt, and she was sim$ly lyin! in his arms, wea , wasted, the tears finally !one. 6I hate you,6 she said in a small, $ained %oice. 62hy:6 It was an eminently lo!ical &uestion, what she'd e'$ect from him. E%en as his hands were stro in! her, soothin! her. 6Because you let me thin you were dead. 7ou somehow mana!ed to snea away and hide in the "ac of the car, and you ne%er said a wordGGG6 6I didn't snea away,6 he said. 6I )um$ed o%er the "alcony when /s"orn detonated the de%ice he'd ri!!ed.6 She lifted her head. 5er face was wet with tears, and he smoothed them away with his deft thum"s. 67ou couldn't ha%e,6 she said. 6It was a sheer dro$, onto !ranite. 7ou'd

"e dead.6 5e shru!!ed. 6Interestin!, isn't it: I "lac ed out, "ut I'm most assuredly not dead. I feel ind of stiff and sore, "ut a$art from that I'm in one $iece. I mana!ed to crawl to 5enry's car, "ut I'm afraid I $assed out in the "ac seat. I wasn't in any sha$e to say anythin!.6 She loo ed at him in awe. 6Does that mean you're in%ulnera"le, as well: 7ou can't die:6 ,he idea didn't seem to $lease him. 6I ha%e no idea. /"%iously I can sur%i%e a fall li e that. 2e'll sim$ly ha%e to find some$lace where I can e'$eriment a "it more. Damn,6 he said a"ru$tly. 62hat:6 6,he s$ecimen I was wor in! on. It's !one.6 6So is the house,6 she said mournfully. She'd lo%ed that house. 5e shru!!ed. 65ouses can "e re"uilt. I don't now how I'll e%er find more !reen slime. =nless Bee"e has some s&uirreled away. I want an antidote, and I'm not !oin! to come u$ with one if I can't fi!ure out what it was in the first $lace.6 She mana!ed a watery smile. 67ou mean you don't want to "e Cinderman after all:6 6Not $articularly. 2hat a"out you:6 he as ed, $ushin! her hair away from her tear( dam$ face. 67ou want to s$end the rest of your life doin! a mind(readin! act:6 6No,6 she said, )ust loo in! at him, at the face she'd ne%er e'$ected to see a!ain. 6But I do li e !oin! without my !lasses.6 5e mana!ed a wry !rin. 6May"e we'll let you ee$ your $owers. 7ou feel ready to continue on:6 0or a moment she didn't mo%e. 62here are we !oin!:6 6Bac to Santa Cristina. ,hey're not !oin! to let us "e, Molloy. 2e can't ee$ runnin!. I'%e !ot to !o "ac and face them.6 62hat a"out me:6 6I'll ta e you some$lace safe, if we can thin of it.6 She shoo her head. 6I'm stayin! with you.6 She ou!ht to tell him. She'd almost lost him once.now was the time to tell him. But she couldn't. 5e sat there loo in! at her, cool and com$osed, des$ite the strea of dirt on his face and the twi!s and lea%es in his lon! hair. 5e wasn't the ind of man she could easily say 6I lo%e you6 to. 5e'd $ro"a"ly as her to define it scientifically. She smiled wryly. 6Any o")ections:6 she added. 62ould you listen to them:6 6No$e.6 6,hen I'll sa%e my "reath. 3et's !et mo%in!. I want to "e off the road "y si' o'cloc .6 She clim"ed off him reluctantly, wonderin! if she was ima!inin! the way his hands

clun! to her for a moment "efore releasin! her. 2onderin! if he'd thou!ht of her when he %aulted o%er the "alcony to what should ha%e "een a certain death "elow. 6Do you want to tell me what ha$$ened "ac there:6 she as ed. 6Did you start the fire:6 5e loo ed "lea for a moment. 6No,6 he said. 6,o "oth &uestions. I'll dri%e.6 She could ha%e ar!ued, "ut in truth, her nees were wea , her hands were trem"lin!, and all she wanted to do was crawl into the soft leather seat of the +a!uar and loo at him. 6All ri!ht,6 she said. 5e threw her a moc in! !lance. 6Docile all of a sudden, are we: 2hat ha$$ened to the tou!h creature who ate male chau%inist $i!s for "rea fast:6 She !lanced down at the ,(shirt she'd !ra""ed in the dar ness1 ,he ,ruth Shall Set 7ou 0ree, But 0irst It 2ill 4iss 7ou /ff. A$t enou!h for today. 6She's tired,6 Su#anna said wearily. 6I'll "e more than ready to !o ten rounds when we !et "ac to California.6 6I'll "e loo in! forward to it.6 DANIE3 DECIDED he didn't li e +a!uars. /r, at least, he didn't li e this $articular one. Not that it didn't ha%e $lenty of $ower, a smooth ride and a decent radio. It e%en came e&ui$$ed with a CD $layer, "ut since the late 5enry /s"orn's taste in music had tended toward marchin! "ands and moti%ational ta$es, he made do with the 0M. But it had a soft, leathery "uc et seat, and Su#anna lay curled u$, miles away in her own soft, leathery "uc et seat. And he wanted her curled u$ ne't to him, with her head in his la$, her "lond hair s$read o%er his thi!hs. It had "een &uite a ni!ht. So acti%e that he should ha%e used u$ his se'ual ener!y for the ne't si' months. 5e'd certainly used u$ his su$$ly of condoms. So it made no sense that the %ery si!ht of her, the sound of her soft "reathin!, the scent of her, would "e dri%in! him cra#y with lust. And that's all it was, he told himself self(ri!hteously. ,hat's all he "elie%ed in. Chemistry, animal attraction. 0or some reason he and the cantan erous Su#anna Molloy made a $erfect match. It wouldn't last, of course. But it certainly was far stron!er than anythin! he'd felt in his entire life. 5e sus$ected it was the same for her. 0or a moment he wished he had her uncanny a"ility to read other $eo$le's thou!hts. 5e would ha%e li ed to now what went on "ehind those warm, wary "rown eyes when she loo ed at him. She hadn't come to "ed with him li e a woman who was used to that sort of thin!. She'd "een hesitant, shy, disarmin!ly so. /ut of "ed she was a ti!er.in his arms she was sur$risin!ly unsure. 5e was used to se'ual athletes. 2onderwomen, who new what they wanted and how to achie%e it with the minimum of fuss. Su#anna had "een uncertain, and he'd had to woo her, each time "rea in! down her resistance. 5e wondered whether he was !oin! to ha%e to woo her when they !ot "ac to Santa Cristina. /r whether he'd "e a"le to sto$ her in the first lonely $lace he found and ta e her standin! u$, her le!s wra$$ed around his hi$s, her nails di!!in! into his "ac . 5e ad)usted his )eans, shiftin! in the seat, and !lanced o%er at her. She was aslee$,

and he could see the $ale mau%e shadows "eneath her eyes. She needed to "e left alone, to recou$ her stren!th and self(assurance. ,he $ast twenty(four hours had thrown her off "alance, from lyin! on her "ac "eneath him to watchin! the house e'$lode into flames, thin in! he was inside. 5e had ne%er sto$$ed to consider what it mi!ht mean to her. 5e'd ne%er thou!ht that someone mi!ht care so much if he met a fiery end. 5is own elderly $arents would most li ely acce$t it as they acce$ted e%erythin!. 2ith calm, measured $racticality. 5is $arents weren't much for emotion, only intellect, and now that they were in their late se%enties they seemed a"solute stran!ers to any ind of feelin!. ,hey'd mourn, of course, "ut $ro"a"ly more for the waste of $otential than for their only son. But Su#anna hadn't acce$ted his su$$osed loss with e&uanimity, or e%en a sentimental tear or two. She'd "een shattered, and that ra!e of emotion, of raw feelin!, fri!htened him as little else could. 5e didn't want to mean that much to anyone. 5e !lanced o%er at her. 5e could still see the salty traces of the tears that had run down her $ale face. 5e didn't want her to lo%e him. It com$licated thin!s, it made him uneasy, unsure, and at a time when he needed to concentrate all his ener!ies, all his intellect, on sto$$in! Bee"e. 5e turned his face away, starin! out into the "ri!ht midday li!ht as he dro%e south toward California and fate. 5e didn't "elie%e in lo%e, and he didn't ha%e time for it. 5e'd ha%e to ma e that a"undantly clear to Su#anna Molloy. 2hat they had to!ether was a certain ar!umentati%e com$ati"ility and a $owerful se'ual communication. It didn't ha%e to "e cloa ed in hearts and flowers. It wasn't lo%e. She shifted ne't to him, and he started !uiltily. 6Did you now,6 she said, her %oice cool and clear, 6that I could hear some of /s"orn's thou!hts:6 6Interestin!,6 he re$lied. 6Not as clearly as yours, thou!h. /nly a thou!ht or two filtered throu!h from him. 2hereas with you I tend to hear far too much.6 It was a warnin!, !ently s$o en. 6Su#anna,6 he said, suddenly feelin! li e the lowest creature of all creation. 67ou mi!ht turn the radio u$,6 she said &uietly. 6,hat mi!ht drown some of it out.6 5e leaned forward and did so, and the annoyin! sound of ra$ music filled the ele!ant car. It was $ro"a"ly the first time in its short history the car had "een su")ected to such an indi!nity. 5e deli"erately en%isioned her, na ed, lyin! "eneath him, le!s s$read and waitin!, and he !lanced o%er to see her reaction. No telltale "lush. No reaction whatsoe%er. 6,hat's "etter,6 she murmured, closin! her eyes a!ain. 62e need to tal .6 6Not now,6 she said, turnin! her "ac on him. 5e could see the strai!ht line of her s$ine "eneath her ,(shirt. It loo ed stron!, it loo ed an!ry, it loo ed %ulnera"le. 5e'd !i%e her time. And deli"erately he concentrated on the antiesta"lishment, ill( the(Man rhetoric on the radio. 0or once it was somethin! he could identify with. 5e dro%e steadily throu!h the day. ,he only time Su#anna emer!ed from the cocoon

she'd s$un a"out herself was when he sto$$ed at a fast(food restaurant. E%en the si!ht of a ham"ur!er and french fries couldn't "rin! "ac the li!ht in her eyes, "ut at least she mana!ed to eat an indecent amount. She said nothin! a"out his choice of salad and mil sha e, and he missed her ra##in! him. But he had the !ood sense to !i%e her time and s$ace. 5e sim$ly loo ed at his salad and calculated how many !rams of fat were in the dressin!, shieldin! his thou!hts from her. It was )ust after fi%e when he $ulled the car to a sto$. It was !ettin! dar already, the autumn li!ht fadin! &uic ly, and he illed the motor, waitin! for Su#anna to emer!e from her daylon! retreat. 62here are we:6 she as ed, loo in! around slee$ily. 6A"out ten miles from Bee"e, if you ta e "ac roads and !o across country a "it.6 63ord,6 she moaned. 6Don't tell me you're still tryin! to !et me to wal :6 6No. ,here's an old $lace "ac in the woods here. I was thin in! of "uyin! it. 2e can hide out here for a while, at least until after ei!ht.6 She loo ed at him curiously. 62hy don't you want to !o there until ei!ht: Aren't you wastin! any $ossi"le ad%anta!e you mi!ht ha%e:6 6No.6 5e'd fi!ured it all out while she sle$t. If he went in while he was in%isi"le, he would sim$ly "e lea%in! Su#anna as the only a%aila"le tar!et. 5e already new he wouldn't "e a"le to !et her to stay "ehind, short of "indin! and !a!!in! her, and he didn't thin she'd let him !et away with that. She smiled wryly. 6,han s.6 60or what:6 60or your chi%alry.6 5e slammed his hand a!ainst the steerin! wheel. 67ou now what it's li e, ha%in! a %oyeur $eerin! at my e%ery thou!ht:6 65ey, I don't li e it, either,6 she sna$$ed "ac , her tentati%e smile %anishin!. 6And it's not your e%ery thou!ht. It's )ust the occasional one.6 6It's still too damned many.6 6I a!ree.6 Silence, heated, an!ry, fillin! the car. 63et's !et out of here,6 he said finally. 6I don't now whether anyone noticed us as we !ot nearer Santa Cristina. It's a distincti%e car.6 She acce$ted the $eace offerin!, for what it was, unfastenin! the seat "elt and slidin! out of the front seat. 63ead on, MacDuff. 3et's )ust ho$e we can find some food at this $lace.6 6I wouldn't count on it. Besides, you ate an indecent amount at the "ur!er $lace.6 6Most $eo$le eat more than once e%ery twenty(four hours,6 she said in a dece$ti%ely tran&uil %oice. 5e "it "ac his instincti%e retort. ,he dri%eway of the old house was o%er!rown, ne!lected for the last few years as the old lady owner of the house had !rown older and less o"ser%ant. 2ith the a$$roachin! dus and the hunter !reen of the car, it would most

li ely esca$e detection, unless someone was loo in! for it at that $articular $lace, which wasn't at all li ely. As of ,hursday afternoon, the old house had "een on the mar et for more than si' months, and he was the only one who'd shown the sli!htest "it of interest. She said nothin! as he led her u$ the windin! dri%eway to the front door. 5e wasn't sure what he e'$ected from her. She loo ed u$ at the deserted house with a "lea e'$ression on her face, and he would ha%e !i%en anythin! for the momentary a"ility to read her thou!hts. 6Stay here,6 he said. 6I'll !o around and let you in.6 67ou ha%e a ey:6 5e didn't "other lyin! to her. 6I now the easiest way to "rea in.6 If he e'$ected an ar!ument, he didn't !et one. She waited there, $atient, &uiet, until he o$ened the front door and drew her into the dusty little hallway. 6,he $ower's still on,6 he said. 6,here's a tele%ision, if you're so inclined, and some of the furniture is still here, the worthless stuff. Accordin! to the real estate a!ent the anti&ues were already sold to.6 67ou're "a""lin!,6 Su#anna said, mo%in! $ast him. 6It's %ery nice.6 5e shut his mouth. 67es,6 he said "riefly. She was o"%iously ha%in! a monumental case of sul s "ecause he wouldn't tell her he was in lo%e with her, and it wasn't fair, )ust "ecause he didn't "elie%e in such thin!s... 62ould you sto$ it96 she sna$$ed, her tem$er frayed. 6Sto$ what:6 6Sto$ o"sessin! a"out not "ein! in lo%e with me9 Did I as you to: 5a%e I "een throwin! myself at you, declarin! my undyin! de%otion, insistin! on $romises and %ows of eternal lo%e: 5a%e I:6 she demanded furiously. 6No.6 6,hen why do you ee$ fussin! a"out it: I don't e'$ect you to lo%e me. I'm certain you're entirely inca$a"le of it. 2e're !ood in "ed, ri!ht: 2hat was that lo%ely $hrase you thou!ht of.a certain ar!umentati%e com$ati"ility: 2hy don't we )ust stri$ off our clothes and do it and sto$ ar!uin! a"out ima!inary thin!s li e "ein! in lo%e.6 She loo ed ma!nificent, standin! there in the dus y shadows, her "reasts risin! and fallin! "eneath the ,(shirt. She loo ed li e the answer to his e%ery dream and more. 6I need a co$y of that ,(shirt,6 he said a"ru$tly. 5e'd mana!e to startle her. 62hat ,(shirt:6 6,he one you wore when I saw you for the first time. At the $ress conference, last summer. Denial Is Not +ust a Ri%er in E!y$t.6 She )ust stared at him for a moment. 67ou remem"er that:6 6I remem"er e%erythin! a"out you.6 62hat are you tryin! to tell me:6 6Nothin! I'm ready to say ri!ht now.6 5e mo%ed away from her, coward that he was,

and she let him !o. 62e'll wait here until after ei!ht o'cloc . I'm not sure what we'll do till then....6 But she was !one. 5e heard her footste$s on the "are wood floors, and he wondered if she was runnin! away from him. 5e'd ha%e to !o after her.it wasn't safe. And if he went after her, he mi!ht say what he didn't mean, didn't "elie%e in, wasn't ready for... 65ell and damnation,6 he muttered. 5is "rain must ha%e melted under the assault of !reen slime. 5e went into the hallway, followin! her. She'd !one u$ the shar$ly an!led staircase .he could hear her in the distance, his oddly acute hearin! tuned in to her "reathin!. 5e heard the crea of a "ed, the rustle of clothin!, and he started after her. ,he cram$ hit him halfway u$ the second fli!ht, shar$ and hard, and he cursed, somethin! "rief and o"scene, sa!!in! a!ainst the wall, waitin! for the $ain to $ass, waitin! for his "ody to fade into nothin!ness. 5e didn't hear her come, "ut he loo ed u$ and she was standin! there at the to$ of the stairs, loo in! down at him as he held his stomach. 6It must "e almost si',6 she said. 5e shut his eyes for a moment. 6I'll !o for a wal ,6 he said. 6As soon as this sto$s...6 She came u$ "eside him and $ut her arm throu!h his, tu!!in! him !ently u$ward. 6Sto$ fi!htin!, Daniel.6 62hat do you mean:6 67ou need to rest. Sto$ fi!htin! the $ain, sto$ fi!htin! me. Come and lie down. I'll wa e you u$ when it's ei!ht. It'll "e easy enou!h to tell,6 she added with a wry smile. 5e loo ed at her. 5e was already "e!innin! to fade, and he could see from the determined e'$ression on her face that she wasn't !oin! to let that "other her. She tu!!ed, and he went. She was ri!ht.he needed to sto$ fi!htin!. 6,hat's ri!ht,6 she murmured soothin!ly. 6+ust !i%e it u$ for a cou$le of hours.6 She $ulled him into the "edroom at the to$ of the stairs, and "y the time he was throu!h the door he was in%isi"le. 6/n the "ed,6 she ordered. It was most li ely a horri"ly uncomforta"le old "ed. E%en the old lady's heirs hadn't wanted it. It was a sa!!in! dou"le "ed, with a conca%e mattress co%ered "y faded tic in!, and a $lain "arred iron head"oard that loo ed as if it "elon!ed in a reformatory. It loo ed li e hea%en. 6+ust an hour,6 he a!reed, sin in! down on it and closin! his eyes in relief. 62a e me at se%en, and we'll tal .6 6I don't want to tal to you, Daniel,6 she said. 6I don't thin I'm !oin! to li e anythin! you ha%e to say. 8o to slee$,6 she said firmly. 5e o$ened his eyes for a moment. She was standin! at the foot of the "ed, her eyes shadowed. 62hat are you !oin! to do:6 62a e you when it's ei!ht o'cloc ,6 she said !ently. And she turned and left the room.

5e had ne%er felt so alone in his life. ,he narrow dou"le "ed was hu!e. 5e wanted to call after her, to tell her. ,he words sto$$ed. She didn't want to hear them. In his mind, in his %oice. And for once, she was ri!ht. 5e needed to slee$. 5e'd )ust a"out e'hausted e%ery last ounce of his reser%es. 5e'd wa e himself u$ at se%en. And then he'd ma e her listen.

Chapter Sixteen
Su#anna leaned forward and clic ed off the "lac (and(white tele%ision set. Mista e num"er one was turnin! it on in the first $lace. She'd done so )ust in time to hear a"out the unfortunate demise of 5enry /s"orn, Daniel Crom$ton and his unnamed female com$anion in a fire of sus$icious ori!in, u$ in an uninha"ited tract of woodland in eastern /re!on. =ncle -innie would "e frantic. Not to mention Daniel's elderly $arents. ,he $hones were disconnected, and for a "rief moment she considered ta in! the car and dri%in! to the nearest $ay $hone, )ust lon! enou!h to set =ncle -innie's mind at ease. And then she remem"ered what car they had. She hadn't loo ed, "ut if 5enry /s"orn's car didn't come e&ui$$ed with a cellular $hone, she'd turn in%isi"le herself. It was after se%en when she came "ac from the car. It had ta en her a!es to fi!ure out how to wor the damned thin!, and then =ncle -innie had as ed all sorts of &uestions that she hadn't "een $re$ared to answer. She'd finally ended u$ han!in! u$ on him, after she'd !otten his $romise to trac down Daniel's $arents and inform them that their son was %ery much ali%e. It was the least she could do. She remem"ered how it felt, twel%e hours a!o, when she'd nelt in the dirt and mourned his death. She couldn't let that ha$$en to another human "ein!, not without )ust cause. ,he house was still and silent when she came "ac in, closin! the door "ehind her. She was cold.she only had her ,(shirt and )eans and "are feet, and the ni!ht air was "ris . She loo ed around for some ind of heat, then reali#ed the most $otent form of it was u$stairs, aslee$. All she had to do was !o u$ to that "edroom and sit in the chair, and Daniel's inner "la#e would warm her chilled "ones. She left the li!hts off as she went u$stairs. ,he shadows had their customary, unner%in! effect, "ut she decided to $lay it safe. Des$ite the fact that the house was dee$ within the woods, someone mi!ht come loo in!. Now that =ncle -innie new she was somewhere near "y, he mi!ht "e foolish enou!h to mount a rescue attem$t. She didn't want to in%ol%e him any more than she had to. ,here was a full moon risin! "eyond the dusty, multi($aned window, and it shone on the em$ty "ed. E'ce$t that it wasn't em$ty at all. She stood in the doorway, and she could hear his "reathin!, feel the heat emanatin! from his flesh. It was hot in the room, wonderfully warm. And then she noticed the clothes on the floor. 5is )eans and ,(shirt lay in a ha$ha#ard $ile, which could mean one of two thin!s. Either he'd chan!ed his clothes.and she new all their e'tra clothes had "urned with the house.or he was lyin! on the "ed, wearin! nothin! "ut his hot, smooth s in.

,he old s$rin!s crea ed in the ni!ht, and she new he was awa e. 6+ust as well you can't see me,6 he murmured, his %oice low and "e!uilin!. 62hy:6 67ou'd "lush.6 She could feel color suffuse her face. 6I ha%e $ale s in,6 she $rotested. She could feel his silence. 0eel his lon!in!. 0eel him "urnin! for her. As she "urned for him. 6Denial is not )ust a ri%er in E!y$t,6 he murmured, and un"elie%in! she heard the ne't words, the ones she'd lon!ed for, in his mind. She couldn't see him, so she sim$ly closed her eyes. And reachin! down, she $ulled her ,(shirt o%er her head and sent it sailin! onto the floor, where it landed "eside his. ,he )eans came ne't. She was wearin! $lain white cotton "i ini $anties, and she stri$$ed those off, as well, so that she was standin! in the moonlit dar ness, na ed, %ulnera"le. She new he watched her.she could feel his eyes on her "ody li e a caress, runnin! down her lon! le!s, u$ o%er her stomach, cu$$in! her "reasts. She tilted her head "ac , re%elin! in the heat of his !a#e, and her shoulder(len!th hair trailed down her "ac . 2hen she loo ed at the "ed a!ain there was a faint, $ossessi%e smile on her face. 67ou're an idiot, Dr. Crom$ton,6 she said, mo%in! toward the sa!!in! mattress. 62hy do you say that, Molloy:6 5e sounded merely curious, "ut the hus y note in his %oice "etrayed his reaction to her as surely as the si!ht of him would ha%e. She sto$$ed "eside the "ed, feelin! the luscious heat wash o%er her. 6Because you're afraid of the "est thin! that e%er ha$$ened to you.6 6I don't...6 he "e!an, "ut she leaned down, unerrin!ly, $uttin! her hand a!ainst his unseen mouth. 6Shut u$, Daniel,6 she said indly. 6I'll ta e care of thin!s.6 And she $ut her mouth where her hand had "een. 5is mouth was hot, dam$, o$en for her. She threaded her hands throu!h his lon! hair, and she could feel the stu""le of his "eard. 5e hadn't sha%ed all day./s"orn had wo en them out of an e'hausted slee$, and they'd "een runnin! so lon! that she hadn't e%en noticed. She li ed the rou!hness of his chee s. She drew her mouth away and ru""ed her face a!ainst his unseen one, still feelin! his "eard a!ainst her tender s in. She was neelin! on the "ed "eside him, and she felt his hands slide around her waist, hot a!ainst her cool s in, and she leaned a!ainst him, a"sor"in! the feel of him, the warmth of him, the stren!th of him. 5e tried to tu! her down "eside him, "eneath him, "ut she held "ac . 6Not this time,6 she murmured. 62hat do you mean:6 6I mean that I'%e ne%er had the chance to ma e lo%e to an in%isi"le man in my life. It

seems li ely that you're !oin! to "e s$endin! a lot of time in that condition, and I intend to "e s$endin! a lot of time with you. I'd "etter !et used to it.6 She let her hands trail down the sides of his face, e'$lorin! the feel of him, and let them rest on his "are shoulders. She let her eyes drift closed. She'd ne%er reali#ed how intensely erotic it could "e, touchin! without seein!. She learned him, the sha$e and te'ture of him, as she'd ne%er learned a man "efore. 2ith only her other senses a%aila"le, with taste and touch and smell, she had to concentrate on the sli!htest clues. ,he $e""led hardness of his flat male ni$$les, the faint, ras$in! sound of his "reath as she trailed her mouth across his stomach, the tension in his s in, his hands, as he forced himself to let her disco%er him. 2hen he lay "ac on the "are mattress, she heard the shift of the s$rin!s "eneath him. She slid her hands u$, to disco%er he'd wra$$ed his own stron! hands around the iron "edstead. She could feel the $ressure, the stren!th in them, and she smiled, o$enin! her eyes to stare down into nothin!ness. 67ou're showin! wonderful restraint,6 she murmured a$$ro%in!ly, leanin! forward to "rush a iss a!ainst his mouth. She missed her tar!et, landin! instead on his chin, "ut he mo%ed, swiftly, unerrin!ly, his mouth meetin! hers, and she could taste his hun!er, taste his need. 6Stay li e that,6 she whis$ered, learnin! him with her mouth, lettin! her li$s taste and ni""le their way down his smooth, hot chest, $ast his stomach and the faint rou!hness of hair. She $ut her hands around him, !ently, and he !roaned, and she heard the crea of the s$rin!s as he arched "eneath her. 5e was hu!e, and hard, and dam$ for her. 5e didn't need to say a word.she new what he wanted, she could hear his des$erate lon!in! in his mind, and it matched her own. She leaned down and $ut her mouth on him, ta in! him dee$ inside, her hands clutchin! his hi$s. 5e didn't touch her, and she new why. If he touched her, he'd ta e o%er, and he new she needed to do this. Needed to ta e control, to learn him, without fear of the conse&uences. She needed to do )ust what she wanted, and she needed him to lie "ac and let her. 5e was sha in!. She could feel the trem"lin! in his "ody, and it matched her own. She wanted him this way, she wanted him e%ery way there was, "ut she could hear his $rotest. And then he s$o e, his %oice raw and strained in the em$ty dar ness. 6Not without you,6 he said, and she new he lo%ed her. Reluctantly she $ulled away, and she could feel his silent cry of $ain. And then she slid u$, o%er him, and as she slowly san down she could feel the iron(hard tension in e%ery muscle in his "ody, as he controlled his need to sur!e into her. 5e waited until she'd ta en him fully. 2aited until she leaned forward, her "reasts a!ainst his hot chest, her hands slidin! u$ his outstretched arms to co%er his hands as they clutched the iron railin!. 5e waited while she mo%ed, aw wardly at first, unsure, and then suddenly she was fluid, li!ht and dar ness, heat and desire, ta in! him, ownin! him, and he was trem"lin!, sha in! a$art "eneath her, and she was trem"lin!, sha in! a$art, and then the world e'$loded. She screamed, una"le to sto$ herself, and she was lost, as

he finally "e!an to mo%e, thrustin! u$ into her, ta in! her, fillin! her with his heat, his seed, his life. She didn't want to o$en her eyes. She could still feel his heart $oundin! "eneath hers, feel the stran!led ras$ of his "reathin! as it stirred her hair, still feel him within her "ody. 5is hands loosened their fierce hold of the iron "edstead and turned "eneath hers, clas$in! hers, and she wanted to wee$ at the "eauty of it. If she o$ened her eyes reality would intrude. 0or now, there were only the two of them, alone in the uni%erse. S5E M=S, 5A-E D/>ED. She awo e with the room in $itch("lac ness, the moon !one "ehind dar , scuddin! clouds. =nseen hands were turnin! her, tuc in! her ne't to a fiery "ody, and she "reathed a si!h of $ure contentment as his hands $ulled her closer. 5e leaned forward, his mouth "rushin! her ear, and she waited for his words of lo%e. 62here are you in your menstrual cycle:6 he as ed endearin!ly. She sho%ed at him. 6Do you ha%e to "e &uite so $ractical:6 6So sue me. I'm a scientist.6 6Not, howe%er, a "iolo!ist,6 she $ointed out, !lad the dar ness hid the "lush she new suffused her face. 6I had a fair amount of $re(med. I didn't use any $rotection. I'm no lon!er worried a"out other side(effects, "ut an un$lanned $re!nancy is still a concern.6 62hat other side(effects:6 she as ed warily. 6I'%e "een e'$osed to somethin! &uite e'traordinary, somethin! that's chan!ed my "ody chemistry. It didn't seem a wise idea to introduce any fluids into your "ody without chec in!.6 65ow romantic,6 she murmured sarcastically. 62hat ma es you thin it's all ri!ht now:6 6I chec ed.6 65ow'd you mana!e that:6 She didn't ha%e to see him to reco!ni#e the wic ed !rin in his %oice. 6I )ust needed to chec a sam$le under the microsco$e. Easy enou!h to $rocure one. I )ust closed my eyes and thou!ht of you.6 She didn't now whether to hit him or iss him. 5e was a"solutely the most damna"le, frustratin!, erotic, endearin! man on the face of the $lanet. E%en if she was una"le to see him for too much of the time. She let herself rela' a!ainst him, slidin! into his warmth. 6,hey thin we're dead, you now. It was on the tele%ision news.6 5e didn't seem sur$rised. 6I heard it on the car radio while you sle$t.6 6I called =ncle -innie and as ed him to let your $arents now you were all ri!htGGG6 67ou did what:6 5e $ulled away from her, sittin! u$ in the dar ness, and there was no missin! the an!er in his unseen "ody, any more than she could miss the faint red !low in his eyes.

She stared in his direction, fascinated. 6I can see your eyes !lowin!,6 she murmured. 6,he hell with my eyes9 2hy did you call him:6 6Don't !et into such a swi%et. 7ou may not care what $eo$le thin , "ut I wasn't a"out to ha%e them holdin! a memorial ser%ice for me. I ha%e $eo$le who lo%e me. I fi!ure e%en you do, thou!h it's hard to ima!ine. I e'$ect your $arents mi!ht e'$erience a $an! or two if they thou!ht their only child had "urned u$ in a forest fire.6 5er %oice was caustic. 6,hey would ha%e sur%i%ed a cou$le of days thin in! that. ,hey're $ra!matic $eo$le.6 6No one's $ra!matic enou!h to acce$t the loss of their child.6 6May"e. But did you sto$ and thin a"out what your little !ood deed for the day mi!ht ha%e done:6 6,hey couldn't trace the call, if that's what you're worried a"out. I used /s"orn's cellular $hone.there's no way they could ta$ it.6 67ou'd "e sur$rised at what they can do. But they wouldn't ha%e to ta$ /s"orn's $hone. ,hey )ust ha%e to ta$ the $hones of $eo$le you'd "e li ely to call. My $arents would ha%e "een first on the list. 5ell and damnation96 6I didn't e%en tal to them. I )ust told -innie to call, and I didn't !i%e him any s$ecific information, a$art from tellin! him we were still ali%e and /s"orn was dead. 2e'll "e $erfectly safe.6 6I'm not worried a"out us. I'm worried a"out my $arents. A"out your damned =ncle -innie, for that matter. If they now we care enou!h to "e in touch with them, they'll use them for "ar!ainin! chi$s. And I don't thin they're a"out to let any"ody wal away from this mess.6 6/h, 8od,6 Su#anna murmured. 6Daniel, I'm sorry.6 ,here was a stunned silence. 6And here I thou!ht su$ersensiti%e hearin! was $art of my metamor$hosis. Su#anna Molloy is not a !irl to say she's sorry.6 6Don't call me girl,6 she said misera"ly in to en $rotest. She felt his hand reach u$ under her hair and stro e her face !ently. 6,hey'll "e all ri!ht, Molloy. 2e'll !et the "ad !uys. I'm not a"out to let them !et away with this.6 6But there are so many of them,6 she said. 67eah, "ut you for!et. I'm Cinderman, crusader for truth and )ustice. 2ith my faithful com$anion, Su#anna the mind(readin! swami, "eside me, there's no way the armies of e%il will trium$h.6 6,his isn't a comic "oo , Daniel,6 she said sternly. 63ife's a comic "oo , Molloy. ,he sooner you reali#e that, the "etter off you'll "e.6 She stared u$ at him. ,he moon had rea$$eared from "ehind the clouds, and she could see his outline in the dar ness. 6It must "e after ei!ht,6 she said. 6It is. I chan!ed "ac while you were slee$in!.6 5e reached o%er and turned on the li!ht, and she closed her eyes a!ainst the "ri!htness. 62e'%e !ot to !et mo%in!, swami,6

he muttered. 62e don't ha%e any time to waste.6 She scram"led for her clothes on the far side of the "ed, yan in! her ,(shirt o%er her head in "elated em"arrassment. It had "een easy enou!h to "e a wanton in the dar , with no %isi"le witness. ,he memory of what they'd done was suddenly o%erwhelmin!. Daniel was standin! in the middle of the room, motionless, starin! $ast her. 5e'd $ulled on his )eans, and there was a "emused e'$ression on his face. 62hat are you starin! at:6 she demanded. 6,he "ed.6 She didn't now what she'd e'$ected. She was almost afraid to loo . 2hen she turned to follow his !a#e, she was momentarily "reathless. ,he sturdy iron "edstead had "een "ent li e an old wire coat han!er. She remem"ered her hands on his in the dar ness, clutchin! those hea%y iron "ars. 68oodness,6 she said &uietly. 6/r as Mae 2est once said, '8oodness has nothin! to do with it,'6 he re$lied. 68et your clothes on, Su#anna. 7ou're far too distractin! that way, and we ha%e wor to do.6 She was tem$ted to $oint out )ust how distractin! he was, then thou!ht "etter of it. 62here are we !oin!:6 6,o !et the "ad !uys, Su#anna. Before they !et us.6 I0 5E'D 5AD ,5E C5/ICE, Daniel thou!ht, he would ha%e cli$$ed Ms. Su#anna Molloy on the chin and left her safely tied u$ "ac at the deserted old house. But he didn't ha%e the choice. She new half the thin!s he was thin in!.there'd "e no way he could snea u$ on her without her !uessin!. And he had no !uarantee she'd "e any safer "ac there. At least, with him, she had su$ernatural $owers on her side. 0or some reason he didn't thin twenty(twenty %ision and the a"ility to read certain thou!hts were !oin! to "e enou!h to $rotect her from $eo$le li e Armstead and his crew of disenchanted e'(8reen Berets. ,here was ne%er any dou"t in his mind where he'd find Armstead. 5e'd "e at Bee"e, waitin! for him to come in. ,hey understood each other in ways far more direct than Su#anna's swami act. ,hey were too much ali e. Me!alomaniacs, with only one $ur$ose. 0or Armstead, it was the control of the world with his own $articular a!enda. 0or Daniel, it was the &uest for nowled!e. E'ce$t that he had another $ur$ose, one that had snea ed u$ on him when he wasn't loo in!. Another interest, one he was as $assionately de%oted to as he was to "i(le%el molecular transfer. And that was Su#anna Molloy. /ne thin! was certain.if they were !oin! to stay to!ether, he was !oin! to ha%e to fi!ure out a way to shield his thou!hts from her. 5e didn't fancy s$endin! the rest of his life with a mental %oyeur in his "ed. But he didn't fancy s$endin! the rest of his life without her, either. ,here'd "e time enou!h for dealin! with that later. Assumin! there was a later. 0or now he had to concentrate on "rin!in! Armstead and his army of cree$s down. ,here was sim$ly too damned much at sta e. ,he hu!e white head&uarters of Bee"e Control Systems International loo ed

deserted when he dro%e /s"orn's +a!uar into the em$ty $ar in! lot, "ut Daniel wasn't fooled for a moment. ,hey were there, "ehind those dar ened windows, waitin! for him. 5e only ho$ed Cinderman was ready for them. Su#anna slid out of the car and came to stand "eside him. 5e'd $ar ed in front of the entrance, ta in! a cool si$ of defiance in lea%in! the front tires on the handica$$ed accessi"le wal way that had ne%er seen anyone in a wheelchair. ,here was a cool "ree#e, one that he "arely felt with his heated s in, "ut it "lew Su#anna's hair "ac a!ainst his shoulder, and he cau!ht the faint trace of her sham$oo. 5e wanted to sto$ ri!ht then and there, dra! her "ac to the +a!uar and $ush her down onto the "ac seat. 5e sim$ly too her hand, runnin! his thum" o%er her lon!, stron! fin!ers. 6I can't $ersuade you to run away and hide, can I:6 he as ed, almost a"sently. 6No.6 5e !lanced down at her. 6I ha%e a funny feelin! a"out toni!ht.6 5e saw the flic er of sheer $anic in her eyes, saw her swiftly control it. 60unny li e what:6 60unny li e I'm not !oin! to wal out of there ali%e.6 She didn't ma e a sound, "ut he could hear the sudden $anic ed lurch of her heart. 6In that case, it doesn't really matter whether I come with you or not,6 she o"ser%ed in a dece$ti%e drawl. 67ou don't ha%e any funny feelin!s that I'm not !oin! to ma e it, do you:'' 6No.6 6,hen I'll come with you,6 she said firmly. 6,wo a!ainst an army is "etter than one.6 6I don't want you doin! anythin! foolish.6 63i e what:6 63i e ma in! any dramatic !estures to sa%e me if thin!s !et out of control. I want you to $romise me.6 64romise you what:6 6,hat you'll do as I say. ,hat you'll trust my )ud!ment.6 She turned and stared at him, and he thou!ht he could see the faint !limmer of tears in her $erfect eyes. 6Are you cra#y, Daniel: Me, trust your )ud!ment: 8i%e me a !ood reason.6 6Because I don't want you to die, too.6 She was silent. And then she rallied, as he new she would, and he found it in him to !rin. 62hy not:6 she demanded. 6Read my mind,6 he whis$ered, leanin! down and "rushin! his li$s a!ainst hers. 5e felt the shoc that went throu!h her, the yearnin!. And then he set her away, starin! u$ at the monstrous edifice that housed Armstead and his !oons and the fruits of his own wor for the last fi%e years. ,he secrets to "i(le%el molecular transfer. 6No,6 she said, followin! his !a#e. 67ou can't do it.6

5e didn't "other denyin! it. 62hy not: +ust a stare, a "lin , a scrunch of my nose and this $lace will "e a $ile of cinders. ,hose are the "ad !uys inside, Molloy. ,ell me why I should !i%e them a chance to !et us first.6 6Because we're the !ood !uys.6 5e considered it for a moment. 6,he $ro"lem with you, Molloy,6 he drawled, 6is that you're usually ri!ht. Come on.6 She held "ac , )ust for a moment. 65ow are we !oin! to !et in:6 6I e'$ect they'%e unloc ed the door for us. ,here'll "e a welcomin! $arty. Are you sure you don't want to run while you still ha%e the chance:6 6Do you:6 6Not on your life.6 6,hen I'm comin! with you.6

Chapter Seventeen
62e e'$ected you earlier, Dr. Crom$ton.6 ,he man ste$$ed out of the shadows in the ca%ernous, deserted hallway, and Daniel didn't need any li!ht to identify him. 6I try not to "e $redicta"le, Cole,6 he said easily. 6I don't thin you met Su#anna when we were here earlier. Su#anna, this is 8eneral Armstead's fa%orite !ofer. Cole Slau!hter.6 68reat name,6 Su#anna muttered, !lancin! at Slau!hter's camoufla!e fati!ues and "lunt, "rutal face. 5e didn't e%en re!ister her $resence. 68eneral Armstead is awaitin! your $resence, sir,6 he said, the essence of military $oliteness. 6I'm sure he is,6 Daniel drawled. 6Are you !oin! to escort us, or shall we find him oursel%es:6 65e wasn't e'$ectin! Ms. Molloy.6 6If you now her last name, then you must ha%e had a fairly !ood idea she'd "e with me. She stays with me, Slau!hter. 8ot that:6 67es, sir. If you'll follow me.6 5e turned, leadin! the way throu!h the shadowy hallway, and Daniel reached out his hand for Su#anna's, wonderin! if she'd ta e it, or if she'd "e determined to $ro%e how tou!h she still was. A moment later her hand was tuc ed into his, holdin! ti!htly. 5e could feel the chill in her flesh.ma!nified "ecause he was so hot. 5e wished there was some way to ee$ her out of this mess, "ut she was already in it u$ to her ears. 5is "est chance of ee$in! her safe was ee$in! her with him, no matter what they ended u$ confrontin!. 6,here you are.6 8eneral Armstead rose from his throneli e seat at the end of the hu!e walnut ta"le. 5e'd ta en u$ residence in the "oardroom, and he loo ed li e a s&uat, e%il s$ider. 5e was wearin! a com"at uniform not unli e Slau!hter's.an odd choice for a retired soldier. But then, the truth was, Armstead was far from retired. 6Sorry to ee$ you waitin!,6 Daniel murmured, still holdin! Su#anna's hand ti!htly.

62here are the rest of your little soldier "oys: Surely you don't thin you can rule the world with an army of one Ro"oco$:6 Slau!hter made a !rowlin! noise in the "ac of his throat, "ut he didn't mo%e. 5e remained standin! to one side, awaitin! orders. Armstead too a ste$ toward them, a !enial e'$ression on his face. 6But I don't need an army, son. It's "etter to ee$ your team down to the "are minimum. less fuss, less dan!er of "etrayal. Slau!hter here has "een with me since Nam. 5e was )ust a "oy then. fifteen."ut "i! for his a!e. 5e already had a real !ift "ac then. /ne he's honed.6 6I can ima!ine,6 Daniel said dryly. 6By the way, where's /s"orn: I sent him to !et you. ,hat, or dis$ose of you. Am I to assume, since you arri%ed here in his car, that he didn't ma e it "ac from /re!on:6 67ou can assume all you li e. At least part of that news story you fed the $ress was correct.6 6Dear me,6 Armstead said, not the sli!htest "it distur"ed. 6Slau!hter, I'll let you "e the one to console his wife. ,he woman's a "it too hun!ry for me.6 67es, sir,6 said Slau!hter, soundin! more and more li e a ro"ot. 6And now, my dear Dr. Crom$ton, I'm afraid we'%e wasted far too much time $layin! !ames. 7ou now what I want. Bee"e has $aid for it, $aid you e'tra%a!ant sums of money, alon! with footin! your research. It's time for the results.6 62hat if I told you I didn't ha%e any results: ,hat it had all "een a waste:6 6I wouldn't "elie%e you,6 Armstead said sim$ly. 6I'd "e willin! to "et you all that money you ha%e s&uirreled away in some Swiss "an account that you $ossess the secret that could rule the uni%erse. And I want that secret, Daniel. I ha%e no intention of waitin! any lon!er. ,his whole or!ani#ation has already "een com$romised. 2ith /s"orn dead, we'll "e facin! some un$leasant &uestions. I'll find a !ood use for your research, my "oy. After all, I $aid for it.6 67ou and your rich, $aranoid cronies.6 Daniel shru!!ed. 67ou stole my notes. 7ou now as much as I do.6 6Ah, yes, those notes. -ery cry$tic of you. 2e almost o%erloo ed that dis when we searched your a$artment. 0ortunately Slau!hter $ointed out that you were hardly the man to own a Neil Diamond CD. And there wasn't e%en a stereo in your condo.6 Daniel !lanced o%er at the eni!matic Slau!hter. 6All this, and "rains too, Cole: 2ill wonders ne%er cease.6 A!ain that low, warnin! !rowl. 6I wouldn't, if I were you, Crom$ton,6 Armstead said !ently. 6Ma)or Slau!hter doesn't $ossess much of a sense of humor. And he's e'$erienced enou!h to now who to ta e it out on. I don't thin you'd en)oy seein! what a man with Slau!hter's talent would do with Ms. Molloy.6 Daniel's hand ti!htened automatically around Su#anna's, and it was sheer force of will that e$t him from ima!inin! e'actly what ind of thin!s Slau!hter mi!ht do. Su#anna was entirely ca$a"le of readin! his thou!hts, and if she wasn't terrified already,

it would send her o%er the ed!e. 6So tell me what you want, Armstead,6 Daniel said with dece$ti%e calm. 67ou ha%e my notes. Surely Bee"e can afford to $ay a com$etent scientist to deci$her them, to re$licate my e'$eriments.6 62e'%e already had a com$etent scientist do )ust that. =nfortunately, Dr. +ac son showed an unfortunate le%el of !reed. ,hat's the $ro"lem with wor in! within an or!ani#ation. 7ou're only as stron! as your wea est lin . ,hat's why I decided to ta e Slau!hter and /s"orn on as $artners in our own little enter$rise, and not worry a"out the rest of Bee"e's infrastructure. 7ou can ne%er "e sure of anyone's limits. I would ha%e had +ac son )oin us, too, if he hadn't $ro%en so ac&uisiti%e.6 6Is that why you illed him:6 6Actually, Slau!hter and /s"orn did the honors. Slau!hter finished him u$, "ut not "efore he had +ac son e'$lain e'actly what "i(le%el molecular transfer is.6 Daniel didn't e%en "lin . 6And what does he thin it is:6 6Alchemy.6 It was a little more than a !roan from Slau!hter, "ut not much. Daniel mana!ed a wintry smile. 6,hat's succinct.6 6I want the formula,6 Armstead said. 67ou ha%e it.6 67ou now as well as I do that it's missin! one crucial $iece. I want to now where that is.6 6Some$lace where you'll ne%er find it,6 Daniel re$lied. 6Son,6 Armstead said hea%ily, 6don't ma e me do this.6 6I'm not your son,6 Daniel said. 6And I'm not one of your damned Ro"oco$s. 7ou're not !ettin! it out of me.you'll ha%e to ill me first.6 Armstead sim$ly shoo his !ri##led !ray head. 6I'm afraid, dear "oy,6 he murmured, 6that's hardly a threat. 2e were !oin! to ill you, anyway. 2e'll )ust start with Ms. Molloy. And it will "e %ery, %ery $ainful. Slau!hter.6 6*ee$ your hands off her,6 Crom$ton snarled, enra!ed, "ut he didn't mo%e fast enou!h. Slau!hter had already s$un her away, and if Daniel had made the mista e of holdin! on, her wrist would ha%e "een crushed. Su#anna didn't say a word. She )ust loo ed at him, silent, horrified, and Slau!hter $ulled her "ac a!ainst his uniformed "ody, a slender, $rofessional(loo in! nife at the delicate column of her throat. 6I thin we're at a standoff,6 Armstead announced $leasantly. 6Do you feel li e "ein! more coo$erati%e, Dr. Crom$ton: /r do you want to see how much "lood it will ta e to soa throu!h that offensi%e ,(shirt: 2here is the missin! $iece of information:6 5e didn't hesitate any lon!er. 6In my "rain. And if you don't !et away from her, ri!ht now, you're ne%er !oin! to find out the answer.6 6Dear me,6 the !eneral murmured. 6,hat's &uite unfortunate. I wonder, Slau!hter, whether we ou!ht to call his "luff:6

67ou needn't worry, sir. I can finish with this one and then !et what you want out of the doctor,6 Slau!hter said confidently, and the nife !littered in the low li!ht li e the caress of a sil%er(fin!ered "utcher. 65e's not !oin! to "e a"le to stand u$ to me.6 67ou'd "e sur$rised, Slau!hter,6 Armstead said, leanin! "ac a!ainst the ta"le. 6,he !ood doctor has had a sur$risin! amount of trainin!. As a matter of fact, I was one of the ones who a$$ro%ed it, "ac "efore I retired. 2ith an asset li e his mind, we didn't want to ta e any ris s. 5e'd "e harder to crac than you thin . 3et the !irl !o.6 6Don't,6 Su#anna said, her %oice stran!led a!ainst the $ressure of the nife, 6call me girl.6 And she slammed her el"ow "ac ward into Slau!hter's un$rotected "elly. 5e dou"led o%er in shoc , and she ic ed "ac , directly into his !roin. In a few seconds he was writhin! on the floor, shrie in! with $ain, the nife s itterin! across the thic car$eted floor. She lea$t for Daniel, "ut Armstead's %oice sto$$ed her. 6Don't mo%e,6 he said. 5e had a !un trained on her, and it was a %ery lar!e, %ery nasty(loo in! one. 6Not a!ain,6 she said wearily. 6Aren't you men tired of $layin! s$ies:6 Armstead's smile was a tra%esty. 6I'm !oin! to shoot you in the nee, Ms. Molloy. If Dr. Crom$ton doesn't start tal in!, I'll shoot you in the other nee. And then I'll wor my way u$ward. ,his !un has ei!ht "ullets, and they're lar!e ones. I can do a !reat deal of dama!e, cause a !reat deal of $ain. I do, howe%er, $romise that the final one will !o in your "rain.6 6*ind of you,6 she said faintly. She !lanced at Daniel. 6I thin you should now, Daniel, that he's really !oin! to do it. 7ou ha%e no choice.6 5e acce$ted the messa!e as !os$el. ,here was no way out.Su#anna had heard Armstead's thou!hts and new )ust how "ad they were. If he didn't sto$ him, the one way he could, then Su#anna would "e dead. Armstead coc ed the !un and $ointed it, not at Su#anna's nee, "ut directly toward her "elly. Slau!hter was already stru!!lin! u$ward, and Daniel had less than a second to decide. 5e didn't decide. 5e acted. Armstead fired the !un, Daniel sho%ed Su#anna to the floor, and in the millisecond "efore Armstead could fire a!ain, he was a human torch. 5e didn't e%en ha%e time to scream. Su#anna was in his arms, her face hidden a!ainst his chest, "efore the ash and cinder colla$sed in a hea$ on the floor, the charcoaled remains of 8eneral +ac Armstead. 6/h, my 8od,6 Slau!hter moaned in horror. 5e'd mana!ed to stru!!le to his feet, "ut his color was still white from $ain and shoc . 6I'm outta here,6 he muttered. And he too off at a dead run, "efore Daniel could mo%e. 63et's !et out of here,6 he said, ee$in! her face turned away from what little was left of Armstead. 5e steered her out the door, and she went, sha in! sli!htly, &uiet, as docile as he'd e%er seen her. By the time they reached the front lo""y there was no si!n of Slau!hter, and Daniel had no dou"t he was !one for !ood. 6Damn,6 he said, and Su#anna raised her head,

followin! his !a#e. Bri!ht white headli!hts were s$earin! their way across the dar ened $ar in! lot, $ullin! to a sto$ inches away from the a"andoned +a!uar. She could see the sha$e of the familiar white Cadillac, and she new with crushin! certainty )ust who had arri%ed to rescue her. 6It's =ncle -innie,6 she said, watchin! as he a$$roached the front entrance, flan ed "y 8uido and -ito, his two hu!e ne$hews who were $ro"a"ly no more his ne$hews that she was his niece. Daniel released her. 68o tal to him,6 he said smoothly. 68et him away from here.6 She started to mo%e, then halted, turnin! "ac to stare at him. 62hat a"out you:6 6I ha%e to see to a few thin!s.6 67ou're not !oin! after Slau!hter, are you:6 6No. 5e's lost Armstead, and he has to li%e with his own $anic. ,hat's the worst $unishment for a illin! machine li e him. 5e's ruined.6 6,hen what are you !oin! "ac for:6 6I ha%e to ma e sure the research is destroyed. I don't want any trace of "i(le%el molecular transfer left.6 62hy:6 she $rotested. 6After all your wor ...6 6It's too dan!erous. ,here are too many men li e /s"orn and Armstead. Men who wouldn't thin of usin! me, of usin! you to !et to me. 7ou won't "e safe.hell, the world won't "e safe.until it's !one.6 She didn't mo%e. 8uido was holdin! the door for =ncle -innie, "ut she didn't e%en !lance their way. 67ou can't,6 she said. 67ou can't !et rid of all of it. 4art of it's in your "rain. 7ou can't...6 67es,6 he said, %ery !ently. 6I can. ,a e her with you, =ncle -innie. Don't let her "ac in this $lace.6 6No96 Su#anna shrie ed, "ut -innie was &uic to mo%e. -ito cau!ht her u$ in his "urly arms, and she was no match for him. 5e carried her out of the "uildin!, 8uido followin!, as she screamed and cried, shoutin! curses at his head. -innie loo ed u$ at Daniel. 67ou must "e Dr. Crom$ton,6 he said. 6And you're =ncle -innie.6 -innie smiled faintly. 6She lo%es you.6 6I now. 7ou'll see to her, won't you: ,his won't "e easy for her.6 67ou ha%e no choice:6 he as ed delicately. Daniel sim$ly shoo his head, a cynical smile on his face. 6I'm America's secret wea$on, remem"er: No one nows "etter than me that there's no choice. As lon! as the information in my "rain sur%i%es, she won't "e safe. And I can thin of only one way to !et rid of this $lace, and my memory. It won't ta e lon!.6 -innie's eyes were hu!e and sad. 6I'll !o to her.6

Daniel watched him turn and head toward the door. In the distance he could see Su#anna still stru!!lin! as the ne$hews tried to stron!(arm her into the waitin! Cadillac. 6,ell her.6 he said, and then sto$$ed himself. 6,ell her what:6 -innie as ed. Daniel shoo his head. 6Ne%er mind. She'll now.6 S5E C/=3D N/ 3/N8ER scream. 5er %oice was !one, silenced. She could no lon!er cry. 5er tears had dried u$. She could only sit there, tra$$ed in the "ac seat of -innie's Cadillac, and sha e. 6I'm sorry it had to "e this way,6 -innie said from the front seat as 8uido started the car. -ito sat "eside her, his hamli e hand a manacle across her wrist, "ut she was "eyond stru!!lin!. She acce$ted defeat, and loss, and des$air. She loo ed u$, and a shaft of flame shot throu!h the roof, s$earin! toward the s y. Another followed, a "ri!ht white fire"all, and within seconds the hu!e "uildin! was in flames. 8uido sto$$ed the car, starin! in ama#ement at the confla!ration, and e%en -innie was awed. 62hat in . 8od's name did he do:6 he !as$ed. Su#anna watched, dry(eyed, em$ty(hearted. And then she heard him. 5eard the words, clear and true, throu!h the heat and smo e of the fiery inferno. ; love you, 'olloy. She could ma e a sound after all. It was a low, eenin! whim$er, li e an animal in $ain, as she felt her heart torn out and incinerated. ,hey sat in the car and watched as the "uildin! colla$sed in a $ile of "la#in! ash. 6,hat couldn't ha%e ha$$ened,6 -innie muttered. 6,hin!s can't "urn that &uic ly. A "om", may"e, "ut the fire should ha%e lastedGGG6 8uido was murmurin!, and it too Su#anna a moment to reali#e it was the 3atin $rayers he'd learned in his youth, as he stared u$ at the remnants of the hu!e "uildin! with su$erstitious horror. 62e ha%e to !et out of here. ,he fire de$artment's !onna show u$, and we don't want to "e here when they start as in! their &uestions,6 -innie announced, his %oice still sha en. 68et mo%in!, 8uido.6 8uido )ust stared, una"le to mo%e. -ito was e&ually shoc ed, cranin! his nec to $eer out the window, releasin! his !ri$ on Su#anna. She stared out the smo ed window, into the confla!ration. And then she saw mo%ement. 6Sto$ the car,6 she screamed, her %oice a raw tra%esty. 6*ee$ dri%in!,6 -innie ordered. 6I can hear the sirens already.6 8uido e$t dri%in!. Su#anna twisted the door handle and rolled out, mo%in! too fast for -ito to sto$ her. She hit the !round runnin!, racin! across the deserted $ar in! lot toward the !lowin! remains of the hu!e "uildin!. /s"orn's +a!uar had disa$$eared in the flames, and nothin! was left standin! of Daniel's funeral $yre.

And then she saw mo%ement a!ain. She heard the fire(en!ine sirens and saw the reflection of the flashin! li!hts in the distance as they raced toward the ruins, "ut she i!nored them, focusin! instead on the smolderin! de"ris. ,he white Cadillac started to dri%e off, lea%in! her in the $redawn dar ness. ,he charred remains shifted, mo%in! once more, and the shadow !rew. She stood there alone, so""in!, as his sha$e too form, and Daniel Crom$ton wal ed out of the fire, and into her arms. ,he Cadillac screeched u$ "eside them, the door o$ened, and -innie $ulled them in. 60or 8od's sa e, let's !o,6 he yelled, and this time 8uido dro%e as he'd "een trained to do, out of si!ht "efore the first fire en!ine $ulled u$ to the charred remains of Bee"e Control Systems International. -ito e$t out of her way as she held Daniel ti!htly in her arms. 5is eyes were closed, his "reathin! hoarse, and she clutched him, murmurin! o%er and o%er a!ain, soothin! words, cra#y words, tellin! him she hated him, she'd ill him, she lo%ed him, she'd ill him. 5e smiled a!ainst her face, not o$enin! his eyes, and her tears washed some of the soot from his face. 65ush,6 he said finally, $ullin! her ti!ht a!ainst him. 6It's o%er.6 6No, it's not,6 she we$t in a raw %oice, roc in! him "ac and forth. 6It will ne%er "e o%er. I hate you, I hate you...6 6It's o%er,6 he said a!ain, and she $ressed her face a!ainst his cool s in, trem"lin!. 62here do you want me to dri%e, =ncle -innie:6 8uido as ed. 67ou want to !o home now:6 62hat time is it:6 -innie as ed a"sently. 6A little after se%en. 2e could sto$ for "rea fast at Mama 3ucia's. A nice omelet, some ca(e latte. 2e can "rin! some out for the doc and Ms. Molloy.6 Su#anna held herself %ery still. 62hat time did you say it was:6 6After se%en. It's "een a lon! ni!ht, cara," -innie murmured. 6But it's mornin! now. A new day. A new "e!innin!.6 ,he car $ulled u$ in front of a cheery(loo in! trattoria on the outs irts of Santa Cristina. 67ou want anythin! to eat:6 6She always does,6 Daniel murmured faintly. 6+ust "rin! her out somethin! with cholesterol.6 6And you, my "oy:6 6Somethin! hot. I'%e !ot a chill.6 She waited until they were alone in the "ac seat. 67our s in is cool,6 she said. 6And I feel wea as a itten,6 he added. 6And "est of all, I can't remem"er what I'%e "een wor in! on for the $ast two years.6 62hat do you mean:6 6+ust that. My notes were wi$ed out in the fire, and I can't e%en "e!in to remem"er where I started. I !uess I'll ha%e to find somethin! new to wor on. May"e cold fusion.6 She held herself %ery still. 6Sure, try somethin! easy for a chan!e.6

5e smiled u$ at her, then shifted until he lay with his head in her la$. 67ou'd "etter marry me,6 he said, closin! his eyes a!ain. 6Another one of your romantic o%ertures, Dr. Crom$ton:6 6+ust tryin! to tell you what to do, Molloy. I need hel$ re"uildin! the $lace in /re!on. ,hou!h this time may"e we'll ma e it a little lar!er. I want a "i!!er la" if I'm !oin! to wor there full(time, and you'll $ro"a"ly want an office of your own.6 6Not to mention a "etter itchen. And a tele%ision, and a satellite dish. And while you're at it, why don't you tell me what I'm su$$osed to do out there at the "ac of "eyond:6 she demanded in the raw tra%esty that once was her %oice. 5e eyed her. 6I thou!ht you li ed it there. Don't you ha%e any ideas:6 6A num"er of them. I thin I'll write science fiction. I ta e it money isn't a $ro"lem:6 6,he late Bee"e Control Systems International $aid me hu!e amounts of their ill( !otten !ains. 2e'll "e more than comforta"le.6 6,hen I thin I'll write a series of no%els a"out the In%isi"le Man.6 5e !roaned, reached u$, $ulled her head down and issed her. 5is mouth was cool and delicious. 6I lo%e you,6 he said. 6I now. I heard.6 5e issed her a!ain, a little more lin!erin!, a little dee$er. 6It's !one, you now. E%erythin! %anished in that inferno. Cinderman died in the fire.6 6Do you mind:6 6Not at all. ,hou!h it's !oin! to !i%e you an unfair ad%anta!e.6 65ey, I'll need all the ad%anta!es I can !et to ee$ u$ with you and whate%er little !eniuses you ha$$en to "e!et.6 She loo ed down at him, lo%e in her eyes, in her heart, in her ruined %oice. 62e'll ha%e to ma e the $lace e%en "i!!er.6 62e'll ha%e time.6 5e loo ed u$ at her, for a moment sweetly %ulnera"le. 6I really did for!et e%erythin!,6 he murmured. 6/f course you did,6 she said, loo in! into his mind, understandin! him %ery well. 6And you're !oin! to ha%e lots of fun $layin! with that !reen slime you "rou!ht out of the fire.6 5e stared at her for a moment, and then a wry smile lit his face. 6I'm ne%er !oin! to "e a"le to lie to you.6 6Acce$t it. I'm your destiny, Cinderman, your "all and chain. ,here's no way you'll esca$e me.6 6Dear !irl,6 he said faintly, 6I wouldn't thin of it.6 6Don't,6 she said, 6call me girl" And she leaned down to iss him a!ain, as his hand twined in her hair, and there was no more need for words.

"pilogue ,he house $erched on the ed!e of the cliff was a ma!ical house, filled with li!ht and lau!hter, lo%e and warmth. Su#anna sat "arefoot in the !arden, hands folded neatly on her $re!nant "elly, wearin! a ,(shirt that read She 2ho Roc s the Cradle Rules the 2orld. 2atch /ut9 She watched the twins ar!ue amica"ly enou!h, used to it "y now. Al"ert Einstein Molloy Crom$ton had decided that Charles Dic ens was a se'ist $i!, al"eit a !ood storyteller, "ut he much $referred +ane Austen and 8eor!ette 5eyer, li e his father. 5is sister, Marie Curie Molloy Crom$ton, insisted that he ou!ht to "e $ayin! more attention to the writin!s of his namesa e than to stories, e%en if their mother made a fairly !ood li%in! writin! them. ,hey were "oth fi%e years old. She smiled fondly. ,his was an old "attle, without any $articular rancor, and it had "een !oin! on since they were three. 62here's your father, Marie:6 she as ed, feelin! the "a"y ic . At least there was only one this time. ,wo, e%en with Daniel's fascinated assistance, was a little more challen!e than she felt li e facin! a!ain. 6Can't you listen for him:6 Al"ert as ed, used to her odd $owers. 65e's ee$in! me out,6 Su#anna said. 6Sin!in! those stu$id son!s so I can't ea%esdro$.6 65e says you're a %oyeur,6 Marie said cheerfully. 6I'm )ust curious. /h, my 8od96 ,he e'$losion roc ed the !round, !lass shattered, and a "illow of $ure white smo e shot out the "ro en window of the la". She stru!!led aw wardly to her feet, holdin! her "elly, and ran toward the house. She "arreled strai!ht into somethin!, and stron! arms reached out to catch her. 67ou'll ne%er !uess what I'%e disco%ered,6 Daniel's disem"odied %oice announced with dis!ustin! cheer.