Dangerous to Know

A Dark Eden Press Publication

www.darkedenpress.com

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Dangerous To Know Copyright© 2007 Ann Sole Edited by Cindy Jacks Cover art by Missy Hanson Electronic book Publication: August 2007 This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Dark Eden Press, Inc.® 8824 Jeanes Lane, Alvarado, TX 76009 This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

Dangerous To Know Ann Sole

CHAPTER ONE

“My sister has been missing for more than three weeks now. I think someone must have killed her. What I want to know is what you intend to do about it?” Karin Blake folded her arms and glared at the police officer before her. Not particularly tall, she made it a point to make up for what she lacked in inches with spirit. With a sigh of exasperation, she pushed her long, straight hair back from her forehead. “I’m sorry, ma’am. We have her listed as missing since her husband reported her missing just over a week ago – but I don’t have much hope of finding her. People go off on their own for a variety of reasons, and I very much doubt that she has been murdered.” The American police officer gave her a harassed look. “If a body turns up we’ll let you know.” “It will be a bit late then, won’t it?” Karin snapped, layering a fair amount of sarcasm into her English accent for good measure. “I’m asking you, what you are doing to find my sister?” “We’ve put out missing person pictures.” The officer glared at her. “You got any idea how many people go missing in New York every year?” “I’m only interested in finding my sister.” “We’re doing all we can, miss.” Karin stared indignantly as the police captain walked off and left her. She wanted to yell at him that he was a fool and tell him he didn’t deserve to be a police officer, but she knew it would be like water off a duck’s back. He just wasn’t interested in her or Angela. So now what did she do? She had to try something else, because she wasn’t prepared to give up on her twin. She turned to leave the crowded office, threading her way through a tide of incoming criminals, including drug addicts, petty thieves and the police officers accompanying them. “Miss Blake?” A young dark haired officer laid his hand on her arm. “Hey, can I talk to you for a sec?” “Yes, if you wish.” Karin looked at him. At least he seemed friendly, unlike his

captain who had appeared to think she was nothing but a nuisance. “Do you know anything about my sister?” He shook his head, disappointing her. “I heard you got the run around but the department just doesn’t have the time to give priority to something like a missing woman.” “Then what am I supposed to do?” Karin asked. “Angela is my sister and I care about her. I need to find her, Mr.…?” “Helman,” he said. “Look, it’s just a suggestion and off the record – but why don’t you hire a private detective to look for your sister?” “Yes, I suppose I could do that,” Karin said, suddenly seeing a way out of her frustration. “How would I go about finding a good one, Mr. Helman? I don’t live in New York. In fact my plane leaves late this evening, so I don’t have a lot of time to waste looking.” “I know someone who might take your case,” he replied. “The thing about Mike Wendell is that he’s honest. He won’t take your money and cheat you, and he used to be one of the best officers we had in the NYPD. He had a bad accident during a car chase and they pensioned him off, but he’s perfectly fit now – against all the odds.” “He sounds exactly the man for me,” Karin said, smiling at him. “Thank you for your advice, Mr. Helman. Now tell me where I can find this Mike Wendell.”

*****

“That’s the way it goes, Josie. I’m sorry, but unless something comes in soon we’re finished here.” Mike Wendell leaned against the battered green filing cabinet in the corner of his office in downtown New York. He cultivated the relaxed stance to hide his anger. Too bad his secretary, Josie Barnes – fortyish, attractive, divorced and glad of it! – knew that behind the lazy lids hiding his eyes was a razor sharp mind. She, too, was angry because life had treated them both badly. It didn’t make him feel any better to know she thought he got the worst of the lot. “What are you going to do about it?” She went into the attack like a hungry shark

scenting blood. “Let the bastards kick your teeth in?” Mike chuckled, amused rather than shaken or stirred. He flicked a lock of overgrown hair back off his forehead. “I’d kick them first, where it hurts most,” he said, “but there’s no way I can get to them. Besides, I have no proof that they have done anything to prevent me working.” Josie’s hazel eyes narrowed. “You may not have proof but you know.” He nodded, his expression grim. There was an instinctive feeling in his guts that told him Reinburg was behind his sudden loss of the insurance work, which had been the mainstay of his agency. The few divorce cases that came his way barely paid the rent, particularly as Mike was a sucker for a hard luck tale. Mike had left the force after his accident – a car crash while chasing a homicide suspect. He had known he was finished. If he’d stayed they would have given him a desk job, and that was the last thing he needed or wanted. At first the doctors had thought he might be stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, but he’d fought his way back. Not only had he succeeded in learning to walk again, he had got himself really fit – but the force had written him off. His records said he had a suspect back, and the lawyers warned of big compensation payouts if another accident at work should leave him permanently crippled. The lawyers had cut the compensation owed him as soon as they got a hint of his recovery, of course. Mike was entitled to a pension, but he’d deferred payment, figuring he could earn his living by setting up his own private detective agency, and for a while it had worked out well. Mike was known as a hard man – not trigger-happy like some ex-cops, though he had twice killed a man in the line of duty – but he was also perceived to be honest. In his business his reputation was worth a lot. And it had paid off with some lucrative recovery work. Before Reinburg, anyway. Mike had known what Reinburg was the moment the man had entered the office that winter’s evening. He had come late and silently, his shadow looming menacingly outside the door before he entered. Reinburg was one of the faceless ones and he wanted to recruit Mike to work for them. Mike had turned him down flat, and that was when things had started to go wrong. “Don’t be a fool,” Reinburg had warned him. “You are the kind of man we’re

looking for, Wendell. You have guts and determination. You’ve proved that by getting yourself on your feet again. We need you and you owe it to your country to work for us.” “Thanks but no thanks,” Mike said without hesitation. “I’m doing very nicely as I am.” He should never have said it! The flicker in Reinburg’s eyes had told him he’d made a mistake. The work hadn’t dried immediately, that would have been too obvious, but soon after things had started to go wrong. A frown creased Mike’s brow as he remembered that he had felt he was being shadowed recently. Nothing threatening had happened, but a prickling at the nape of his neck had warned him it might if he allowed his guard to drop. “I could take out a loan…” Mike paused as the phone shrilled on Josie’s desk and she snatched it up eagerly. “Who is it?” he mouthed at her hopefully. “Yes, Dolly, he’s here – just one moment…” Mike grinned as he moved lazily forward to take the phone from her. If they could rely on one client it was Dotty Dolly, as they affectionately called her. “Yes, Dolly, what can I do for you today?” “Are you making any progress with finding that husband of mine yet?” Dolly demanded. “What do you think I’m paying you for?” Since Dolly had never yet paid one of the very small accounts they had sent her, Mike might have been forgiven for making a rude reply, but both he and Josie felt they got their money’s worth from the amusement Dolly afforded them. “Well, you know how things are,” Mike said, winking at his secretary. “We’re swamped here.” “Don’t give me that rubbish!” the elderly lady said querulously. “Anyway, keep looking for the old fool. He has to be somewhere – he would never leave New York.” “Right you are, Dolly. Anything else worrying you?” “Yes, now you mention it. My cat has disappeared and so have a lot of other people’s round here.” “We don’t trace missing cats,” Mike said. “Sorry…” “Well, you should!” Dolly put the phone down with a bang. “Maybe you should take it up,” Josie said wryly. “There seems to be a huge trade

in cat napping lately. We could make our fortunes, or at least pay the phone bill!” Mike looked at her from beneath lowered lids. He knew her sharpness came from concern, as much for him as herself. “I’ll think of something,” he said. “Why don’t you go home, Josie? I’ll hang on here for a bit. No sense in us both sitting around here.” Josie nodded, biting back the retort obviously sitting on her tongue. They’d had similar discussions often enough she knew it was useless to spit it out. Mike almost chuckled at the thought, but he’d made it plain early on - he was his own man and he’d take advice when he felt it necessary. However, as Josie had told him more than once, he could be as stubborn as hell, which was what made him such a damned good investigator. Almost as if steam were coming out her ears, her temper simmered as she gathered her things. They both knew he’d been successful in the cases he’d taken on for various insurance firms, so why the hell had their phone stopped ringing? Mike knew, but he wasn’t saying. As Josie left, Mike went into his own office. He sat down in his chair at the desk, stretching his long legs out in front of him. To the casual observer he might have looked relaxed, but he was a coiled spring, tough, lean and at this moment, feeling very mean. He had tried to hide it from Josie, but inside he was seething. He’d been told privately by a friend there was a big job coming up – a job that would suit him – and his name had been mentioned. “There’s a question mark over you for some reason, Mike,” Kit Carson had told him. “I don’t know why the hell there should be, that job you did for us saved us a lot of money. We had you down as our number one agent and then something happened.” Mike knew what had happened. Reinburg. He or someone above him in the ranks of the faceless ones. Why they wanted Mike, he had no idea, but it seemed he was a marked man. He either quit this business altogether… or what? That was the sixtyfour thousand dollar question. He didn’t know how to do anything else. Besides, he loved the thrill of the investigation, and the danger. Not to mention he was damned if he was going to let them beat him. Why the hell did they want him? He had puzzled over it in his mind for weeks now, since he’d realized what was happening. Why Mike Wendell in particular? What

did he have that a hundred other agents didn’t? His phone rang, and he answered it with no real hope that it might be a job. “Wendell.” A shiver ran down Mike’s spine as he heard the voice. Reinburg! “I know it’s you, your secretary left a few minutes ago. Listen, I have a job for you…” “I told you I didn’t want to work for the CIA or FBI – or whoever you are.” “Who I am isn’t important,” Reinburg grunted. “Look, this is a one off – take it and we’ll leave you to get on with your life.” “Yeah, I’ve heard that one before. Do you think I’m wet behind the ears?” “If you were you wouldn’t be any good to us. Now shut up and listen. When I put this phone down you will receive a call from the Nidzack Insurance Company. You will be asked to take on a big recovery job involving some precious artwork. I want you to take the job. Nidzack are only the tip of the iceberg, Wendell, but you’ll be working for me as well as them. Take the job and I’ll contact you soon.” The call was cut abruptly, giving Mike no chance to reply. His fingers drummed against the desk as he felt the frustration kick in. Reinburg was playing it clever. He obviously knew every move Mike made. Probably had the office bugged, though there was no evidence of it and he’d had it swept for electronic listening devices a couple of times. But Reinburg knew what he was thinking. He must have known Mike was on the verge of giving up. He’d even considered letting Reinburg know he was ready to take up the challenge. He hesitated when the phone rang again. He could ignore it, refuse to let Reinburg pull the strings, but this wasn’t going to go away. That fact had been obvious for a while. He had to call their bluff. It was the only way. “Yeah, Wendell here.” “Ah, Mr. Wendell.” He recognized the voice immediately as belonging to Richard Salter, the head of the recovery department at Nidzack. “I am so glad I managed to get you. I thought you might have left for the evening.” “I usually hang around to clear up whatever I’ve been working on,” Mike said. “What can I do for you, Salter?” “We have a job,” the other man replied. “Quite a big one actually. Too many valuable works of art have gone missing from our clients, Mr. Wendell, and we need

someone to trace them. We believe there is one man at the heart of this, and that the thefts are commissioned by him to order. Something went wrong with a theft recently, and the goods weren’t delivered. They turned up in Paris, but the suspect fled to London, and was then found dead in a seedy East End hotel. Rather nasty by all accounts. We thought the case might appeal to you.” “It sounds my kind of thing.” Mike’s spine had begun to tingle. He was excited despite himself. This was exactly the kind of work he loved, and Reinburg knew it. Reinburg seemed to know everything about him. Too damned much! “Let’s talk about terms.” “Come into my office tomorrow. Ten-thirty suit you?” “Yeah, that’s fine,” Mike said. “Tell me, Salter, what made you call me?” “Oh, we’ve had you in mind for a long time,” the other man replied. “We’ve just been waiting for the right case to come along. This one could turn out to be rather lucrative for you. See you tomorrow.” Mike was frowning as he replaced the receiver. Was it just that Nidzack had been waiting, or did someone twist a few arms? The only way to find out was to play along with them. Mike stared at the phone for a moment. There was something going on, something more than any of them were telling him. He yawned, stretching as he rose to leave the office, then, hearing a noise in the outer office, he snapped the light off. His own window was shuttered, but there was a small light burning in Josie’s room. He could see a shadow through the glass door. Someone was out there. His muscles were tensed, ready to spring as the door opened slowly – and then he saw the girl. She was small. Petite almost. Attractive, with long straight dark hair swinging on her shoulders and framing classic features, her wide grey eyes peering anxiously into the darkness. “Are you there, Mr. Wendell? I can’t see you…” The English sounding accent put him on guard. Fake? Mike snapped on the light. “Who are you?” he barked. “Who sent you?” “Hi,” she said in a soft, husky voice. “Why did you put the light off? You scared me for a moment.” Mike’s gaze narrowed as he looked her over. She could be innocent, of course,

nothing to do with what was going on here, but his instincts had been alerted and he wasn’t taking any chances. “Most people call for an appointment,” he said, which was far from the truth since quite a few of his clients tried to keep a low profile. “Why were you creeping about like a thief out there?” “I was feeling nervous,” the girl said, her grey eyes opening wide as she looked at him. “Someone recommended you and it took me a while to find you. I know it’s late, but I have to go back to London this evening and I needed to see you. I need your help.” “Why?” Mike had moved towards her, towered over her, deliberately menacing. “Who are you? Who recommended me? And what do you want?” “You aren’t very friendly, are you?” The accent seemed genuine. He would guess English, and from a good family. Mike’s eyes traveled slowly over her. She was what he would call class, and there was a spark of defiance in her eyes. “My name is Karin Blake – at least, that’s my real name. I’m a fashion model for petite sizes. I’m known as Susanne in the trade. It’s because I have a big contract coming up that I have to be back in London urgently, and I want you to find my sister for me. Her name is Mrs. Angela Rothman.” She bit her bottom lip. “Her husband is a wealthy business man and I think … I think he has murdered her.” “That’s quite an accusation,” Mike said, eyes narrowed. “What makes you think that?” “Because she has disappeared,” Karin said, “and he is pretending that she just went off and left him – but I know he’s lying. I could usually tell when Hal was lying, that’s why I ditched him years ago. Angela was a fool to marry him. I warned her he was no good. He doesn’t have a good bone in his body and I want him punished. The police here won’t do a thing about it. They say he reported her missing and as far as they’re concerned he’s in the clear, the rat! If they don’t soon do something I’ll shoot him myself!” “Hey!” Mike grinned as he heard the note of desperation in her voice. “I don’t think we can have that. You wouldn’t look too good in prison clothes, Miss Blake. Why don’t we go have a drink together? You can tell me more about your sister and why you think her husband might have killed her.”

“Will you take the case?” Karin asked, and her sudden smile took Mike’s breath away. He had thought her attractive but that smile was something else! He felt a slow burning in his loins, a sudden desire to sweep her up and take her to bed. “I’m not sure that I can. I have a big job coming up,” Mike said. He turned off the main switch as he steered her towards the outer door; it was his habit to leave a low light burning all night. Not that it deterred intruders, but it gave the impression of someone working there. “But tell me and I’ll see what I can do for you. I might know someone who would help you.” “I was given your name by a police officer,” she said. “Jake Helman, I think he said. He told me you would get the truth for me somehow and there was an elderly lady… I met her a little while ago when I was looking for your office. She told me you were the best there is and…kind.” “That wouldn’t be Dolly, would it?” “Yes.” Karin turned those gorgeous eyes on him. “How did you know?” “It sounds like her,” Mike said, his mouth relaxing into a grin. “Her husband went missing twenty-five years ago and she’s just decided she wants him back. She calls me most days to see if I’ve found him for her.” “That sounds like a bit of a tall order,” Karin said. “I can promise you that Angela has only been missing just over three weeks.” “Look, I’m not promising anything.” Mike took her arm as they stepped out of the dingy building and into the narrow alley, which was lit only by one street lamp, the other two having been out of order for months. The area was dirty and poor but friendlier than many in this part of the city. Mike knew most of the residents by name, and liked what he knew of most. “We’ll go to Luigi’s.” They were walking down the alley, when Mike’s instincts alerted him. He glanced back and saw the car parked a little way behind them. It was in darkness but as he attempted to work out why he was bothered, the driver switched on the parking lights and the car began to move slowly towards them. Mike increased his pace slightly, and Karin did a little skip and hop in an attempt to keep up with his long stride. Something made the back of Mike’s neck tingle as the vehicle followed and he realized that it was keeping pace with them! He grabbed Karin’s arm, hurrying her. She

looked at him in alarm, but did not resist as he urged her to run. “I think that maniac wants to kill us!” Mike muttered. They had reached the end of the alley, which opened out into a main road. He was about to propel her across the road, when the driver of the car that had been following them suddenly switched on the headlights, revved the engine and came straight at them. What was the fool playing at? He must be mad! Almost blinded by the lights, Mike’s instincts made him throw Karin to one side and dive after her, shielding her body. He felt something hard brush against his leg and then the car was by and speeding off down the road, disappearing around the corner at the far end. There was no license plate visible. “Sorry,” Mike said as he stood up and pulled the girl to her feet. “I hope you’re not hurt.” “Bruised and shocked,” she said, her face pale in the darkness. “Were you hit?” He was feeling his leg and she looked at him in concern as he limped across the road, looking warily from one side to another, although he knew it wasn’t going to happen again. “He must have been drunk!” “No, not drunk,” Mike replied grimly. He discovered that he was breathing hard, and it wasn’t shock but the way his body had reacted to the feel of hers pressed closely to his. “He knew exactly what he was doing, believe me. Another inch and my leg would’ve have been broken. I have a feeling that was a warning.” “For what?” Karin’s smoky grey eyes were wide with distress. “Do you have enemies, Mr. Wendell?” “Apparently,” he said, smiling lazily. “But as long as they only want to warn me that’s okay by me. It’s when they really start trying to kill me that I worry.” “Has that happened?” “Not yet,” he replied. “Come on, I’ll buy you a drink, Miss Blake. We both need it after that.” He pushed open the door of the bar, leading her into the noisy, friendly atmosphere. A large, fat man waved to him from behind the bar as they approached. “Hi, Mike,” he said. “What happened to you and your friend?” Mike glanced at Karin. Her expensive red dress was stained where she had fallen

and there was a smear of dirt on her cheek. His own jacket was wet on one arm. “A brush with a maniac in a car,” Mike said. “Nothing to worry about, Luigi. You could bring a towel for Miss Blake if you would.” “Sure, no trouble. Maria, she bring.” He turned and called something in Italian, and a woman appeared in the doorway behind. She was even fatter than her husband, but she had a lovely smile. “You take the lady to a table, Maria come to you.” “Thank you,” Karin said, glancing down at herself. “Perhaps I could pop to the toilets?” “Yeah, sure – out there…” Luigi jerked his head to one side. “What you wanna drink? It’s on the house.” “A glass of red wine, please.” She smiled and moved off towards the restrooms. Luigi rolled his eyes at Mike. “That’s some lady,” he said appreciatively. “She’s class. What she doing with you?” “She’s a client,” Mike said. “Give me a double bourbon, Luigi.” “Got the shakes?” Luigi raised his brows. Mike usually only drank beer. “No, it’s for my leg.” Mike rolled up the left leg of the combat trousers he was wearing, revealing a nasty gash. “It’s not bleeding too much, but it stings like hell.” “This will make it sting more,” his friend said as he handed over the glass and watched as Mike poured the liquid over the deep graze. Luigi winced but Mike merely grimaced, then drank the last mouthful of the bourbon. “You get the number of that maniac?” Mike shook his head. “Must have been concealed in some way. I think he was waiting for me to show.” He shook his head as Luigi would have questioned him more. “Here comes Miss Blake. Forget it. I don’t want her frightened more than she has been already.” Karin was being fussed over by Maria, and she smiled as she came up to them. “There, I feel much better. Now, if we could talk, Mr. Wendell, I have a plane to catch later this evening.” “Yeah, sure.” Mike picked up the beer that Luigi had poured for him and ushered her over to the table in the corner. “Shoot. I mean, tell me, Miss Blake.” “Do you think you could call me Karin?” she asked. “I think something a little

less formal is better, don’t you, Mike?” He shrugged, looking at her from beneath intentionally lazy lids and long, thick lashes he knew veiled his thoughts. She was very attractive. He thought he might have seen her face somewhere before, but couldn’t be certain. Maybe on a billboard somewhere? She was certainly one sexy little number and just looking made him as hard as iron. Mike hadn’t been with a woman or thought about sex in a while. “Suits me,” he said. “Why do you think your sister has been murdered, Karin?” Her name sounded good on his lips. He had to stop himself saying it over again. She was class, just as Luigi had said, but she was also very sexy and very appealing. “Why not just disappeared? If this husband of hers is a rogue, couldn’t she have got fed up and gone off somewhere without him? Maybe she wants some peace? Maybe she has another man?” “Angela is in love with Hal,” Karin said and wrinkled her nose. Mike was fascinated. There was something about the way she did that… he brought his thoughts up sharply. He didn’t have room in his life for women. Not after Kathy! “Besides, even if she left Hal, she would’ve stayed in touch with me. We are twins, Mike. All our lives we’ve known when something happened to the other, and I know she’s dead.” “How? How can you know that?” Something about the desolation in her look got to Mike. “I’ve heard about this telepathy between twins but how can you be sure she hasn’t just turned it off in some way?” “I had a feeling she was in trouble just before she disappeared,” Karin said. “I knew something bad was happening to her and I rang her in New York. Hal kept putting me off but I kept on ringing. Then he told me she had disappeared.” Mike nodded, his eyes narrowed and thoughtful. “Sounds suspicious. No wonder you feel he might have had something to hide. How long had she been missing before he told you?” “Two weeks. He didn’t report it to the police for two weeks. If he had really been worried he would have done it before that – don’t you think so?” She looked at him anxiously, almost as if she wanted to be convinced otherwise. “A loving husband certainly would,” Mike agreed. “What does your sister look like? Is she anything like you?”

“We are similar but not identical,” Karin said. “Angela is slightly taller and she has a little mole at the corner of her mouth – just here.” She pointed to the left side of her mouth, then took a picture from the rucksack she had slung over her shoulder. “This is Angela.” Mike was shocked as he glanced at the photo – it could almost be the girl sitting opposite him, though there were differences. Karin’s smile was special. “Yes, she does look like you,” he said. “Is she a model, too?” “No.” Her laughter was light and infectious. “Angela is … was a writer … she wrote thriller stories for a magazine and she’d had several books published. Some of them have been on the American best-seller lists, though they didn’t sell so well in England. That’s why she moved out here. And then she met Hal…” She stopped and drew a shaky breath. “I came out here to visit her and that’s when I realized who he was. He’d used a different name when I knew him. I warned Angela that he was no good, but she wouldn’t listen. It was the only time we ever quarreled seriously.” “It couldn’t be that, having discovered you were right all along, she is lying low for the moment – doesn’t want to admit she was wrong?” Karin looked at him thoughtfully, then shook her head. “We had made up our quarrel. For a while after they were married everything was fine. I apologized and said I was wrong, and she said it was okay, said she knew Hal wasn’t perfect but she loved him. She wouldn’t do this to me, Mike. I know Angela too well.” “Okay, I’ll go along with that. So something has happened to her. Why does it have to be her husband?” Karin hesitated. “Because Hal was in London on business a couple of weeks before it happened.” Her mouth had gone hard, her eyes icy cold. “He came to see me at my apartment, and he tried to force himself on me … kissing me, telling me he couldn’t live without me. He said he’d made a mistake marrying Angela, that it was me he’d wanted all along. He married her because she looked like me, but she wasn’t like me – and he wanted to divorce her.” “What did you tell him?” Mike’s brows arched. “I told him to get lost and then…” Karin grimaced. “He attempted to rape me. Unfortunately for Hal, I took lessons in self-defense, and he came off worst.”

“He tried to rape you?” Mike felt his mouth curve in a sneer. “Sounds like a nice guy. I hope you hit him where it hurts?” “I did. And he didn’t like it.” Karin’s eyes filled with tears. “He told me I would be sorry… and then Angela disappears.” “You don’t think he killed her to spite you?” Mike was disbelieving. “Men don’t kill for that – they kill for greed, jealousy, hatred – and sometimes just for fun.” “Angela means more to me than anyone,” Karin said. “He knew it would hurt me.” “I don’t think that one floats,” Mike said regarding her thoughtfully. “You said Hal is rich in his own right. He doesn’t need your sister’s money? I’m assuming her books have made her wealthy?” “I think she’s fairly well off,” Karin said. “But Hal has loads of money. I don’t think he killed her for that.” “Then, was she seeing another man?” Karin shook her head. “If he killed her there has to be a motive. I’m not convinced he did – or that she is dead. There may be another reason why you haven’t heard from her for a while.” “Will you find her for me – if she’s alive? Please?” Her eyes were beseeching him, pleading with him. Mike felt something hit him in the solar plexus. She was some woman! “I would rather it was you, Mike. Don’t pass me on to someone else, please. This is too important to me – and Dolly said you were kind.” “Dolly must have been in a good mood,” Mike said with a grin to hide the sudden blaze of desire that had gripped him. Was he losing his grip? Women didn’t usually cause him to react this way at a first meeting. “That isn’t the word she often uses to describe me. I haven’t made much headway finding her husband – who, she insists, would never have left New York.” “Maybe he’s dead?” Karin said. “Twenty-five years is a long time.” “First thing I did was check the records all the way back. If he’s dead he didn’t get buried in the State of New York – at least not under his own name.” “Will you try to discover what happened to Angela?” Mike hesitated. If this job came off with Nidzack he was going to be busy for a while, but he couldn’t resist the appeal in those eyes.

“Yeah, well, I’ll give it a shot, but I’m not promising anything. And I can’t work full time on this, so you’ll have to be patient.” “That’s great,” Karin flashed him a look that made Mike feel anything was worthwhile. She moved towards him, radiating sexuality, leaning forward to kiss him on the cheek, the scent of her inflaming his senses. Mike wasn’t sure what made him do it, but suddenly his mouth was covering hers and he felt the rush of desire sweep through him like a brush fire. His body was reaching for her fiercely, perhaps because it was so long since he’d touched a woman intimately. He almost expected her to cry rape, but maybe she couldn’t feel the urgency in him. Instead of pulling away, she kissed him again on the mouth, her own warm and full of a sweet promise he would’ve liked to explore more fully. Mike drew away first, looking down at her, half ashamed of the fierce reaction she had aroused. Damn it! He didn’t usually come onto a woman this way, even in the days when he had slept around, before he met his wife. “Sorry, don’t know what got into me.” “It’s okay,” Karin said. “I think I invited it, and I’m very grateful for your help. Look, this is my London address.” She took a card from her pocket and handed it to him. “I’ll be there for a few days, then I’m off to Paris for a photo shoot – but it won’t take more than a week at most.” “Don’t expect results quickly,” Mike warned as she gathered her things and he sensed she was preparing to leave. He handed her his private phone number. “If you want you can call me on this number now and then. I’ll send you a report when I can.” “Thanks a million,” she said, giving him her devastating smile. “I must get a taxi.” “Luigi will ring someone he knows,” Mike said. He signaled to his friend. “This area is pretty safe but some of the streets round here are not meant for young women like you. Especially at night.” He wasn’t sure why, but he wanted to delay her for a while. “Take care of yourself, Karin.” “I’m in no danger,” she said. “Hal wouldn’t try to kill me.” “He might – if he’s killed once,” Mike said. “Be careful walking in dark streets, Karin. I know you think you’re safe because you took self-defense courses, but if Angela

has been murdered…” “It could be me next?” Karin nodded, her eyes huge in a face suddenly gone pale. “I hadn’t thought about that and I still don’t think I’m in danger. Why should I be?” “I don’t know,” Mike admitted. He wasn’t sure what had made him warn her to take care. Except that maybe that car had been aiming at her. “I get these feelings somehow. It’s a part of the job.” Karin nodded, looking thoughtful. “Yes, maybe…” She broke off as Luigi shouted that her taxi was waiting. “I’ll be in touch, Mike.” “Yeah. Good luck with the trip to Paris.” Mike watched as she disappeared out of the door. Some instinct was urging him to go after her, but it was the wrong kind. He didn’t believe she was in imminent danger. Whoever had been behind the wheel of that car wouldn’t have hung around. No, the instincts foremost in Mike’s mind at the moment were purely personal. He couldn’t help thinking it would have been pleasant if Karin hadn’t had to rush to catch a plane. He realized with a shock that he was contemplating making love to a woman for the first time since Kathy was killed…almost five years ago now. Kathy’s senseless, cruel death! He had shut the memory out of his mind, refusing to let himself be haunted by the pain of her murder. Kathy had been shopping late at night. She was coming out of the mall when the raiders burst in, ordering everyone to lie on the floor. Only Kathy’s training as a cop hadn’t allowed her to do as they said. She had tried to tackle one of them who was threatening a young and very frightened child – and they shot her down like a dog. Mike closed his eyes as he remembered the morning he’d come off duty to hear his wife of three months was dead. He and Kathy had made so many plans…all gone in the flash of a drug-crazed mobster’s gun. It had taken him months before he could sleep properly at nights. Mostly he blamed himself. If he had been with her that night…but he had been working extra duty, because they wanted a decent house for the family they planned. His life with Kathy was over, long over. Mike thrust the memories out of his mind. He hadn’t looked at a woman in five years, not in that way. All desire for personal happiness had died with her. At least he’d thought it was dead until this evening.

Something about the young English girl had brought feelings to life that he had believed gone forever. She had turned him on in a big way! Mike smiled wryly. Damned fool! She wasn’t for him. They came from different worlds, and there was no way there could ever be anything lasting between them. Hell. What was he thinking? It was just another case – a case he could probably have done without at the moment. He hadn’t even discussed terms, but then, she hadn’t asked. Money was probably no issue. Mike finished his beer and walked over to the bar. He would eat one of Maria’s delicious pastas, and then find his way home. Another long evening alone at his apartment loomed ahead, but at least this time he need not be idle. He could research this guy, Hal Rothman, and discover what made Rothman tick. Most things were on the Internet these days, if you knew where to look. He could find out about Angela Rothman’s books, discover how successful she was as an author, perhaps buy something of hers. Rothman’s business was bound to be on the web. It was as good a place to start as any.

CHAPTER TWO

Karin sat back in her seat on the plane, feeling pleased that one of the benefits of her job allowed her to fly business class. She had no one sitting beside her and plenty of room to relax – and she needed to think about the events of the previous evening. The plane had finally taken off early in the morning, New York time, after a couple of hours delay. Karin was tired but she didn’t feel like sleeping just yet. Her mind kept going back to Mike Wendell – and that kiss. She had meant it just as a friendly thank you because he had agreed to take on her case, and instinctively she felt that he would find Angela if anyone could. She had liked Mike Wendell almost immediately. At least after she got over the shock of their first meeting. She’d been terrified when his light went off so suddenly and a huge shape loomed at her out of the darkness. He’d looked at her so oddly as he towered over, his eyes hard and suspicious, and she had sensed a kind of menace in him – anger! If she hadn’t been desperate to find someone to search for Angela she might have turned tail and run then. Of course, now she was glad she hadn’t, because that kiss had been something else! Karin’s cheeks felt warm as she remembered the heat that had seemed to surge out of him as he’d turned his head so that a peck on the cheek became so much more. In fact it had sent electric shock waves running through her, awakening her senses in a way she’d seldom known before. “Keep your mind on business,” Karin warned herself silently. She picked up a glossy fashion magazine she’d bought earlier, flicking through a few pages and then laying it aside. Such magazines held little to interest her for the moment, even though her own picture filled several pages. That would have given her a huge thrill once, but the glamour of being a model had worn off long since. Besides, she needed to gather her thoughts, to think about Angela and what might have happened to her. This kind of behavior was so unlike her twin sister, to just go off without a word to her that Karin had convinced herself something terrible had happened. The fear had been building inside her steadily for days. Now she was wondering if she had let her imagination work overtime.

Could it be that her twin had simply got tired of living with her husband and gone off to be alone for a while? Mike Wendell had suggested the solution and it was possible…but it wasn’t just that Angela hadn’t phoned – it was the lack of mental communication for the past few weeks that had helped to convince Karin that something was wrong. Both she and Angela had always seemed to know what the other twin was doing – at least they had feelings of either well being or of anxiety that warned them when something was going wrong. The intuition was common to both of them, and something they had grown up with. Karin had felt the loss keenly, and it frightened her. She was sure Angela was either dead or in some kind of trouble…perhaps lying unconscious after an accident? Once when Karin had been very ill as a child, Angela had told her that she had thought she was going to die, because she couldn’t reach her through her thoughts. Karin was experiencing the same disconnection now and she found it frightening. She bit her lip, trying not to let her anxiety distress her too much. For the moment there was not much else she could do except put her faith in Mike … and … she would have to let her uncle know what she had done. Which meant a trip down to Sir Malcolm’s house in the country, something she wouldn’t particularly enjoy. She frowned as she realized that her uncle wasn’t going to be too pleased when she told him she had employed an American private detective to look for Angela.

*****

“You have behaved with your usual impetuousness,” Sir Malcolm Blake said, looking at his niece in undisguised annoyance. He was a man of medium height, thin, with cold eyes and greying hair. Dressed as always in a severe business suit, even though he was in the country, he was a formidable adversary. “It was irresponsible of you, Karin, engaging this stranger to search for Angela. You have no idea who this Mike Wendell is, or what kind of a man he may be.” “Honest, straightforward, and efficient, I would judge,” Karin said, meeting her uncle’s frowning look with defiance. She tossed her head proudly. “Besides, I don’t see why it should bother you, Uncle. I shan’t be asking you to pay his bill.”

“Money has nothing to do with this!” He gave her an icy stare, the kind of look that caused his staff to quail. “The fact that both you and Angela earn more than is good for you doesn’t change anything. Good manners decreed that you at least ask my opinion before beginning an investigation of this nature.” “It was a spur of the moment thing,” Karin replied. She was smarting under Sir Malcolm’s displeasure, but determined not to bow under. This wasn’t their first disagreement and it was unlikely to be their last. He was, and always had been, a stern disciplinarian. The death of their parents in a flying accident had forced Karin and Angela to live under his roof for some years, but they had both escaped as soon as possible. “The police are too busy to search for her, Uncle, and I refuse to do nothing.” Sir Malcolm inclined his head. He was a bachelor and worked for the British government, which meant that most of his time was spent in London. However, weekends always found him at Northwood Park, a very beautiful Georgian house set in huge grounds. Karin and Angela had spent their teenage years there, riding ponies through the quiet, leafy Hampshire lanes, going to local schools and being cared for by Sir Malcolm’s staff. His visits at the weekend had been something to be endured, like his lectures, and Karin seldom accepted an invitation to stay at Northwood despite the undeniable charm of the house itself. She had felt obliged to make the trip on her return from New York, but she was beginning to regret having bothered. She sensed that he was furious with her, and wondered how soon she could leave without appearing rude. “Impulsive! No proper thought given to the matter. As I might have expected,” her uncle muttered. “Well, you must simply cancel the contract. If there is to be an investigation you can leave it to me. I shall see that it is done discreetly. The last thing this family needs is for our name to be dragged through the mud.” He threw a look of disgust at her. “But of course you never gave a thought to all that. No consideration!” “Who says it will be?” Karin asked, controlling her own temper with difficulty. “And I don’t want a discreet inquiry. I want someone to find out who murdered my sister. And the sooner the better!” “You don’t know that she has been murdered.” His frustration was showing.

They both knew he had never been able to bully Karin into submission and they both knew it was useless now. “Have you considered that your sister may have wished to disappear for a time?” Karin remembered that Mike Wendell had asked the same question, but she didn’t hesitate. “No, I haven’t.” She returned her uncle’s glare. “Angela wouldn’t. She wouldn’t do this to me – not willingly.” “You can’t be sure of that. I suggest you write to this…private detective.” He made Mike Wendell sound like something the cat had dragged in, Karin thought. “Tell him you’ve changed your mind and pay him whatever you owe him.” “No, I can’t do that, Uncle. Angela is my sister and I’m old enough to make my own decisions.” Karin might only be five foot three, but she had plenty of spirit, and, seeing her determination, Sir Malcolm sighed. When Karin was in this mood nothing would stop her. “Well, on your own head be it,” he said grudgingly conceding the point. “But don’t come running to me for help when you uncover a hornet’s nest!” “I’ve never asked for your help yet, Uncle.” Karin’s head went up, her eyes glittering with pride. Neither she nor Angela had asked him to take charge when their parents were killed, and he certainly hadn’t given them any reason to love him. “No, you haven’t,” he admitted. His expression was heavy with disapproval. “You and Angela were both too independent. All I can say is that your sister would not want you interfering in her life. When she discovers you’ve hired a private detective to look for her, she will probably be furious.” “If I thought she was still alive, I probably wouldn’t have done this – though I still don’t believe she would go off without a word to anyone. Even if she wanted to leave Hal, she would have talked to me. I am sure he murdered her!” “You should be careful about making rash statements,” her uncle warned. “Hal Rothman could sue.” “I doubt it!” Karin didn’t elaborate, but she didn’t think Hal would want her to talk about his attempt at rape. Or the fact that he’d given her a false name when they’d first met.

She had been at modeling school then and Hal had appeared to be studying at evening classes at a nearby college. From the start Karin had suspected he was lying. He’d seemed to have too much money, too much confidence for a poor student. She hadn’t known why he’d lied until years later, long after they’d split. There was no way she could prove it, of course, but she was fairly sure that Hal had stolen one of the software programs that had made his fortune. He’d been working in a group with other students at the college they had all attended. One of the other young men was clearly very clever at writing software, but he was a shy, awkward person and when he’d mentioned that some of his personal discs had gone missing from his satchel no one had taken much notice. Nor of the fact that he’d said he was working on something pretty revolutionary in virus protection software. It was only a few months ago, when Karin had seen his photograph in the paper, together with an article in which he accused Hal of stealing his work, that she had made the connection. Karin hadn’t seen anything more about the matter in the papers since then. When she’d mentioned it to Angela, she’d said it was a mistake. Hal had sorted it out, and the programs were actually very different. “Hal is paying something to make that dreadful man go away,” Angela had told Karin. “The lawyers thought it best even though Hal couldn’t have stolen it. He had never met Ben Stevens.” It was a lie, of course. Karin knew the two men had met and worked together, though like her, Ben wouldn’t have known Hal’s real name at that time. Karin wondered if she ought to have mentioned the threatened lawsuit to Mike Wendell. It hadn’t occurred to her when she was with him in that bar. She would mention it the next time they spoke, though she wasn’t sure when that would be. So far she had avoided using the telephone number he’d given her. He’d told her she had to be patient, that he was busy. Still, the temptation to get in touch was becoming harder to resist. And not just because she was worrying about Angela. She had found herself thinking about Mike Wendell rather a lot recently. In fact he had featured fairly heavily in her dreams. “Are you listening to me at all?”

Sir Malcolm’s sarcastic voice broke into her thoughts. She blinked at him, knowing she was guilty of having let her thoughts wander. He sighed heavily. “No, of course not. I might as well have saved my breath. When are you returning to London? Perhaps you will be good enough to let me know – at your convenience?” Karin took a deep breath as she heard the sarcasm in his voice. What the hell was she doing here? She might have known all she would get from him was a lecture! “I’m going back after lunch,” she told him. “I only came to let you know what I’d done as a courtesy.” “Which I very much wish you hadn’t! You might think of my position, Karin. My work is sensitive. I cannot afford publicity – good or bad.” “Well, I am sorry if this is a nuisance to you. I’ll try to keep your name out of it.” Karin had always used a professional name for her modeling for that very reason. Sir Malcolm disapproved of what she did, though if anything, he had disliked Angela’s work even more. Angela had deliberately allowed her own name to be used on the book covers to annoy him. Another thing Karin hadn’t told Mike Wendell. She hadn’t really made a very good job of things, Karin realized ruefully. Why was that? She wondered about it, trying to work things out in her mind, but found herself remembering instead the way her heart had raced when he had towered menacingly over her in those first minutes at his office. Something had warned her then that he would be dangerous to know. Only a short time later they were outside and then there had been that terrifying few seconds when that lunatic had tried to knock them down – and Mike had thrown her out of the way of the car, covering her with his own body. She was hardly surprised she’d forgotten things she ought to have told him. And then there was that kiss… Karin felt hot inside as she remembered that she had begun the kiss, and then Mike Wendell had taken over. It was just as well she’d been in a hurry to catch her flight! Or she might have… Karin was aware that her uncle had not yet finished complaining of her behavior. It was easier to allow her mind to wander back to that night in New York. The

housekeeper was telling them that lunch was ready. Karin wished she could escape at once, but the good manners her uncle was always telling her she lacked made her wait. She followed him into the long dining room. The table was set with silver, expensive crystal and china as always. Even though it was too big and formal for just the two of them, Sir Malcolm insisted on living this way. Karin sometimes wondered how he could afford it, but he had never spoken of his financial affairs and she’d never asked. Her own parents had left her and Angela a few thousand pounds, which had been used to pay for their schooling. Sir Malcolm’s lawyer had given a full accounting. They’d both received a little help after they left private education. After that, they were on their own – something that hadn’t bothered either of them. Angela’s first published story had appeared when she was sixteen. By the time she was twenty-six she’d had eight novels on the best-seller lists. Karin had done almost as well in her own field. Although at twenty-seven, she was approaching the end of her modeling career. She wasn’t yet sure what she intended to do when she gave it up – maybe run an agency of her own? Karin ate the food that was put in front of her. Her uncle liked his comforts and the poached salmon in wine sauce was delicious. She sipped her wine and thought about Mike Wendell, wondering where he was and what he was doing. She knew he’d had another important job to do, but she wasn’t sure how long he would be in getting back to her. Surely he wouldn’t mind if she rang him when she got back to London.

*****

Mike pressed the bell at the front door of the rather faded-looking Georgian terraced house. All the houses in the square had that mellowed look, their facades hardly touched in decades, though most of them had been divided into flats and something the tourist pamphlets called maisonettes. The housing association’s policy was clearly to retain the period feel, which was attractive in its way. He sighed as he realized he wasn’t going to get an answer. Karin was obviously out, which was a nuisance. He had hoped to have a quick talk with her before getting on with the business that had brought him to London.

He was feeling the effects of his transatlantic flight, and he still had to check into his hotel. Besides, he was a little annoyed with Karin for not having given him her sister’s pseudonym. It had taken him several hours before he’d come across the information he’d wanted about Angela Blake’s books – time he couldn’t afford to waste now that he was working for Nidzack. The Insurance job was a big one, which could make or break him as far as future contracts were concerned. He really ought not to have taken Karin on at all, and he’d considered ringing her to tell her he didn’t have the time. Yet something had made him hold back, had made him carry out the routine checks before he left New York. No one of Angela’s description was lying unnamed in the morgue, and there was no record of her having left the country, unless she had used a false name, of course. That was always possible if Angela had run off with another man. This was a wasted effort! He turned away, thinking that he would have to come back later, perhaps in the morning. However, a taxi had turned into the square and something made him linger a moment on Karin’s steps. His intuition paid off as she got out of the taxi and he heard her laugh as she said something to the driver. He waited for her to join him outside her door. She smiled at him, seeming pleased to see him there. “Hi,” she said giving him an oddly shy look, and he realized she really did have that sexy voice and it wasn’t his imagination. His fevered dreams of her had made him come straight here from the airport, he realized as his body reacted strongly to the sight and smell of her. What was that perfume? It was something special, then again, so was she. “Have you been waiting long?” “A few minutes. I suppose I should have called yesterday, but I left New York in a hurry and thought I would drop in on you on the off chance you would be in. I would have called later if you hadn’t showed just now.” “Have you discovered anything?” Karin asked as she led the way inside. The hall was small and littered with all kinds of bits and pieces, sports shoes, walking sticks in tall jardinières and coats on hooks, besides a pile of bags on top of an oak blanket chest in the corner. It smelled of flowers – or some kind of potpourri. “This is nice,” Mike said as she led him through to the sitting room. It had tall ceilings and walls the color of duck eggs, with some interesting plaster friezes. The

furniture was a hotchpotch of old and new, but she had one or two attractive antiques, though the sofa was modern and covered with throws and cushions. It felt comfortable, appealing to his senses, as she herself did. “How long have you lived here?” “A couple of years,” Karin said tossing down her bag. “I couldn’t afford to buy when I first came to London, so I shared with friends for a while. I bought this place as soon as I started to earn decent money. I suppose I could afford to move on to something better now if I wanted, but I like it here. I’ve made friends.” Mike nodded, sitting in one of the armchairs as she flopped down on the sofa and slipped off her high-heeled shoes, curling her legs beneath her. Mike’s breath caught. She was incredibly sexy and very beautiful. When he spoke, his voice was husky with the desire she aroused in him. He could feel his jeans getting tighter around the crotch and his need was almost painful. God, he hadn’t felt like this in years! “I was lucky to catch you. I wasn’t sure if you had left for Paris.” “I go next week,” she said, her eyes intent on his face, almost as if she could sense the intense feeling she had brought into being in him. He cleared his throat, knowing he had to get a grip on himself. “I know it’s a bit soon, but have you any news for me?” “I’ve been reading one of Angela’s books,” Mike said. “She was pretty good. I mean she is good at what she does.” “Yes, I think she’s very popular in America. I’m sorry I didn’t think to tell you she wrote as Angela Blake.” She gave him an apologetic look. “I wasn’t thinking that well and there’s probably several things I should tell you.” “I wasted some time looking for Angela Rothman on the best-seller shelves,” Mike admitted, his eyes moving over her. He discovered that any annoyance he might have felt had completely gone, and his feelings now were very different. She was an extremely desirable young woman, and he…should be ashamed of himself! What was he thinking? Was he turning into some kind of a sex maniac? He hoped she wasn’t a mind reader or he was in big trouble. “I’m afraid I’m not much of a reader – at least not fiction.” “What do you read?” Karin asked, interested. She looked at him as if she could feel strong vibes coming from Mike, but wasn’t quite sure what they meant. “I prefer historical novels myself, though of course I read all Angela’s books.”

“As a matter of fact, I like to read history,” Mike said. “I used to be very interested in ancient cultures – Egypt and Greece – but I haven’t read a book for years I’m afraid.” “I don’t suppose you have time.” It wasn’t a question of time. Kathy had been the great reader. She was forever bringing books home for them to share, and Mike had caught his enthusiasm from her. After her death, he had not felt like touching a book – or a woman. “That and other things,” Mike said, his gaze narrowed as he looked at her. Thinking about Kathy was still too painful. “Do you happen to know how much research your sister does for her books?” “Quite a lot I believe,” Karin replied and wrinkled her nose. “Why? Did you think she had made mistakes?” “No, actually I was wondering how she got some of the information in the book I read. It’s so close to reality it’s frightening. The boss of the drug gang she described could be a man living in New York at this very moment…a very dangerous and unpleasant man. The likeness is almost too close for comfort.” “Really?” Karin stared at him in surprise. “I know she talked to lots of people when she was researching, and I believe she sometimes managed to get access to files that were confidential. How, I have no idea.” “She must have an informant on the force,” Mike said and frowned thoughtfully. “I was wondering if Angela might have upset someone with one of her books. Maybe got too close for comfort? You don’t have any idea of what she was working on when she disappeared, do you?” Karin stared at him in disbelief. “You mean, she might have been poking her nose in somewhere she wasn’t wanted?” She nodded as she considered the possibility. “Yes, that’s Angela all over. I could believe she might have been treading on someone’s toes without realizing it. She was like a terrier. When she got hold of an idea she would never let go.” “Then we may have found a place to start,” Mike said. “I’ve spoken to her husband, and though he doesn’t strike me as being exactly desperate over his wife’s disappearance, I don’t think he murdered her. To be honest I don’t think he has the guts

for it.” “He is a liar and a cheat,” Karin said fiercely, her eyes bright with anger. “There’s something else I didn’t mention to you.” She told him about the lawsuit Hal had paid off and the time some years earlier, when they had all been students in night school. “I’m sorry I didn’t think to mention it sooner, but it was all such a rush…” “Anything else you neglected to tell me while we’re about it?” Mike glared at her with annoyance. “Anything that might make this job easier?” Karin blushed, apparently with the awareness she really hadn’t given him much help. “Have you got time for a coffee?” she asked. “It was all such a blur that night – what with the car and…” “Forget the coffee. Unless you use American?” She shook her head regretfully. “Kenyan, I’m afraid.” Mike nodded, his eyes intent on her face. “Let’s just talk. You haven’t had any more brushes with death since then have you?” “No.” She seemed surprised by the question. “Should I have? I thought that was a warning to you?” “It probably was,” Mike said. “I was just checking. If something has happened to Angela, someone has a murder to hide. You could possibly be at risk, you should be aware of that, Karin.” “Hal wouldn’t… Maybe he would.” She bit down on her lip. “Unless this other theory is more likely. Surely Angela couldn’t have been on the trail of a real life criminal.” “It’s only a suggestion,” Mike said. “Something that occurred to me when I was reading her book. By the way, do you have any copies of her books that I could borrow? One isn’t really enough to judge. The one I read could just be a fluke.” “I have them all,” Karin said. “On the bookshelves I had built going up the stairs. She gave me a signed copy of everything she wrote – even a collection of short stories she had published a few weeks back.” “Was it published before or after she disappeared?” Mike wrinkled his brow. “Before, a week before,” Karin said. “It’s here, on the table. I hadn’t got round to reading it yet. I told you, her books aren’t really my favorite genre.”

“Would you mind if I borrowed that and some of the others?” “Of course not. I would like them back though.” “Yeah, sure.” He gave her one of his lazy smiles. “Not returning books is a terrible habit, but I’ll do my best.” “Thanks.” She felt her throat catch and was aware of a slow burn beginning deep in the pit of her stomach. “So how long are you staying in London? You didn’t come over just to see me, did you?” “No, I didn’t. I’m here on behalf of a client, and I’m not sure when I’ll be going back to America. I may have to go to Paris, Hong Kong…wherever the trail leads me. These cases sometimes take forever to unravel. It’s like doing a jigsaw with some of the pieces missing. You have to find them before the picture begins to make sense.” “Your work sounds fascinating,” Karin said. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like something to drink – tea?” “Maybe I’ll chance the tea,” Mike said, his look teasing her. “You Brits make the worst coffee ever.” “Thanks!” Karin’s laughter was soft and husky. She stood up and Mike rose to his feet. He caught her wrist as she would have passed him, swinging her around so they were very close, gazing into each other’s eyes. “Mike?” she breathed in wonder as he reached out and drew her to him, holding her pressed against the length of his body. She was aware then of the masculine power of him, and the fact that he was physically aroused. She could feel the heat of him burning against her and it was doing odd things to her senses. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head,” Mike said as his head bent towards her, his lips seeking hers. “I’ve been wanting to do this again…” Karin’s body arched into his, her mouth opening softly beneath his as they kissed long and slow. The heat rushed through her, making her bones melt with the liquid, churning desire inside her. There was no thought of resistance, only a hunger that she had never experienced before. This felt so right! The kiss was exploratory on Mike’s part, his tongue thrusting its way inside her mouth, tasting her, teasing her as her hands went up into his hair at the nape, her long fingers caressing him. For the moment that he held her it seemed as if they were alone in

time, apart from the reality of the outside world – something Karin had never known before. She had enjoyed passion with her boyfriends in the past, but this was something very different. They were both visibly affected when they at last drew away from each other. “You had better make that tea,” Mike said, following her to the adjoining door that led into the kitchen. He watched the sway of her hips in the short black skirt, feeling the burn of desire in his guts and knowing he wanted her. He wanted her badly at this moment, so badly that he ached with the need, but anything between them was bound to be of short duration and he didn’t want to hurt her or be hurt himself. “Talk to me, tell me about Angela. You two were twins, but were you alike in other ways?” “No, not much,” Karin said without looking round. She was filling the kettle, preparing a tray. The kitchen was neat and clean, but very cluttered with cooking tools and books, every shelf crowded with bits and pieces. The clutter seemed friendly and Mike liked it – he liked everything about her more and more. Karin turned slightly and smiled at him. Her mouth was soft, shining a little, her eyes clear and full of a secret laughter, as though she was amused by what she was about to tell him. “Help me know her, Karin,” he invited. “Angela liked things to be ordered. Her study is like a professional office. Everything in files. I leave things all over the place and forget where I put them. Angela liked classical clothes – I buy whatever takes my fancy and end up giving half of my stuff to the jumble sale. “Angela always knew she was going to be a writer. She had piles of notebooks even when she was a child. I remember her telling me that she liked to discover things people were trying to hide. She once said she knew something about our uncle that would make him cross if he guessed that she knew.” “You’ve no idea what she meant I suppose?” Karin shook her head. “At the time I thought she was just being melodramatic – she is sometimes. I expect that’s what makes her such a brilliant writer.” “Probably,” Mike agreed. He watched as she carried the tea tray into her comfortable sitting room, setting it down on a glass coffee table covered with a lace

cloth. “What kind of a man is your uncle?” “Stern,” Karin said. “Angela didn’t exactly get on with him. I don’t think she’s been back to visit once since she left home. He never mentions her unless I do. It’s odd in a way, because he expects me to visit occasionally… but not Angela. I think they must have quarreled at some time.” Mike drank a little of his tea, then put his cup down and glanced at his watch. “Look, Karin, I have a couple of appointments. I’ll have to go. When can I see you again?” “Come back later this evening if you like?” “You have no plans to go anywhere?” “I had planned on staying at my uncle’s house for the weekend so I didn’t make any - but he was annoyed with me so I decided to come home after lunch.” “I’m not sure how late I’ll be.” “It’s all right, I keep late hours.” Karin’s smile was warming and embracing. Mike was tempted to cancel his appointments, but he knew that wouldn’t be wise. He stood up and she rose with him. Without her shoes she was barely up to his shoulder. He wasn’t sure why that made him feel a little strange, as if he wanted to protect her. “I’ll try not to be too late,” he promised. “Because I do want to talk some more – about Angela. Sort some of her books out for me, will you? And make a list of any of her friends, people she might have gone to stay with.” “I’ve already contacted most of them,” Karin said with a frown. “But I’ll write down anything I think of that might be important.” “I’ll see you later then.” Karin went to the door with him. She stood on the top step, watching as he crossed the square. Mike was obviously a busy man. She wondered where he was going and whom he had to meet, then she turned and went back into the house, closing the door behind her. She didn’t notice the man who had been watching the house from the gardens in the center of the square as he left to follow Mike. Her telephone was ringing when she got back to her sitting room. She snatched it

up hopefully. “Hello,” she said her voice breathy with anticipation. “Karin Blake here…” For a few seconds she heard heavy breathing, and then someone replaced the receiver at the other end without speaking. She frowned in annoyance then replaced her own receiver before dialing the recall code. Her frown deepened as the operator’s voice told her that the caller had withheld their number. People were so rude, hanging up without speaking! This wasn’t the first time, though. Several of her friends had had it happen recently, so she didn’t let it bother her. Heavy breathers were a fact of life these days. Karin wandered into the kitchen with her tray and put the used cups in the dishwasher. Angela wouldn’t have withheld her number so it didn’t really matter. She might just mention it to Mike when he came back though.

CHAPTER THREE

Mike walked into the coffee bar. He saw his contact at once. Phillips had told him how to recognize him, and it wasn’t hard. The Englishman was wearing a red rose in his pin striped suit lapel and looked completely out of place in the crowded café. “Mr. Wendell?” he said, getting up to offer his hand. “I’m sorry if this all seems a bit cloak and daggers – but Slater thought it best if you didn’t come to the office.” “Do you think you might have a mole?” “It is possible that things may not be as straight forward as they should be,” Phillips replied. “We were negotiating the return of some of the stolen art a few months back and then it suddenly all went pear shaped. The man we were dealing with was murdered in New York and then everything went quiet. The gang is still out there and operational, Mr. Wendell, but we can’t contact them. We think there may be a new hand at the helm – a new Mr. Big as it were.” “Is that why your contact was murdered? A power struggle within the gang?” Mike looked at him thoughtfully. Slater hadn’t told him this bit! It changed the complexion of things, made a successful conclusion more difficult to achieve. “That is possible,” Phillips agreed. “Who knows what happens when thieves fall out? It may be that they don’t know how to make contact. At least that is what we are hoping. Perhaps when you start to make inquiries they will come to you with an offer.” “You think they might?” “The particular items we are most interested in are impossible to sell on the open market. They have only two options available to them. A private collector or a negotiated settlement with Nidzack.” “So that’s why you’ve called me in,” Mike said and nodded. “What do you want me to do?” “We want these items back.” Phillips handed Mike a slip of paper with a list of stolen pictures. Mike glanced through, raising his brows as he saw the names of some of the artists. The fact that some of these pictures had been stolen wasn’t common knowledge. “You are surprised,” Phillips said with a smile. “Now you see why we are so anxious to recover them with as little fuss as possible. We are prepared to negotiate a

ransom of course. However, if there was a chance of getting them some other way…” “Yes, of course.” Mike understood perfectly. “So what help can you give me? I need to know how you made contact with the man who was prepared to sell and anything else you can tell me.”

*****

Karin had just emerged from the bath when her front door bell rang. She pressed the two-way system and asked who it was, smiling as Mike answered. “Come on in,” she said. “I’m in my dressing gown but I’ll get changed while you make yourself at home.” She operated the release button and ran up the stairs, waving to Mike from the top before disappearing into her bedroom. Five minutes later she re-emerged wearing a sweat top and loose fitting pants, her feet still bare as she came down the stairs. She hadn’t bothered to put on make up, and her face was glowing from the heat of the bath, her hair still slightly damp. “Hi,” she said. “I’d almost given you up. What are you doing?” “Making coffee,” Mike said. “I picked up a brand I like from a late night delicatessen.” “It smells good,” she said. “Did you meet the person you went to see?” “Yes. I would have been back sooner, but I took a walk round London. Wanted to get my bearings in a new city.” She nodded, realizing that was important to him. “Is this your first time in England?” “I’ve been over on a couple of quick visits,” Mike said. “But mostly on business and this time I wanted to see a bit more. Sorry if I’ve kept you up late?” “You haven’t.” She smiled at him. “I go to bed sooner if I have an early start, but tomorrow is a rest day. I’m glad you came back. I wanted to talk some more.” Karin wasn’t sure what she really wanted. All she knew was that this man had been on her mind since the first time she’d seen him. And her heart was behaving very oddly. In fact he was having a startling effect on every part of her body.

“Mike…” she breathed, then blushed and turned away to set the tray ready for the coffee he was making. “Yes, Karin?” “I just wanted…” Mike nodded, knowing that he was merely putting off the inevitable. He had come here this late because he needed to see Karin again. He hadn’t been able to sleep for thinking about that kiss, her smile or the enticing scent of her body. The strong physical attraction between them was impossible to deny. She looked up at him, her lips parting invitingly on a sigh. It was like a clap of thunder in his head, and he moved towards her without really knowing what he did. She came to meet him, melting into his arms with a willingness that thrilled him, offering her mouth in a way that told him he would be a fool to throw away this chance. Something this good didn’t happen often. “Ever been struck by lightning?” Mike asked as he drew away from the drugging kiss for a moment to look down at her. “So what do we do about it?” she asked. “Where’s the bedroom?” “This way.” She took his hand, leading him through the sitting room and up a short flight of stairs. For a moment they just stared hungrily at each other, then Mike groaned. This wasn’t something he could just walk away from. He reached out for her, his fingers just touching her face, his thumb sliding over her bottom lip. Karin drew her breath in, eyes opening wider as she gazed into his. Her hands moved to the top button on his shirt, undoing it to reveal a V of smooth tanned flesh. She thrust the shirt back over his shoulders, and he shrugged it off revealing a tanned chest and well developed muscles. Karin bent her head, licking at him delicately. He moaned, as the desire flared inside him and he saw an answering flame in her eyes. All of a sudden they were ripping at each other’s clothes in their urgency, kissing feverishly, exploring, tasting, enjoying the sweetness of a kiss that seemed to consume them both. Karin drew her soft shirt over her head, discarding it on the floor. Her hand reached for her bra strap, but Mike turned her around, unhooking it himself, the touch of

his fingers causing her to arch backwards into his body. He kissed her neck as he removed the fine silk garment and dropped it with her shirt, his mouth moving further down her back in feathery kisses that had her moaning and gasping. Her jeans were the next to join the growing pile on the floor. Mike turned her towards him, his eyes feasting on her full round breasts and the peaked rose nipples. “You are so beautiful,” he breathed. “I want you so much.” “I want you too,” she whispered softly as he gathered her into his arms and carried her to the bed, before hastily discarding what remained of his own clothing. Then they were lying side by side in her bed, thigh to thigh, naked, flesh on fire as they made love with an urgency and a passion that surprised them both. Perhaps because of that urgency, it was over all too soon, but Mike did not leave her, remaining inside her, holding her still as they whispered how good it had been and the flame between them slowly rekindled. She could feel him hardening inside her again, the heat throbbing through her. This time their loving was slower and more intense, something Karin had never experienced before. As he moved deeper and deeper inside her, her body arched and shuddered beneath him as waves of pleasure washed over her, making her cry out as the climax was finally reached. Her nails raked his shoulders as she climaxed in a way she never had before, arching and bucking beneath him. She nestled into his arms, trusting as a kitten, wanting to stay always in the warmth of his embrace. They slept for a while, woke, made love and slept again. At ten o'clock in the morning, freshly showered, Karin made breakfast for them both – bacon sandwiches with pickle and a fresh fruit medley. She ate mostly fruit but he devoured the sandwiches, telling her that he needed to keep his strength up. She laughed and asked if he wanted her to make him some more, but he grabbed her, pulling her back into bed and making love to her again. Some hours had passed before either of them thought about surfacing again. “I’ll make us some more coffee,” Mike said, pushing back the covers. “I think we should talk for a while, then I have to go.” “Must you?” Karin sighed as he left her, feeling bereft. “It’s Sunday afternoon, Mike. What work can you do on a Sunday?”

“I have some work to do. It’s research mainly,” Mike replied with a grimace. “I’d like to come back later – if I may?” “Sure – why not?” She smiled at him from amongst the tumbled bedclothes. “Look, why don’t you bring your things round? Stay here for a few days. You can read some of Angela’s stuff. I think I’ve even got some of her old notebooks here. She didn’t want to take them to New York with her, so she asked me to store them for her.” “I thought you were going away?” Mike looked at her from beneath lowered lids. “I am – on Tuesday,” Karin said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t stay here. Make yourself at home. It means we can be together more while you’re over here… unless you would rather not?” “I think that’s a very generous offer,” Mike replied. “It just surprised me that you should give me the freedom of your home while you were away.” “I’m not afraid you’re going to steal the silver,” Karin said, a wicked smile in her eyes. “And you seem to have taken everything else.” Mike grinned. He pulled on his clothes and went downstairs, still chuckling to himself. He certainly hadn’t expected anything like this. The force of the attraction between them had taken him by surprise, Karin too. He wasn’t quite sure what he ought to do about it, but it was too late to worry. The telephone shrilled at the bottom of the stairs. Mike picked it up, expecting the call to be for Karin. He was about to call her when a man spoke, the cold, calculating voice sending a trickle of ice down Mike’s spine. “I hope you haven’t forgotten our arrangement, Wendell?” “Reinburg?” Mike shuddered. Someone had just walked over his grave! His skin had goose bumps all over it. “How the hell did you know I was here?” “I know everything you do,” Reinburg said. “And going to bed with your clients isn’t playing by the rules, even if Miss Blake is one hell of a sexy lady. It’s time you started to earn your keep.” “What I do in my own time is my business. Besides, I haven’t agreed to do what you want yet,” Mike said, feeling the anger start to burn inside him. “If you want me to do something for you, ring me on my own phone and leave Karin out of it.” Though he knew exactly why Reinburg had chosen to contact him in this way. Reinburg wanted to

demonstrate his ability to discover every detail of Mike’s personal life. “You chose to bring her in,” Reinburg said. “It suits me just fine. Knowing you have a weak link will help me keep you where I want you.” “You wouldn’t dare touch her!” “Try double crossing me and see.” Mike was chilled. He believed Reinburg might be capable of anything. “You haven’t told me what you want me to do for you yet.” “Tower Bridge in an hour – and remember if you don’t toe the line, Miss Blake might disappear the way her sister did.” “Karin is nothing to me.” Mike was too late, the line had been cut the other end, but hearing a gasp from the top of the stairs he saw that she had heard what he was saying. “No, Karin … it wasn’t meant for you to hear…” “Obviously.” Her tone was crisp, cold as she started to walk down the stairs towards him. “Who may I ask was that?” “No one you want to know,” Mike said with a frown. “A very dangerous man and he knows all about you. He knew I was here and because of that he thinks we’re involved. That could be dangerous for you. I was telling him you meant nothing to me in order to protect you.” “Oh yeah, pull the other one. It has bells on.” Karin’s feelings were hurt as she hit out. “And what is that supposed to mean?” Mike glared at her. “I have no idea how the hell he knew I was here.” “You must have been followed.” Karin stared at him uncertainly. It had given her a nasty shock to hear Mike telling someone that she meant nothing to him after he had just made love to her. “Unless you happened to mention that you were coming here to anyone?” “No – no one.” Mike moved away into the kitchen. Karin followed. She took a bag of coffee beans and put them on the table with a little bang, making him look at her and protest. “Hey, give me a break here!” “Why?” Her eyes were bright with accusation. “I feel used, damn you! And a fool…”

Mike reached for her, holding her upper arms in a vice-like grip, kissing her roughly. “Don’t be a fool!” he growled harshly, his eyes glittering dangerously as he looked down at her. “What happened just now was fantastic for us both. I don’t know where we’re going, Karin, but I sure as hell wasn’t using you!” Karin stared at him, her anger cooling as she saw the truth in his eyes. “No, you weren’t,” she admitted and nibbled at her bottom lip nervously. “I don’t normally do casual affairs, so it came as a shock to hear you say it meant nothing.” “Even Reinburg didn’t believe me.” There was a reluctant smile on his lips. “You must know that wasn’t casual, Karin!” She smothered a laugh. “I didn’t think so…” “Believe it!” Karin nodded, her gaze narrowing. “Who is Reinburg and why is he dangerous?” “Forget that name. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.” Mike frowned as he realized his mistake. “The less you know about him the better.” “If he is so unpleasant, why are you involved with him?” “It’s work,” Mike said tersely, that glint of annoyance back in his eyes. Okay, so he didn’t like being questioned about this. “And not by my choice.” It was obvious he couldn’t – or wouldn’t – tell her more. Karin had calmed down now, though Mike’s remarks still rankled. It had hurt to hear him say that she meant nothing to him – and she was a fool to let it. What was she expecting here for goodness sake? A declaration of undying love? Surely she wasn’t that naïve? Karin was too much of a realist to imagine that the love of her life had just happened along. She wasn’t into sleeping around, her career had been too hectic and too important to her, but there had been a couple of lovers in the past. On both occasions she’d believed she was falling in love, but the magic had worn off quickly. She had no reason to suppose that wouldn’t happen again – even though she had experienced something new and wonderful with Mike. “So…” she said as she watched Mike pour the coffee. He took his black but added cream and sugar to hers at her request. “Are you going to bring your stuff round?” “Are you sure you want me to do that?” His brows arched as she nodded. “It may not be this evening. Tomorrow sometime?”

“I’ll give you a key in case I’m out.” She took her spare from the kitchen drawer and put it on the table. Mike picked it up and slid it in his jacket pocket. “We began something last night, Mike. I’m not sure it’s going to survive your present visit to England, but I think we should explore the possibilities, don’t you?” His eyes were serious as he looked at her. She wanted to reach up and brush a wayward lock of dark blond hair back from his forehead before it fell into his eyes, but she was oddly shy. Things had moved on so quickly she hardly knew where she was. They had jumped into bed without really knowing each other, and she was into new territory. “This is a bit scary,” Mike said echoing her thoughts, and his lazy smile made her heart lurch. “Relationships don’t come easy to me, Karin.” “No.” His smile reassured her. She gave into impulse and put her hand up to smooth back that wayward lock. “Good ones are hard to find, I think.” “I have to go…” “So you mentioned…” “I really have to go,” Mike insisted grimly. “My contact can wait but Reinburg is another matter.” “I’m beginning to hate the sound of his name. Can’t you ditch him, Mike?” “It isn’t that easy.” Mike’s brooding look sent a shiver down her spine. “Are you in trouble?” she asked. “Does this man have some hold over you?” “It isn’t that simple,” Mike said again, “and I can’t tell you anything more.” He reached out to touch her cheek with the tips of his fingers, sending a trickle of pleasure down the length of her spine. “I should have stayed away from you, Karin – but it’s too late now. Reinburg thinks we’re involved. He will use you as a threat to keep me in line.” “That does sound ominous.” “Yeah. Well, Reinburg may not be as clever as he thinks.” Mike smiled oddly. “Thanks for the key. I’ll use it because I want to know you better, Karin.” He turned away, leaving her to stare after him and wonder. She heard the sharp snap of the door as he went out. A little wrinkle creased her forehead as she thought about what Mike had said –

this Reinburg was obviously an unpleasant character. What was he? Some kind of master criminal Mike was working for? The kind of powerful man Angela wrote about in her books? And how had he known about Karin? Remembering the odd phone call she had answered the previous day, she wondered if it had been someone checking on her rather than a heavy breather. A shiver went through her as she realized that there might be more to her sister’s disappearance than she’d thought.

*****

Mike was aware he was being followed almost from the moment he left Karin’s apartment. He walked a few blocks before hailing a taxi to take him to the appointment with Reinburg. What was it Reinburg wanted from him? What could be so important that he had been willing to go to so much trouble to secure Mike’s services? He was fairly certain that Reinburg’s threat was only meant to put Mike on his mettle, to remind him not to try to wriggle out of the bargain he had forced on him. Yet there was an uneasy feeling lingering at the back of his mind that this whole thing might go deeper. If it hadn’t been Helman who’d advised Karin to seek his help, Mike would have suspected a set up – but Helman was a friend. He’d been best man at Mike’s wedding and he was Kathy’s cousin. And he’d been the only one of Mike’s former colleagues to visit him at the hospital. They’d kept in touch and Helman had helped him out a couple of times with confidential information when he was stuck on a case. Mike reached the meeting place fifteen minutes ahead of time. He paid off his taxi and stood staring at the famous landmarks of the Tower and the bridge where he had been told to meet Reinburg. He wasn’t there yet, but Mike’s shadow arrived a minute or so behind him. Mike had known from the start that his taxi was being followed closely by another. He stood watching his shadow trying to look inconspicuous and failing miserably, memorizing the face – thin, pale, unshaven, weasel features.

His mobile rang. He answered, sensing it was Reinburg. He had expected this. “Wendell, you were followed. The memorial, Trinity Square twenty minutes.” “Don’t jerk me around, Reinburg. I don’t like playing games.” “He isn’t one of mine. Lose him!” So the shadow wasn’t Reinburg’s man. Mike had been sure he must be. He was intrigued now, alerted to danger. Just what was going on here? He began to walk back down the approach to Tower Bridge; retracing the route the taxi had brought him minutes earlier. He turned into East Smithfield, and then spotted a taxi with its vacant sign on. It was the only one around. Blessing his good fortune, Mike hailed it and gave the order, smiling as he saw that his shadow was looking frantically for a taxi to follow him. “Sure yer want Trinity Square, mate?” the cockney driver asked. “Yer could’ve walked it in a couple of minutes.” “Give me a little detour,” Mike said. “Fifteen minutes – okay?” “Don’t want to be too early for yer date?” The driver grinned at him in the mirror. “Got to keep the girls on their toes these days, mate, or they’ll walk right over you.” “Yeah, something like that.” “American,” the driver said with satisfaction. “We get a lot of tourists in the summer. Tower’s one of the most popular – been inside yet? It’s worth a look.” “Thanks. I’ll remember that.” His driver kept up a running commentary about the various places he might want to see while he was over. Mike made the appropriate comments, wondering wryly whether the British tourist board employed the man. He glanced over his shoulder every so often, but his ploy seemed to have worked. He had succeeded in shaking off the weasel, at least for the moment. There was no sign of him as Mike finally paid off his taxi. He was one minute late. Reinburg was standing by the memorial. He frowned as Mike strolled up to him. “You’re late.” “Only obeying orders.” Reinburg’s gaze narrowed. “You managed to get rid of him then?”

“The weasel? Yeah – but who knows for how long? You’d better get this over.” “You’ve been briefed by Salter?” “That’s why I’m here. Nidzack thinks the man they’re after is based in Britain.” “He’s English,” Reinburg said. “We know that much and we want him too. When you find him you report to me first.” “Why?” Mike arched his brows. “Salter is hoping to buy back some of the stolen art. Why do you want this man?” “You don’t need to know that.” “You either trust me or I don’t work for you.” Mike stared down Reinburg with a practiced look of cold eyes. Reinburg nodded. “Our target works for the British government. You’ve heard of the special relationship?” Mike nodded for the other man to continue. “Well, that means we share certain information with the Brits – some of which has been passed on to people we would rather didn’t have it. We want to make sure no more information goes astray.” Mike appreciated the menace behind Reinburg’s words. Though it hadn’t been stated, the target was down for elimination once he was discovered. “That’s a security matter,” Mike said, eyes narrowed. “You must have people who handle that kind of thing. Why do you need me?” “Because three of my best agents have already been killed trying to trace this man. He’s ruthless, Wendell, and the money he earns from his other intrigues pays for security in a big way. He’s well protected and he seems one step ahead of us all the time.” “You think he may have infiltrated your own security system?” All of a sudden Mike understood why Reinburg had been so determined to get him. “You need me because I’m an unknown factor – because I couldn’t betray you or your operatives.” “Exactly.” Reinburg’s eyes were flinty. “One of my operatives has gone rogue. I don’t know who he is. When I do I’ll deal with him myself. It’s the only way Mr. Big could’ve penetrated my group’s security. I work independently.” Mike pitied the agent who had sold Reinburg out. “And if I do find these men for you? I’m assuming that if I find one I’ll find the other?” Reinburg nodded. “Or one of them is going to find me and put a bullet in my back? So what do I get for putting my

neck on the line for you?” “I’ll forget I ever knew you,” Reinburg promised. “By the way, there’s a package waiting for you at your girlfriend’s place. It’s untraceable. If you need it, use it and leave it at the scene – without your fingerprints, naturally.” “I’m not an assassin,” Mike said. “I’ll do my best to find this traitor for you, but don’t ask me to kill for you.” “I’m providing protection and the clean up service I offer my own men. If you need help, call. You’ll find a London number with the package. Memorize it and destroy it.” Mike nodded but didn’t answer. He wouldn’t be needing Reinburg’s special services. He wasn’t a hired killer. There was no way he was going to do Reinburg’s dirty work for him! “Have you anything else for me, such as clues to Mr. Big’s identity?” “If I had I would’ve dealt with the problem.” Reinburg frowned. “The Brits thought they knew – until their suspect was murdered a couple of months ago while visiting the States. It was supposed to be a mugging, but the thinking now is that he may have known too much about Mr. Big.” “Couldn’t it have been him?” Mike’s ears pricked. This was a different version to the one Phillips had given him. “No such luck,” Reinburg said. “He obviously knew the identity of the man we’re after – probably wanted to sell the information or he may have tried blackmail. The Brits were on the wrong track. Mr. Big is alive and still operating.” So Reinburg did not buy the theory that a new Mr. Big had taken over – that was interesting! Mike nodded. “What makes you think the Nidzack job will lead to your spy? Why should the two be connected?” “One of my agents was on to him. He said he thought he knew where the stuff was ending up. It gets shipped all over the place but in the end it just disappears into thin air. Unless one of the villains gets greedy and tries a fast one…and ends up dead.” “What happened to your agent?” “He was knifed in the back in a dive in Soho – and I don’t know whether he was

there on business or pleasure. He had neglected to report in that day. Watch your back, Wendell.” “Yeah.” Mike tensed as he glanced across the square. “The weasel just made it here. Walk away from me. Don’t look back. It must be you he wants. He knows where to find me.” Reinburg was already walking. Mike began to stroll in the weasel’s direction. His lazy pace abruptly turned to a sprint as he saw the man draw a small handgun and aim it at Reinburg’s back. Mike yelled at the top of his voice and launched himself at the weasel, who hesitated and then bolted, clearly deciding that his chance to kill his target had gone. Mike gave chase. He followed the weasel out of the square, along Muscovy Street and into Seething Street. The weasel paused, took aim and fired. His shot went wide, but he had only meant it as a warning. He turned right. Mike followed and saw that his quarry was heading for Fenchurch Street Station. The area was more crowded here, and Mike was aware of people staring. Knowing the weasel was armed and prepared to shoot he abandoned the pursuit as the man entered the busy station. He couldn’t take the risk that a stray bullet might kill an innocent bystander. As he started to catch his breath, he wondered why Reinburg had been the target and not him. The weasel had clearly not tried very hard to hit him, firing the shot merely as a warning. Maybe they didn’t know who he was yet or what he was doing here? Maybe he was just small fry and it was Reinburg they were after. Reinburg obviously had enemies. Just who was the weasel working for – Mr. Big or someone else? Mike frowned. This case was rapidly becoming more complicated. And yet, he believed he might just have found one small piece of the elusive puzzle.

*****

Karin stared at the package that had arrived by special messenger just a short while after Mike left her apartment. It was bulky, quite heavy and wrapped in layers of bubble plastic and brown paper, by the feel of it. She was tempted to open it, but

resisted. Mike hadn’t known he would be staying here when he’d arrived the previous day, so it stood to reason that he hadn’t arranged for it to be sent. She placed the package in the hall, feeling uneasy. Supposing it was a bomb or something? No, she was letting her imagination run away with her. Still, she couldn’t help feeling uneasy and she wished Mike had been returning that evening. She needed to talk to him, to have him reassure her this was all some silly nightmare and she would wake up at any moment now. But of course he couldn’t do that. Angela was missing and there was something dangerous going on behind the scenes. Something Mike wasn’t sharing with her. Yet it seemed to concern her and perhaps Angela too. Karin jumped when her phone rang. She picked it up, feeling apprehensive. “Yes, who is it?” “Karin.” Her uncle’s irritable voice was a relief. “I’ve been thinking, perhaps this fellow you’ve hired might be of use to us. If you think he is trustworthy?” “I am sure he is, Uncle.” Karin wondered why the change. “He’s in London actually. He doesn’t have any clues about Angela’s whereabouts yet. I suppose it’s too soon and he does have other clients.” “I should have thought he would work on one case at a time,” Sir Malcolm said testily. “Really, if he can’t guarantee you his undivided attention perhaps you should find someone else.” “Mike Wendell is the best,” Karin replied positively. “I’d rather have what time he can spare me than someone else’s undivided attention.” “Well, if he’s so good perhaps he can do something for me,” her uncle said. “You might ask if he will have the goodness to call on me when I’m in London. At my flat.” “Why do you want to see him?” Karin asked suspiciously. “If you think you can get rid of him…” “It’s nothing like that at all,” Sir Malcolm said. “If you must know, we had a break-in at the house a few weeks back. The local police have been worse than useless, but then they usually are.” “Was something important taken?” This was news to Karin. She was certain her uncle hadn’t mentioned it before. “Merely a trinket of personal value, sentimental,” Sir Malcolm replied. “If this

man is as good as you say, he might know how we could contact the thief. I would be willing to pay a small reward to get my property back.” “I’ll ask him, Uncle, but I can’t guarantee he will see you. I think he already has more clients than he can cope with.” “What you mean is that you are unwilling to help me. You really are the most ungrateful girl…” Karin stared at the receiver as her uncle slammed the phone down on her. Now what had got into him? He was getting so bad tempered these days. He had always been stern, but he seemed to be on a very short fuse at the moment. Maybe he had worries at work or something. She shrugged, dismissing him from her thoughts. She had enough on her mind without worrying about her uncle! She sat down and picked up the book of short stories Angela had given her, flicking through the pages without much enthusiasm. It seemed to be much the same as her sister had written before – stories about criminals: a murder mystery, a jewel thief, a serial killer… and a spy story. That was a new twist. Karin decided to read this last story, curling her feet under on the sofa. It was about a British spy – a woman who worked in a government department but led a double life as a cat burglar. She got caught and was blackmailed into giving secrets to a foreign power. Karin thought the plot highly improbable, and singularly unlike her sister’s usual stories which were always well thought out and logical as well as exciting. This one seemed like something that Angela might have written when she was much younger. What bothered Karin was the ending – the heroine broke into the home of the man who had forced her to become a spy and killed him. The part that really disturbed Karin was the description of the house. It was clearly their uncle’s home and only thinly disguised. What on earth was Angela thinking of when she wrote the story? Sir Malcolm would be furious if he ever saw it. Not that he was likely to, of course. She was sure their uncle would never read one of Angela’s books, which he had denounced as trash on more than one occasion. Karin found herself clock watching that evening after she had finished reading, something she almost never did, waiting for Mike to ring. He didn’t and she took an

early bath before going to bed. She had a busy schedule for the next few days, and the camera wasn’t kind to tired eyes. However, she didn’t sleep immediately but lay thinking about Mike and the explosive passion that had overwhelmed them. Mike’s loving had been so wonderful that she couldn’t get the memory out of her head, it just kept playing over and over like a romantic film in her head. She decided she wasn’t going to worry about the fact that it had all happened so fast. She didn’t know Mike well, but she liked what she did know and something told her he wasn’t the kind of man who slept around all the time. This was special for both of them. With that happy thought in her mind, she fell asleep at last.

CHAPTER FOUR

Mike watched the lights go out in Karin’s apartment. He had been standing across the street for a while now, keeping to the shadows, and watching. He had wondered if the weasel would come back here, and he’d feared that Karin might be in danger, but he’d seen her close her curtains and there was no sign of anyone loitering in the shadows. He was certain that Reinburg was the Weasel’s target. The question was why? And what bearing did it have on the case? He wasn’t certain why, but he was beginning to connect the disappearance of Karin’s twin with his other case. And that could be dangerous for Karin. He was beginning to wish he’d turned her down at the start, and yet what had happened between them the previous night had been fantastic, and not just for the sex, though that was great – but he’d felt more. Afterwards, as she lay in his arms, he had known completeness, a kind of peace that he hadn’t felt for years. It had taken willpower to stay away from her this evening, but Mike didn’t want Karin more involved in this filthy business than need be. She was going to Paris for a few days and maybe he would know more about what was really going on here by the time she got back – maybe it would be safer by then. He was frowning as he turned away. The meeting with his Nidzack contact had been productive. Phillips had given Mike the name of some clubs in Soho. The thief who had tried to sell something destined for Mr. Big had been seen in a couple of them shortly before his death, and it was at one of those same clubs that Reinburg’s agent had been killed. A coincidence perhaps? Or was the agent following a lead? Had the thief been trying to contact Mr. Big to sell back the goods he had diverted? It was quite possible. Mike frowned as he hailed a passing taxi. Sleazy nightclubs weren’t his idea of a good time, but a lot of men liked them and Linton might have been visiting them for pleasure, or business. Yet surely it was too much of a coincidence that two men had been killed after visiting the clubs? Mike had been given a photograph and a name. Posing as a relative looking for Sam Linton, he intended to visit the clubs where the man had last been seen and discover what he could. Most of all he wanted to see what reaction he got from tossing Linton’s

name about. He had a few other leads; one in the country somewhere and another in Paris. The French police had discovered the stolen painting Sam Linton had tried to sell. The man had clearly been an amateur, Mike realized. A professional would’ve known he couldn’t sell a recognizable work of art on the open market. He’d even left the picture – a Rembrandt! – with a dealer for appraisal and had narrowly escaped arrest on his return to the shop. Better for Sam Linton if the police had caught him perhaps. He might be alive in a French prison rather than six feet under ground. He had somehow managed to steal from Mr. Big and the punishment had been death. Mike shuddered as he paid his taxi off. He was used to dealing with criminals, some of whom were merciless, ruthless devils, but there was something that smelled bad about this case. He wasn’t sure yet, but his gut instinct was telling him something was very wrong. It didn’t feel right. Too much was being hidden from him. He walked up to the doorman of the first club, who looked him over suspiciously but gave him the nod when Mike slipped him the equivalent of fifty dollars. Inside, the atmosphere was smoky and thick with a stronger smell – unwashed bodies and cannabis if he wasn’t mistaken. Mike glanced round with a professional eye. It was the kind of place the police in America would’ve had on their list as a potential raid – drugs, prostitution, criminal activity was going on all over. The only reason clubs like this one were allowed to stay open was that they were useful now and then. There were probably undercover cops here even now. Mike approached the bar and ordered a beer. He paid for it and then showed the barman his photo. “Hey, buddy. I’m over on a visit,” he said, deliberately using a heavy Brooklyn accent he didn’t actually possess. For the time being he wanted to be seen as an American tourist, and none too smart. “Looking for my cousin Sam. Someone told me he comes in here all the time. I wondered if you knew where I might find him?” “Never seen him before.” The barman’s scowl was less than friendly, and Mike thought he was lying, but he was obviously not interested. Mike moved away carrying his beer, which had cost six times the price he paid in Luigi’s back home. Fortunately, the retainer from Nidzack meant money was no longer a problem.

He grimaced as he took a sip of the warm beer. It was summer damn it! Did the Brits never think of using the fridge? He deposited the glass on a table, showing the photo to some of the customers as he moved around the crowded room. A floorshow was just beginning. Strippers, male and female by the look of it. No one was interested in the photo and Mike was told to clear off by a couple of customers. When he saw the doorman headed his way, he knew it was time to leave. “Just going…” He held up his hands. “No need to ask.” “Ruddy coppers…” Mike heard the comment and several stronger ones as he left. He smiled ruefully to himself – once a cop always a cop. Kathy had been fond of telling him he looked like a cop even at the beach. His pretense of being a tourist didn’t seem to have fooled the locals. Emerging into the warm night air, Mike realized that for the first time in years he could think about Kathy without the pain. He could smile at his memories instead of shying away from them. Had Karin done that for him? Mike recalled the way she had responded to his lovemaking and felt warm inside. He wished he were lying in bed with her now. Now wasn’t the time to be thinking about a woman, however lovely. He had work to do. Mike went on to the next club on his list, which was rather better class than the last. He was allowed to show his picture without being thrown out, but no one recognized Sam – or if they did they weren’t saying. Mike was leaving the fourth club on his list of possibilities when he was jumped. Two burly men grabbed him from behind and bundled him into a car at the side of the road. It shot off in a hurry the moment he was inside. “What the hell do you think -” “Shut yer mouth, Yank!” “If you want money you’re out of luck. I only carry a few bills.” “I said shut it!” Mike shut it. He was squeezed between two bullyboys, whose shaven heads and chewed up ears seemed to indicate they had been in a few fistfights. The journey was

short as the car swung into a dark alley and stopped with a squeal of the brakes. Mike was hustled out of the car, still gripped by his minders, and then thrust inside what looked liked a derelict warehouse. Inside it was almost pitch black at first, then someone switched on a blinding light. Mike blinked as it hit him full in the face. He couldn’t see beyond the lights and he couldn’t shield his eyes because his arms were being held. “Who are you?” a voice barked at him. “I might ask the same of you,” Mike retorted. “And what the hell you think you’re doing?” “Cut the crap, Yank,” one of his minders said and gave his arm a sharp twist. “Answer the man before I make you.” “I’m over on a visit,” Mike said. “Just a tourist.” Someone came out of the darkness and punched him hard in the stomach. Mike groaned, bracing himself for the beating, which would surely follow. “That’s enough,” the first voice said. Mike noted that it was different from the others – more cultured somehow. “You must forgive my friends, sir. I am afraid they enjoy their work too much. Now, would you mind telling me who you are and what you want with Sam Linton?” “Sam is my cousin,” Mike said. “I’m over on a visit…” The shadow came up from out of the blinding light, and punched him again, then retreated once more. “I could allow my friends to teach you a severe lesson,” the voice from behind the light said. Mike registered that it was definitely an English voice – Mr. Big himself? “But I dislike unnecessary violence. We know who you are, Mr. Wendell, and why you are here. My advice is that you should go home and stop interfering in business that does not concern you.” “Or what?” Mike asked and received a savage twist of his arm from the bully to his right. “Okay, okay, I get the message.” “I sincerely hope you do,” came the smooth reply. “You have been warned Mr. Wendell. All right, Ken – do it.” Mike felt a sharp blow to the back of his head and then passed out.

The man behind the light stepped forward, looking at Mike’s body as the minders allowed him to slump to the floor. “Leave him there. He’s not dead, is he?” “No, sir. You told me not to kill him – but I could stick a knife in him and be done wiv it.” “No, I don’t think so. That wouldn’t suit my plans at all. Mr. Wendell may yet be useful to us. Unless he takes the warning and catches the next flight home, but somehow I don’t think he will.”

*****

Karin was startled out of sleep as she heard someone moving about downstairs… it sounded as though something had been knocked over. She stiffened, feeling nervous. What the hell was going on? She threw back the covers, pulling on a toweling robe before running downstairs. The light was on in the kitchen, and Karin’s first feeling of alarm abated as she remembered giving Mike her key. Intruders didn’t switch on all the lights! Hearing another crashing sound, she frowned. Mike was making a lot of noise. What was he up to? It was only five in the morning! He was leaning up against the sink and appeared to be unsteady on his feet. Was he drunk or something? “What are you doing?” Karin asked sharply. Mike turned and she saw the trickle of blood down the side of his face. “Sorry. Did I wake you? I got dizzy for a moment.” “What happened?” she said, her mood swinging immediately to one of concern as she moved towards him. He looked terrible! “Did you have an accident?” “I was mugged,” Mike lied, and not very convincingly. “It’s nothing to worry about.” “Pull the other one,” Karin said, gaze narrowed. “It was more than that, wasn’t it? Don’t hide things from me, Mike. You don’t have to give me confidential details, but don’t lie. I want to trust you and I can’t if you lie over something like this.”

Mike studied her in silence for a moment. Straightening her shoulders, she sent him a message. She might look as if a puff of wind would blow her away, but she was pretty tough. “Okay,” Mike sighed and she watched his shoulder slump. “I was jumped and taken to see someone who seems to object to my being in this country. He made his displeasure known – or his friends did.” “Oh, Mike!” Karin moved towards him as he swayed on his feet. “Let me bathe your head for you. Sit down before you fall down.” “Yes, maybe I’d better.” Mike looked at her ruefully. “I wanted to provoke some reaction, but I got more than I expected.” Karin fetched a basin, water and antiseptic. She washed the blood away and discovered there was a small cut at the temple. “You should have this stitched.” “Stick a Band-Aid on it!” Mike growled. Karin winced and them obliged. The disinfectant had to be stinging like hell. She emptied the basin in the sink. “Do you want a drink – whisky?” “No thanks. Maybe an aspirin or something?” “I’ll make tea. Unless you’re willing to risk my coffee?” “Tea.” Mike accepted the painkiller she offered, wincing as he reached for it. “My stomach is sore. They worked me over a bit before they knocked me out.” “Your job really is dangerous, isn’t it?” Karin’s eyes opened wide as she looked at him. Despite what he’d told her, she hadn’t expected this to happen. “Sometimes,” Mike agreed and looked at her thoughtfully. “Wishing you hadn’t given me your key?” “No, of course not. I was just…” Karin broke off as her mobile shrilled. It was lying on the kitchen dresser where she’d left it the previous evening and she hesitated for a moment before picking it up. “Yes?” “Karin…” the voice was slightly slurred but desperate. “You’ve got to help me…” “Angela?” Karin looked at Mike. Her heart was hammering wildly. She knew instinctively that something was terribly wrong with her sister. “Is that really you? Are

you all right? Where are you?” “I’m in trouble,” Angela said, her voice hardly above a whisper. “I don’t have much time. They grabbed me and brought me to this place. I don’t know where I am. It’s some sort of a clinic I think. I’ve been drugged…” “Angela!” Karin was numbed with horror. “Who grabbed you?” Angela muttered something she couldn’t hear. There was a scuffle going on and it sounded as if Angela was being dragged away from the phone. Karin heard her scream something about a story but then the line went dead suddenly. Mike was staring at her as she turned to him. “What’s going on?” he asked. “That was Angela?” “Yes.” Karin was shaking. Her legs felt weak and Mike grabbed her as the color washed out of her face, forcing her to sit on the vacant chair next to him. “She – she’s been kidnapped. She says they’re holding her at some clinic … that she’s been drugged. Oh, Mike, what am I going to do?” There was a note of hysteria in her voice. “Stay calm for a start,” Mike said. His expression was hard, unflinching, which somehow steadied Karin. “You are certain that was your sister – not someone hoaxing you?” “She sounded odd…a bit slurred,” Karin said. “But if she had been drugged, that’s why she couldn’t reach me mentally. I thought she was dead…” A sob broke from Karin, which was half relief that her sister was still alive and half terror that Angela might be killed at any time. She covered her face with her hands as another sob broke from her. “Who would do that to her?” “I’m not sure.” Mike grew thoughtful. “There hasn’t been a demand for money?” Karin shook her head. “Her husband couldn’t have had one that he isn’t telling you about? He might have been warned not to go to the police or the papers.” “If they wanted money, Hal would have gone to the police no matter what,” Karin said bitterly. “Besides, why hasn’t a ransom been paid by now? Angela has been missing for several weeks.” “Does she know something she shouldn’t?” Mike was thinking fast, trying to eliminate the possible answers. “Is she being held to stop her from talking?” “But why not just kill her?” Karin said, her eyes wide and fearful. “If she saw

something…she said something about working on a story! It was when they were dragging her away – but I’m sure she wanted me to read something of hers…” “Somebody wants to render her impotent without killing her.” Mike nodded. “That fits.” “Why? Surely she’s a danger to this person – or persons?” Karin’s fear for her sister was making her tremble again. The situation was suddenly all so real, so frightening. “What will they do to her?” Mike picked up Karin’s mobile and was dialing the recall. He gave a grunt of satisfaction as a number came up. “It’s a British registered number. We should be able to trace that, Karin.” “She disappeared in New York…” Karin was puzzled. “How did she get here?” Mike shrugged. He was dialing the number. A recorded message answered. “The Swinford Clinic is closed. Please leave your message…” He closed up and looked at Karin. “It’s a clinic all right. Now all we have to do is discover where the Swinford Clinic is.” He stopped as he saw her expression. “You know, don’t you?” “Yes. It’s in Hampshire, not far from my uncle’s house. It’s a health club but it was supposed to have closed a couple of months back for lack of money.” “I’ll go down there later,” Mike promised. “See what I can find out. If Angela was phoning from there she must have been taken there – though they may move her now. They know she managed to make contact with someone. They won’t dare to leave her there.” “Oh, Mike. I’m so frightened for her. They may hurt her…” “I know it’s frightening,” Mike said, “but try to stay calm. Let’s put it like this – if whoever grabbed your sister wanted her dead she would already be dead. So it’s likely they are going to keep her alive. At least until she has served her purpose.” Karin nodded, her face white with strain. “I know that makes sense, Mike, but I can’t bear to think of her being treated like that. She sounded so – so ill…” Mike took Karin in his arms, holding her close, stroking her hair as he hushed her. “I know it’s hard when someone you love gets hurt. At least you know Angela is alive.” Karin gazed up at him. Seeing the pain reflected in his eyes, she knew he was

speaking from experience.” “It happened to you, didn’t it? Someone you love was hurt.” “Five years ago. My wife was killed trying to protect a child from an armed robber. She was in the NYPD like me, and she wasn’t on duty that night – but she had to protect the child. That was Kathy. She loved kids, wanted a big family, and she couldn’t stand to see people get hurt.” “She sounds wonderful,” Kathy said, experiencing an odd little pain about her heart. “I’m so sorry, Mike. That must have been terrible for you.” “It was. It takes a long time to get over something like that.” “Yes, of course.” Karin knew Mike was still suffering. She wanted to reach out to him, to soothe away the hurt – but all she could do was to kiss him softly on the lips. “Thank you,” he said. “I would like to respond properly but I’m afraid that’s out for the moment.” “You should go to bed and stay there,” Karin said. “I’m going to take a shower, then I’ll leave for this clinic – you might write down directions before you leave to catch your plane…” “I’m not going to Paris this afternoon,” Karin said. “I shall ring in and cancel the shoot – tell them I’m not well enough to do it.” “Can you do that?” Mike arched his brows at her. “I thought this was a big job for you?” “It was,” Karin said. She didn’t add that her agent had warned her that it might well be her last big job. “It doesn’t matter, Mike. I’m staying in England and I’m coming down to Hampshire with you. We’ll go in my car. I’ll drive. You’re in no state to drive, besides, I know the way.” Mike hesitated, and then nodded. “It’s your decision,” he said. “But when we get there you have to promise to stay out of the way. I don’t want you getting snatched as well as Angela.” “Okay! Scout’s honor.” She saluted smartly and Mike grinned. “We don’t have scouts who look like you where I come from,” he murmured, and then the smile faded. “Did a package come for me by any chance?” “Yes, just after you left last night,” Karin said. “I left it in the hall. I thought it

might be a bomb?” “You weren’t far wrong,” he replied grimly. “It’s a gun and I was told to use it if necessary – but not for this job. I think we’ll take it with us just in case. I don’t know who has abducted Angela, but whoever it is sounds like a nasty customer to me.” Mike got up to go upstairs. He winced as he moved and Karin knew he was in a lot of pain. He ought to be resting. Though she knew it was useless to suggest it, he probably ought to visit the doctor. And she did want to find out what they could about Angela. “I won’t be long,” Mike said. A lazy smile touched his mouth. “I would offer to share the shower with you, but at the moment I don’t think that would do much for either of us.” “I’ll use it after you,” Karin said. “Do you want me to fix you something to eat?” “We’ll get something from a diner on the way down,” Mike said. “Just a sandwich and a drink.” Karin nodded and watched as he walked out of the room. She closed her eyes for a moment before she followed, trying to block out the images of her sister. She couldn’t bear to think what Angela might be going through. It was too early to ring her agent yet. Unless she left messages on the various answer-phones. Actually, that might work out for the best. Her agent was going to go mad when she knew Karin had let everyone down – and so would the magazine that had set up the shoot…

*****

They left the building an hour later. Mike insisted on accompanying Karin down to the garage, which was underground, saying that at the moment it was too dangerous for her to go anywhere isolated alone. “We don’t know what these people want,” Mike warned. “Have you thought any more about what Angela meant when she said she was working on a story?” “I’m not sure she actually said she was working on a story. She seemed to be telling me to do something.” Karin frowned. “Last evening I read a story from that book

I said you could borrow. The short stories?” Mike nodded. “It was odd – not like anything she had done before to my knowledge.” “Tell me about it as you drive,” Mike said. “I doubt if Angela will still be at the clinic – they will have moved her by now – but we might find someone who saw something earlier this morning.” Karin nodded, nosing the car out into streets that had not yet begun to get busy in the morning rush period. “It was a kind of a spy story,” she said. “And yet it wasn’t, because the heroine was also a cat burglar. She got caught and was forced to sell secrets to a foreign power. She worked for the government by day you see…” “Go on,” Mike said. His head was aching like hell and all he wanted to do was go to sleep, but Karin’s story had caught his attention. “What happened in the story?” “Well, she got angry about being forced to do something she hated, because a secret agent she liked was killed. So she broke into the house of the man who had forced her to betray secrets and killed him.” Mike nodded, glancing at her profile as she concentrated on the road ahead. “But there’s more, isn’t there?” “Yes.” Karin frowned. “The room in which she killed her victim is in my uncle’s house. It’s actually his study, though she’s changed things a bit. He would be furious if he read the story – both because she had used the house, and because he works for the government. It’s a bit far fetched really, not like her usual stuff, but my uncle certainly wouldn’t approve.” “You said he works for the government?” Mike’s spine tingled as alarm bells jangled. “What does he do? Anything important?” “Oh no,” Karin said and gave one of her husky laughs. “Sir Malcolm is a very stuffy private secretary to someone in the civil service. Nothing glamorous. Not like the woman in Angela’s story. He couldn’t betray anything.” Mike frowned but didn’t argue. There was something odd about all this. He couldn’t have put his feelings into words, but a thread of thought was beginning to form into patterns in his head – patterns that didn’t make sense at the moment. “Besides, Uncle Malcolm wouldn’t harm Angela…” Karin broke off as she realized what she was saying. “No…no, he couldn’t have anything to do with this.”

“Tell me about your uncle,” Mike invited as he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Karin was a good driver and he needed to relax. “Tell me about your relationship with him – yours and Angela’s.” “He took us in when our parents died,” Karin said. “He’s a bit of a bore actually, always strict, always reading us lectures. He thinks what Angela writes is rubbish and that my job is little better than being a harlot. He’s always going on about his position and not dragging his name through the mud.” “And what sort of house does he have?” “Oh, it’s big and old and rather beautiful,” Karin said, smiling now. Mike could hear the smile in her voice. “It is set in lovely grounds and the countryside is beautiful all round there. We used to ride our ponies when we were there at weekends. It was just that our uncle came home every weekend and lectured us.” “The serpent in paradise?” “Something like that,” Karin said and laughed. That Mike could almost read her thoughts was comforting. She’d never had that with a man before. “I suppose I’m being too rough on him. He really isn’t that bad. It’s just that he has this precise way of speaking and he’s so sarcastic. He makes me feel as if I’m something the cat dragged in.” “I’ve met that sort,” Mike said and looked thoughtful. “I wouldn’t let it bother you, Karin. Some people can’t help being that way. He’s probably quite fond of you two.” “He might be,” Karin said doubtfully. “I don’t think he would do anything to harm us, but he hates scandal or gossip. He’s a very private man, I suppose.” Mike made no reply. She glanced at him and guessed that he had fallen asleep. It was just as well, because she might have said something foolish. She was almost sure now that Angela had tried to tell her to read that story, and she was remembering what her twin had once said about discovering something about their uncle that would upset him if he guessed she knew. An uneasy feeling was creeping over Karin that her uncle might just know more about Angela’s disappearance than he had let on. He had been very much against her employing a private detective to look for Angela and had tried to browbeat her into

allowing him to handle it discreetly. Supposing he had known where his niece was all the time? Supposing he was responsible for having her held at the clinic? But why would he do something like that? Karin chewed at her lip as she drove. Did Angela know a secret that could be dangerous for their uncle? It would be just like her to poke about until she found out what she suspected. If there was a secret, Karin had no idea what it might be. Surely Uncle Malcolm’s job wasn’t important? He couldn’t be mixed up in anything like selling secrets… She dismissed the idea as ridiculous, and yet she had often wondered how her uncle managed to live the way he did on his salary. He couldn’t earn that much as a private secretary to a civil servant – could he? And the way he lived was more suited to a prince… servants, a chauffeur… maybe the car was a government one? Did private secretaries get government cars? It hardly seemed likely in these days where every penny was questioned. So where did the money come from? The estate had been mortgaged at one point. She seemed to remember her uncle saying that once when he was having a grumble about a valuable vase Karin had broken. That was soon after he’d taken her and Angela to live with him, of course. These days, he didn’t appear to be short of money. Karin felt horrible having these suspicions! She didn’t exactly like her uncle, but he was family. She was glad she hadn’t told Mike too much. He wasn’t the type to leave any stones unturned. Once a suspicion was planted in his mind he would worry at it until he discovered the truth. Sir Malcolm couldn’t have had anything to do with Angela’s disappearance! Karin concentrated on her driving. She wouldn’t think about it anymore. Mike was probably right when he said Angela might have upset a criminal. After all there were other stories in the book. What had they been about? Karin recalled them. A serial killer, a jewel thief and a murder mystery… And Angela could have been talking about something she was currently working on. Karin decided to keep her worrying thoughts to herself for the moment, wait and see what Mike came up with after he’d visited the clinic. Mike wasn’t asleep. He liked to think with his eyes closed, because it helped him

to concentrate. He was aware Karin had stopped talking, and he guessed what was worrying her. The suspicion that her uncle might be involved in her twin’s disappearance. How probable was that? Mike turned it over in his mind. Something was nagging at him, telling him this whole thing smelled bad. He couldn’t rid himself of the idea that he was being used in some way… led up false avenues. The warnings he’d received, the gunshot that went wide, the way he’d felt he was being followed. Not just since he came to England, but for some weeks before that. Since Reinburg’s first visit. It could be one of Reinburg’s men of course, but the weasel had been at that square for a purpose – and it wasn’t to kill Mike. He could have done that at any time. They could have killed him in that warehouse the previous night. His body might have lain there for days or weeks before it was found. So if the object wasn’t to kill him, and the warnings were meant for a reason other than the obvious… Mike groaned inwardly as he began to see what this might all be about. He was a fool, a blind fool not to see it before! He couldn’t be sure, but he thought this might be a double bluff and that made it more dangerous, because he just didn’t know who the good guys were anymore.

CHAPTER FIVE

“Remember,” Mike warned with a frown as Karin parked the car in a lay-by just down the road from the clinic. It was a dull day, the sky overcast as it could be in England even in June, and cool. “You promised to keep out of the way. I don’t want you getting caught if there is something going on here.” “Okay. I’ll leave it to you,” Karin said. “I’ll come as far as the gates with you and explain the layout of the house, or as much as I can remember of it, then I’ll go back to the car and wait.” Mike nodded, his expression giving nothing away. He hoped she would be sensible. The trouble was, he was beginning to recognize that stubborn streak in her and he half wished he’d made her catch that flight to Paris for her modeling job. The tall iron gates of the clinic stood wide open, a heavy chain and padlock lying abandoned on the ground beside them. Had the people who were holding Angela been in too much hurry to close them when they left? Mike looked towards the large house, built sometime in the nineteenth century by the style of it. It had clearly been a private home for years before it was converted into a health and beauty clinic, but now looked deserted, debris blowing across the driveway. “I’m almost sure they’re gone,” Mike said after Karin had finished telling him what she knew of the house, which she had visited a couple of times years ago, before it changed hands. “Go back to the car now and wait there.” “All right, stop worrying. I won’t get in your way.” Mike smiled to himself as he heard the note of grievance in her voice. She didn’t like being excluded from this part, but he didn’t want to have to worry about her safety. It would cramp his style. He was used to working alone, at least since he’d left the force. He walked up to the house, not bothering to try and hide his approach. If there was anyone still here it was best not to appear furtive. He would think of an excuse if he were challenged. But he didn’t expect that to happen. Whoever was holding Angela knew that she had managed to make contact – that she could be traced here. They would have moved her immediately, but when people did things in a hurry they made mistakes. If Mike was lucky he might find something to prove she’d been here, or even discover

something about the people who had grabbed her. He tried the main door, but it was locked. It had a double-sided glass front. Mike peered through the panes, which hadn’t been washed in a while. There was a reception area, with a desk and telephones in evidence, but was obviously deserted, some old promotion leaflets lying on the floor and a pile of uncollected mail. Maybe the clinic had genuinely closed its doors and Angela’s kidnappers had taken advantage of an empty building. He walked round the back, his eagle eyes checking doors and windows. There had to be an easy way in somewhere.

*****

Karin glanced at her watch. She felt cold and bored sitting in the car. Mike had been gone almost thirty minutes. Surely it couldn’t take this long to discover whether or not the place was empty? Something must have happened to him! Her nerves were on edge. She couldn’t just sit here any longer! Ought she to ring the police? But what could she tell them? They would say she should have done so in the first place, after Angela had been in contact. Besides, it might be too late to help Mike by the time they got here. He could be in trouble! Making her mind up, Karin slipped on her trainers. She wasn’t a fragile flower! Mike was wrong to make her promise to wait here. She wouldn’t do anything foolish. She would just try to discover if he was in trouble – and then she would phone the police. She slipped her mobile into the back pocket of her jeans, taking care to switch off first, then she locked the car and sprinted up the road to the clinic gates. Like Mike, she decided an open approach was best – if challenged, she was simply a jogger out for a run in the grounds of an abandoned building. She didn’t bother with the front door. Karin had remembered a pair of French doors at the back of the house. The lock was flimsy, unless it had been changed. If Mike was looking for an easy way in he would probably force it. She was almost sure she could. A picture of someone using a credit card in a film on TV flashed into her mind. It had looked simple, though it might be more difficult in reality.

The whole place had a neglected, deserted air, and the lawns hadn’t been cut in weeks. Karin sprinted round to the back of the house, making straight for the French windows. She tried them and found they were unlocked, smiling to herself for being so clever. Mike had obviously found the easy way in. Glancing over her shoulder, she went into what looked as if it had been either a waiting or a resting room. There were several comfortable chairs, an oak sideboard and some small tables littered with glossy magazines, all of them out of date. Karin moved silently into the next room, and saw that it had been used for recreation; here, there was a snooker table, a dartboard and other board games. She went through the next door to a large square hall, which was at the center of the house. There were five doors leading off of it, all of them closed, also a narrow passageway – going where? - and a staircase. Karin very carefully tried all the doors– they were locked. She pressed her ear against each as she tried it but could hear nothing. Was it worth trying to get in? Mike obviously hadn’t thought so, not yet anyway. She was undecided. Should she try the passage or go upstairs? She imagined the downstairs rooms would have been mostly treatment or consulting rooms. The bedrooms would be upstairs – that’s where Angela would have been kept. Karin stiffened as she heard a noise. Where had it come from? From the floor above! She wasn’t sure what it was – a dragging sound. Yes, that was it; something heavy was being dragged across the floor. Had Mike found something? She opened her mouth to call out, then shut it again without speaking. The sound might not be Mike moving around up there. That dragging sound could be someone pulling his unconscious body along the floor. Karin’s stomach fluttered with nerves, her nails curling into the palms of her hands. Her imagination was working overtime and her mouth felt dry as she moved towards the stairs. She was frightened, but determined to discover what was going on. She owed it to Mike if he was in trouble! He had only come here today for her sake. She crept up the stairs her heart racing wildly, wishing she had a weapon to defend herself. She’d taken lessons in self-defense but she’d never yet had reason to put her skills to the test outside the classroom.

At the top of the stairs, Karin paused, listening. Was that someone talking? She was almost certain she’d heard a voice – a man’s voice. Mike wouldn’t be talking to himself, would he? A sharp knocking sound almost made her jump out of her skin – someone was using a hammer! Now the voice again. Definitely a man swearing. That wasn’t Mike! Karin moved slowly towards the sound of the hammering, her pulses racing. Whoever was making that noise was in a bad temper, and he wasn’t expecting uninvited company. She could see that the door of a room halfway down the upper landing was ajar, and the sound was coming from inside. Karin held her breath as she crept towards it. She drew a deep breath, hesitating outside, then peered through the opening. Now she could quite clearly see a man standing next to a large packing crate, his back towards the door. He was intent on his work and had already filled the crate; straw and shredded plastic lay scattered on the floor all around him. He was hammering the lid tight. Now he’d finished and seemed to be looking at one of his fingers. He sucked the finger – which explained the swearing Karin had heard earlier. He must have hit his finger, which would have hurt like hell. She took a step backwards. She was mildly curious about what was in that packing case, but more interested in discovering her sister’s whereabouts. Was Angela still here? And where was Mike? As she turned, she bumped into a solid mass and found herself staring at a man – a stranger. He was a big, burly man with a shadow of beard on his chin that almost hid a fearsome scar, and hard eyes. “What the hell?” His eyes narrowed as he stared at her in astonishment. “How the hell did you get back here?” He thought she was Angela! Karin’s heart did a back flip. For a moment she was too startled to speak, then her head went up as anger made her forget her fear. “You devil!” she cried. “What have you done with her? Where is my sister?” “Your sister?” The man’s gaze narrowed. “You’re the twin – it was you she phoned.” “Yes. She told me you’d kidnapped her and drugged her,” Karin yelled forgetting caution as her temper ripped loose. “You’d better tell me where she is or you will be in a

lot of trouble.” The man’s dark eyes surveyed her coldly. He was clearly furious at finding her here, spying on his colleague. “So you’re as bad as your nosy bitch of a sister,” he muttered resentfully. “We should’ve got rid of her in the first place.” “You bastard! How dare you talk about my sister that way?” Karin lost all control then. She flew at him, her nails like claws as she went for his face. She managed to inflict a deep scratch on his cheek before he reacted, and caught her wrist, twisting her arm behind her back and making her scream in pain. “Do that again and I’ll break your arm, bitch.” Karin winced as he demonstrated the power he could exert if he chose. The door she had been peering past was suddenly thrown open wide and the man who had been hammering came to investigate. Karin saw there were two more packing cases in the room, which she had been unable to see previously. What on earth had been going on here? “What is she doing here?” this man asked and scowled. “I thought she was at the other house.” “This is the twin,” Karin’s captor said. “Shut it, Max. There may be more of them. We don’t know yet if the bitch came alone.” He gave her arm a cruel twitch. “Anyone with you?” “The police have been informed,” Karin lied and was rewarded with a jerk that made her cry out in pain once more. Her heart was beating very fast. She was in trouble and she had only herself to blame. “Why don’t I believe you?” Her captor smiled unpleasantly. “You’re impulsive like your sister. She poked her nose into something that didn’t concern her. It was her own fault.” “Where is she? What have you done to her?” “You’ll find out soon enough.” Karin knew she had to act fast or it would be too late. She gritted her teeth, then brought her heel up sharply behind his leg, which was pressing against her, jerking hard in the way she had been taught. His leg buckled and he swore, his hold on her slackening

for a moment. In that fraction of a second, Karin broke free and chopped at his arm with the side of her hand. He gave a howl of pain and staggered back, staring at her in surprise. Karin knew that her advantage was momentary and started to run down the hall. Next time he would be on his guard and it wouldn’t be so easy to break away from him. She had to get out of here and fast. She heard the man with a scar on his face call to her as she approached the head of the stairs. “Stay there or I’ll fire! I’m warning you, I’ll do it if I have to.” She glanced back and saw that he had a gun and it was pointing at her. Karin hesitated uncertainly. Before she could decide what to do, a shot rang out and the man who had threatened her staggered back, clutching at his shoulder, the gun clattering to the floor. Looking forward again, Karin saw Mike standing a few feet away from her. She had no idea where he’d come from, but the relief swept through her as she saw him. He beckoned her furiously and she ran to him, discovering there was a back stairway beyond yet another door. He thrust her towards it. “Mike…” “Get out as quickly as you can,” he hissed. “I’ll cover us.” Karin didn’t need to be told twice. She had never run so fast in her life. Down the stairs, through the side passageway, into the recreation room and out into the garden. She heard two more shots as she skirted the side of the house, but didn’t stop running until she reached the gates. Mike was there a few seconds after her. “Thank goodness you had that thing,” she said, looking at the gun he was still holding. Mike shoved the gun into the pocket of his black leather jacket. “Back to the car,” he said grimly and gave her an angry look. “I’ll talk to you later.” He was furious with her. Karin sensed it and knew she deserved it. She had broken her promise to him, and by doing so she had risked both their lives. Until that man had pulled his gun and threatened to shoot, Karin hadn’t truly realized how dangerous this affair really was.

Mike had warned her, but despite everything that had happened she hadn’t believed him. Angela’s voice on the phone had been somehow unreal, like something out of a bad dream – but it was all very real now. Mike neither spoke nor looked at Karin as they walked to the car. She sneaked a glance at his profile, noting the hard set of his mouth and a little nerve flicking in his neck. He really was angry. “Drive,” was all he said when they were in the car. “Where to?” Karin asked in a small voice. “Your place. I should never have brought you here.” “I’m sorry, Mike. I thought you might be in trouble.” “You didn’t think,” he grunted. “You were tired of waiting and you wanted to know what was going on.” He was right so what could she say? “You broke your word, Karin.” “Yes. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” “You won’t get another chance.” Karin bit her lip. Her eyes were stinging with tears, but she struggled to hold them back. Mike had every right to be angry with her, but she wanted him to hold her and comfort her. She had been very, very frightened back there! Mike’s silence lasted for nearly an hour, but finally he told her to pull into the yard of an eighteenth century coaching inn advertising bar snacks. Karin obeyed as if she were a zombie. She switched off the engine. She sat with her hands on the wheel, gripping it and not daring to look at him. “You could’ve got yourself killed,” Mike snapped. “Yes, I know. I shouldn’t have broken my promise.” She risked a glance at him. With relief she saw the hard look had gone. “I’m really sorry, Mike – but I was anxious about you. I was going to ring for the police if you were in trouble…” Mike nodded, his expression relaxing. “Okay. It scared the hell out of me when I knew he’d got you. I couldn’t risk shooting because I might have hit you.” “I was lucky,” Karin admitted ruefully. She rubbed her arm where it was still aching from the man’s bullyboy tactics. “He was a lot stronger than I was. If he hadn’t

been so arrogant, so sure of himself I couldn’t have got away from him. It took him by surprise when I tackled him.” “It did,” Mike said and a reluctant smile hovered briefly on his mouth. “You don’t look capable of defending yourself.” “I’m tougher than I look – but when he pulled that gun I was helpless.” Karin paused as a thought occurred to her, “I haven’t yet thanked you for saving my life.” “Believe me, the pleasure was all mine,” Mike said dryly, his eyes glinting like green steel. “I only wish I’d killed the bastard.” Karin shivered as she heard the menace in his voice. She didn’t doubt for one moment that he meant it. “They’ve taken Angela somewhere else,” she said. “To another house.” “Yes.” Mike’s eyes glittered with annoyance he couldn’t hide. “I’d heard them talking earlier. Apparently it’s somewhere in England, but they didn’t say exactly. That’s a part of the reason I was angry with you. If you hadn’t come blundering in I might have had a chance of following them.” Karin bit down on her lips. “I’ve messed up, haven’t I?” “To be blunt – yes.” Mike sighed. “It’s my fault for making you stay in the car. You were worried. I should have packed you off to Paris or taken you with me.” “That’s generous,” Karin said. She felt annoyed at the prick of tears once more. “Thanks, Mike.” She hesitated for a moment, “So what do we do now?” “First we eat,” Mike said. “After that we go home and work out a plan of campaign.”

*****

“Aren’t you coming back with me?” Karin asked when Mike told her to drop him outside an underground station. “I really want to talk.” “Later,” he said and leaned across to brush his lips over hers. “I know we have things to discuss, but there’s something I need to do first. It’s okay, Karin. I was angry, but I’m over it now.” She dropped Mike as he’d requested, drove the rest of the way home and parked

her car. She felt down when she let herself in. Mike was still annoyed with her and she knew she deserved it. She’d broken her word, behaving foolishly. Not only had she made it impossible for Mike to discover more about Angela’s captors, she’d risked both their lives. Her answering machine was flashing like crazy. Messages from the magazine and at least six from her agent, Jilly, all gathering urgency. The last was cryptic. “I’ve rearranged the shoot for tomorrow afternoon,” she said. “Be there or don’t bother to contact me again.” She ignored the demands that she should return their calls, and, feeling restless, went to take a shower. She was still restless after she’d changed into fresh jeans and a fine silk shirt, and decided to go shopping. Anything rather than stay here and brood! She slung her bag over her shoulder and opened the front door, halting in stunned surprise as she saw a man standing on her doorstep. He had obviously been about to ring her bell, and she frowned as she recognized him. “What are you doing here, Hal?” “I had to see you, Karin. Please.” “I don’t think we have anything to say to each other. Not after the last time.” “Look, I’m sorry about that,” Hal said. “I know I was out of line. I’d had too much to drink.” “That doesn’t make it any better,” Karin snapped, though she thought it was probably true. She’d been able to smell the drink on his breath, and it had disgusted her. “Say what you’ve got to say and then leave.” “Here? On the doorstep?” Hal glanced over his shoulder. “I promise not to attack you. Please let me come in for a few minutes, Karin.” “No, I don’t want you in here after what happened last time.” “I swear it won’t happen again. Just let me in,” he said and pushed his way past her. He kicked the door to behind him, giving her a hard look. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to talk.” “I don’t believe you. Get out!” Karin knew her objection was futile. “I’ll go when I’ve had my say.” “All right,” she said angrily, but he was in whether she liked it or not and the only

way was to bluff it out. If he tried anything she would knee him where it hurt most. “But if you try anything I’ll make you sorry, Hal. I know things you might prefer the newspapers didn’t get hold of and I’ll use them if I have to.” Hal shot her a sullen, resentful look. “You think I stole that program from Ben Stevens, don’t you?” “You took his discs, Hal.” “They were seriously flawed,” Hal said. “I didn’t use them.” Karin saw the way his eyes avoided hers. “You might not have used the discs as they were,” she said quietly. “But they gave you an idea. That’s why you paid him to keep his mouth shut, isn’t it?” Hal’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Did Angela tell you that?” “Oh, I dare say my sister believed your version, Hal, but I don’t. I know you for what you are.” “I’m not so sure Angela believed me either,” Hal said and looked annoyed. “Do you know where she’s gone, Karin? I know she’s mad at me. We’ve had a few rows and she seemed touchy about something… as though she was worried.” Karin studied him in silence. Was he really concerned about his wife – or was this an act? “Why should I know anything?” “Because you and Angela discussed everything. If she was planning to leave me, she would have told you.” “I haven’t heard from her,” Karin said. She couldn’t help it, she didn’t trust Hal, and despite the phone call, she still wasn’t sure that he hadn’t had something to do with Angela’s disappearance. “I’ll let you know if I do.” She gave him a hard stare. “If that’s all…” “Why do you hate me so much?” Hal moved towards her menacingly. “I meant it when I said you were the one I wanted. We were good together once, Karin. We could be again.” “Stay away from me!” Karin took a couple of steps back, putting up her hands defensively. “I’m warning you, Hal…” “Or you’ll do what?” He raised his brows at her. “You’re a bitch, Karin, and you

deserve to be taught a lesson.” “Don’t touch me!” “You won’t get away with that this time,” Hal muttered. “I’m going to make you sorry you were ever…” He raised his hand to strike her just as the street door opened behind him. “What…?” He stared at the man who had entered. “What the hell are you doing here, Wendell?” “I might ask the same of you,” Mike replied and glanced at Karin’s white face. “Is he bothering you?” “He was about to leave,” Karin said. “He came to ask if I knew where Angela is and I’ve told him I haven’t heard from her – he was about to leave.” “I won’t keep you,” Mike said, his look as sharp as a razor. “Unless you have information concerning your wife’s disappearance, Mr. Roth?” Hal shook his head. His eyes narrowed as Mike walked to Karin’s side, putting a casual arm about her waist. “So that’s how it is,” Hal said and his mouth curved into a sneer. “Sorry I troubled you, Karin. When you find Angela, tell her not to bother coming back. She can have her divorce and welcome.” He walked to the door, glancing back at them for a moment before he went out. The door slammed after him. “Nice guy,” Mike said. “Your sister will be well rid of him.” “If that’s what she wants,” Karin replied. She caught her breath on a sob. “I was an idiot to let him in – but he was waiting on the step when I was about to leave. Oh, Mike, what are we going to do now? I’ve messed everything up, haven’t I?” Her eyes stung with tears as she looked up at him. “You must be so angry with me!” “I was furious,” he admitted with a wry grin. “Mostly because I was frightened – and you could’ve been killed, Karin.” “I know. I really am sorry…” “Forget it,” he said, the grin changing to a look of concern. “Are you all right? I was going to suggest we went out for a meal, but if…” “I’m fine now you’re here,” she said. “Yes, I would like to go out this evening Mike…” She broke off as her telephone shrilled. “I suppose I ought to answer that…”

She lifted the receiver, dreading who might be on the other end. “Hi, Karin here…” “This is Jilly. Where the hell have you been?” “I went to the doctor,” Karin said. “I’ve got summer flu…” “Don’t lie to me, Karin. I rang all morning. The magazine wants to know if you will be there for the shoot – otherwise they’ll get someone else. I’ve worked my butt off to get them to reschedule.” “Look, I can’t think just now,” Karin said. “Can I ring you back?” “Ten minutes – after that I wash my hands of you. I mean it, Karin.” Jilly slammed the phone down. Karin gave Mike a rueful look. “I suppose I ought to go.” “There’s not much you can do here for the moment,” he said, looking thoughtful. “Will you be working the whole time you’re in Paris?” “I usually get a few hours free when we’ve finished for the day. Why?” “You could do something for me. Visit a couple of art galleries, take a look around and see if anything seems odd to you. You could ask a few questions, about the availability of something like a Renoir… something the gallery obviously hasn’t got. See what kind of a reaction you get.” “Has this anything to do with Angela’s kidnapping?” “It might.” Mike frowned, then decided to level with her as far as he could. “I’m working on a case – tracing stolen paintings and various other valuable items, and I think I may have stumbled across something important at the clinic - but there’s a lot more going on. I can’t tell you what I mean by that, because I don’t know, it’s just something I sense.” That wasn’t quite the truth, but it was as near as Mike dared to tell her. He felt she was in deep enough as it was. Karin nodded, guessing what he did not say. “Is Mr. Reinburg involved?” “Yes. Forget you ever heard that name, Karin.” “What makes you think there’s a connection between your case and Angela being snatched?” “I only said might,” Mike reminded her. “Did you notice any packing cases at the clinic?”

“Yes, there were three of them. That’s what attracted me upstairs to that room. One of the men was hammering the lid down on a case and he hit himself. I heard him swearing.” “I found several more in a storeroom downstairs. I didn’t want to open them, because as I told you I had hoped to follow the men… but three of the cases were labeled as being for various art galleries. Two were in Paris, another in America.” “Do you think they could contain stolen works of art?” “It’s possible,” Mike said. “I don’t know how Angela fits into all this – unless she also stumbled on something by chance.” “Hal said she had been behaving oddly for a while – that he thought something was bothering her.” Karin was silent for a moment. “I hate saying this, Mike, and I’m probably wrong, but I have a nasty suspicion my uncle might be involved.” “Because of the story Angela wrote?” “Because of that, and because he was very much against my hiring you to look for Angela. I wondered if he might have been behind the beating you were given the other night.” “It’s possible,” Mike admitted. “The same thought has crossed my mind. Your sister might have discovered something about his secret life, if he has one, of course. We could be completely off base here. He could be perfectly innocent. A lot of uncles might object to you hiring me.” Karin saw the teasing expression in his eyes and laughed. “Yes, I suppose so. I feel much better now that I’ve told you.” “Good. Are we friends again now?” Mike’s voice was soft and set a tingle of desire running through her. She was waiting for his kiss as he reached for her, giving herself up to the breathless pleasure it aroused in her. She arched herself into his body, running her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck, caressing the sensitive skin. He moaned softly, his eyes searching her face. “Should we make the most of what’s left of today?” he asked. “Do you feel all right now?” Her clear eyes registered concern as she touched her fingertips to his cheek. “I’m pretty tough,” he said. “I felt rough for a while back there, but I’m fine

now.” Karin smiled and held out her hand invitingly. “Let’s not waste time then,” she said. “We have a little time to kill before we go out.”

*****

Somehow their loving was even better than the first time. Mike’s kisses were lingering, as if he wanted to take his time, to savor the pleasure of tasting her. Just lying there close in the bed, touching, feeling the nearness of him, made Karin feel wonderful. Their tongues mingled as the kisses intensified, passion building slowly, not as explosive as before, but deeper with more understanding. Mike was intent on pleasing her, laving her breasts with his tongue, tugging at them gently with his teeth as he sucked at her. He licked delicately all the way down over her flat navel, making her arch and whimper as the juices began to run. “Mike,” she cried hoarsely. “Oh, Mike…” What he was doing to her now was beyond anything she had ever experienced. Waves of sensuality washed over her as he sucked at the core of her sex, his tongue and mouth giving her such exquisite sensations that she screamed and bucked wildly beneath him. As he slid into her, the hard length of him encased in her hot, wet sheath she gasped and let herself go with him. Afterwards, when she had reached the heights and then floated gently back to earth, they lay quietly, just talking, enjoying the sweetness of feeling complete content. “What will you do while I’m in Paris?” Karin asked as she lay on her side with his arms wrapped about her, tucked into the curve of his body, the warmth and strength of him enveloping her. “Have you any idea where to go next?” Mike lifted her hair to kiss the back of her neck and she wriggled back into him as his touch sparked off the beginnings of a rekindling desire. He trailed his hand down the smooth arch of her back, making her spasm with desire all over again. “I have the name of an art gallery in Sussex. My contact from the Insurance firm suspects the owner of being a fence for some of the lesser works of art that have gone missing over a period of about two years. All the really important stuff is stolen to order

for collectors, of course.” Karin turned over, raising herself on one elbow to look down at him. Her long hair fell forward and she swept it back with a toss of her head. “You mean people really do hide things away in locked rooms so that they can gloat over them in secret? I thought that was James Bond stuff. That’s weird, really weird.” “Maybe, but it happens. The well-known treasures could never be sold on the open market. Sometimes, the thief will return them for a ransom, and it’s cheaper for the Insurance firm to pay him off than pay the owner the full value. Other pieces just vanish into thin air – never to surface again. Unless someone like me manages to trace them.” “You would have to be really rich to pay for art to be stolen to order,” Karin said thoughtfully as she lay down next to Mike again. “I’m sure my uncle doesn’t have that kind of money.” “Perhaps he pays for what he wants by selling other pieces on” “Yes” Karin frowned as something stirred in her memory. “I remember seeing a picture in his study once. It was beautiful. When I remarked on it he said it was a copy of a Rembrandt. I don’t know what happened to it. I never saw it again after that.” Mike’s interest was caught. “When was this?” “Oh… possibly five years or so ago. I’d forgotten about it. It didn’t seem important at the time.” Mike nodded. His gaze was thoughtful as he looked at her. “Do you visit your uncle much?” “As little as possible,” Karin admitted ruefully. “Why?” “I would like to take a look around his house. However, I would prefer to do it as a guest.” “As opposed to breaking in?” Karin pulled a face. “The staff set an alarm downstairs at night.” “How many staff does your uncle employ?” “There’s the housekeeper, Mrs. Birtle and her husband. I suppose he’s a sort of butler come handyman, and a woman who comes in mornings to clean – oh, and a couple of gardeners.” “Your uncle lives in some style then?” Mike looked thoughtful, and she knew he

was wondering the same things she was. “I’ve often wondered how he can afford it.” Karin wrinkled her brow as she remembered something else. “He asked if you would visit him at his London apartment. Apparently, he had a change of heart – wanted you to help him find something that was stolen from him in a recent break in. He said it was only of sentimental value.” “Why didn’t you tell me this before?” “I forgot about it,” she admitted. “You were hurt when you came back here – and then Angela’s phone call put everything else out of my mind. We haven’t exactly had much time to talk since then, have we?” “Not for talking, no.” Mike saw the anxious look on her face and drew her back into his arms. “Try not to worry, Karin. I don’t believe those men are going to kill Angela, despite the threats the one with the scar might have made. They would have done so before this if that was their purpose.” “They just want to keep her quiet until…” Karin frowned. “Do you think there’s something important going on? That Angela has to be kept out of the way until it’s over?” “They were certainly planning to move a lot of stuff all at once.” “It’s beginning to look more and more as if my uncle is involved, isn’t it?” “It certainly looks as if there may be a connection,” Mike said. “Give me your uncle’s telephone number before you leave, Karin. I shall phone him, make an appointment.” “If you want to see the house tell him you can’t make it until the weekend,” Karin suggested. “He always goes there every weekend. I’ll be home on Friday, so if he invites you down I’ll come with you.” “That sounds good to me.” Mike smiled at her, rolling her over onto her back, and pressing her down into the softness of the bed as he began to kiss her. Karin opened her lips to his invading tongue, feeling the growing hardness of his erection against her thigh as his attention moved downward to the thrusting buds of her nipples. His tongue circled them, making her whimper with desire. She was ready for him as he entered her, moving deeply inside her, filling her,

stretching her. She arched beneath him, meeting the urgency of his need with one as urgent as his own. Their breathing was harsh, mingled with little cries as the pleasure mounted to an almost unbearable intensity. Her hands moved over the smooth, taut contours of his back, cupping the broad shoulders, moving down to the lean, hardness of his thighs. She gazed up into eyes that were sharply green, heated by the flame of passion. He smiled and kissed her nose tenderly, and in that moment Karin realized that for her, this was much more than simply the meeting of two bodies in love play. She was falling deeply in love with him, had perhaps fallen in love with him from the first moment they met. Until this moment she hadn’t allowed herself to think it, or to think past the here and now, but all of a sudden she knew that this man was important to her, more important than she would ever have imagined. He held her close for a while after their passion was spent, stroking her back and whispering how good it had been, telling her she was fantastic and that she had made him happy. Karin merely burrowed into his shoulder, inhaling the salty smell of his sweat, content just to lie in his arms – such strong arms. She remembered the way he had fired that gun, his aim steady, accurate, inflicting just enough injury to allow them to escape. He was a special kind of man, and Karin was happy that he had come into her life, even if it was only for a short period. They were good together in bed, better than she’d ever known before, but that wasn’t all. Even her fears for Angela receded as she nestled in Mike’s arms. She was safe, warm and happy – and she trusted him to help her. Mike was strong and powerful. Somehow he would win through. With that thought in her mind, she slept. Mike’s thoughts were not as comforting as he lay staring into the darkness. He was more aware of the dangers that faced them than Karin, and not as certain of his powers to bring them through safely. The solution to the puzzle was still eluding him. He had begun to see possibilities, the beginning of a pattern, but much was still hidden. He was certain of one thing though – he was being used. Everything was not as it seemed on the surface. The simple explanation was that Angela had discovered something about her uncle that led her to the clinic where stolen

goods were being held. He had taken her prisoner, because she could betray him, but did not wish to have her killed – that theory had quite a few holes in it. No matter how long they kept Angela she would still be a danger to them. Reinburg was the worm in the apple barrel. Where did he fit into in all this? Even if Sir Malcolm Blake was Mr. Big… Mike had stumbled on the key within days of taking up the case. If it were that simple, Reinburg’s agents would have relayed the information to him long ago. So there had to be more. There had to be something. The bits kept jumbling themselves up in Mike’s mind. Maybe he wasn’t seeing as clearly as usual because of his involvement with the girl in his arms. Karin nestled into him, moaning a little in her sleep. Mike hushed her by brushing his lips against her hair. He felt guilty at having involved her. Then he laughed to himself. She would have become involved anyway. The coincidence was odd when he thought about it, that out of all the private detectives in New York she had come to him. Unless Helman was somehow involved in this too… Mike frowned as he got up to take a shower. Finding the answers to all his questions was more important than ever – for Karin’s sake.

CHAPTER SIX

Karin had never felt less inclined to pout and preen before the cameras. She was bored, she realized at the end of the second day’s shoot. Tired of standing around in winter’s clothes on a warm day and freezing in next to nothing when it was cold. She wanted something different from her life! Something meaningful. Modeling hadn’t ever been her dream. She’d sort of drifted into it after she was spotted at a holiday beauty contest that she’d entered for a joke and won. Angela had always had a burning ambition to write, but Karin hadn’t known what she wanted other than a real home and a family. Preferably large! Of course it had been thrilling to see her picture on the cover of glossy magazines. And she’d been caught up by the tide of her success, riding it for all she was worth these past years, but in her heart she’d known it was so much less than she really wanted from her life. She’d gone along with things as they’d happened, but she’d felt for a while now that she needed a change. She was twenty-seven and she’d been a model for nearly ten years, which was long enough. She needed something more in her life. Guessing the way her thoughts were leading, Karin tried to clamp down on them. She wasn’t sure how Mike really felt about her, and it was obviously far too soon in their relationship to start thinking of permanent arrangements. She thought about their last evening together. After their passionate lovemaking they had gone out to dinner, and then dancing in a discreet nightclub. He’d left her after seeing her safely locked in for the night, warning her to be careful about letting strangers into her apartment. “I always am,” she’d replied. “No, really, Mike. I made a mistake with Hal, but I shan’t do it again.” “Just be careful,” he’d said and kissed her softly on the lips. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, Karin.” She had let him go regretfully, wishing that he had come in with her, though she knew she needed to be fresh in the morning. The shoot had been rearranged, but she had to be on that first flight to Paris or she was in big trouble! Mike had been concerned for her. Nevertheless, she wasn’t sure what that meant

exactly. He had come into her life because she’d asked him to find her sister. What had happened between them was unexpected and explosive, and it probably wouldn’t last. Her past experience of these things was that they seldom lasted for long. She supposed that a part of the reason might be her own attitude towards men and love. Karin had been too busy these past years to have many love affairs, and none of them had got to the serious stage. Somehow her heart had remained untouched. Until now. She was going to hurt when their affair ended. “Stop mooning and start thinking about what you’re doing!” Karin told herself sharply as she saw the first gallery Mike had named across the street. She paused for a moment, gazing over at the smart art boutique, and watching for an opening in the traffic. It was crazy here, she thought, worse than in London at times, and she had to choose her moment to dart over to the far side. The afternoon was pleasant, the air soft and warm and carrying the scent of flowers. The people of Paris were out in force, most of them dressed extremely well, and Karin felt slightly untidy in her cropped jeans and tee shirt. Perhaps she ought to have worn something rather more upmarket for this expedition she thought belatedly as she realized how exclusive the boutique actually was. Somehow she hadn’t expected that – but why not? The stolen art Mike was after was very valuable, of course. She entered the gallery, determined to bluff it out now that she was here. The space was small but had an air of luxury with soft, thick carpets and starkly white walls. She began to wander around, staring up at the pictures. All were by modern artists, the paint heavily layered so that they looked almost like sculptures. The prices printed on small black cards beneath the pictures were mostly for five figure sums, but these were small fry compared to the kind of thing Mike was trying to trace. One of paintings he had mentioned was by Cézanne and valued at somewhere around eighteen million pounds sterling. She liked some of the pictures she was viewing. They were certainly impressive, but not the kind of thing she might collect herself if she were thinking of beginning a collection. She discovered that she preferred something more traditional – the kind of picture she’d grown up with hanging on her uncle’s walls. “Can I be of assistance, mademoiselle?”

The sharp voice of the man who had spoken to her made Karin jump. She hadn’t heard his approach. She turned to him, feeling slightly guilty as she said, “I’m looking for something for a friend.” “Ah yes.” His eyes were assessing her and finding her wanting. Karin knew she should have worn one of her designer outfits. She had enough of them for goodness sake! “What kind of price range were you looking for?” She took a deep breath. “Price is not particularly important for my friend. For the right picture he would be willing to pay the market value – but I don’t think I’ve come to the right place. He is a collector of traditional art, you see – Renoir, Monet, Cézanne.” Karin faltered as she saw the man’s eyes narrow. He didn’t believe her, and she knew she wasn’t making a very good job of this. “I suppose the real thing would be hard to find?” “Your friend should take out subscriptions to the catalogues for special art sales run by the important auction houses,” he said haughtily. “You are unlikely to find anything of that nature on sale in a gallery.” Karin laughed. “Oh, not the real thing, of course. I was looking for a copy of something famous as a little present. I shan’t find it here, shall I? Sorry to have wasted your time.” He made no reply, his eyes narrowed and distinctly hostile as she left the gallery feeling hot and uncomfortable. She ought to have worked her story out properly before she started this, and chosen something the gallery might have had on sale. She felt a cold shiver down her spine – there had been something odd about the way that man stared at her. It might have been just that she wasn’t dressed the way his customers usually were – or it might have been something else. Karin felt better once she was out in the fresh air. She was letting her imagination run away with her, of course, but she had almost felt that that man had known her – was expecting her. No, that was impossible. She was being silly! He had just thought her a time waster, which she was as far as he was concerned, of course. She would keep quiet in future, she decided. Just take a look round the other gallery Mike had mentioned and then leave. Not that she was likely to see anything. No dealers would be foolish enough to display stolen art on their gallery walls knowingly.

She wasn’t sure why Mike had asked her to visit the galleries – unless it was just to make her feel she was helping with the investigation. She wondered how he was getting on. Was he having more luck at the gallery he’d told her he planned to visit in Sussex? She found her thoughts wandering to the last few hours they had spent together once more, and knew a sharp longing to be with him. What the hell was she doing in France going through the motions of a job she no longer enjoyed when she could be with Mike?

*****

Mike sat in his hired car and, from the other side of the street, watched the gallery owner close up for the night. The small shop sold antique bronzes and a few decent pictures in the five to ten thousand pounds range. Perfectly respectable as far as appearances went – and the business carried on here was probably legitimate. The English police had their suspicions about the owner according to the information Mike had been given, but so far nothing had been proved against the man. He was obviously careful how and with whom he dealt. Mike didn’t think it was worth trying to break into the shop. It wasn’t likely he would find any stolen treasures lying around there – the place was right in the heart of a busy little market town and anything suspicious would have been spotted long ago. If the owner – a Mr. Harry Wilson – was involved in handling stolen goods, it didn’t happen here. Mike had been following Wilson for a couple of days, just keeping an eye on him to see what happened. He had no real expectation of discovering much but had no other leads worth following for the moment. Besides, Karin was away for another three days. Mike experienced thoughts that were inclined to wander once Karin entered them. His quarry had started the engine of his maroon colored Mercedes estate car. Mike let him reach the end of the High Street before following. The town was sufficiently busy for him not to be noticed immediately. He would stay far enough behind, because it would be better to lose Wilson rather than arouse his suspicions. He could always pick up on him another time, and he already knew where he lived – a modest cottage some

miles outside the small town. Wilson clearly had no thoughts that he might be followed. He showed no sign of being aware of the black Ford behind him, and spent most of his time talking on his mobile phone as he left the town and turned out into a country road. He was headed in the opposite direction of his own cottage. So he wasn’t going home just yet, Mike thought, feeling pleased that he had managed to stay with his quarry. Not that Wilson was likely to do anything particularly interesting. So far this week he had behaved as a normal businessman might on any day of the week. He didn’t even go out much at night, appearing to be a respectable family man. But appearances could be deceptive! Mike frowned, wondering if Karin was having any luck in Paris. He didn’t believe she would see anything suspicious, but there was always a chance. Wilson was indicating that he was going to turn off left. Mike saw that behind the high hedges the roof of a large house was just visible. He drove straight past, then reversed into the nearest turning and came back, parking his car on the grass verge opposite. He patted the gun in his pocket, reassuring himself that it was there if he needed it, though using it was a last resort. Something told him he might be making headway at last. He could feel that familiar prickling sensation at the nape of his neck and sensed that he might be on the verge of making a discovery. The light was just beginning to fade a little as Mike crossed the road and paused at the open gateway. There was a gravel drive leading up to the house, which was half hidden from view by overgrown bushes. The bushes gave Mike some shelter as he cautiously approached the house. Everything looked neglected and untended, as if no one visited here much and his sense of being close to a discovery increased. Pausing behind a huge laurel bush, Mike made a quick summing up of the situation as he saw Wilson’s car parked outside the front porch. A van was parked to one side, its doors opened at the back to reveal the contents. If he was not mistaken, that was one of the packing cases Mike had seen at the Swinford Clinic! He had a feeling of intense excitement. So he had been right! This must be the other house the men had been talking about when he’d overheard them talking a short time before Karin arrived and forced him to break cover. His intuition had served him

well once more! Mike knew he had to be very careful if he wanted to untangle the rest of the puzzle. He was fairly certain Angela was being held here, and that her disappearance was connected to the art thefts. But where did Reinburg and his traitor fit into all this? Mike couldn’t be sure yet, and it was important that he didn’t disturb this little nest of rats too soon. He wanted to wait for a while before doing anything. The men would be more wary now. One of their safe houses had been rumbled, and they could turn nasty if he disturbed them before he was ready to make his move. He heard voices and drew back behind the bush as three men came round to haul the packing case from the back of the van and carry it around the side of the house. As soon as they disappeared from view, Mike sprinted to the far corner of the house, avoiding the van as he went quickly down the narrow path on the side. The windows were shuttered by blinds inside, and looked dirty. The house was clearly another deserted dwelling, and he wondered how many more there were like this one being used by Mr. Big and his gang of art thieves. Just how big was this operation? There was no point in moving in on a small part of the whole. Mike crept cautiously round to the rear of the house. Here it was more open, with a lawn that needed cutting badly and neglected flowerbeds. A white metal table had chairs around it, beer cans and dirty glasses littering the top. So someone had been using the place recently despite the air of neglect. The glasses possibly had been left there by whoever was guarding Angela. One or two men? At least two had been drinking beer, but that might include the van driver. He could hear voices talking and shrank back against the wall, straining to catch the words, which were indistinct. One of the men was laughing. He said something about his companion being a lucky dog and getting the best job. “She’s a bitch,” a second voice replied. “If it weren’t for him I’d show her a thing or two.” “Do that and he’ll have your guts for garters,” the first man said. “Be careful, mate. He’d kill you as soon as look at you. She’s his insurance and if anything happens to her, we may all go down.”

“There’s always another day. When this is all over.” “Just wait until it is. I’m not carrying the can for you!” Mike drew back, having heard all he needed to for the moment. He retraced his steps to the side of the house, then, seeing both the van and the estate car were still there, he made a mental note of the registration numbers, then sprinted towards the bushes, making it just in time. A car was being started up. He would be seen before he could reach the car. Damn it! Fortunately, for Mike, someone called to Wilson and he paused to answer. Hearing the voices, Mike wasted no time in returning to his own car. He was already on his way when Wilson’s car emerged into the country road. Mike glanced at his watch. He would make a few phone calls, just in case he met with an accident. Three of Reinburg’s agents had been murdered, and Mike was going to do his best to make sure he wasn’t the fourth. First he was making sure certain information would be passed on if that happened. So report in, and then there was something else he needed to do before he returned to London and Karin’s apartment. There wasn’t much he could do there for the moment. Or here for that matter. He believed Angela was safe for the time being, and he would make certain of that before he arranged for someone to move in on the stolen items. He had several addresses where stolen goods could possibly be picked up, and those packing cases being exported could be held in customs for a while without arousing too much suspicion. One of his contacts in London had already made arrangements for a pile of red tape that would delay delivery while giving him time to further his investigation. They now knew two of the houses that had been used in the chain, and the names of various receivers – but there was still no firm clue as to the identity of Mr. Big. Unless Karin had been right about her uncle’s involvement. And that was beginning to look more and more likely. Mike was thoughtful as he took the next turning off the London road. He needed to talk to someone he could trust and that someone happened to live not far away.

*****

Karin was yawning as she paid her taxi and looked up at the window of her apartment. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw that the light was on. Mike was here! His presence made her feel a whole lot better. She had finished the shoot early, and made it clear she wouldn’t be available in future. Her agent would hit the roof when she heard the news, but Karin was past caring. She wanted a new life. “Mike!” Karin called as she let herself into the flat and then stopped in dismay. What the hell had been going on here? It looked as if a bomb had hit the place! “Mike?” The words died on her lips as she entered the sitting room and saw a stranger. A thin, ugly little man who stared at her in shock. Clearly he had been searching her home, and it was he who had made all the mess. “What are you doing?” she asked, the shock running through her. “How the hell did you get in here?” “Just stay quiet,” the man warned. “I don’t want to hurt you. Stay where you are and nothing will happen.” Karin was numb as he began to walk towards her. For a moment she felt like screaming, but then common sense took over. He wasn’t that much bigger than she was! And he looked almost as scared as she felt. She took up a stance she had been taught at self-defense classes. “Don’t you dare to touch me! What do you want?” “Something that isn’t here,” the man muttered. “Just keep your mouth shut and I’ll leave.” “I’m going to call the police,” Karin began, but before she could move towards the phone, he had pulled a wicked looking gun and pointed it at her. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay where you are,” he warned, sending chills down her spine. “No police when I’m gone. Otherwise your sister will get hurt. Do you understand me?” “So you’re one of them!” Karin spat the words out in disgust. She could do nothing but look at him in hatred and anger as he started towards the door. “You rotten… “

The words died on her lips as she heard the door open and then Mike’s voice calling to her. “Karin, are you there?” “Mike, be careful!” she screamed as the man swung towards the door, his gun pointing to the space where Mike would be standing at any moment. He would kill Mike. She moved instinctively towards the intruder, prepared to stop Mike being shot if it meant she was hurt herself. “He has a gun!” She screamed and kicked out at the man’s leg in an effort to distract his attention. He swung back towards her for a second. “I told you to shut it,” he muttered and in that moment, Mike hit him hard on the back of his neck. The hand holding the gun jerked upwards and a shot fired into the ceiling, causing a shower of plaster to fall harmlessly over the floor. “Oh, Mike,” Karin breathed, feeling slightly sick. “Have you killed him?” “No, he’s just out for the count,” Mike replied, stepping over the man’s still figure. “Are you all right?” “Yes, he threatened me but he didn’t hurt me,” Karin replied. “He said he was leaving. Then you came in and I was afraid.” Mike nodded. He picked up the gun, which had fallen from the intruder’s hand. “I’ve seen this character before,” he said, looking at the thin-faced man who was just beginning to stir. “I called him the weasel. He was trying to kill Reinburg and then he took a pot shot at me. I shall be interested to see what he has to say.” Mike stood over the weasel as he moaned, then opened his eyes, staring up at Mike resentfully. “What did you do that for?” he muttered. “I was leaving.” “You threatened this lady with a gun,” Mike said, eyes like green steel. “And I seem to remember that you took a pot shot at me. Perhaps you would like to explain. And stop where you are. No further than your knees or I might have to shoot you.” “I’m on your side,” the weasel muttered, looking at the barrel of his own gun. “Just let me get out of here and you won’t hear from me again. I’m not interested in you or her.” He jerked his head at Karin. “She wasn’t supposed to be back here until tomorrow.” “You may leave when you’ve answered a few questions,” Mike said, deceptively

pleasant. “What were you doing here?” “Looking for something that I was asked to find,” the weasel replied. He scowled as Mike’s finger moved on the trigger. He nodded towards Karin. “A notebook belonging to her sister.” “He must mean Angela’s old notebooks,” Karin said. “Why do you want those, and who asked you to look for them?” The weasel remained tight-lipped, then sighed. “Someone told me to find them, miss. My orders come from above. I don’t question what I’m told. I don’t ask why.” “Who are you working for?” Mike barked. “And why were you trying to kill Reinburg the other day?” “Don’t know any Reinburg,” the weasel replied. “And you’d better shoot if you’re going to, because that’s all I’m saying.” “Are you British Intelligence?” Mike asked. The weasel said nothing. Mike studied him in silence for a few minutes then jerked his head. “Get up and get out. If you ever come here again I’ll make you sorry you were born!” “What about the gun?” “I’ll hang on to that for the time being,” Mike said. “It will end up in pieces and in the river so don’t bother to come looking for it.” The weasel scowled at him, then went out without another word. Mike followed him into the hall. He put the safety chain on the door and then came back to Karin, who had sunk down on to the settee. “I really thought he was going to shoot you,” Karin said. She was pale and her voice shook with emotion. “Why did you let him go, Mike? Why not phone the police and let them pick him up?” “Because it would make things awkward for me,” Mike said, frowning at her. “I don’t have a license to carry a gun in this country, Karin, and I’m doing things the police might not like.” “What do you mean?” She stared at him, feeling anxious. This was all getting out of hand. She didn’t know what was going on anymore. “Are you breaking the law, Mike?”

“I’m not doing anything morally wrong,” Mike said. “My investigations concerning the art thefts are legitimate – but there’s something else going on.” “Don’t you think you should level with me?” Karin asked. “If I’m likely to come home and find guns waving under my nose.” “I doubt if it will happen again,” Mike said. He looked at her thoughtfully. “I wonder why they want Angela’s notebooks?” “Well, they won’t find them here.” Karin smiled oddly. “I took them to a left luggage store at the airport when I flew to France. I thought they might be safer there – just in case.” “Good girl,” Mike said and grinned at her. “I thought they were all old books, things your sister wrote years ago?” “They are,” Karin replied. “But someone might think Angela had sent me something recently. For example, if she had stumbled on some kind of crime while she was researching her latest book.” “Yes, that could be it,” Mike agreed. He wrinkled his brow as he saw she was waiting. “Look, Reinburg recruited me to work on a job. Something to do with Intelligence work. I really can’t tell you anymore, Karin, because I’m shooting in the dark myself. I know it has a connection to the art thefts, but that’s all I know so far. Except that I believe there may be a double bluff going on.” “What does that mean?” “Again, it’s only guesswork. Reinburg asked me to look for a traitor but…” He paused and Karin waited before adding what he hadn’t said aloud. “You’re wondering if Reinburg could be the traitor, aren’t you?” Mike nodded. “Something like that. I really don’t know, Karin. I would level with you if I did. At first I wanted to keep you out of this, but it’s too late for that. You became involved when I first came here … maybe even before.” “That means…?” “I’ve wondered if Helman was told to give you my name.” “Why would someone want that – why you and not any other private detective?” “That’s what I’ve been trying to work out,” Mike admitted. “Unless they knew that Reinburg had been trying to recruit me … they might have thought he already

had…” “And he hadn’t?” “Not until that evening.” Mike explained the situation and Karin sighed. “It looks as if this is much more than I thought at the beginning, Mike. Where does Angela fit into all this?” “She knows something important,” Mike said. “Don’t worry about her too much, Karin. I think she’s being held because it gives someone some kind of bargaining power.” He explained about what he had discovered on his trip to Sussex. “Angela may be held at the house, but I’m not going to try getting her out for a while, because I need to discover why she is there and who is holding her.” “So you’re prepared to risk my sister’s life to solve your mystery?” Karin glared at him, her temper flaring. “Well, I think that stinks, Mike! Why the hell didn’t you tip off the police anonymously? Or go in and get her yourself?” “They would kill her before the police could get to her if she’s a danger to them,” Mike said. “I’m not as callous as that sounds, Karin. Please believe me. If I thought Angela was in danger I would have gone in at once, but I need more time.” “It’s Angela’s life you’re playing with!” Tears sprang to her eyes. “I’m worried about her, Mike. I love her. She’s my twin and she’s frightened.” “How do you know that?” “I can sense it,” Karin replied close to tears. “She came back to me after that phone call. I can hear her in my mind sometimes, and she’s frightened – believe me. You’ve got to help her, Mike. You’ve got to get her out of there!” “Look, give me a few days,” Mike said, feeling all kinds of a heel because he knew how she was suffering. “I’ve made some progress. I’m fairly certain Angela is at that house, and I believe she’s safe enough for the time being. Someone wants her kept alive.” “But the man who is keeping her prisoner,” Karin said, a break in her voice. “He could harm her, Mike.” “It’s a risk we have to take, just for a while,” Mike replied grimly. “We’re getting closer, believe me. I’m going to phone your uncle now. If he invites me down this weekend, I may be able to pick up a few clues. Please, Karin?”

She stared at him for a moment, feeling rebellious. Why should she go along with him? After all, she hardly knew him. She could force his hand by telephoning the police herself, but she knew she wouldn’t, because deep down inside something was telling her that Mike was to be trusted. When they made love it wasn’t just casual sex, it was a coming together of two hearts and minds. Mike wouldn’t let her down. Besides, if she didn’t go along with him she was on her own. Her instincts told her Mike was her best chance of getting her twin back alive. “Okay,” she said at last. “I’ll give you a week, Mike.” “That’s more than enough,” he promised. “If I’m getting nowhere by mid week, I’ll go in myself and get Angela for you.” “Promise?” Her eyes were wide and pleading. “I love her, Mike. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to her.” “Give me a few days.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “I’ll make that call now.” His touch sent shivers of pleasure right down to her toes, her feeling of anger fading as she realized he had to do things his way. And she had to trust him! If she just sent the police blundering in there, Angela might be killed to prevent her from talking. Mike had promised to bring Angela back to her and somehow she believed him. “No, let me do it,” Karin said. “You make us some coffee while I talk to my uncle. I’ll tell him I’m bringing you down this weekend.” “Okay, that might be for the best.” Mike leaned forward to brush his lips over hers. “It’s time I met him. Time I got to the bottom of all this.” Karin watched him walk into the kitchen, as she reached for the telephone. She tried her uncle’s office first and was told he had left for the day, so she dialed the number of his mobile. He answered after a few rings. “Yes, Karin, what did you want? I am about to meet someone.” “It was concerning Mike Wendell,” Karin said. “I’ve spoken to him about doing a job for you. I’m coming down this weekend and I could bring him with me.” Sir Malcolm was silent for a few seconds and she held her breath. “Very well, I shall expect you both. I hope this man is respectable, Karin.” “I don’t think he will steal the silver, Uncle. He used to be a cop in New York.” “Please speak in English,” Sir Malcolm replied tersely. “These Americanisms are

so tiresome. Let my housekeeper know when to expect you so that she can have your rooms ready.” “Yes, Uncle, of course. I shall look forward to seeing you at the weekend.” “Will you? I wonder why?” Karin stared at her phone as her uncle cut off. What on earth had made her add that bit? If she’d wanted to arouse her uncle’s suspicions she couldn’t have done better! No wonder he’d given her a cryptic answer. She turned as Mike brought two mugs of coffee into the sitting room and smiled. “That smells good.” “I picked up a decent brand on my way back this evening,” Mike said with a grin. Her heart caught as she saw that smile. He was a very special man. She was going to trust him, because she had to. “If we’re going to be together I shall have to train you to make coffee.” “Yeah,” she said, but her heart was pounding now. That didn’t sound as if Mike was thinking of disappearing into the blue too soon. “My uncle is expecting us. I have to let the housekeeper know when we’re arriving.” Mike nodded as he set the mugs down on the glass table. “Was he surprised that you had asked to bring me down?” “Yes, probably, but even more surprised that I was volunteering to go down,” she admitted. “I don’t often. Unless I have to.” “He’ll be on his guard then,” Mike said. “But maybe that’s all the better.” “Why?” “Sometimes when people are trying to be extra careful they say too much,” Mike said. “I’ve noticed it before, but if your uncle is involved in all this he is a clever man, Karin. He could be the mastermind behind a big ring of International art thieves or…” “Or what?” she asked. “You asked the man who broke in if he was from British Intelligence, Mike. If he was looking for those old stories… I seem to remember there was a story about a British spy working in Intelligence who was double crossing his masters.” “You think your uncle might have sent the weasel here?” “The weasel?” Karin stared at him and then laughed. “Yes, that does fit him

rather. Would that make sense, Mike? Could my uncle be behind that search?” “Yes, I think he could,” Mike said. “But I’m still not sure whether he’s one of the good guys, Karin.” He gave her a serious, thoughtful look. “Supposing I discover that he is mixed up in some rather nasty business? How is that going to affect you?” “I don’t know,” Karin replied honestly. “I don’t love him, Mike, not the way I do Angela. He isn’t that kind of a man – too remote and private. I always felt he was waiting for me to make a mistake and I usually did just to oblige him.” “But – ? There is a but, isn’t there?” “Yes.” Karin bit her lip. “I suppose I feel grateful to him for taking us in, Mike. He gave us a home after our parents died and he is my uncle.” “Yes, I can see that. You might feel you owe him something.” Mike was silent for a moment. If Sir Malcolm was on the wrong side in all this it was going to complicate things. “I’ll do my best to keep him out of it, Karin – but I can’t make promises. If he does turn out to be Mr. Big…or a traitor.” Karin sighed. “It was a case of him or Angela I would choose her every time,” she said. “But I hope my uncle isn’t involved – at least not in the way you suspect he might be.” He could see that it would hurt her to discover that her uncle was a criminal, but she would insist on knowing the truth. She was that kind of a girl. “I don’t know yet,” Mike said. “The possibility is there and I had to let you know that…” “Yes, of course,” she said and smiled at him. “I know you have to do what’s right. I would never ask you to cover up for him.” “I might not be able to,” Mike said. “I’m beginning to get a pattern, Karin, but it’s still very hard to be sure what’s going on.” “I suppose the truth will come out one way or the other,” Karin sighed. “I haven’t told you what happened in Paris yet.” She explained about her visit to the art galleries, and her feeling that her visit had been expected. “That’s hardly possible,” Mike said. “Unless you were mistaken for Angela.” “I wondered about that,” she agreed. “The other gallery was very different. The assistants were friendly, and I was invited to spend as much time looking as I wished –

but there was definitely an atmosphere at the first place.” Mike looked thoughtful. “I’ve already given the names of a few dealers to my contacts,” he said. “Shipments will be delayed en route for a while. That’s why we have to move quickly. I need to find out who is behind all this, Karin, and I don’t have much time.” “You’re hoping for something to happen this weekend?” “There’s something else I have to do.” Mike finished his coffee and gave her an apologetic smile. “I’ll try not to wake you when I get in this evening.” “Where are you going? Can I come with you?” She threw him a beseeching look. “Please? I won’t let you down again, Mike. I promise to do exactly as you tell me.” “I can’t take you, Karin. Not this time,” he said. “Most of the places I’m going to visit are men only and not the kind of club you would want to be seen in.” She pulled a face. “You were attacked the last time you went to Soho, Mike. They know you now. Do you think it’s a good idea to go back there alone?” “I want to pay a certain barman a little visit,” Mike said grimly. “Someone tipped off the people who jumped me last time and I want to return the favor.” “Just be careful,” Karin said, and leaned forward to kiss him softly on the mouth. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you, Mike.” “Thanks.” He reached out to stroke her cheek. “You know these places don’t get going until much later. I don’t have to leave right now.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Mike bought his drink and moved away to a table in the corner, where he could watch and yet be unobserved. The startled expression in the barman’s eyes when he’d appeared at the bar had confirmed his suspicions. He certainly hadn’t expected Mike to show up again so soon – if ever. He noticed the man glance his way a couple of times, seeming agitated, and after a few minutes he whispered something to his colleague and then went out of a side door that led to a private area. His drink left untouched on the table, Mike rose and walked casually across the room towards the door marked private. The floorshow was just starting and no one seemed to notice as he slipped through it into a dimly lit passage. There was no sign of the barman, but at the far end of the dingy hall a door stood ajar and a light seemed to indicate someone was in there. Mike walked cautiously towards it, hearing a raised, rather vexed voice as he got nearer. A one sided conversation was going on, and it was obvious that the barman was making a phone call. “No, he hasn’t asked any questions – but he gave me a funny look. I’m sure he knows something.” Mike paused in the doorway, listening unashamedly to the barman’s conversation. From the disgruntled noises the man was making, it was obvious that he wasn’t getting the response he wanted, and after a few seconds he swore loudly and banged the receiver down. Then, as he turned and saw Mike standing there, the color drained from his face. “What the hell are you doing here?” Mike gave him a cold look. “I wanted a little talk in private. By the way, were you arranging another pleasant surprise for me like the last time?” “I had nothing to do with that…” the barman faltered and seemed scared. “Stay away from me. I didn’t know what they were going to do to Sam…or you…” Mike took his gun from his pocket and pointed it at the barman, who gave a little yelp of fear and looked desperate. “You may not have had a hand in the murder,” Mike said, eyes narrowed and icy.

“But you recognized him when I showed you the photo didn’t you?” The man nodded, swallowing nervously. He was clearly convinced Mike meant business. “He came in here the night he died – and then what happened?” “Look – I don’t know who you are, but Sam wasn’t your cousin.” “That’s true,” Mike agreed in a deceptively pleasant tone. “But I want to know what happened that night, Rikki. I’ve heard people call you by that name. Some friends of mine told me all about you. I know where you live, where you go and what you eat – so don’t lie to me. I can be unpleasant when people lie to me.” “Don’t shoot me. I’ll tell you all I know.” Rikki looked terrified. He obviously believed his life was on the line. Which probably meant he knew some nasty people. “All I did was make a telephone call, okay? I was asked to let someone know when Sam came in and I did – that’s all. I swear it’s the truth. I didn’t know they were going to kill him. You have to believe me!” Mike nodded his assent. The man was merely a pawn. He had been used and was in this thing over his head. “And then Sam was killed and you were frightened something might happen to you. So when I came in asking questions you made another phone call – to the same number, right?” Rikki swallowed hard. “Yeah, I was scared. Look, I got paid fifty pounds to make that call. I didn’t know he was going to kill Sam. I thought at first you might be the police, but now I’m not so sure.” He eyed the gun nervously. “Don’t worry about who I am,” Mike said. “Just remember I am a guy who needs some information – a name and a number – the number you used just now. Give it to me and save yourself a lot of bother, Rikki. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry, believe me.” “I don’t know his name – it was just someone who came into the club and asked me to look out for Sam. I can’t give you his number…” Rikki looked uneasily at the phone. “He would kill me.” Mike moved his finger on the trigger. “Not much of a choice is it?” Rikki swallowed hard, the tip of his tongue moving over dry lips. “I was told to ask for Pete. But I don’t know if that was his name…the number…” He glanced at the

phone again. Mike nodded, reading the other’s mind. He moved closer to the desk, pressing the recall button on the phone. Picking up a pen that lay on the desk, he wrote the number that came up on the dial on the back of his hand. “You didn’t tell me a thing,” he said. “Besides, who’s to know I was ever here if you don’t tell them? Don’t worry, Rikki, I never reveal my sources.” He replaced the gun in his jacket pocket and smiled. “Who the hell are you?” Rikki muttered sullenly. “You’re like that other one who came asking questions – he scared the hell out of me.” “Someone else was asking questions? Before or after me?” “Before. He was creepy. I didn’t tell him a thing.” “What did he look like?” “He was a Yank like you. Dark hair and narrow set eyes. He was here two months ago.” “Asking about Sam?” “No – some other guy I’d never seen. Some toff he thought might have connections at the club.” “You didn’t know what he was talking about?” Rikki shook his head. “And you didn’t make a phone call then?” “No one asked me to.” “Okay.” Mike gave him a chilling stare. “It has been nice talking to you, Rikki – but if I were you I would forget you ever saw me here.” He turned to move away but Rikki laid a hand on his arm. “You won’t tell him how you got that number?” “You have my word.” Mike saw that he was really worried. “Stay here for a couple of minutes until after I’ve gone. If anyone asks why I was out here, I’ll tell them I was looking for the lavatory. Just keep your mouth shut and I’ll do the same.” “Thanks – and I really didn’t know they were going to kill Sam.” Mike nodded and left him. Rikki was in this thing over his head. He’d taken money for what he imagined was a harmless tip off, but it had turned into something nasty. No wonder he’d looked so startled when Mike turned up again. He’d probably

thought Mike would get the same as Sam. So why hadn’t they killed him? The question was interesting, and this wasn’t the first time Mike had asked it of himself. He wouldn’t be bothering Rikki again. Mike wasn’t interested in punishing the small fry. He would leave the barman out of it when making his report. Rikki was suffering enough from a guilty conscience and fear. Maybe he was right to be afraid. He knew too much, which could make him next on the list to be eliminated. Mike thought about it. A small time thief had somehow got hold of a package meant for Mr. Big, because of that he was dead – and Rikki had put the finger on him. That might mean he was a danger to someone. Perhaps Mike should have warned him, though he was scared enough already. The number Mike had taken from the club’s phone was not the one he had thought it might be, which meant that so far he wasn’t getting very far with his theory. He would try ringing the number when he got back to Karin’s flat. Mike was in a taxi he had picked up a couple of streets away from the club when Rikki walked out of a side door into the alley. He dumped a crate of empty bottles and turned back towards the door when the shadowy figure came up behind him. Rikki never saw the face of his assassin, but he felt the knife between his ribs, and seconds before he fell dying he believed he knew who had stabbed him. “Bloody Yank…” the words bubbled out of his mouth in a crimson froth. From the other side of the alley, where he had kept watch since Mike left the club, the Weasel witnessed the murder and smiled unpleasantly. Had his gun not been taken from him earlier that evening, he might have gotten two birds with one stone, but at least he had just been presented with a chance of revenge on the man who had humiliated him.

*****

Karin was in the driving seat again as they set out for the country the next morning. Mike didn’t usually enjoy being driven, but she was cool and competent behind the wheel, and it gave him time to look about and gather his thoughts. So far he wasn’t making much headway with his theories. The number he’d taken from the phone Rikki had been using the previous night was for another night club. One

that had also been on the list given to him as possible leads. A man had answered his call, but when he’d asked for Pete, he’d been told no one of that name worked at the club. He wasn’t sure whether Rikki had lied, or maybe the word was out that Mike was nosing around and that avenue had been blocked. Not that Mike had ever expected it to lead far. If anything, he was hoping to provoke a response from somewhere. Experience told him that if he kept poking his nose in often enough, people were going to get fed up with him, and he would be ready for them this time. He was pretty certain that Reinburg’s Mr. Big was behind the murders, and that he was connected with the clubs in some form – maybe they were a way of laundering some of the money. “What are you thinking about?” Karin asked, glancing at him as the constant streams of traffic they had encountered since leaving her flat were at last left behind and she was able to relax a little on quiet country roads. “Did you discover anything important last night?” She had been sleeping when Mike got in, and he hadn’t woken her until it was breakfast time, when he’d brought her coffee and muffins in bed. That had led to other things, and so far they hadn’t talked much, because they were already behind schedule. “I confirmed a few ideas,” Mike said. “But I’m not sure that it got me anywhere. Except that Mr. Big has a lot of tentacles and they may extend to the British police.” “What makes you think that?” “I’m not sure – it’s just a hunch. Something a guy called Rikki said last night, and a feeling I have that this affair isn’t as straightforward as I was given to expect at the beginning.” Karin nodded but didn’t press him for more details. She knew he wasn’t telling her everything, but he was sharing as much as he could and she had to be content with that for the moment. “What are you going to be looking for at my uncle’s house?” Karin asked. “He isn’t likely to have any stolen paintings on public view – even if he has any.” She wrinkled her nose and looked doubtful. “I could have been completely wrong about that picture, Mike. It might have been just a copy as he said at the time.” “I’m not sure what I’m looking for,” Mike replied. “If your uncle is concerned with the stolen works of art, they would be concealed somewhere.”

“You mean a secret room or something?” “Yes, I suppose something like that – or simply a locked one.” “The house is old, but I don’t think it is old enough to have secret rooms. The only room that is ever locked is his study, and he is particular over that. Even the housekeeper is only allowed in to clean occasionally.” “Could there be another room that connects to his study?” “I don’t know. I’ve hardly ever been in there, at least not for years,” Karin admitted. Her brow creased in thought as she struggled to remember something that would be of help. “Come to think of it, there’s a painted screen at one end and there could be a door behind that… Yes, now I think about it I’m almost sure there is.” She shot a triumphant glance at him. “Once when I was a child I saw it.” “That’s one place I might try to visit if I can manage it,” Mike said and smiled at her. “But don’t worry, Karin, I won’t set the alarms off in the middle of the night.” “I wasn’t worried about that,” she replied. “I just want this whole thing cleared up and Angela back home.” “Whatever else happens?” Mike glanced at her as she turned off the road into the driveway of a house set a long way back from the road. “Even if your uncle is involved in this?” Karin stopped the car and turned to look at him before they reached the house. “Whatever else happens,” she said. “Whatever you have to do is okay with me, Mike. I trust you and I know you will do what’s right.” “Thanks,” he said and leaned over to kiss her softly on the lips. “It’s nice to know you trust me, Karin. I’m not sure why you should, but I’m glad you do.” She sat back, gazing at him for a moment before restarting the engine. “My uncle will be waiting for us,” she said. “And he doesn’t like people who are late.”

*****

Mike’s first impression of the house was that it was way out of his personal league. He’d known Karin was classy from the beginning, but this was unexpected somehow. Sir Malcolm had to be wealthy to run a place like this these days. The

question was, where did that kind of money come from? Karin had told him her own parents had left only a modest legacy, but the Brits were odd about the inheritance thing. Maybe as the eldest, Sir Malcolm had bagged the lot. Everything he saw as they were welcomed into the entrance hall by the housekeeper confirmed Mike’s opinion that there was money here. The antiques were finer than one might expect to find in most country houses, other than stately homes, of course, and it didn’t have the shabby, neglected air that some old houses had. This level of maintenance meant things got done when they needed it – and that cost, especially in a large house like this. Somehow he didn’t think a secretary in the civil service could afford the upkeep – unless he had a substantial private income from somewhere else. “Sir Malcolm is expecting you, Miss Blake. He said to take your guest into the green drawing room.” Karin thanked the housekeeper, rolling her eyes expressively at Mike as she led him further down the hall. “You’re being given the honored guest treatment,” she whispered. “Watch out for my uncle, Mike. He can be a sarcastic devil when he chooses. Don’t snap back, just grin and bear it.” “Okay.” Mike gave her one of his laid back smiles. “I guess I can stand it for a few hours.” However, Sir Malcolm’s welcome was considerably warmer than either of them had expected. Mike was greeted by a firm handshake and invited to view the grounds from the French windows before being asked to sit. “I always think this is the best view of the park,” Sir Malcolm said. “Karin must show you over the house and grounds before you leave, Mr. Wendell. We are rather proud of the place. I think Karin is actually quite fond of this house – though she doesn’t visit as often as she might these days.” “I’m often busy at weekends,” Karin said. “But you’re right, I do like it here. I like the sense of history and family.” “So you should,” her uncle replied. “This house has been in our family for more than ten generations, Karin. Your father was born here, even though you and your sister were not.” “You are very lucky to have such wonderful grounds,” Mike said as he observed

the view, which was of weathered stone steps leading down to a smooth expanse of lawn that led in turn to a grey stone, moss covered arch. Beyond the arch was a landscaped park and what he thought was a lake in the distance. “I didn’t think many of these lovely old houses were still in private ownership these days.” “Ah – you touch on a sore spot there, Mr. Wendell,” Sir Malcolm said. “Unfortunately, very few old families have managed to hold on to their houses and land. The taxes are crippling. Fortunately, my father had a good accountant and arranged things so that I was able to keep the estate intact. I have so far managed to keep my head above water, though I promise you it is a continuing struggle.” “You must be very proud of your home?” “I believe this house is my main reason for being. I consider it my duty to preserve it for the future.” Mike had listened to every word intently; he was trying to decide whether or not he’d heard Sir Malcolm’s voice before. It could be the same as the one that had questioned him from behind that bright light the night he was beaten and left unconscious, but he couldn’t be one hundred percent certain. Sir Malcolm’s gaze narrowed thoughtfully, as Mike remained silent for slightly longer than necessary. “So – have you made any progress with your search for my niece?” Mike saw that Karin was watching him closely as he took his time before replying. “We had one lead,” he said at last. “Unfortunately, the trail went cold. However, I’m working on a few ideas.” “What sort of ideas?” Sir Malcolm indicated that Mike should sit in one of the brocaded wing chairs by the fireplace. Although empty apart from a display of greenery, the grate looked large enough to have burned huge logs in the past, throwing out enough heat to make the room warm despite its size and the high ceilings. “Will you have coffee, Mr. Wendell – or some other drink? I’m having a sherry myself.” “Just mineral water for me, thank you.” Mike had seen Karin’s slight shake of the head when coffee was mentioned and took the warning. She had perched on a small gilt sofa, her slender brown legs crossed elegantly as she watched and listened, obviously far from relaxed. “I can’t be certain yet, of course, but I think Angela was snatched because

she either saw or heard something she shouldn’t have. Possibly when researching for one of her crime novels.” “Ah yes, her novels.” Sir Malcolm gave him a hard direct look as he handed him a heavy crystal glass with the water, which clinked with ice. More evidence of his host’s civilized living, Mike thought. “It is only a theory at the moment.” Mike’s air of diffidence was unlike him and made Karin frown. She knew that Sir Malcolm intimidated some people, but she hadn’t thought Mike would be one of them. “And are you certain that she is being held against her will – that this isn’t just a whim on Angela’s part? In my experience, she is inclined to be willful and not always considerate of the feelings of others.” “I’m certain she is being held against her will,” Mike confirmed. “May I ask why?” Mike glanced at Karin, and then back at her uncle, deciding it was time he took a calculated risk. “Because we had a frantic phone call from her. It seems that she has been drugged for most of the time she has been missing, but maybe they got careless or she found a way to fool them, because it wore off long enough for her to reach a phone and call her sister.” “And you were with Karin when Angela phoned?” “Yes. It must have been about six in the morning. I’d just got in after … an unfortunate incident. Karin is letting me stay at her apartment while I’m in this country so that we can put our heads together over this thing. Karin knows Angela better than I could hope to and we’re trying to work out what might have happened that could have placed her in danger – or made her a danger to someone else.” “I see.” Sir Malcolm’s expression gave nothing away, but Mike caught just a flicker of something in his eyes. “I had hoped it was just one of Angela’s pranks.” He was lying! Mike’s gut instinct told him that Sir Malcolm knew a lot more about what was going on here than he was prepared to say. “No, I’m sorry, sir. I’m afraid you have to accept that this isn’t a joke. Angela has been kidnapped, I’m sure of that – though I’m still trying to work out why.”

“Of course it isn’t a joke,” Karin put in indignantly. What was wrong with Mike? Had he gone over to the enemy? Or was he playing some devious game? She glared at her uncle. “I told you Angela wouldn’t just go off like that – not without saying something to me. She knows I would worry.” “It seems that you were right,” Sir Malcolm agreed, ignoring her scowl for once. “What do you suggest we do, Mr. Wendell? Should I call in the police? Is my niece being held in this country – or in America? It was there that she disappeared, was it not?” “It is my belief she was abducted in New York,” Mike agreed. “I’m not certain how they got her over here. She must have been flown in by private jet I imagine – perhaps brought through customs in a drugged state and under a false name.” “That would be highly improper,” Sir Malcolm objected, giving him a look of sheer disbelief. “It sounds like something from an American gangster film. Just what are you suggesting my niece is mixed up in, Mr. Wendell?” “Something extremely nasty,” Mike replied grimly. There was no point in holding back at this juncture, whether the older man was involved or not. “At the moment I suspect the people who have her are part of an International gang of art thieves – but there is possibly more. Something that could involve British Intelligence.” Mike glanced at Karin as he heard her gasp of shock. She looked bewildered and alarmed, but he gave her a smile of reassurance. “Sorry, Karin – but we have to face the facts. There’s a lot going on here, and I think your uncle should be told just what is at stake.” He turned back to Sir Malcolm. “You might be able to help me with my investigation, sir.” Sir Malcolm frowned. “I do not know what you imagine I could do to assist you, Mr. Wendell. Except call in the police.” He had mentioned the police twice now but his words didn’t carry the ring of conviction and Mike was pretty sure the last thing Sir Malcolm wanted was the police poking their noses into his business. “Why don’t you just give me a few more days?” he suggested. “If I haven’t come up with anything positive by next weekend go ahead and call them in.” “That sounds as though you think you may be getting somewhere?”

“Patience is the name of the game,” Mike replied, his own expression giving absolutely nothing away. Watching them, Karin was beginning to be aware of the contest going on between them. She saw now that Mike was acting a part – and so was her uncle. At the moment she wasn’t sure who was winning this battle of the wills. “Yes, of course.” Sir Malcolm’s wintry grey eyes appeared to measure Mike, though he gave no hint of the conclusions he had reached. “Lunch will be served shortly. After that, I suggest that Karin might like to show you around the grounds. Perhaps we could have another little chat privately, Mr. Wendell? Karin will have told you that I am anxious to recover some personal property that was taken in a burglary some months ago?” “Yes, she has. I’ll do my best for you, sir.” It would appear that he had passed the first test, Mike thought, and yet he was sure that Karin’s uncle did not truly approve of the stranger she had brought into their midst.

*****

“How old is the house, do you think?” Mike asked Karin as they left after lunch, which had been a formal and lengthy affair. “I’m glad your uncle sent us off for a walk. I need it after all that food. He certainly lives in style!” “Yes, he does,” Karin agreed. She gave him a long, hard look. “He couldn’t afford it on a civil service salary alone. I think I have always known that, although I never really thought about it much until now. He must have another source of income.” “Perhaps he inherited money?” Mike raised his brows. They were walking towards the stone archway that led into the park. “No, I don’t think so. I’m fairly sure there wasn’t much money when Angela and I first came here to live. I know the house is eighteenth century, because there was talk of the National Trust taking it over years ago, but then they turned it down. Apparently, it wasn’t of significant interest for them to want it. My uncle was angry and worried. I’m not sure what happened after that, but when I came home after I’d finished college

things were different. Not startlingly so, of course – but the house has changed slowly over the years. It used to look a bit run down, but it doesn’t now, does it?” “Not at all,” Mike said. “I agree that your uncle must have a second income, Karin, but that doesn’t prove our theory. It doesn’t prove he is involved in criminal activities. He could have a legitimate business interest.” “Why have I never heard him mention anything?” Karin asked, stopping to look up at him. “If he is in business, he has been very careful not to let me know anything about it. I think he is involved in this somehow. Why did you tell him so much, Mike? I was startled when you just came out with the truth like that.” “Sometimes it’s the best way,” Mike said. “I was hoping he might say something that would give me a clue to what he was thinking.” “And did he?” “No, but there was a flicker in his eyes when I spoke about Angela’s abduction. Like you, Karin, I’m certain he knows more than he is saying.” “I can’t believe he would want to harm her. I know he’s strict, and sometimes I think Angela made him really angry. She used to go out of her way to defy him – but I still can’t see him having her drugged and held in that house for weeks,” Karin’s voice caught on a sob, and Mike put his arm about her shoulders. “Don’t let it get to you,” he said softly and pulled her in close. “If I thought Angela was in danger I would go in after her now.” “Yes, I know.” Karin swallowed hard. “I do trust your judgment, Mike – it’s just hard, knowing that she is unhappy and afraid.” “It must be worse for a twin,” he said. “I understand your fears and your distress, but I would like to see if I can find Mr. Big himself. And there’s the little matter of Reinburg.” “You didn’t tell my uncle about him,” Karin said. “Why did you keep that bit back?” “Because I’m not yet sure where our friend fits into all this,” Mike replied. “Reinburg is the worm in the apple, Karin. If I were sure which side of the fence he was on, I’d get Angela out of there and have the British police pick up the stolen art. I’m not a policeman – I don’t have to catch the criminals. All I’m being paid to do is recover

items for my firm, but I don’t like the idea of a murderer being out there, at liberty to kill again. I would like to crack this thing.” Karin nodded, her eyes large in her face as she leaned against him, feeling the warmth and strength of his body. Mike knew what he was doing, and she believed in him. She loved him. “What will you do when this is over?” she asked, her heart hammering wildly in her breast. The question had to be asked, though she was half-afraid of the answer. “At this moment in time I can’t give you the answer to that one, Karin,” he said, avoiding the question reflected in her eyes. “It will depend on many things.” Not the least of which was how caught up in this business her uncle really was. Sir Malcolm’s potential involvement would make things difficult especially if Mike had to turn the old guy in as a spy and a master thief. And the worst scenario could be even more damaging. Mike knew he had been taking a risk in letting Sir Malcolm know he might be on to what was going on behind the scenes. The recovery of the paintings was one thing – they might have come to a financial agreement over that – but the matter of spying was something more. If Sir Malcolm was the man he had been hired to find, Reinburg would want to know – and Mike had no illusions about the way he would deal with a traitor. Several operatives had been murdered, and Reinburg believed Mr. Big was behind it. But supposing there was another answer? Mike’s thoughts went round and round in his head. If he reported his suspicions to Reinburg he could be condemning an innocent man to death. “What are you thinking?” Karin reached up to smooth the furrow from his brow. “What kind of things does it depend on, Mike?” “I’m not sure where we’re going with our relationship,” Mike said, deliberately lying to her. “I’ve enjoyed what we’ve had together, Karin – but our lives are very different. You don’t belong in my world and I sure don’t belong in yours. How long can it last?” Karin moved away from him in shock, her eyes mirroring the hurt his words had

inflicted. “I don’t belong here either,” she said. “Don’t throw that old-fashioned class stuff at me, Mike. I’m not like my uncle and you know it!” Mike did know it. He also knew that things were going to get more dangerous around him. He possibly might be killed in the next few days. He also might be forced to kill in self-defense. He didn’t want Karin hurt by the fallout whatever happened. Better she should think he was a philandering rat than really get her heart broken. “I didn’t say you were like him,” Mike said. “But I think perhaps we should have a cooling off period – take our time over this. It happened too fast, Karin. I like you very much but…” “You don’t want to be tied. Is that it, Mike?” She raised her head, fighting back the tears. “I wasn’t asking for marriage and children – though in time I would have liked to make babies with you – but I thought we might have tried to make it work.” “I’m sorry, Karin. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” There was no denying he had. Karin wasn’t the sort of girl that hopped into bed with anyone. What they had was something special. “Excuse me,” Karin said. “I think I would rather be alone for a while. If you follow this path you will come to the lake and the summerhouse. It is like a log cabin, big enough to live in if someone wanted to use it for that. Angela and I used to play there when we were children. You might like to look it over.” “Where are you going?” “To be alone. I’ll see you back at the house later.” Karin turned to look at him, her eyes bright with accusation. “Don’t worry about me, Mike. You didn’t make any promises. I’ll get over it.” Mike watched her walk away, cursing himself for a clumsy fool. He should have kept his big mouth shut. Karin was a very special girl, and he felt something for her that he had never felt before – even with Kathy. The idea of making babies with her was incredibly appealing and he wished he’d bitten his tongue off before he’d hurt her. And yet the sane part of his mind was telling him it was better this way. Better for Karin. The issue wasn’t just the danger. They really were from very different worlds. If this job went well, Mike wouldn’t be strapped for cash in future. He could, if he was lucky, end up with enough to buy a house and settle down, set up a new office in a decent

part of town – but not something fancy like this mansion. Nor would he want to live in a place this big and this isolated. New York was in his blood and he thrived on its hustle and bustle. Besides, Karin had a wonderful career. How could he ask her to give up everything for him? He would be selfish to expect it. Yet maybe they could have worked something out – other people did. He almost went after her, but then he changed his mind. The egocentric bit of him wanted her back the way she had been, loving and trusting. For the moment at least, their relationship was better ended. He frowned as he walked at a faster pace than before, reaching the lake and the cabin Karin had spoken of, in less than half an hour. The beautiful place was peaceful and charming – and it made Mike feel even more wretched as he wished that Karin was with him. The log cabin was locked, its windows shuttered and padlocked. Clearly Sir Malcolm didn’t intend anyone to get in – at least not passing strangers. It would be easy enough for a professional to break those locks, Mike thought. Somehow he didn’t see his host storing stolen works of art here. No, they were more likely to be in the house somewhere. Perhaps in the room leading from his study. Karin had said her uncle was very particular about his study. Glancing at his watch, Mike realized that he ought to turn back if he were not to be late. He was interested in the private interview with Sir Malcolm. Was there really something his host wanted Mike to try and find for him – or was he about to be warned off? He retraced his steps towards the house. As he approached the front, he saw two large black cars drawn up outside. If he was not mistaken they were official cars. What were the British police doing here? Had Angela managed to escape again? Mike’s pulse began to pound, making him slightly breathless as he went up to the house. Something odd was going on here. As he entered the front door, Karin came flying down the stairs. “Mike, look out, they’ve come for you!” Mike stared at her, too stunned to take heed of her warning. As he hesitated, Sir Malcolm came out of a room to his left accompanied by three men.

“That is Mr. Wendell,” he said to the one standing closest to him. “I am sure he will have no objection to helping you with your inquiries – will you, Mr. Wendell?” Mike’s nerves tingled. What was going on here? What had he done to arouse the suspicions of the British police? “What inquiries would those be, sir?” “I am Inspector Jarvis of Scotland Yard,” the man Sir Malcolm had addressed said in a polite, controlled tone. “Would you mind telling me where you were at around midnight last night, sir?” “I left a club in Soho at about that time,” Mike replied. “It was probably a quarter to the hour. I walked a couple of streets and then picked up a taxi … which took me back to Karin’s apartment.” He glanced at Karin’s white face. She had come down the stairs to stand beside him. “Why?” “Why were you at the club, sir?” the Inspector went on, his eyes narrowed. “Was it the Little Pink Parrot by any chance?” “Yes – yes, it was.” Mike frowned, already guessing the reason for their visit. “What is this? Why are you asking these questions? Did something happen to Rikki?” “Rikki Montrose – that is the name of the barman at the club. You knew him by that name, sir?” “I only knew his first name,” Mike replied. “I heard someone call him by that name a couple of times. I don’t know if it was real or assumed.” “Why should he have an assumed name?” “He worked in a rough area,” Mike said. “That place isn’t exactly the Savoy.” “But you chose to go there – and we understand that you spoke to Rikki that evening. Would that be true, sir?” “Yes. I spoke to him,” Mike said, his gaze narrowed and watchful. The police obviously knew he’d been at the club and they had known where to find him; there was no point in lying. “We had a private conversation that lasted about ten minutes and then I left.” “Where did you leave Mr. Montrose?” “In a private area to the right of the bar,” Mike said. “And I want to know what is behind all these questions before I say anything else.”

“Of course. We are just trying to establish the facts,” the Inspector said. “Mr. Montrose was stabbed to death in an alley at the back of the club at somewhere around midnight last evening – possibly a little later. We can’t be certain yet. I would be grateful if you could accompany me to London to assist me with further inquiries, sir.” “Are you accusing me of killing him?” Mike demanded, eyes narrowed and angry. “Maybe you would like to answer a few questions for me? How did you know I was at the club – and how did you know I was here today?” “We were given an anonymous tip off,” Inspector Jarvis said. “It was rather curious that we should be told both that you were there – and where you could be found today.” “And did your informant also tell you that I stuck the knife in Rikki?” “He didn’t go that far,” the Inspector said. “And you are not being arrested, for the moment.” “Then I decline to come with you,” Mike said. He was furious at having walked into a trap. He had been set up at the start, and he was a damned fool for not seeing it long before this! “I am sure Mr. Wendell will be pleased to make an appointment to see you when he returns to London tomorrow,” Sir Malcolm said, surprising them all. “I would like to vouch for him as a trustworthy citizen of America. He is here at my request and my guest for the weekend. I really think you would lose nothing by allowing him to present himself for an interview at his own convenience, Inspector.” Inspector Jarvis looked annoyed. “It would save a lot of trouble if you could do the interview now, sir.” “I’ve told you where I was and what I did,” Mike replied tight-lipped. “Either you take my word or you arrest me.” “Where are you staying in London, sir?” Inspector Jarvis obviously didn’t have the proof he needed to make an arrest at once. “I should like to request that you remain available if we need you at any time.” “Mr. Wendell is working for my family,” Sir Malcolm said. “I think my personal guarantee that he will not leave the country until this matter has been satisfactorily concluded should be enough for you, Jarvis. Unless you believe that I am also involved

in this sordid affair?” “No, sir. Of course not.” Inspector Jarvis was seething underneath but it was obvious his hands were tied. “If I could have your word that you will not leave the country until we have cleared up this little matter, sir?” “I’m not planning on going anywhere right now,” Mike replied, eyes glittering. “I came over here to do a job and I intend to do it.” “Yes – you are working for Nidzack we understand?” “That’s right.” And how the hell did he know that? “I’m looking for a gang of International art thieves – and it seems I’ve been treading on a few of the right toes. This is a set up, Inspector Jarvis. If you’re bright, you’ll try to find out who gave you the tip off. If that person knew about the murder he was either the murderer or a witness.” “Thank you, sir.” Inspector Jarvis pursed his lips. “We are aware of the alternatives. Unfortunately, the call was not traceable in the normal way, but we are continuing our inquiries into this matter.” “I’m relieved to hear it,” Mike said dryly. Inspector Jarvis looked as if he would have liked to cuff him right now. Mike knew he was pushing his luck, but he was also aware that for some reason Sir Malcolm didn’t want him locked up and Jarvis wasn’t about to tread on his toes. Clearly, Sir Malcolm was more important than Karin had realized. “Be careful, Mr. Wendell. I am a patient man, but my superiors are not always as forbearing.” “I was in the force for years back home,” Mike said. “I know the way you guys work. If you had a shred of proof you would be arresting me now. Before you waste your time looking for it, I can tell you that I didn’t do it. A knife isn’t my weapon. Rikki had enemies. He was part of my inquiries into a murder. Maybe someone thought he might have told me too much. As it happens, he didn’t, but his murderer couldn’t know that.” Inspector Jarvis nodded. “We know all about you, Mr. Wendell. And your investigation. We shall be in touch – and that is a promise.” Mike didn’t speak, merely standing aside as the men walked out of the house. He glanced at Karin’s white face and then at his host’s inscrutable expression.

“Before either of you wonders – I spoke to Rikki because he had information I needed, but he was alive when I left him.” “I never doubted it,” Karin said, her face pale with strain. “Oh, Mike…” “I want to thank you, Sir Malcolm,” Mike said. “I might have been spending the next forty-eight hours being questioned if it were not for your intervention.” “I am glad I was able to be of help,” Sir Malcolm replied. “And now I think we should talk. Alone.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Mike followed his host into a large, pleasant room. The whole of one wall was lined with mahogany bookcases, which held a collection of matching leather-bound volumes. Opposite the bookcases were three long casement windows draped with heavy velvet curtains tied back with gold swags, and a huge mahogany partner’s desk occupied the central position. There was a captain’s chair behind the desk and an upholstered wing chair, placed at angles to the middle window, facing the bookcases. Apart from that, the room was empty. “This is my private domain,” Sir Malcolm told him, a slight smile on his thin lips as he sensed Mike’s surprise. “Hardly anyone is ever invited here – so I am afraid I cannot offer you a choice of chairs.” Mike took the chair near the window. He felt it was too soft, meant for relaxing and intended to put him at a disadvantage, since he must either sit back and appear sloppy or sit to attention and face his host behind the desk. He decided to call the other man’s bluff. Crossing his legs, he lounged back, choosing to appear casual rather than give his host the advantage. Sir Malcolm sat behind his desk, leaning forward, his arm across it and a look of invitation in his eyes. “Now that we are alone, Mr. Wendell, we can talk frankly. I suggest we both put our cards on the table so to speak.” “I’m not sure I understand you, sir.” Mike was cautious. His instincts were warning him to be careful here. Everything might not be as it seemed. “I thought we already had? I’ve certainly told you all I know about Angela’s disappearance.” “I’m not sure you have been quite as open as you might have been, Mr. Wendell. You have told me a part of the whole. Just how much did our mutual friend Reinburg tell you?” Sir Malcolm picked up a delicate gold pen and appeared to examine the nib. Mike’s gaze narrowed at the mention of Reinburg’s name. Alarm bells were sounding now. What did Karin’s uncle know, and, perhaps more importantly, why had he chosen to confide in Mike? “Who is Reinburg?”

“Come now,” Sir Malcolm replied his voice crisp and cold, eyes glittering like black ice as he tossed the pen back in its tray. “Please do not take me for a fool, Mr. Wendell. I do assure you I am not.” “Whatever else I might believe, I never thought you a fool, sir,” Mike said coolly. Sir Malcolm made a sound that was halfway between mirth and exasperation. “You would be unwise to do so, Mr. Wendell – and I believe you are an intelligent man. You’ve uncovered more than we expected you to this quickly.” “I’m afraid you’ve lost me, sir.” Mike played dumb and saw the flicker of annoyance in his host’s eyes. Good, that meant he was getting to him! “Then perhaps I should tell you what you have already begun to suspect – Reinburg set you up for this job. You were supposed to lead him to me, Mr. Wendell.” Mike arched his brows. “May I ask for what reason?” “No doubt he spun you a tale about a rogue operative betraying some of his men? Well, we happen to believe that Reinburg is the rogue operative. He has connections to the syndicate dealing in stolen art, and about two months ago Interpol was about ready to move in and expose the whole nest of rats – which includes some pretty important people. Then our prime suspect was murdered. We had been working through him for months, because we had evidence that would have ruined him, and he was collaborating with us. Without him, the case collapsed. Symons was the key.” “A kind of Mr. Big?” Mike’s face was expressionless, giving nothing away. “Slater told me that there might be such a person. He thought there might be a chance of doing a deal … it would cost the company less to recover the goods than pay the market rate. I would be grateful if you could give me a few clues, sir.” “Reinburg isn’t your Mr. Big – but he wants to take over now that Symons is dead,” Sir Malcolm said. “We knew most of the stolen goods were here in Britain, but we weren’t sure where – and nor was Reinburg. Symons died without revealing that as far as we know. A few weeks ago we intercepted one small consignment, which had been held up by a dispute at Customs. We discovered it contained some minor works of art which had been stolen a couple of years back, and decided to let it go through and see what happened.” Mike nodded, gaze narrowing. “You mean you wanted Reinburg to believe that

someone was still operating the system, that Mr. Big was still out there? That in fact the wrong man had been eliminated? You wanted him to think you were that man, Is that what you’re telling me, sir? Is this some kind of a trap – for Reinburg?” “Exactly.” Sir Malcolm looked pleased. “I’m glad you have grasped the thinking behind this. We already knew that Reinburg had been trying to recruit you, of course. And that you had initially turned him down.” “Why me?” Mike asked, looking at him intently. “I’ve wondered about that.” “We believe he needed a scapegoat,” Sir Malcolm replied. “Perhaps you may have done something he didn’t like in the past – stepped on his toes? We’re not sure just when he went renegade or how many secrets he may have sold out. Maybe he just plucked your name out of the hat, that’s hardly important. The point is that you were meant to stumble on the identity of Mr. Big and then kill him.” “I’m not a hired killer.” “Reinburg would have done the killing,” Sir Malcolm said. “But the gun would have had your prints all over it – and you would probably have met with some kind of an accident. He might have managed to make it look as though we had killed each other.” “Yeah, that makes sense,” Mike agreed. “And you are? Not merely a clerk in the civil service I think?” “British Intelligence, of course.” Sir Malcolm frowned. “You realize I’m taking a huge risk here, Mr. Wendell – but I’ve had you checked out thoroughly, since Karin decided to involve you in her sister’s disappearance. I know you are honest. Besides, you are probably the only one who can get to Reinburg. Our agents have tried to get to him, but he isn’t an easy man to find. Or perhaps they are incompetent. All attempts to trap him have so far failed. I believe you were responsible for the last failure, Mr. Wendell.” Once again annoyance flicked in the cold eyes. “You’ve had me followed for a while.” “We’ve had you watched since Reinburg first contacted you – but particularly since you arrived in this country.” The weasel was obviously working for Sir Malcolm. Mike had a bad taste in his mouth. His instincts had been right all along. He wasn’t naïve but he didn’t like this kind of work, legitimate or not.

“And your little warning was meant to test my resolve I suppose?” Mike saw Sir Malcolm’s smile and gritted his teeth. He would like to wipe that smug look off the other man’s face! But not just yet, oh no, not just yet. “That was unfortunate,” Sir Malcolm said. “However, I needed to discover what kind of a man you were.” “And you thought I might come in useful?” Sir Malcolm inclined his head but did not deign to reply. “Just where does Angela fit into all this, sir?” Mike’s manner towards Sir Malcolm had become just that little bit more respectful. He was sitting forward in his chair now, paying attention. “I haven’t quite worked that out yet.” “That is the part that puzzles me,” Sir Malcolm admitted with a frown. “I thought at first that she was simply tired of living with that man she married – most unsuitable! However, you assure me that she has been kidnapped. I can only think that Reinburg must have her – as a kind of insurance.” “And that is why you’ve decided to level with me?” Mike’s thick lashes veiled his eyes and his thoughts. “Exactly.” Sir Malcolm looked pleased again. Almost like the cat that had discovered a full bowl of cream, Mike thought. “My nieces are important to me, Mr. Wendell. I should be most upset if anything happened to Angela.” “If Reinburg wanted her dead, he would have killed her immediately,” Mike said. His mind was working frantically, though he contrived to appear as laid back as usual. “You haven’t received any threats – any demands for money?” “No – and that is a little odd, don’t you think so, Mr. Wendell? If it were a normal kidnap I would surely have been approached by now.” “Maybe Reinburg simply wants some kind of a hold over you. He’s keeping her as his trump card – thinking that you might know where some of that stolen art is stashed?” “I cannot think what other reason he could have. Can you?” “The people who have Angela already have at least some of the stolen paintings in their possession.” “You are certain of that?” The steely eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“I don’t know for sure, but it’s the only thing that makes sense,” Mike said. “Reinburg must know more than you thought, sir. I think you can be fairly sure he is keeping her as insurance – in case you try to stop him moving the stuff out of the country.” “You mean he is using Angela to buy himself time? Can he be thinking that we would hesitate to move against him while he has her? While I have a fondness for my niece, Mr. Wendell, there are others who are more ruthless.” “It’s a possibility that Reinburg took her as insurance,” Mike said, frowning. “Or it could be that she stumbled on something and he is keeping her out of the way – perhaps while he moves some of the stuff. Once he has a fortune safely tucked away somewhere, he will probably dispose of her – and you, sir.” “Which means we have to get to Angela before he can move the goods, doesn’t it?” “That sounds about right,” Mike said. “Can you give me any clues as to where Reinburg might be holding her, sir?” “If we knew that we might have been able to trap him a long time ago, Mr. Wendell, but he moves around all the time. We have had to go carefully on this one. Your own CIA may not go along with the theory that Reinburg is a traitor. What I’ve told you is in complete confidence. I don’t yet have the kind of proof I need to put out a contract on him. My men have orders only to find him and bring him in for questioning.” Sir Malcolm smiled coldly as Mike looked at him. “We don’t want to upset your people. These international incidents can be awkward.” “So you want him alive?” “I need to question him. Yes, alive, Mr. Wendell.” If that were true the weasel had exceeded his orders the day he followed Mike to the meet with Reinburg – unless Sir Malcolm was lying. Yet why should he if he had decided to take Mike fully into his confidence? “And what if I found him for you? If I provided the proof you need?” “Then he would be eliminated. Unpleasant as that may sound, it is the only way to deal with rogue operatives. Any kind of a trial would make too many waves. Something like this is best kept private for the moment. Give me proof of Reinburg’s

involvement and I’ll deal with him myself – if you understand me.” Mike understood what was going on only too well. It was the reason he had not wanted to get involved with Reinburg in the first place. He had spent years in the NYPD upholding the law, and being frustrated at times by the lack of proof he needed for a conviction – but he had played it by the book at all times, and anything less than that tended to leave a nasty taste in his mouth. Either you upheld the law or the law gave way to the lynch mob. However, he wasn’t about to argue his corner at this point in time – especially with this man. “What if I find Angela and Reinburg?” “Arrange a meeting here, at the log cabin near the lake. I’ll give you a key. Get Reinburg to meet you there and I’ll see to the rest.” “You’re asking me to set Reinburg up for you?” “Why not? It is what he intended for you once you had served your purpose. Believe me, you were chosen because you are expendable, Mr. Wendell.” “What about Karin?” Mike asked. “Why did she come to me? Was that a part of the set up too?” Sir Malcolm frowned, looking annoyed. “I should imagine that was purely coincidental – and rather a nuisance. But I suppose it has proved useful in its way.” Mike’s eyes were hidden behind thick lashes as he studied the older man. “I’m grateful to you for taking me into your confidence over this, sir.” “Karin is to know nothing about my involvement,” Sir Malcolm warned. “I don’t want her brought into this affair more than she already is. In fact, I would prefer it if you found somewhere else to stay, Mr. Wendell. Contrary to what she may believe, I am rather attached to her. I would be most upset if she were harmed.” “I agree that Karin shouldn’t be put in more danger,” Mike said. “I had already decided to move on. Far too many people know where they can find me at the moment.” “Then we shall say no more. I believe I can leave this matter to your discretion, Mr. Wendell. However, you are welcome to continue your stay here as my guest.” Sir Malcolm’s lips curved in a thin, slightly mocking smile. “Karin will show you the rest of the house if you wish?” “Perhaps another time,” Mike said. “I have something I need to do. If you will

excuse me, I shall just say goodbye to Karin.” “Leaving so soon, Mr. Wendell? I thought you intended to stay with us at least for tonight?” “Something has occurred to me – something I overlooked. I’ll be in touch as soon as I have what you need, sir.” “Yes, of course.” Sir Malcolm opened the top drawer of his desk. “This is the key to the cabin. You have my mobile number? It is best to contact me personally rather than going through my office. We need to be discreet, Mr. Wendell.” “I understand that perfectly,” Mike said. “I think I have everything I need for the moment, sir. I’ll contact you as soon as I set up the meeting with Reinburg.” “I shall look forward to it.” Mike went out into the hall. Karin was hovering nearby, and he wondered if she had been trying to listen in to their conversation; she wouldn’t have heard much through that door, which was particularly thick and heavy. She flew at him in a fever of anxiety, clutching at his shirt, her fists balled against his chest. “You’ve been ages! What have you been talking about in there? And why couldn’t I listen in?” “It was just a private matter your uncle wants investigated, Karin. I can’t discuss a client’s business with you.” “Don’t lie to me, Mike,” she said, eyes flashing fire. “I know when you’re shutting me out and I don’t like it. I’m entitled to know what’s going on here.” “It’s best you don’t know too much for the moment,” he replied. “I promise I’ll tell you as soon as I can.” “Did he warn you not to tell me?” Karin was angry. Mike was behaving oddly. She knew something was going on and she wanted to be a part of it. “Don’t trust him, Mike. I know he helped you earlier with the police – but he’s mixed up in this whole business more than he’s saying. Unless…” Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What did he tell you?” “Whatever it was, I’m still on your side,” Mike said, laying a hand on her arm. “Believe me, Karin. You’re special to me, and whatever I do from now on is for you – and Angela. Nothing else matters anymore. Always remember that – whatever anyone

might tell you.” Karin’s protest died as she saw the expression in his eyes. His words and the grim set to his mouth sent a chill through her. He wasn’t faking this, and she knew that something important had happened – but he wasn’t going to share it with her. “Okay,” she said reluctantly. “I’ll trust you. You don’t want me getting in the way – but I wish you would trust me a little more. I’m not a fool, Mike.” “I’ve never thought you were. Listen, Karin, it’s important that you behave normally. Go back home in the morning and carry on as usual – do nothing that might arouse suspicion that you know something you shouldn’t. I’ll be in touch as soon as Angela is safe. I promise I’ll ring you as soon as I can.” “You’re going to get her?” Karin’s eyes widened. “Then you know…” Mike silenced her with a hard kiss that left her breathless and shaken. “I know nothing for certain and neither do you. That’s important, Karin, for all our sakes.” She nodded, looking at him anxiously. “All right. I’ll do what you want, Mike – but you will ring me? You will let me know what’s going on?” “As soon as I can.” He frowned, then, “Do you mind if I take your car, Karin?” “No. I can go back on the train – or with my uncle. I’ll get the keys for you.” Mike smiled as she went into the drawing room and came back with her purse. “I’ll return it to you as good as new,” he promised as she handed him the keys. “Just come back safe and tell me Angela is okay.” “That’s a promise.” He hesitated, but then reached out to trail his fingers down her cheek. “It was a privilege knowing you, Karin.” Karin watched as Mike walked out of the house. Her chest was tight and she wanted to call him back, wanted to beg him to let her go with him. His words had seemed so final … as if he were saying goodbye. What he was about to do must be more dangerous than she’d dreamed. Just what had he learned from her uncle that had made him decide to get Angela straight away? Even as she stared after him uncertainly, Sir Malcolm came out of his study. He frowned as he saw her standing there in the hall. “Did you want to speak to me, Karin?” She blinked back the stupid tears, remembering Mike’s warning.

“I was just saying goodbye to Mike,” she said. “Do you know why he had to leave so suddenly?” “He said there was something important he had to do.” Sir Malcolm looked at her hard. “I hope you haven’t become too involved with that young man, Karin. He isn’t really our sort.” “That’s unfair, Uncle!” She glared at him. “Just because he’s an American and didn’t go to some fancy public school.” “It isn’t just a question of breeding – though you might discover that is more important than you imagine, young lady. I just think you might get hurt if you let yourself care for Mr. Wendell. He is dangerous to know. But of course you must do as you wish as usual. You never listen to me.” “He is just a friend,” Karin lied. “I like him, that’s all.” “In that case I shall say no more. You may not believe this, Karin, but I am only concerned for your welfare – yours and Angela’s.” “Yes, I know.” She sighed, biting down on her lip as she wondered if she had misjudged him. Maybe he wasn’t involved in any of this. And yet something had happened in that study. Something sufficiently important to make Mike leave in a hurry. “You’ve always been generous to us, and I’m afraid we’ve tried your patience rather a lot.” “You are family,” Sir Malcolm said, a thin smile on his mouth. “Angela has been more tiresome than you, Karin, but she is still my niece. I shall be most upset if something has happened to her. I just hope that Mr. Wendell can find her – if as he insists she has been abducted. But I have done what I can – there is nothing more we can do for the moment except wait.” “I’m sure he will try,” Karin said. A cold shiver was trickling down her spine. There was something about her uncle at that moment that disturbed her. She felt almost as if she were speaking to a stranger. “Please don’t worry about us, Uncle.” Sir Malcolm nodded. “I find I must return to London almost immediately. You are quite welcome to stay on here if you wish.” Karin thought rapidly. It would be an opportunity to look round the house, perhaps try to discover if her uncle was hiding something in the room connecting to his

study – yet Mike had told her it was important to behave as she would normally. Normally, she couldn’t wait to leave! “There’s not much point, is there?” she asked. “Mike left. I lent him my car. If you’re going back to town you could give me a lift, couldn’t you?” “I will do so if you can be ready to leave at once.” Sir Malcolm glanced at his watch. “Ten minutes?” “Yes, of course. I’ll fetch my things.” She turned and ran up the stairs. Something was happening; she was sure of it, and she wished Mike were here so that she could tell him her suspicions, but he was on his way to rescue Angela. She only hoped that nothing went wrong.

*****

Karin let herself into her apartment later that evening. The drive to London had been accomplished in almost total silence. Sir Malcolm had spent the whole time working on his laptop, and she’d occupied herself with her own thoughts. She was relieved when her uncle’s chauffeur deposited her at a tube station. “You can get home from here,” Sir Malcolm had said in his usual reserved manner. “I am in a hurry, Karin. Please ring me if you have news of your sister.” “Yes, of course I will.” Karin glanced round her apartment. She’d half hoped that Mike would be here, but she knew at once that he wasn’t, nor had he been here since they’d both left earlier. She frowned as she dumped her bag and headed towards the kitchen. She’d gotten used to having Mike around, and seeing some of his possessions littering the place made her keenly aware of a sense of loss. She was going to miss him like hell when he finally went out of her life. The evening stretched emptily in front of her. She couldn’t stop thinking about Mike and what he was doing. How the hell was she going to get through the next few hours alone? She had just started to make coffee when her mobile rang. She answered it immediately, her heart beating wildly.

“Mike?” “It’s me – Sally,” a friend’s voice answered. “So who is Mike? Is he the reason we haven’t seen you in a while?” “Oh, Sally,” Karin gave a breathy laugh, which hid her anxiety. “Sorry, I have been a bit involved lately.” “With Mike?” “Mike is a private detective I hired to look for Angela.” “She hasn’t turned up yet?” “Not yet.” “Sorry,” Sally paused, then, “I was ringing to ask you to a party tonight, but maybe you don’t feel like coming?” Karin hesitated, glancing at her watch. It was just gone seven, and she didn’t fancy being alone all night. “Thanks, Sal. I’ll grab a taxi and come over as soon as I’ve changed.” “Good. It’s about time you stopped hiding yourself away.” Karin felt better as she took a quick shower and changed into a pair of designer jeans, teaming them with a gold top and high-heeled sandals. She slipped a few notes and her credit card into her hip pocket and clipped her mobile to her waist – just in case Mike should ring her! Then she went out, carefully locking her door behind her. She ran downstairs and out into the street. There were always taxis floating around at this hour. She hadn’t been walking for more than a few seconds before she saw one with its light on. She hailed it and the obliging driver slid into the curb to pick her up. “Where to, miss?” Karin gave him the address of her friend’s house. She glanced back as the car drew away. A man was standing on the pavement watching as the car sped off – or was that her imagination? It must be! She was letting all this cloak and dagger stuff get to her. She hadn’t been followed. Why should anyone be interested in her? She didn’t know anything about any criminal activities.

*****

Karin spent the first few minutes being quizzed by Sally. The party was in full swing when she got there, and as usual at Sally’s parties, every room was overflowing. Music blared out in the sitting room, and some enthusiasts were trying to dance to the deafening beat. Others sat all the way up the stairs, drinking wine, mostly straight from the bottle. Many of Sally’s friends were high on dope. Karin was offered a joint by a young man she knew. She refused with a smile and a shake of her head, fighting her way through to the kitchen, where her friend was putting fancy savories on plates. “I think some of them starve themselves for a week before coming to my party,” Sally said. She was a pretty, nervy type of girl, stick-thin and full of energy. “This is the fourth time I’ve refilled.” “You shouldn’t provide such gorgeous food,” Karin said. “They take advantage of you, Sal.” Sally was the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat. She gave wild, wonderful parties with an excess of food and drink, and invited everyone and anyone. Her house had been raided on more than one occasion, and her photo was in the paper far too often for her father’s peace of mind. She had twice been arrested for possession of pot, but the case had not come to court on either occasion. “Everyone wants something,” Sally said with a shrug. “I like company. Besides, what the hell does it matter? We’ll all be dead before long anyway.” Sally believed in the big bang theory, at least that was the excuse she gave for her wild lifestyle. Karin thought it was more likely that after a miserable and lonely childhood, she didn’t believe in anything much. “I suppose it doesn’t,” Karin said, accepting the rum and coke Sally offered. “What is the party for this time, Sal?” “The party?” Sally smiled oddly. “Just because. I was bored. No particular reason, darling. I felt like having friends round, that’s all. Now tell me about this delicious man you’ve hired.” “Who says he’s delicious?” Sally tapped the side of her nose. “A little bird told me he was staying with you.” “It was just for convenience,” Karin replied untruthfully. “Nothing is going on –

though Mike is good looking in a rumpled, tough sort of way.” “They are always the best, darling,” Sally said wickedly. “Don’t tell me you didn’t make the most of your chances? I would in your shoes.” Karin smiled. She moved away as Sally loaded her tray, carrying it through to the crowded dining area. She followed the sound of the music, taking her drink with her and sipping it as she watched the dancers moving to the beat. “Dance, Karin?” She looked at the young man who had spoken. Ben Rostov was a friend. Karin had known him for years and at one time she’d thought their relationship might actually lead to something, but it had gradually faded, leaving them as firm friends. “Yes, thank you,” she said, putting her drink on the windowsill behind her. Ben was what she needed this evening. He was funny, kind and uncomplicated. “What have you been doing with yourself lately?” she asked. “I might ask the same of you.” A while had passed before Karin thought to return to pick up her drink. Feeling thirsty, she gulped a couple of mouthfuls and then finished the drink. A short while later, she felt strange, slightly dizzy. She put the glass down in disgust. Had some joker had slipped something in it? She ought to have remembered what Sally’s guests were like. Damn the idiot who had spiked her drink! Her head was starting to spin and she felt as if she could hardly breathe. She needed some air. She lurched towards the front door, ignoring the ribald remarks made by some of the other guests. No one would think anything of her odd behavior – those who weren’t on drugs themselves were probably halfway to being drunk. Someone opened the door for her. She couldn’t see his face, because her vision was blurred. She swayed as the air hit her. Her head was going round and round. She was falling… but before she hit the ground someone stepped forward and caught her. Instinct warned her to fight, but she couldn’t. Her limbs wouldn’t obey her and the blackness was folding in on her. She was vaguely aware that she was being bundled into the back of a car, and then she passed out.

*****

Mike had been watching the house for some time. Earlier in the evening there had been several lights on, both upstairs and down, but for the last twenty minutes or so only one room at the back had had a light burning. It seemed the occupants had settled down for the night. He decided it was time to go in and get Angela out. If she was still there, of course. He couldn’t be certain, but thought it was likely that they hadn’t moved her for a second time. As far as they knew they were safe here, and there could only be a certain amount of these safe houses available to them. The clinic was no longer useful since he knew about it, though of course there might be others that he hadn’t yet discovered. He would just have to trust his instincts about this. He was flying on autopilot and had been for a while now. Mike’s bet was the people holding Angela had believed themselves pretty safe until he arrived on the scene. Even now he would guess they thought they were still one step ahead of him in the game. Mike thought he might just be ahead now. He’d been struggling in the dark for a while, but Sir Malcolm deciding to confide in him had been the break he needed. He was on the right track now, which meant it was time to spirit Angela away. His plans had been made days ago, after he’d first discovered where Angela was being held. Of course he hadn’t been sure of his facts then, but now he had things pretty much straight. And he wanted Angela somewhere safe. The man he was dealing with was ruthless. He was capable of having her killed if she became too much of a danger to him, and Mike couldn’t risk leaving her where she was any longer. He moved instinctively towards the back door. Many of the windows were heavily shuttered and breaking in that way would cause too much noise. Mike wasn’t sure how many men were guarding this place, but he thought there were probably at least two, and he wasn’t about to take unnecessary chances. If he were killed Angela might not survive for long. The back door was in constant use, which meant that for their own convenience the guards probably wouldn’t have bothered with bolts and security locks. He smiled as he discovered he was right. The old Yale lock yielded easily to persuasion, though there

was a slight creaking as Mike opened the door. He stepped inside, discovering that he was in a scullery, a faint light coming in through a small high window. Mike used a pencil torch to help him negotiate his way through the scullery and kitchen to the hall. There, he switched off, standing in the darkness for a few seconds, listening. No sudden noises, no indication that his entry had been heard. He took a deep breath. So far so good. The light was upstairs and at the end of the passage judging from what he’d seen from outside. Freeing Angela was going to be too difficult without disturbing her guards – so he would have to deal with them first. Hopefully they would take it in turns to sleep. Mike crept softly up the stairs, one of which creaked loudly. He cursed inwardly, the sound seeming violently loud to his ears. Pausing for a moment he waited, hand on the gun in his pocket, but it was okay. He hadn’t been heard. No doors were thrown open, no one came rushing out to challenge him. He continued up the stairs and along the landing. A faint light was showing beneath the door at the far end. He approached cautiously, hesitating outside the door before opening it carefully, gun in hand now, ready to use it if forced. A high-backed chair was placed in front of a portable TV standing on a packing case, but apart from that and the man sitting in it the room was empty. The TV was on but there was no sound coming from it, which put Mike on the alert. Was he expected? His finger hovered over the trigger as he crept up to the chair, putting the barrel to the man’s temple. “Don’t move, buddy,” he growled. “I don’t want to kill you but I will if I have to…” Something wasn’t right! There was no startled grunt, no jerk or reaction. He moved round the chair and then shuddered as he realized this particular man wasn’t going to be causing him any trouble. He was already dead, his throat cut; the blood had soaked everywhere and there was a lot of it. “What the hell?” Mike muttered, his stomach turning at the sight. He recognized the victim. He was one of the men he’d seen on his first visit – the one who had boasted about what he was going to do to Angela when this business was all over. Touching him, Mike discovered the body was not yet cold.

Someone else had to be here! He would have seen if the killer had left the house in the last few minutes. Mike’s mind was racing as he left the room. Where was Angela? What had happened between her guards? That throat cutting was more like an execution than a fight. His blood ran cold as he heard a cry, and knew it was a woman calling for help. He was still at the end of the hall, and a door was opening halfway down it, the light streaming out. He could see the man trying to push Angela through the opening, and realized that she was struggling, fighting as best she could, though obviously weak or drugged. Had the man had the use of both his arms she wouldn’t have had a chance, but as it was she was causing him trouble. “Shut it, you bitch,” the man muttered. “Or I’ll give you a slapping.” “I suggest that you let her go,” Mike said and the man spun towards the sound of his voice, a startled, scared expression in his eyes. Mike knew him at once. Even in the semi-darkness, he knew it was Scarface, his arm in a sling and clearly suffering from the bullet Mike had put in his shoulder, which was why Angela had been able to put up a good fight even in her condition. “Who the hell are you?” Scarface demanded. “If you’re who I think, tell this silly bitch I’m trying to help her. Abduction is one thing, but I’m not going to help him murder her.” Mike snapped on the hall light. He leveled his gun at Scarface’s head. “I’m a pretty good shot as you already know, and if I have to I’ll kill you. So be sensible. Let her go and stand away from her.” Scarface stared at him for a moment, deciding self-preservation was the better part of valor. He released Angela, raising his hands as he backed away from her. Angela sagged against the wall, obviously close to collapsing. “It’s all right, Angela,” Mike said. “I’m here to help you. Karin sent me.” “Karin?” Her head came up at that, and she stared at him. He could see that she was at the end of her strength. What had those bastards been doing to her! “Help me…please.” Mike was angry as he looked at Scarface. He wanted to thrash the man but knew he couldn’t allow himself to let his own feelings matter. It had been the same when he

was with the NYPD. You had to restrain your feelings when arresting a criminal you knew had committed a foul crime, because revenge wasn’t justice. He jerked his head towards the room he’d just left. “Did you kill him?” “I had to. He was going to rape and then kill her – he was boasting about it. He was a swine. He had it coming, believe me. You haven’t seen what Jem could do with a knife…he was sick! She’s a stupid bitch, but she doesn’t deserve that.” “I believe you,” Mike said. “Why the sudden change of plan? When did you get the order to kill her?” “About half an hour ago,” Scarface said. “We argued over it and I killed him. He would have done it without blinking – tortured her.” “And you couldn’t let that happen?” “I was paid to guard her and … other things. But I wasn’t paid to kill a woman.” “It’s okay. I know about the packing cases, and so do the proper authorities. It’s all over as far as the ring is concerned.” “Who the hell are you?” “Never mind who I am,” Mike said grimly. “Who gave the order to kill her?” “I don’t know – Jem was the contact. I merely did what I was told.” Scarface’s eyes flicked towards the far end of the hall. “Until I got tired of that devil in there.” Mike nodded. Scarface was lying; he knew more than he was saying but it didn’t matter. Mike knew all he needed to for the moment. “Where were you going to take her?” “Anywhere,” Scarface said. “Away from here. I would have dropped her out on the road. Someone would have found her. I have to get away…he’ll kill me. He’s worse than Jem, though others do his killing. He’s too clever to get caught.” “Okay,” Mike said. “Get going. I’ve never seen you – providing I never see you again.” “You mean it?” Scarface looked incredulous. “Thanks! Don’t worry. I’m not going to hang around for him to find me.” “If you want to live you’d better put distance between you and this place. Go on! Get out of here before I change my mind and kill you like the rat you are.”

Scarface shot him a dirty look, then started running, the sound of his feet clattering down the stairs as he took Mike at his word. Angela had been leaning against the wall with her eyes closed but she opened them as Mike approached her, giving him the faintest flicker of a smile. “Did Karin really send you?” “She hired me to find you, and she knows I was coming here to get you.” Angela nodded. “Thank you. I’m not sure how far I can walk. They have been drugging me. I’m not sure how long it is…forever…” “Lean on me,” Mike said gently. “I’ll put my arm around you and support you. I can carry you if I have to. Don’t worry, Angela. It’s over now. I’m taking you somewhere you will be safe until this is all finished.” She raised her head, looking into his eyes. “Do you know what this is all about – why he had me abducted?” “I know enough,” Mike said grimly. He was disgusted at the way she had been treated. Angela wasn’t identical to her twin, but she was enough like Karin for the similarity to affect him powerfully. “You can fill me in on the details when you’ve had time to rest.” “Yes.” Her glorious eyes filled with tears. “He’s ruthless. Tell Karin to be careful. He would kill her too if he had to.” “Karin is safe for the moment,” Mike said. “Don’t worry about a thing. I’ve got you now and everything is going to be fine.”

*****

Mike gazed at Angela as she sat on the edge of the bed, her face pale with exhaustion. She looked all in, dark shadows beneath her eyes, and probably needed to sleep for a few hours. “You can relax here,” he told her. “But no phone calls to anyone – promise? Not even your sister. No one knows where you are for the moment and we need to keep it that way until I’ve sorted this mess out.” “Word of honor,” Angela said and sighed wearily. “Don’t you want to hear my

part of the story, Mike?” “Later – when you’re less tired,” Mike said. “I want Karin to hear it straight from you, Angela.” “Yes.” She bit her lip, looking distressed and very much like her sister at that moment. “She isn’t going to like it much.” “I know that,” Mike agreed. “That’s why I want her to hear it firsthand. I rang through to the house just now and the housekeeper told me she left soon after I did, for London. She was with Sir Malcolm. I won’t risk ringing her again. I’m going back to London now and I’ll bring her here. I want to make sure we’re not followed – I want to make sure both of you are safe, and you will be here.” “It sounds as though you care about her?” Angela smiled as she read the answer in Mike’s face. “Okay – that’s your business. I just want you to know I’m grateful for what you did last night. I really thought he was going to kill me.” “We were fortunate he didn’t have the stomach for it,” Mike said. “Otherwise I might have been too late – his colleague wasn’t so squeamish.” “He killed him, didn’t he? I vaguely remember that they argued the whole time.” Angela blinked as Mike inclined his head in assent. “Why did they suddenly decide to get rid of me? Why now and not before?” “I think things must have begun to get too hot for someone,” Mike replied, mouth set in a hard, grim line. “Maybe I was getting too close. I took a risk and it paid off, but then I knew I had to get you out immediately.” Angela gazed into his eyes and nodded. “You know what this is all about, don’t you?” “I know enough,” Mike said, giving her a gentle, reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it now. You can fill me in on the gaps when I bring Karin back. You should sleep now.” Angela was fighting her weariness, her eyes closing even as he finished speaking. She was a brave girl but she’d been through a terrible experience – and he had a gut feeling that her abduction hadn’t been the beginning of it. If his instincts were right, Angela had a painful secret – something she had never revealed to her sister. Mike was frowning as he went out, leaving her to rest. He paused to speak to the

woman hovering anxiously at the foot of the stairs. “Look after her, Emma.” “Sure, Mike. You know you can trust me. Is she important to you?” Her soft brown eyes searched his face. “Someone who loves her is very important to me,” Mike said. He kissed Emma’s cheek. “Thanks for this. I know I shouldn’t have asked, but…” He hushed as she put her finger to his lips and smiled. “That’s what friends are for.” She hesitated, then, “Kathy was my cousin and I loved her, Mike – but sometimes it’s good to move on.” “Yeah.” Mike grinned. “You always were a wise one, Emma. I’ll be back soon with another guest for you.” Emma nodded. “You know I’ll do anything I can to help, Mike – and I rang Jake the way you said. He was out, but I left a message on his phone. I’m sure he’ll get back to you if he knows anything.” “Thanks, Emma. I didn’t want to risk ringing him myself – but I need his help on this one.” An impulse had made Mike look his wife’s cousin up when he was in the area a few days earlier. Emma was Jake Helman’s sister and she had been a tower of strength just after Kathy died, but then she had moved to England with her British husband and they’d lost touch. Mike felt the house in the pretty Sussex village would be a good place for the sisters to stay while he sorted the case out - or did his best to bring things to a satisfactory conclusion. He knew what was going on now, but proving it wasn’t going to be that easy! Which is why he’d asked Emma to call her brother in New York. Jake Helman might be able to answer an important question for him. This business was more complicated than he had dreamed at the start. Unfortunately the case didn’t consist of reporting back to Nidzack. Mike had a good idea of where most of the stolen items were likely to be found. Some of it was undoubtedly at the house where Angela had been held, but there were at least three other addresses that would bear investigation. The problem was proving the identity of the man behind the

various scams that had been going on. Angela would be able to support his story if she chose – but would she do that in court? The decision wouldn’t be an easy one for her. He was fairly confident of being able to supply partial proof – the police raids would establish the presence of stolen goods, and he would arrange that immediately, before it could all be moved. The thought of trapping the man who had somehow managed to avoid detection for a lot of years caused Mike some serious soul searching. He could go ahead with the rendezvous with Reinburg as Sir Malcolm had suggested, of course – but that would inevitably have only one ending. No proof needed. Just a summary trial and execution. In Mike’s estimation that was little short of murder. Such action went against the grain with him. He would be condoning a cold blooded killing, which could be justified if you considered that lives had already been lost because of one man’s lust for money and power. If he were in New York, Mike might have stood a chance of being listened to. Somehow he couldn’t see Inspector Jarvis believing what was admittedly hardly credible even to Mike. The story was one of betrayal and evil, and Mike would have felt like washing his hands of the whole thing if it hadn’t been for Karin and her sister. Mike tried ringing Karin a couple of times as he drove back to London. Why wasn’t she answering? It was early in the morning, but not that early. She’d made him promise to ring her as soon as he could – so where the hell was she? “Come on, answer,” he said, drumming his fingernails against the wheel as the frustration mounted. The sky was quite light when Mike parked Karin’s car in the underground park she normally used, then walked the short distance to the square. He let himself into her flat, immediately sensing that she wasn’t there. Instinct told him there was something wrong. Karin wouldn’t have gone out without her mobile. She’d been too anxious for him to ring her. He went through the motions of looking for her in the bedroom and bathroom, though he already knew she wasn’t around. The clothes she’d worn the previous day were lying on her bed – which hadn’t been slept in by the look of things. He frowned.

Karin had clearly been here and then gone out – but where? He glanced at his watch. It was past nine now. Would she have gone to work? She’d said something about quitting her job. Had she changed her mind? She could have gone to visit a friend, of course. His stomach was tight with tension. He couldn’t get over this sick feeling inside that was telling him Karin was in trouble. He cursed furiously. Why the hell hadn’t he taken her with him? She’d been angry with him for shutting her out, but he’d wanted to protect her from the reality of what was about to happen. If things had gone badly both he and Angela could have been killed. Mike hadn’t wanted to risk Karin, because he cared too much. He frowned as he realized which way his thoughts were taking him. He was in love with her, damn it! Somehow he must have betrayed that – he must have given himself away. If she had been snatched it was his fault. Maybe he was panicking too soon. She could have been to a friend’s house, stayed over. After all, he hardly knew her or what she did with her life when he wasn’t around. Mike sighed with frustration. He was bushed. He needed a shower, coffee and some sleep before he tried to work out what to do about this latest complication. If Karin had been taken – which side had her? Why was she being held? Because she knew something or to bring him into line? He hoped to hell it was the right side, because otherwise Karin might already be dead. The trouble was he couldn’t be sure there were any good guys at all in this filthy business.

CHAPTER NINE

As Karin’s eyes opened she was aware of pain in her head, then as the nausea rushed over her, she turned on her side and was violently sick on the floor. The sour smell was horrible and made her draw back with a grimace of disgust, but she had been unable to hold the vomit back long enough to get to the bathroom. She lay her head on the pillow, gradually beginning to be aware of her surroundings. Where on earth was she? This wasn’t her own room – it wasn’t any room she’d ever seen before. Turning her head gingerly, she glanced round. Was she in a hotel? Somehow she didn’t think so – no, this was a house, but a rather dingy and depressing place. The wallpaper was hanging limply from the walls, and there were large patches of damp on the ceiling. Karin closed her eyes against the light, which came from one plain bulb in the ceiling, trying to think what had happened to her. How had she gotten to this place? She’d been at Sally’s party and…someone had doctored her drink. Now she recalled stumbling outside and passing out. She’d been grabbed as she fell and bundled into the back of a car! Her eyes opened once more and she sat up suddenly as the memory came back to her, and with it everything else that had been on her mind before she was drugged. She felt for her mobile phone, but it had been taken from her. Slipping her hand into the pocket of her jeans, she discovered that her credit card and the money were still there – so it was just the phone. That must mean that the person who’d grabbed her was interested in her rather than robbery. He didn’t intend her to summon help! Karin bit her lip. She was such an idiot to let this happen and Mike was going to be really annoyed with her. If she ever saw him again. But she wasn’t going to let herself think that way. She eased herself off the bed, relieved to find that at least whoever had taken her hadn’t bothered to bind her ankles or wrists. Stepping over her own vomit, she walked to the door and tried it. It was locked, but she had expected that, of course. She had almost certainly been brought here for a purpose. Had she been taken hostage to replace Angela? Had Mike managed to get her

sister out of that place where she’d been held? Karin prayed that her twin was safe. She would be able to cope with her own captivity so much better if she could just be sure that Angela was okay. She walked round the room, discovering that there was a small window, which had been nailed over with wood from the outside but showed chinks of light through the cracks, and a toilet adjoining her room. At least she could relieve herself, she thought, and she could use some of the tissue provided to clean up that revolting mess she’d made on waking; that would be an improvement. Not that she intended staying here one minute longer than she need. At least she was able to think clearly. She hadn’t been kept under sedation as Angela had and she would fight like hell before she let them drug her again. She felt better as she came out of the toilet. She’d rinsed her mouth with cold water from the basin and splashed her face. It hadn’t taken away the nasty taste in her mouth or relieved her headache, but it had made her feel slightly more like herself. Now she had to think of a way to get herself out of here. Would it be any use banging on the door and yelling? She supposed it might be worth a try. She was walking towards the door when she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock and she hesitated, stiffening as it began to open inwardly and then a man entered the room. A man she’d never seen before in her life. He had dark, narrow set eyes and black hair slicked back close to his head - and he scared the hell out of her. She took a step away from him, her heart racing wildly. “So you’ve woken up at last, Miss Blake,” he said in a mild tone she immediately distrusted. “I trust you are feeling better?” “Who the hell are you?” she demanded, lifting her head as pride came to her rescue. “And why did you drug me? Don’t you dare to try it again!” “You misjudge me, ma'am,” he said and she realized that he was an American as she heard the deliberate drawl in his mocking tone. “I merely picked up the pieces. You should thank me – had I not been keeping a watch over you, you might even now be keeping your sister company…” “Where is she, damn you?” Karin suddenly flew at him, striking at his chest with her fists. “If you’ve hurt her I’ll kill you.”

He caught her wrists, holding her without effort until she finally realized it was hopeless and gave up. “That’s better,” he said as she calmed down. “Behave yourself and you won’t get hurt. I wasn’t responsible for what happened to your sister, believe me.” “Then why have you brought me here?” she demanded. “And why did you take my phone away?” “To stop you phoning your boyfriend,” he said, his lips twisting in a cold sneer. “I had to snatch you to save you from a worse fate, Miss Blake – but now that I have you, I intend to use you. Mike Wendell can be a stubborn fool, and he isn’t being a good boy. No, he isn’t being a good boy at all.” Karin stared at him, the color draining from her face as she realized who he was. “I know you,” she whispered. “You’re…” “So Mike indulged you in a little pillow talk, huh?” Reinburg’s expression sent shivers down her spine. “He must value you even more than I thought. Which is lucky for me, Miss Blake. Because, now I have him right where I want him.” “You’re a devil – that’s what you are!” Reinburg laughed. “Now you might just be right about that, Miss Blake. I can certainly be rather unpleasant when I choose.” “Let me go! You have no right to hold me!” “Don’t make me teach you a lesson, Karin,” he said his voice dangerously soft. “I would prefer to deliver you to Mike in good shape – but misbehave and I might decide otherwise.” Karin stared at him for a few seconds, and what she saw in his eyes convinced her he meant what he said. She inclined her head, knowing that there was no way she was going to win a physical struggle with this man! “Okay… what do you want me to do?” “That’s very much better,” Reinburg said. “Later, I’m going to get you to give Mike a call for me. But for the moment you might like to have a bath and something to eat?” Karin’s head came up. “I could do with some coffee and an aspirin,” she said with a faint smile. “And a shower would be good, thanks.”

Reinburg’s leer wiped the smile from her face. “Let’s hope your boyfriend decides to do as I tell him,” he murmured. “I would hate to put a bullet through that pretty head of yours.”

*****

Mike was working systematically through Karin’s list of friends and colleagues when her front doorbell rang. He’d already made twenty phone calls without success, and he sprang up eagerly to check who was at the door. “Karin isn’t here right now,” he said into the intercom. “Who wants to see her?” “It’s Sally,” a female voice answered. “And if you’re Mike I want to see you.” Mike opened the door to the pretty girl, inviting her in. He offered her his hand and smiled as she took it. She looked him over in a manner that was frankly curious. “Hi, I’m Mike Wendell,” he said. “I’m afraid I don’t know anything about you – but if you’re a friend of Karin’s perhaps you can tell me where I might find her?” “I was wondering that myself,” Sally said with a frown. “Ben said she went off abruptly last night. One minute she’d been dancing with him, the next she’d disappeared. That isn’t like her, and someone else said they saw her being bundled into the back of a black taxicab. I was a bit worried about her, which is why I came round. Her phone has been engaged for hours.” “That’s my fault,” Mike said. “Karin has all her important numbers keyed into her telephone and I’ve been working my way through the list. I expected her to be here when I got back early this morning – but she wasn’t. If she came to your house…” He looked at her from beneath lazy lids. “You were having a party last night?” Sally nodded. “I phoned her at about seven and she said she would come over. We had a quick chat and then I took some food round and she danced with Ben Rostov for a while. They’ve been friends for ages. Ben was surprised when she left without saying anything.” “You didn’t see her go?” Mike frowned. “I’ve tried her agent and various other friends, but no one seems to have seen her.” “Do you think she’s been kidnapped? Isn’t that what happened to Angela?”

Sally stared at him in dismay. “I really like Karin, Mike. I should hate it if anything happened to her.” “Angela is okay,” Mike said. “If Karin should call you, tell her I said that.” Sally nodded, looking at him oddly. “You don’t have any idea where she might be – any health clubs she visits for a work out? Anywhere she likes to spend time?” “Karin was always working,” Sally said. “She was a career girl, Mike. If her agent doesn’t know…” She broke off as the doorbell rang, springing to her feet. Before he could stop her, Sally was at the door and opening it without bothering to check who was there. Mike followed her, frowning as he saw Inspector Jarvis standing on the top step with another man beside him. Jarvis looked beyond her to Mike. “Mr. Wendell,” he said. “Perhaps you could spare me a few minutes now that you have returned to town?” “You’d better come in,” Mike said. He turned to Sally. “Maybe you’ll give me a call if you hear anything?” She nodded uncertainly and passed the police officers, looking curiously from them to Mike as she went through the open door. “Tell Karin to ring me if you see her first,” she said. “Sure thing,” Mike promised. “It was nice meeting you, Sally.” Inspector Jarvis closed the front door and followed as Mike led the way into the sitting room. “I’m glad to find you here, Mr. Wendell. I was afraid you might have moved on and neglected to give us your new address.” “I intended to move,” Mike said, eyes narrowed and angry. “But something has come up.” “Anything you want to tell me about?” Jarvis raised his brows. “Not at the moment,” Mike replied. “If you’ve come to ask questions about Rikki…” “As a matter of fact, I’ve come to tell you that that little matter has taken a new twist, Mr. Wendell. Another murder has been discovered, and the weapon used appears to have been the same one used to kill Rikki. We have the knife and we ran a check. Traces of blood, which match that from the first crime scene, were found on the hilt. It would appear on the face of it that whoever murdered Rikki also killed our second

victim.” “I don’t understand you.” Mike’s blood ran cold. “Who has been murdered this time?” “His name was Randall.” Inspector Jarvis handed Mike a photograph. “I wondered if you had any knowledge of this man? Our investigations into Rikki’s death have led us to believe that Randall was the informer who telephoned us anonymously to point the finger at you. That is rather curious, wouldn’t you say?” A sense of relief flooded through Mike. He had thought Karin might have been the new victim. Mike stared at the man in the photograph, recognizing him at once. He was the man who had followed him to the meet with Reinburg. The same man he had found holding Karin at gunpoint in her apartment. The man he had named the weasel. He studied it in silence for a moment, then handed it back to the Inspector. “When was this murder committed?” “In the early hours of this morning,” Jarvis replied. “A fight was heard at a café in Soho and someone saw a man with blood on his hands running away. This time the caller was not anonymous, and we have eliminated him from our inquiries. The similarity between the two murders struck me immediately, and I made a special request for a quick check on the forensic we found. More work needs to be done, of course, but the results were pretty clear. “And there was plenty of evidence. Randall had put up quite a struggle and there were traces of skin under his fingernails. The killer must have dropped the knife during the fight. Randall didn’t die immediately it seems, but kept on struggling after he had been stabbed. He was, however, dead before he could speak to us.” Mike nodded, staring at him hard. “So now you think I killed both of them, I suppose?” “Contrary to what you may think, Mr. Wendell, the British police are not complete fools.” Jarvis frowned. “We can move fast when we need to – and we were fortunate enough to discover a fingerprint on the hilt of the knife. A computer check with your police department in New York has eliminated you from the inquiry for the moment. And of course there would have been a lot of blood on the killer’s clothes.”

His eyes were hard as they met Mike’s. “You were seen parking Miss Blake’s car early this morning. Had you been covered in blood at the time I think my officer would have noticed.” “For the moment?” He raised his brows. “I take it the jury is still out on whether or not I may be implicated in these crimes in some way?” “All I would say for the moment is that we would prefer you not to leave the country for the time being. And if you move on we would be grateful if you could keep us in touch.” Mike grinned. “Okay, that’s fair enough. I suppose I should thank you for not pulling me in straight away.” “We have it on good authority that you are to be trusted, Mr. Wendell. I hope our information turns out to be reliable.” He nodded, pausing for a moment as he turned to leave. “You are quite certain there is nothing you would like to tell me, sir?” Mike hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. “Thank you, Inspector, but I don’t need your help right at this moment.” Jarvis frowned. “Please try to remember that you are a guest in this country, not a member of our police authority. If you know of a crime it is your duty to report it to us, Mr. Wendell.” “Sure thing,” Mike said. “Thanks for reminding me.” Jarvis scowled and turned away, his sergeant following without a word. Mike watched them go, hearing the front door bang as they left. He frowned as he picked up the telephone, then replaced it. First Rikki, now the weasel had been murdered. It seemed that Mr. Big was cleaning house. Anyone who could put the finger on him was being eliminated. Angela might have been dead by now if Mike hadn’t arrived when he did – or if Scarface hadn’t interfered. Something was bugging Mike. He worried at the thought uppermost in his mind. Three murders all done with a knife. Scarface had also executed his colleague by means of a knife, yet were the murders connected? Had Scarface lied when he said he was about to set Angela free? Maybe Mr. Big didn’t want Angela’s murder to be obvious? Perhaps because it

might reflect on him in some way? The other murders could not be traced back to him, but Angela’s case was different. So had he asked for something special for her? An accident perhaps. A girl with traces of various drugs in her blood found on a main road… apparently knocked down by a hit and run driver or possibly thrown from a moving car at speed. Mike felt sick as he realized he might have made a mistake in letting Scarface go. He should have killed the man when he had the chance – or had him arrested for the murder of his colleague. He sighed wearily as his mind chased after elusive threads. Lack of sleep was getting to him. Maybe he’d got this thing all muddled up in his head. He’d thought he knew exactly what was going on but …He was too close to this case! His mind wasn’t seeing as clearly as it usually did. If he’d left a dangerous murderer on the loose, he was as much to blame for the weasel’s murder as Mr. Big. He shook his head, trying to clear it as he got back to the problem of finding Karin. He was reaching for the phone again to check on yet more of her friends when his mobile rang. He’d been charging it up earlier that morning, but now it was switched on. “Wendell here.” “Where the hell have you been?” Reinburg’s voice sent a chill down Mike’s spine. “I’ve been expecting you to contact me. You broke your word, Wendell. I asked you to come back to me before you spoke to Nidzack.” “I just wanted to make sure a few packing cases didn’t go astray.” Mike said. “I thought it was the man you wanted not the goods?” “Have you found him?” “I might have,” Mike said. “I’m not an executioner, Reinburg. Why don’t I just hand my evidence over to the British cops? Leave them to sort out their own traitor?” “Do that and you say goodbye to your girlfriend!” “Karin – you’ve got Karin?” Mike’s blood ran cold. He hadn’t expected this. He’d thought someone else might have grabbed her, but this was chilling. “Hurt her and I’ll come after you, Reinburg. I’ll kill you if anything happens to Karin.” “I’m glad to hear she means that much to you,” Reinburg said. “She’s quite safe and she’ll stay that way as long as you do as you’re told.”

“Let me speak to her.” Mike gripped the phone, his knuckles turning white as he heard a scuffle in the background and then the sound of heavy breathing. “Karin?” “Is that you, Mike?” she asked and he could hear the sob of relief in her voice. “I’m so sorry. I was careless.” “It’s not your fault,” Mike said. He felt the blade turn inside him. She was blaming herself and it was his fault for not looking after her properly. He’d brought her into this and now…he would never forgive himself if anything happened to her! “Are you all right? He hasn’t hurt you?” “No – I’m all right,” she said. “I went to a party at Sally’s house. Someone slipped something in my drink and when I came out he grabbed me and brought me here.” “Where are you?” Mike asked. “Can you give me a clue?” “Mike!” Karin screamed as the phone was torn from her. “Is Angela all right?” “She’s okay,” Reinburg said in Mike’s ear. “She’ll stay that way as long as you don’t try to double cross me.” “I never had any intention of that,” Mike said. “Let her go, Reinburg, and I’ll see you get what you want.” “She stays here until after I get what I want,” Reinburg growled. “Have you found him?” “Yes,” Mike said. “He told me a long story about you having turned renegade and he thinks I believe him – but I don’t. I played him along until I was sure of my facts. I know who Mr. Big is and I know where most of the stuff is stashed.” “Can you set up a meeting for me?” “Are you going to kill him?” “Yes. Conscience getting to you, Wendell? Remember he’s had other men killed, he deserves all he gets! Besides, it’s him or Miss Blake.” “She wins,” Mike grunted. “I know he’s a killer – he has been systematically wiping out everyone who could identify him. That means I’m probably on his list. You’ll be doing me a favor if you eliminate him.” “Just don’t try to pull a fast one. Karin will be safe while I’m alive. If anything happens to me she will be executed. I’m not alone in this, Wendell.”

“I never imagined you were.” “Good. So tell me…” “There’s an estate in Hampshire – it’s called Northwood and not far from an abandoned clinic. The Swinford Clinic.” “Never heard of either of them. You’ll have to be more specific.” “Karin can direct you to Northwood better than I can. Bring her with you, Reinburg.” “I told you she stays here.” “Bring her or there’s no deal. I’ll meet you outside the grounds of Northwood. If Karin isn’t with you, you get no more information.” “You’re pushing your luck, Wendell.” “That’s the deal – take it or leave it.” Mike held his breath. He was counting on Reinburg wanting Mr. Big too much to risk losing out at this stage. “All right, I’ll bring her – but remember I have a long memory. Cross me and I’ll take you and the girl with me.” “Yeah, I know that,” Mike said. “This time you are just going to have to trust me, Reinburg.” “What time do we meet?” “Nine o'clock this evening.” “You’d better be there and so had he.” “Don’t worry, he’ll be there. We both will.” “Don’t try anything stupid.” “Listen…” Mike frowned as the call was cut dead. He swore aloud, cursing himself for being a damned fool. He should have looked after Karin. He should never have left her alone. “Damn him! Damn the whole lot of them!” Mike got up and walked about the room in frustration, wondering how best to play this. He was caught between a rock and a hard place, a pawn between two ruthless men each playing a dangerous game. Mike had never been fooled by Sir Malcolm’s story. Oh yes, he believed that he worked for British Intelligence and that he was behind the movement of stolen art – but not for the benefit of Nidzack or upholding the law.

Maybe the man called Symons had once been Reinburg’s Mr. Big, but Mike doubted it. He was a scapegoat, a front for the man who had masterminded this whole thing for years – growing rich on his ill-gotten gains. And Symons had been eliminated when he made a mistake, allowing himself to be caught for some unconnected fraud. He must have been about to break under the pressure and give Sir Malcolm away when he was killed. The murder had taken place in New York and somehow Angela had witnessed it. She’d known her uncle was involved, and because of that he’d had her kidnapped and drugged, held at that deserted clinic until he was ready to dispose of her. Maybe he’d even hoped to keep her alive? If he could have found a way to kill Reinburg, he might have got away with everything. Mike had pretended to believe every word of the lies he was fed, because he still needed proof of Sir Malcolm’s involvement – but he had that now. He had Angela’s testimony if he needed it. Mike frowned. Maybe there was another way. Reinburg and Sir Malcolm were enemies, both as rotten as they came, both playing on two sides of the fence at the same time. That was what had thrown Mike for a long time. He hadn’t been sure whether Reinburg was on the level; he hadn’t known for sure what was going on between the two, but now he was pretty certain he was right. Reinburg must have been in on this thing long ago, and maybe Symons was the go between – the contact. Reinburg hadn’t known how to get in touch with Mr. Big after Symons was killed so he sent his agents in to try and trace him, no doubt spinning them the same story as he’d given Mike. Three of them had been killed, as had the man who had intercepted a painting destined for Mr. Big. Reinburg had decided he was being double crossed so he needed a man he could trust – a man he imagined he could manipulate – to find Mr. Big for him. But he hadn’t bargained on Mike using his head and no one had realized that a girl looking for someone to find her twin sister would help him stumble on the truth so quickly. And that was what had made it so dangerous for Karin and Angela! Sir Malcolm had been furious to discover that his niece had recruited a man he already knew to be working for his enemy. He’d had his men jump Mike as he left the night-club after

Rikki’s call, because he wanted to know what kind of a man he was dealing with … but he hadn’t had Mike killed because all attempts to get to Reinburg had failed. Mike paced the floor like a caged tiger. There was no way out of this mess that he could see, other than to go ahead with the meeting that evening. It would be dangerous, both for Karin and Mike, but he had no alternative. He dialed Sir Malcolm’s number. Someone answered promptly. “Yes?” “Wendell here.” “Tell me.” “Tonight at nine.” “Very well. Be there yourself.” “Of course.” The line was cut abruptly. Mike frowned as he shut down. He hadn’t told Sir Malcolm that Karin had been snatched – or that Angela was now safe. He wouldn’t trust Karin’s uncle any more than he trusted Reinburg. They were both of them ruthless men, playing for power, wealth and ambition. There was no real reason why he should bother what they did to each other. It might be better for all concerned if they went ahead and killed one another. And yet Mike had an instinctive dislike of violent, unlawful death. What he would have liked to see would have been an arrest by the proper authorities leading to a trial and imprisonment according to the law. Common sense told him that just wasn’t going to happen. One or both of the men would be killed that night, which left a hollow sensation in Mike’s stomach. However, he couldn’t afford to be squeamish. He needed to have his wits about him if he was going to bring Karin safely out of this. For a moment his emotions were swamped by fear for her. What had that swine done to her? He was at fault for pushing her away when she’d wanted to go with him. He should have taken her down to Emma’s before he went to get Angela, but he’d wanted it to look as though he believed Sir Malcolm. He’d taken a calculated risk, and it had backfired on him. It was no use thinking about what he ought to have done! Mike cursed softly as

he reached for his mobile. He needed some help, but there was no one he could really trust – no one who would believe his story this side of the Atlantic. At least he could talk to Emma, make sure Angela was okay. He dialed the number and Emma answered. “Yes, she’s fine,” Emma said in answer to his inquiry. “Did you want to talk to her?” “No – Look, something has gone wrong, Emma, but I don’t want Angela to know. It would upset her and she’s been through enough already.” “Yes, I understand,” Emma replied. “There’s someone else here who wants to talk to you. I’ll put him on.” Mike frowned as he heard Emma speak to someone close by and the receiver was handed over, then a voice he recognized came on the line. “Is that you, Mike? I need to speak to you urgently. When can we meet?” “Jake?” Mike stared at his mobile in disbelief. “Are you really at Emma’s?” “I flew over yesterday and got here soon after you left this morning. I missed you by a few minutes. We have to meet. There are things you need to know, Mike.” “I probably know most of them by now,” Mike growled. “What I want to know is where you come into all this? Where do you stand, Jake – are you with me or them?” “Reinburg tried to recruit me,” Jake Helman said. “I turned him down. If you’re working for him, you should know that a contract has recently been put out on him – and that’s official. He’s a renegade and a traitor, Mike.” “Now you tell me! Don’t let Angela know, but he has Karin. He’s holding her to make sure I play ball.” “Be careful of him, Mike. He’s a killer.” “Yes, I know. I’m surrounded by them. I need help, Jake.” “That’s why I’ve been sent here. There are some people back home who want to make sure Reinburg gets stopped.” “Are you suggesting what I think you are?” Mike frowned. “We can’t discuss this over the phone. We have to talk in private.” “We’ll meet at the Swinford Clinic – that’s a deserted house near the Northwood estate in Hampshire.” Mike gave him directions as best he could. “Angela could

probably direct you to her uncle’s estate better than I – but don’t tell her why you want to know, and don’t bring her with you. We’ve got enough trouble as it is.” “I’ll leave almost at once,” Jake said. “Don’t let us down on this one, Mike. We’re relying on you.” “I have a couple of things to do before I leave town, the most important of which is to make sure I’m not followed. Too many people have been murdered recently, Jake, and the police are watching me all the time – to say nothing of the others.” “At least I don’t have that worry,” Jake said. “I’m sorry I got you into this, Mike. I sent Karin to you, but I had no idea of the connection.” “Save the apologies,” Mike said dryly. “The sooner we meet the better.”

CHAPTER TEN

“Where are you taking me?” Karin demanded. “She hung back as Reinburg took hold of her wrist, dragging her with him. “What were you arranging with Mike earlier? Something about a meeting?” “Why don’t you keep your mouth shut?” he snarled back. “I’m sick of your questions.” He patted his jacket pocket menacingly, his snakelike eyes sending shivers down her spine. This was a man who killed for a living and she knew he would kill her as easily as he would squash a fly. “There’s a gun in here, and I’ll use it on you if you force me to. We’re going now. I have a car outside and you’re going to walk to it quietly. You hear me? No screaming or calling attention to yourself if anyone is around.” Karin lifted her head scornfully. “I shan’t be much use to you if you kill me.” His fingers bit into her flesh, making her wince. “I can do things to you that will make you wish you’d never been born,” he said. “Just don’t push my patience too far.” Karin nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Her chances of getting away from him were slim. He was a big man and she believed he meant what he said. He would kill her if she pushed him too far. Her only choice for the moment was to do as he ordered and wait to see what happened. But she wasn’t going to give in just like that. Maybe if he dropped his guard for one moment… “Don’t even think about it,” Reinburg warned as if he could read her thoughts. “Not if you care about that boyfriend of yours.” “You wouldn’t dare…” She began but the protest died on her lips unspoken. She suspected that there was very little this man wouldn’t dare. “Okay. I’ll behave. You don’t have to break my wrist. I’m not going to give you any trouble.” “You won’t get hurt if you’re sensible. I’m not interested in you, Karin. If Mike behaves himself you’ll be back with him later this evening.” “You’re not going to kill Mike?” “Only if he double crosses me.” Karin wasn’t sure she believed him. He was ruthless and evil, and he would probably dispose of both her and Mike once he had what he wanted.

“Why should Mike do that? He’s working for you, isn’t he? What makes you think he would betray you?” “That’s my business, so keep your nose out of it.” Reinburg studied her from narrowed, unfriendly eyes. “Just where do you and your sister come into this? I know she disappeared a few weeks back.” If Reinburg hadn’t been holding Angela that left only one alternative in Karin’s mind. She decided to play dumb. She just hoped Mike knew what was going on! “I don’t know what you mean. What has Angela got to do with any of this?” Reinburg gave her arm a vicious tweak but didn’t challenge her, merely pushed her ahead of him as they left the room and approached a set of narrow stairs. Karin noticed that the rest of the house looked just as dilapidated as the rooms upstairs. It had obviously been neglected for a long while, though it still had all its main services so it hadn’t yet been condemned. Maybe it was just meant to look that way from the outside, for Reinburg’s benefit? It would be too dangerous for him to stay in hotels and guesthouses for long. “Go ahead of me and wait in the hall,” he muttered jerking her forward. “The door is locked so you can’t get out without me.” Karin obeyed, waiting obediently as he unlocked the door. He grabbed her again and held the upper part of her arm so tightly that it hurt, but she wouldn’t give him the pleasure of knowing he was hurting her. He pushed her through the door on to the pavement outside, still gripping her hard. Karin saw they were in a narrow back street, and guessed it was somewhere in the East End of London. Across the road dustbins overflowed at the back of a greasy spoon café, and stray cats nosed around the litter. Half of the houses in the street had been boarded up, though a group of young men who looked as if they might be squatters were emerging from the house next door but one. Reinburg paused as the group moved towards them, his fingers digging into her arm as if to remind her that she would be in trouble if she tried to draw attention to herself. The young men were obviously a boisterous crowd, sprawling over the whole pavement, laughing good-naturedly and fighting amongst themselves. They were pushing against one another in friendly horseplay as they converged en masse on Karin

and her captor. For one brief moment Reinburg was caught up in their midst, his contact with Karin broken as a couple of the men jostled him, clearly finding it amusing. She needed only that slight chance to take off down the road, running for all she was worth. She heard Reinburg’s yell of anger, but glancing back she saw the young men were still hogging the pavement, providing an effective barrier. He couldn’t shoot at her while they were still milling around him. Karin paused to kick off her high-heeled sandals and resumed running for all she was worth. She turned the corner into a wider street, which was busy with traffic, pausing on the pavement for a moment before making a wild dash between the oncoming vehicles as she saw Reinburg at the corner of the first street. A lorry hooted at her as it swerved to avoid her, narrowly missing a man on a motorcycle. Several cars joined in, and a man stuck his head out of a car window to yell at her. “Look where you’re going, you silly…” his insult was lost in the roar of the traffic. Karin ignored him and kept running. Once she glanced back and saw that Reinburg was trying to cross the road, but had got stuck in the middle, unable to follow her. The drivers of a couple of vans were standing on their horns, blasting at him, forcing him to wait in the middle of the road. She took the opportunity to turn yet another corner. Just ahead of her, a taxi had been discharging its passengers outside a public house. She grabbed the door handle and jumped in as the driver was about to pull away. He glanced at her. “Where to, miss?” Karin gave him the address of Sally’s house. She needed somewhere safe to hide for a few hours. Sally would lend her a change of clothes and perhaps her car. Karin knew it wouldn’t be safe to try collecting her own, even if Mike had returned it, and she couldn’t be sure where he was at the moment. He was meeting Reinburg at her uncle’s estate that evening. Karin would try to get there first, to let Mike know that she had escaped her captor. She considered trying to ring him on his mobile but abandoned the idea almost at once. If she spoke to Mike he would certainly forbid her to go down to Northwood, and she wanted to be there.

Maybe Mike understood how ruthless Reinburg was, and maybe he didn’t. Whatever, she didn’t intend to be left out of this final showdown.

*****

Mike saw the black Ford car parked near the gates of the Swinford Clinic and smiled as he pulled his own, almost identical hired car to a stop behind it. Moment’s later, his smile vanished as he saw that Angela was with Jake Helman. He got out and walked towards the car. Jake opened the back door for him and he slid inside. “I know what you’re going to say,” Jake cut in before he could speak. “I tried to talk sense to her, but she insisted on coming, and she knows some interesting stuff, Mike. I think you should listen to her for a couple of minutes.” Mike scowled and then nodded. “You’d better tell me,” he said. “Then you can take this car and go back to Emma’s and wait for us. Start from the beginning, and I don’t mean what happened a couple of months ago.” “You mean when I was sixteen?” Angela bit her lip. “I sneaked into my uncle’s study that afternoon. I’d always been suspicious of him. He seemed so secretive, and he met odd people at the log cabin – men that didn’t fit in with everything else.” “Were they criminal types?” Angela nodded. “I liked to write in the cabin. It wasn’t kept locked then. One day, when my uncle came in with someone else, I hid in the little room at the back of the main one. There’s a camp bed in there and a cupboard and I heard them talking about a nightclub. It was apparently a pretty sleazy place somewhere in Soho. Uncle Malcolm said they should buy it – that it was the perfect cover for some deal they were setting up.” “You didn’t hear what kind of a deal?” “No, I didn’t hear enough for that, but it sounded pretty dodgy and it made me curious.” “So you started poking around in Sir Malcolm’s affairs?” “I disliked him from the beginning,” Angela admitted. “For some reason I can’t explain, unless it was the way he looked at me sometimes. He wasn’t the same with Karin. He was strict with her, but he behaved as he should towards his niece, but he was

always touching me…” She broke off as though distressed. Mike frowned, eyes narrowed. “Go on, Angela. You searched your uncle’s study, didn’t you? What did you find?” “There’s a safe in the room behind the painted screen. My uncle wasn’t as careful then. He left his keys in his jacket pocket. I crept down late at night – that was before he installed the security system of course.” Mike nodded. “I discovered he already owned one nightclub and was buying another. He kept a set of account books in the safe. I also found something that seemed to indicate he was much more than just an ordinary civil servant. He was working in Intelligence in a highly sensitive area.” “Something to do with sophisticated weapons?” Mike hazarded a guess. “Yes, I think so. I wasn’t sure what the drawings meant, but I sensed that he ought not to keep them in his own personal safe. They looked as if they had been on microfilm and blown up larger.” “So he was probably a spy even then,” Mike said and Jake whistled. “He must have been pretty annoyed with you for discovering his secrets. Did he catch you in his study?” “No. I locked everything, put the keys back as they were and went back to bed,” Angela said and there was a quiver in her voice. “But I must have moved something, because he knew and he guessed who had been snooping. I saw him giving me odd looks the next day, but he didn’t say anything, until Karin left for her school that weekend.” “He cares what Karin thinks of him,” Mike observed. “What did he do to you after she left, Angela?” She closed her eyes for a moment. “He came to my room that night and – and he ripped the clothes from the bed, then he pulled me out and shook me as if I were a rag doll. He stripped my nightdress off and when I tried to cover myself he asked me how I liked my secrets being on view. He called me a slut and a whore and – and he said he would kill me if I told anyone. He said Karin was safe, but if I betrayed him…” She shuddered. “He was so cold … so unfeeling. I’ve never been so scared – even when his men grabbed me.” “I can imagine.” Mike looked grim as he imagined the thoughts that must have gone through a sixteen-year-old’s mind. Sir Malcolm was her guardian and a respected

man. Who would have believed her story? “Why did they grab you, Angela?” “I was researching some art thefts for a novel,” Angela said. “Working on a mixture of information and research, I visited a sleazy nightclub in New York – and I saw my uncle leaving.” “He was there? In New York? When was this?” “About two months – perhaps a little more. I’m not sure now. I’ve lost the past few weeks.” “Yes, it’s near enough,” Mike said. “Go on. What happened next?” “I read in the paper the next day that a man had been found murdered in an ally near that club. It was supposed to be a mugging, but he was British, and a man my uncle had known for years.” “So you put two and two together?” Mike nodded. “Did they grab you in New York or here?” “Here,” Angela admitted with a rueful look. “I flew out on a fake passport, because I didn’t want to be known. I came to London, then went over to Paris to a gallery. I was still researching the book, you see. I asked a lot of questions of the owner, about whether they ever got offered stolen goods and where famous pictures that had been stolen would be sold.” “Poking your nose in,” Mike said with a grin. “And then what?” “I came back to England and drove down to my uncle’s house to do a bit of snooping,” she said. “I made some startling discoveries – but the housekeeper must have rung and told him I was there. He came down and asked me to leave. When I did, I was followed and grabbed by the men you saw the night you rescued me. They injected something in my arm and it was a while before I came round again. After that, they gave me tablets to swallow. Sleeping pills, I think. I heard them talking. They were afraid they might have given me too much of the drug the first time. At that time they didn’t seem as if they wanted to kill me. Perhaps my uncle wanted to make sure I hadn’t sent Karin anything that might incriminate him. I can’t be sure. I heard them talking sometimes. They were afraid of him, and he didn’t want me killed at least for the time being.” “And that’s when you managed not to take the pills all the time?”

“One of them used to force them into my mouth – but the one with a scar on his face wasn’t as rough or as careful. He told me to take them, but I could often manage to spit them out afterwards.” Angela’s story was pretty much as Mike had expected. “Would you be willing to testify in court?” She hesitated for a moment, inclining her head. “Yes, if it’s the right thing to do. I’ve thought about going to the police, but I didn’t think they would believe me.” “They probably wouldn’t have,” Jake said. “Not without proof. Unless we can find incriminating evidence it’s your word against his.” “That’s where I come in,” Mike said. “Reinburg and Sir Malcolm are bitter enemies. They’ve killed each other’s men, and they are both determined to kill each other. I’ve set up a meeting between them at the log cabin tonight.” “What about you?” Jake asked. “Both of them demanded that I be there at the meet,” he replied. “Sir Malcolm thinks I swallowed his story. Unless he knows I got to Angela before his men arranged an accident for her.” “And Reinburg thinks you’re on his side?” Jake asked. “I have to be,” Mike said harshly. He glanced at Angela. “He grabbed Karin while I was rescuing you. I thought she was safe with her uncle as long as she didn’t know how involved he was, but I’d reckoned without Reinburg.” “Karin has been snatched?” Angela’s face drained of color. She hadn’t known that when she insisted on accompanying Jake. She put a shaking hand to her lips, looking at Mike accusingly. “Why didn’t you take better care of her?” “I blame myself,” Mike said bitterly. “I should’ve taken her to Emma’s house, of course, but I was trying not to arouse Sir Malcolm’s suspicions. I knew that once he learned I was hot on the trail he would either move or kill you.” “What will Reinburg do to Karin? Will he kill her?” “Yes – if he suspects me of betraying him,” Mike said, a nerve flicking in his cheek. “That’s why I have no choice. I’ve told him it’s no deal if Karin isn’t with him, but he may not bring her. If he doesn’t I have to keep him alive until we find her.” “So what do you want me to do?” Jake asked.

“Stay in the background and watch. If Reinburg kills me, follow him and find Karin. I don’t care what happens to him or Sir Malcolm once she’s safe.” “Okay,” Jake said. “You have my word on that. Reinburg doesn’t get shot by me until Karin is safe.” “As for you…” Mike turned his steady gaze on Angela. “Can I trust you to take this car and go back to Emma’s?” He frowned as she shook her head and gave him a stubborn look he knew only too well. “Okay. Karin wouldn’t either if it was you in danger. Jake will be with you, but you have to promise to do exactly as he says, or I’ll put you on a non-stop train myself.” “I promise not to get in your way or Jake’s,” Angela said and smiled. “Thanks, Mike.” Her smile wasn’t quite as devastating as Karin’s but it was near enough. Mike had learned his lesson. If he insisted on sending Angela back to safety she would probably follow them – and end up getting into trouble. At least this way Jake would be able to keep an eye on her. He glanced at his watch. It was nearly half past seven. Another hour and a half before the meeting. “I noticed a café down the road,” he said. “It may be a long night. We could get something to eat or drink before we split up. We ought to decide where you’ll be waiting, Jake, and a signal if I need you.”

*****

Karin decided to park Sally’s car at the local railway station and walk the couple of miles to her uncle’s estate. She was wearing jeans and comfortable trainers and had Sally’s mobile with her. Sally had wanted to come with her, but she’d managed to dissuade her friend. “If I don’t call you by tomorrow noon, go to the police,” she’d told Sally. “I’ll probably be dead, Mike too – but that’s no reason that devil should get away with it.” Sally had argued, but given in at the last. Karin had left a letter stating where she’d been held and by who, also her suspicions about her uncle being involved in this

nasty affair. “Don’t give this to the police unless I disappear off the face of the earth,” she warned her friend. “Promise not to panic, Sally. I’ll ring you as soon as I can.” “Cross my heart and hope to die!” Sally pulled a face and then hugged her tight. “Take care of yourself, Karin. You’re my best friend. I sometimes think you are my only real friend.” Karin hugged her back. “Thanks for everything, Sal. I’ll be in touch, I promise.” She’d driven down by easy stages, not wanting to hang around at the cabin too long and get picked up by Reinburg or her uncle. Because she wanted to keep out of sight, she had chosen to park and make her way across country. Reinburg was bound to be lurking somewhere, but she knew the terrain so much better than either he or Mike. She could get to the log cabin before anyone else and hide. Reinburg was going to get a nasty surprise if he tried to grab her again. Sally had lent her something more than clothes and a car. She patted the small but deadly weapon in her pocket. It wasn’t as lethal as the gun Mike carried, but she would use it to defend herself and the man she loved if necessary.

*****

Mike parked his car on the grass verge. He could see the other car pulled into the shadows just outside the gates of Northwood, and guessed it was Reinburg’s. He was alone! Mike’s guts churned. He had prayed that his hunch would be wrong and that Karin would be with Reinburg, but all along he’d suspected it would be this way. He managed to get to Reinburg before he was aware, wrenching open the passenger door and sliding into the seat beside him. “Where is she?” he grunted. “I told you – no deal if she doesn’t show.” “She’s safe,” Reinburg replied, eyes narrowed. “At least while you do as you’re told. Double cross me and she gets it.” “How do I know I can trust you?” “You don’t,” Reinburg said and his reptilian eyes were unwavering. “But the girl

isn’t important to me. Give me what I want and she will be returned to you.” Mike had no choice but to go along with him. Any hint of betrayal and Karin would be dead. He knew that she might already be dead, but his hands were tied. He had to play along with Reinburg in the hope that he would keep his word. “It’s Karin’s uncle,” Mike said. “He’s the man you want. He says you’ve gone rogue, that you want to take over the operation running the art thefts and he means to kill you. I’ve set up the meet at a log cabin near the lake.” Reinburg’s eyes glittered in the light of a crescent moon. “Good. Do you know where the paintings are?” “Yes.” Mike reeled off a list of addresses. “I have a written list, if you’ll let me get it from my pocket.” “Not until I frisk you. Get out of the car.” Mike did as he was told and was subjected to a thorough body search. Reinburg nodded his satisfaction as he discovered that Mike was unarmed. “Sensible man,” Reinburg grunted. “What happened to the gun I sent you?” “I got rid of it,” Mike replied. He had given it to Jake that afternoon, but naturally he wasn’t about to tell Reinburg that. He reached for the list and gave it to Reinburg. “I haven’t searched all these, but I think you’ll find most of the stuff split up amongst these addresses.” “Have you tipped off Nidzack?” “Only about the destinations of certain packing cases,” Mike lied. “Move in fast and you’ll be in the clear.” Reinburg nodded. “Okay. Now take me to the meet and remember I’m watching you all the time. One false move and the girl is dead.” “I heard the first time.” Reinburg grunted. “Can we drive or do we walk?” “We can drive most of the way, then we walk.” “You drive. Keep your hands where I can see them.” Reinburg was nervous. Mike could almost smell the fear, but he knew the other man was also excited. He was on the verge of grabbing a huge fortune in stolen art, and no doubt he had plans to disappear shortly afterwards. Jake would have to act quickly if

Mike didn’t survive the meeting. “How long have you been playing both sides of the fence?” Mike asked as he drove on to the estate, taking a turn away from the house. “Tell me, what makes a man like you betray his country?” “Being told my group was going to be axed,” Reinburg muttered. “It has been on the cards for a while. They needed men like me a few years back, now all that stuff is being junked. We’ve all got to be whiter than white. I decided to go before I was pensioned off and I wanted more than respectable poverty in retirement.” Mike nodded, letting Reinburg think he agreed. “I’ve had some of that,” he said. “When you’re no more use, all they want to do is put you in some back room out of sight.” “That’s why I chose you,” Reinburg said. “I figured you might be willing to play along when the crunch came. Stick with me, Wendell, and I’ll cut you in for a share – more than you’ll get from Nidzack.” “And Karin – you swear she’s okay?” “Yeah. Trust me. Help me out and you get her back untouched.” “It’s a deal,” Mike said and a little nerve flicked at his temple. “Karin first – then I’ll help you get the stuff out of the country.” “First we have to deal with Mr. Big,” Reinburg said. “Can you trust him? Will he be alone?” “He insisted that I be there,” Mike said. “No, I wouldn’t trust him. He wants to kill you.” “He has been trying for a while,” Reinburg replied. “I killed some of his men recently – that barman and the thin-faced one. That’s why he needed this meet. I was beginning to get to him. He wants to talk, make a deal, but I’m going to kill him.” There was a gleeful note in Reinburg’s voice as Mike halted the car and cut the engine. “We walk from here.” “Give me the keys,” Reinburg said as they got out. He took them and slipped them into his jacket pocket, taking something else out. He offered it to Mike. “Take this and watch my back. Remember you need me to find Karin. Double cross me and you won’t see her alive again.”

Mike nodded. He took the gun, which was an ex-service revolver, and, after checking it was loaded, slipped it into his pocket. He jerked his head in the direction of the log cabin, and they began to walk towards it. Reinburg was a few steps ahead, obviously believing he had Mike on a leash. Karin was the glittering prize that Mike would do anything to get back, and Reinburg knew his man. His back made a tempting target. Another man might have put a bullet in it and trusted to luck that he would find Karin, but Mike didn’t work that way. He would kill only if he had to, and Reinburg had him over a barrel. Had she been safe he might have played it another way – but she wasn’t. If Reinburg was killed she might never be seen again, which meant that Mike had to be very careful. If forced to choose, he would protect Reinburg. A low light was burning in the log cabin. Mike knocked at the door and announced himself. “Come in, Mr. Wendell.” Sir Malcolm was standing directly opposite the door. He looked calm and in control of the situation. “Ah, Mr. Reinburg – a pleasure to meet you at last.” Reinburg had followed Mike into the cabin, using his body to shield him should a hail of bullets meet them. “So – we meet at last,” he said, relaxing slightly as he saw Sir Malcolm was apparently unarmed. “Search him, Mike. He may have a weapon on him.” “Is this necessary?” Sir Malcolm asked as Mike moved towards him. “Oh, very well. Do your worst.” Mike made a quick search. “He’s clean,” he said and turned back to Reinburg. “What’s the deal?” Reinburg grunted. “What have you got that might prevent me from killing you? We already know where the stuff is stashed.” “You know where to find perhaps five million pounds worth of stolen art,” Sir Malcolm said coolly. “I am talking about five paintings valued at somewhere in the region of one hundred million sterling in total.” Reinburg’s jaw dropped. “That’s one hell of a temptation,” he said. “Where is it – and why should you cut me in?” “The location is known only to me,” Sir Malcolm replied with a wry smile. “Kill

me and you will never find it. Believe me, others have tried.” “Yeah, Symons for one,” Reinburg said. “You had him killed and you’ve tried to eliminate me a few times. Why should I believe what you are saying?” “Ask Mike about the paintings Nidzack want most,” Sir Malcolm said. “He knows I’m not indulging in idle talk.” “He’s right,” Mike agreed. “One of the paintings is worth upwards of twenty million, though perhaps a little less on the black market.” “Not if you have the right connections,” Sir Malcolm said. “There are men who would pay more to own certain paintings. And that’s another reason why you need me.” “We could sell to Nidzack.” “You could if you knew where to look.” “And why do you need me?” Reinburg asked suspiciously. “Because there’s no sense in us fighting,” Sir Malcolm said. “You’ve made things uncomfortable, Reinburg. My superiors don’t like all these murders – and it’s only a matter of time before I’m asked to take early retirement. I intend to do that but with more money than most men ever dream of.” “He’s right,” Mike said. “You need each other, but neither of you needs me. Tell me where Karin is, Reinburg, and I’ll leave you two to it. Walk out of your lives.” “He has Karin?” Sir Malcolm’s face tightened with anger. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me? You damned fool!” Even as he spoke, the door behind Reinburg burst open and a man appeared in the doorway carrying a Russian type machine gun. Mike went for his gun, but before he could do anything the assassin sprayed Reinburg’s back with a burst of fire, then looked at Mike for a few seconds before backing off and disappearing into the night as swiftly as he’d come. Reinburg had never stood a chance. Mike stared at Reinburg’s crumpled body on the floor, feeling sick in his guts as he took in the huddle of shattered flesh and blood. There was no chance that Reinburg had survived the onslaught, and Mike’s heart twisted with agony as he realized that his hopes of finding Karin alive had probably died with his fellow American. “You’ve just killed Karin,” Mike said, the anger boiling inside him as he swung back to Sir Malcolm. “He was holding her to keep me sweet.”

“You should have told me,” Sir Malcolm said. His eyes were icy as he met Mike’s accusing look. “You realize I can’t allow you to live now, don’t you? I’m sorry if what you say concerning Karin is correct – but I can’t let you or her destroy all I’ve worked for. This place – the traditions of family and history come first.” Was he crazy? Mike couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Was the guy really saying he had done all this for the sake of some house? Sir Malcolm was reaching behind a cushion next to him. He pulled out a gun, which he leveled at Mike. “The weapon used to kill your boss will be found outside the cabin. It will be assumed Reinburg shot you and was killed in turn by your accomplice.” “You fool,” Mike said. “Do you imagine I came here alone tonight? You won’t get away with…” He broke off as there was a movement somewhere to the right of the cabin, then a door that was half hidden by a curtain opened slightly. Sir Malcolm swung round, finger on the trigger and obviously prepared to fire. Mike pulled out the gun Reinburg had given him. As Sir Malcolm swung back towards him, Mike fired. He needed only one shot at this range. The Englishman clutched at his chest, staring in horror and disbelief at Mike before crumpling to his knees and then slumping forward face down on the ground. Mike bent over him, removing the gun from his grasp as someone came out of the back room. “Karin…” Mike stared at her in bewilderment. “My God! How did you get here? Reinburg…” “I escaped from him earlier,” she said. “I came here to warn you, but my uncle arrived before you did. I was trapped.” her gaze turned towards her uncle fearfully. “Is he … dead?” “Yes. I had to kill him, Karin. He would have killed us both if he’d guessed you’d heard everything. He was ruthless, Karin. A power freak. He has already tried to have Angela killed.” “Yes.” She was very pale, trembling. “I know what… it’s just so horrible…” A shudder ran through her and she gasped. Mike moved towards her but she turned away and went to sit down on the basketwork settee, hugging her arms about herself. “Horrible…”

She was clearly in shock. Mike hesitated, not sure how best to approach this, but before he could say anything the main door of the cabin opened and both Angela and Jake came rushing in. “We heard shots,” Jake said. “Hell! What happened here?” Karin looked up. “Angie…” Her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Angie…” “Karin…” Angela was beside her on the settee, her arms about her as they hugged. “It’s all over now. I’m all right and he can’t hurt us now.” Jake was examining the bodies. “Both dead,” he said. “Give me the gun, Mike. We have to make sure your prints are gone before I call in the clean up service.” “Can you do that?” Mike asked, gaze narrowed. “Reinburg gave me a number.” “I’ll use my own contacts to be on the safe side,” Jake said. “Take Angela and Karin away from here, Mike. Leave this end to me and look after them.” “Okay,” Mike agreed. “I’ll take them back to Emma’s for the time being.” He glanced at Karin but she was avoiding his eyes. Obviously the shock of her uncle’s death had been too much for her to take in. She’d told him it was all right to do whatever he had to do, but violent death was something she’d never had to deal with before. “I’ll need your car keys,” he said to Jake, exchanging his own. “Mine is parked outside the estate. Come to Emma’s when you’re finished here.” He was calm, clinical, because he had to be. Mike hadn’t enjoyed taking life even though the man he’d killed was both ruthless and evil. He had simply done what he had to, instinctively and cleanly. Angela had her arm about Karin as they walked towards Jake’s hired car, which he’d driven almost up to the cabin itself in his haste to get to Mike. She was comforting Karin, clearly taking the whole thing more calmly – but then, she had known the truth about her uncle for years. The sisters sat together in the back of the car as Mike drove through the night. He didn’t speak to them directly, though he heard them talking to each other in low voices. It was late when they reached Emma’s house, but a light was burning in the hall and she came almost instantly to admit them. “Take your sister upstairs,” Emma said when she saw that Karin still looked

shaky. “I’ll bring some tea up later. Perhaps Karin would like a nice warm bath?” “Thank you,” Angela said. “She’s exhausted.” She took Karin upstairs, leaving Mike to stare after them. As they disappeared from view, Mike turned towards the front door. “Where are you going?” Emma asked. “You must be almost exhausted yourself. Why don’t you stay here and rest tonight?” “I have things to do,” Mike said, his expression grim. “Tell Jake I’ve gone back to London. I’ll let you know where I am as soon as I’ve settled.” With that, he went out and Emma heard the car start up as he drove off into the night. Upstairs, Karin looked at her sister. “Tell Mike he was right,” she said. “He had to do it, Angela. I was so shocked by what happened that I couldn’t think – but he was right.” “You don’t know the half of it,” Angela replied. “Maybe I should’ve told you years ago, but I didn’t want to hurt you. Don’t you worry about any of it just now. Get a good night’s sleep, love, and then you can tell Mike yourself in the morning.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Mike collected his things from Karin’s apartment. It was time to move on. He had done his job and someone else could take over now. The recovery of five million pounds worth of stolen goods was something, though he had an idea where the really good stuff might be found. From something Angela had said he believed she might be able to help in the search if Mike’s own hunch was wrong. He would talk to Salter when he got back to New York. There was no point in hanging around here. He’d seen the horror in Karin’s eyes after he’d shot and killed her uncle. He’d had to act quickly to protect her and in selfdefense, but Karin might not see it that way. Mike would rather have seen Sir Malcolm arrested and tried for his crimes, but after Reinburg had been so brutally gunned down in front of him he’d known there was no choice. Karin’s life was at stake and so was Angela’s. Neither of them would have been safe while Sir Malcolm was alive and his assassin was running free. Mike was only surprised that he hadn’t been killed in that hail of bullets – but perhaps Sir Malcolm had something different planned for him. Had the thought that Sir Malcolm could not be allowed to live been in his mind when he fired? Mike would have to live with that self-doubt. His instinct had been to protect the woman he loved – but would she understand that? He’d let Jake take over, stood by while a cover up went on. He wasn’t sure what the official story would be, but by now there wouldn’t be anything left at the cabin to bear testimony to a double killing. Would Karin see that as proof of Mike’s guilt? It must have looked to her as if he’d killed in cold blood. Mike couldn’t expect that she would want to see him again. Her withdrawal and the way she’d avoided looking at him afterwards had shown him it was over between them. The best thing he could do for both of them was to get out of her life.… He picked up his bag and started for the door, reaching it as the bell rang. Opening up, he saw Inspector Jarvis on the doorstep with his sergeant. “Leaving, Mr. Wendell?” “Yes, I was about to. I have a couple of people to see and then I’m flying back to New York.”

“Perhaps you would be good enough to accompany me to the Station, sir? I should like to clear up a few points before you leave.” “What kind of things?” Mike asked warily. “We’ve had a rather disturbed young woman on the phone,” the Inspector said. “She seems to imagine that both you and Miss Karin Blake have been murdered.” “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” Mike said and frowned. “As you can see, I’m alive and both Karin and Angela Blake are staying with friends in the country. I can give you a telephone number if you would like to contact them?” “That would be very kind of you, sir. Down at the Station, if you don’t mind?” Mike gave in. The British Inspector was more polite than some of Mike’s colleagues would’ve been back home, but equally determined. He wasn’t actually being arrested, though it might happen if he resisted. “Okay.” He shrugged. “Let’s get this over. Who made the call?” “A young woman called Sally Westlake. Would you happen to know of her, sir?” “Yeah, I know Sally.” Mike grinned wryly as he guessed what had happened. Karin had obviously left her friend some information, but had neglected to let her know everything was all right. “She’s a friend of Karin’s.” “And very concerned about her at the moment. She made a number of accusations concerning a man called Reinburg and Miss Blake’s uncle. Would you have any idea of what I’m talking about, Mr. Wendell?” “None at all,” Mike said, inwardly cursing both Sally and Karin. “Shall we go, Inspector? I want to leave London this evening if possible.”

*****

Karin stretched sleepily and smiled as Angela brought her a mug of coffee, perching on the edge of the bed beside her. “Are you feeling better, love? You were shattered last night.” “Yes. Much better,” Karin replied. “Are you all right, Angie? You went through far worse than I did. All those years and you didn’t tell me about Uncle Malcolm and what he did to you. Why? I wouldn’t have gone anywhere near him if I’d known.”

“I knew you loved the estate, and you were quite fond of him,” Angela said. “Besides, I was afraid of what he might do to both of us if I told you. He had threatened to kill us both if I did.” “He was evil,” Karin said somberly. “He must have been, Angie. I never imagined for one moment that he was capable of doing such wicked things.” She shivered as a cold trickle ran down her spine. “It is a terrible thing to say, but I’m glad he’s dead.” “Mike probably saved your life,” Angela said. “After witnessing what happened to Reinburg, neither you or Mike would have survived long.” “No, I don’t suppose we would.” Karin bit her lip. “Where is Mike? I think I must have seemed to reject him last night. I want to explain, apologize.” “Emma said he went back to London at once. He wouldn’t even stay the night. Apparently he rang her this morning to say he’d returned Jake’s car to the hire company and asked if Jake would do the same for him. I think he’s leaving for New York later this evening.” “No! He can’t,” Karin said, her face pale. “He can’t just leave like that. We have to talk. We have to…” “Why don’t you ring him?” Angela suggested. “Try your apartment. He rang from there earlier.” Angela handed her the mobile she’d borrowed from Sally, which had been lying on the small bedside chest. Karin dialed her home phone, letting it ring for several seconds without success. Then she dialed Mike’s mobile. It was switched off. “He isn’t answering,” she said, feeling frustrated as she put the phone down. She threw back the covers decisively. “I’m going to London. I have to see him before he leaves. I can’t let him just go like this, Angie.” “Have a quick shower,” Angela said. “I’ll ask Jake if he’ll take us to the railway station. We’ll go up together, Karin.” “Thanks.” Karin forced a smile, though her heart was aching as she headed for the bathroom. Why was Mike leaving without saying goodbye to her? Didn’t what they’d had together mean anything? He couldn’t leave just like that! She hadn’t even had a chance to thank him for all he’d done for her and Angela. She dreaded to think

what might have happened if she hadn’t asked him for help. Karin heard the phone ringing downstairs as she was taking a shower. Angela came to meet her as she emerged from the bathroom wearing a fresh white toweling robe Emma had provided for her. “That was the police in London,” Angela said. “They were checking you were here. Apparently, a friend of yours phoned them.” “Oh damn!” Karin said. “I forgot to let Sally know. She probably thought I was dead and panicked.” “The police seem to think Mike might be involved in something underhand because of her call,” Angela said. “They more or less arrested him and they want you to ring them back. Explain about a letter?” “Oh no!” Karin pulled a face. “Mike will be furious with me. He and Jake went to so much trouble to keep things quiet.” “You know why, of course? It would cause an International scandal if all this got out. Uncle Malcolm must have been betraying secrets for a long time – perhaps years. The Americans wouldn’t like that very much, especially as a lot of the secrets were theirs.” “I’d better ring the police and tell them it was all a mistake.” Angela frowned. “You could do more harm than good. Jake is talking to someone – apparently one of his contacts is in touch with a high-ranking official in the British Intelligence Service. I’m not quite sure how much of a part Jake has played in all this, Karin, but he certainly isn’t just an ordinary cop. Perhaps we had better wait until he sorts this thing out?” “But what about Mike? If he is under arrest…” “Well, at least he can’t leave the country,” Angela said and grinned at her. “We could just forget the call and go straight to the police station.”

*****

“How much longer are you going to keep me waiting?” Mike asked impatiently as the young police constable brought him yet another mug of undrinkable coffee. “Would

you please ask Inspector Jarvis to come…” He broke off as the door of the interview room opened and the Inspector entered. “What the hell is going on? How long does it take to make one phone call around here?” “Miss Blake was unable to come to the phone,” Inspector Jarvis said. “We were waiting for her to telephone us, but she hasn’t as yet. However…” He paused, frowning as if annoyed. “You are technically free to leave, Mr. Wendell. Free to leave this country if you so wish. No charges will be made against you in relation to anything that may or may not have happened during your stay here.” “What does that mean exactly?” Mike asked. “Why have you suddenly decided not to wait for Karin’s call?” “Orders from above,” Jarvis said. “Apparently, Miss Westlake’s call was a hoax. She may have been intoxicated – or high on drugs. She is a known user of cannabis. And we have been informed that Sir Malcolm’s official car was involved in an accident early this morning. He was killed outright and his driver was slightly hurt, but has now been released from hospital.” So that was how Jake had fixed things! Mike wondered how Reinburg’s body had been disposed of, but that was something that might never be known. His own government had condemned him and it wasn’t likely that awkward questions were ever going to be asked. “I’m sorry to hear about Sir Malcolm’s death. I am sure that both his nieces will be shocked.” “No doubt,” Inspector Jarvis said wryly. “It seems you are in the clear, sir. We apologize for any inconvenience your trip to the Station may have caused.” Mike nodded. “You were merely doing your job.” “Yes, sir. Good of you to see it that way.” Inspector Jarvis looked as if he were being forced to swallow cold cooked cabbage. Mike acknowledged that it was a bitter pill. Jarvis probably knew it was a complete cock and bull story about the car crash, but he’d been officially ordered to let Mike go and there wasn’t a thing he could do about it. “Life’s a bitch, isn’t it?” Mike said as he picked up his jacket and slung it over one shoulder.

“There is one thing,” Inspector Jarvis said. “I have an identity parade taking place. We picked up a man hanging around that bar – the one where the murder happened. You might have seen him there the night the barman was knifed. Would you take a look for us on your way out?” “Sure – though I can’t see it will help you much. There were a lot of guys there that night, most of them glued to the floorshow. If I were you, Inspector, I should keep an eye on that place.” “Thank you for your advice. It would help us if you could place our suspect at the scene.” “I thought you had forensic? A fingerprint?” “We do,” Jarvis said. “But we haven’t been able to place it on any International file. This man is someone we’ve had our eye on for a while. We’ll get him for something.” “I’ll take a look,” Mike said. “Just through the window – see if you know him.” Mike nodded. Just what was Inspector Jarvis up to now? Did he hope to hang on to Mike as a witness? He followed Jarvis into an inspection chamber, glancing through the window that allowed him to see without being seen. Casting a casual glance at the men lined up, he frowned as he recognized Scarface. He looked at his eyes. The assassin who had gunned down Reinburg and looked at him for seconds before backing away had been wearing a mask – but Mike had seen the man’s eyes. Had he been meant to die too? He would never know, but he was pretty sure he knew the identity of Reinburg’s killer. “See anyone there you know?” Mike considered for a moment. Scarface was undoubtedly a killer, but he had probably saved Angela’s life – and maybe Mike’s too. Maybe he should give him the benefit of the doubt. “No. Sorry, Inspector. I’ve never seen any of those men before.” “Look at number five again.” Mike looked and counted – number five wasn’t Scarface. “No – never seen the guy.” Inspector Jarvis glared at him. He obviously suspected Mike was lying, but there

wasn’t a damned thing he could do. “Thank you for your help, Mr. Wendell. You are free to leave.” “Goodbye, Inspector. I hope you get your man,” Mike said and meant it. The Brit was a good officer. He knew something was going on, but there was no way he could prove anything. Mike had experienced the feeling and it wasn’t one he enjoyed. He was frowning as he left the station and paused on the pavement for a moment. The day was dull and overcast and made him feel he would be glad to leave this country behind. There was nothing to keep him here. He might as well grab a taxi and go to the airport straight away. He would wait on standby for the first available flight out. He hailed a taxi, but even as he did so a black cab pulled into the curb near him and a woman shot out, closely followed by another. He recognized Karin and her sister, and his heart did a rapid back flip despite himself. “Mike – thank goodness we caught you,” Karin said. “I was afraid you might already have left for the airport.” “I was just about to,” Mike replied, unsmiling. “My job is finished here, Karin. There’s nothing to keep me in England.” Karin bit her lip, her eyes smarting. How could she beg him to stay if he was determined to go? “Don’t you even want to know where those paintings are?” Angela asked, as her sister remained silent. “The ones my uncle said you would never find?” “You know?” Mike nodded thoughtfully. “I suspected you might. Yes, perhaps we should go back to Karin’s apartment and talk about it.” He opened the door of the taxi he’d summoned, inviting Karin and Angela to get in before giving the driver the address.

*****

“So – tell me,” Mike said some thirty minutes later as he handed out mugs of freshly brewed coffee. “Where do you think the paintings are, Angela?” “In Uncle Malcolm’s study.” “I didn’t see them when I was there a few days ago,” Mike said, eyes narrowed. “He has them concealed somewhere.”

“Behind the bookcases,” Angela said, a little smile of triumph on her mouth. “They revolve if you know what to do. The books disappear and there’s a flat wall painted white. There are six paintings hanging there.” “Six?” Karin stared at her. “He was talking about five last night.” “Maybe he wanted to keep the other one – it might be the one you saw years ago,” Mike said and Karin nodded. “There were definitely six when I saw them,” Angela confirmed. “I suppose that’s what made him decide to have me kidnapped. I managed to make the bookcases revolve to show the paintings but I couldn’t get it to go back.” “He knew you’d been snooping,” Karin said. “It’s a kind of cavity behind the bookcases?” Mike nodded thoughtfully. “I knew they had to be in the house somewhere – he wouldn’t have trusted anyone with the real treasures.” He smiled wryly. “That’s why the chair faces the bookcases, of course. He used to sit and look at them when those heavy curtains were drawn…” “He probably didn’t want to sell them. At least until he was ready.” Karin frowned. “What will you do about them, Mike?” “They will have to be moved,” Mike said. “It would cause too much trouble if they were found at the house. I have an idea … if you and Angela can bear to go down there?” “We shall have to go for the funeral,” Angela said. “It would look so odd if we didn’t, and we don’t want this to get into the papers. We can arrange to switch off the alarm system at night and you can have the pictures moved.” “Yes, that’s what I had in mind,” Mike said. A smile flickered in his eyes. “I think I’ll ask Inspector Jarvis to make a raid on the Swinford Clinic.” “Why Jarvis?” Karin asked. “Because the guy deserves something out of all this,” he said. “Nidzack get their art back – or whoever is the insurer, it may not all be down to them – and Jarvis gets the credit.” “What do you get?” “Some peace of mind,” Mike replied frowning. “Nidzack will pay out on the other stuff – I’ll earn enough to keep body and soul together, and it keeps you and Angela

clear of this mess.” “Mike is right,” Angela said. “He wouldn’t want the reward from those particular paintings. It would seem like blood money.” “Thanks,” he said, giving her a look of appreciation. “You’re exactly right. I don’t need that kind of money. Nidzack will be pleased with the result and I’ll be getting plenty of work in future.” He looked at Karin and then Angela. “What happens to your uncle’s estate now?” “He probably left it to the nation,” Angela said. “I wouldn’t take it as a gift – and I doubt Karin would want to go back there again once the funeral is over.” Karin shuddered. “I don’t want to go at all, but I suppose we must.” “Just this once,” Angela said. “You can do it, love.” Karin nodded. “Yes, of course. It was just so awful … hearing those shots and not knowing if…” She had been terrified that Mike had been killed, and it was relief as much as shock that had made her feel so faint and lost afterwards. “You shouldn’t have been there,” Mike said harshly. He was reliving the moment when he’d caught a glimpse of her pale face as the door began to open and known she was there. “You should’ve let me know when you got away from Reinburg. You knew I would have asked you to stay well clear, Karin.” “Yes, I knew,” she admitted. “But I couldn’t do that, Mike. I had to be there. I wasn’t sure how much you knew. Reinburg planned to kill you and I had begun to think my uncle might be dangerous.” “Well, it’s over now,” Mike said. He finished his coffee and stood up. “I’ll leave you to do whatever sisters do – and find myself somewhere to stay. Let me know when you intend to go down to Northwood, Angela. I’d like to move those paintings as soon as possible.” Karin stared at him, her eyes dark in the paleness of her face. “I haven’t thanked you for all you’ve done for us,” she said. “Angela might have died if it hadn’t been for you.” “It was my pleasure,” Mike said. “As it happens, taking your case led me directly to the man I was looking for – so I should thank you.” Karin shook her head but didn’t say anything more. She couldn’t, because her

throat was tight with emotion and she was on the verge of tears. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and tell him that she loved him, beg him to stay – but pride wouldn’t let her. He was going away because there was nothing to keep him, which meant he didn’t love her enough to want a permanent relationship. “You must send me your bill,” Angela said and stood up. “I mean that, Mike. I owe you an awful lot. We both do. I’ll see you to the door. I wanted to ask, do you take on divorce cases?” “Sometimes.” Mike glanced at Karin, but she wouldn’t look at him. She had told him he was right to shoot, but she couldn’t quite forgive him. “Come and see me in New York, Angela. I’ll be glad to help.” “Hal has been cheating on me for months,” Angela said. At the door, she paused and looked at him. “Don’t leave like this, Mike – she loves you. You must know that?” “We both need time,” Mike said. “This isn’t just about what happened at the cabin, Angela. We’re from different worlds – different lives. It’s better if I put some distance between us, give us both time to think things over.” “Give her a chance,” Angela said and reached up to kiss his cheek. “Bye, Mike, and thanks again.” She closed the door behind him and then went back to the sitting room. “You’re a fool if you let him go, Karin. Why didn’t you tell him you love him?” “Mike doesn’t love me,” Karin said, her eyes bleak. “Not a forever kind of love. Anyway, what were you two whispering about in the hall?” “My divorce,” Angela said. “Hal isn’t going to get off lightly this time. He may cheat others – but I intend to make him pay.” “Good for you!” Karin said and smiled. “That’s better,” Angela said. “Look, I know you’re feeling rotten just now – but Mike really cares about you. He was frantic when he thought Reinburg had you. He would have done anything to get you back alive. I wouldn’t let a man like that slip through my fingers if I were in your shoes. I’d get out there and fight for him. He’s worth it!” Karin looked at her, her eyes bright. “I know he is,” she said. “But I can’t force Mike into something he doesn’t want, Angie. You don’t understand. He was married

and his wife died. I think he may still be in love with her.” “If he is, he cares about you,” Angela said. “Don’t be a fool, love. You may not get another chance to find the right one… believe me, I know.”

*****

The news that one of the largest discoveries of stolen art ever to be recovered had been made hit the headlines on the day of Sir Malcolm’s funeral. Which meant the Press was hardly interested at all in the death of a civil servant. “That’s Mike’s doing,” Angela said when she showed the evening paper to Karin as they caught the train back to London later that day. “I’ve been talking to Jake Helman, he told me what a terrific guy Mike really is. Did you know that the doctors once told him he would never walk again?” “I knew he had to leave the force because of back injuries,” Karin said. “But I didn’t realize how bad it was.” “Kathy was Jake’s cousin,” Angela went on. “He told me that Mike wanted her to leave the force so that they could have children but she wasn’t quite ready to give up her job. It was a terrible shock to Mike when she was killed, but it was a long time ago. Jake said he had been through a rough patch with his agency before he got the Nidzack job – almost had to pack it in.” “You’ve been doing a lot of talking to Jake, haven’t you?” Karin looked at her curiously. “Is there something going on between you two?” “Not yet,” Angela said, a smile of satisfaction hovering about her mouth. “But I wouldn’t mind if there was a few months down the road. At least I’m keeping my options open, which is more than I can say for you, Karin.” Karin pulled a wry face. “All right, I get the message,” she said. “Mike is a wonderful guy and I’m the world’s worst fool to let him go without a fight.” “I just want you to be happy,” Angela said. “I care about you, Karin. You’re more important to me than anyone else in the world, surely you know that?” “Yes, of course I do. I love you too, Angie.” “And you told me I was an idiot to marry Hal.”

“I shouldn’t have done that,” Karin said. “You were in love with him.” “Yes, and I soon discovered that you were right,” Angela said. “I haven’t been happy with him for a long time, and I’m definitely going ahead with the divorce as soon as I can get proof that he has been cheating on me. I don’t intend to let Hal get away with it.” Karin looked at her and nodded. “You think I should go after Mike, don’t you? Ask him if he wants us to be together?” “At least then you’ll know,” Angela said. “I’ve seen the way you look, Karin, and I know this is breaking your heart. At least you could give Mike the chance to say no.” “Yes…Yes, I could,” Karin agreed and smiled. “When are you flying home to New York, Angie?” “First thing tomorrow. I’ve already asked my agent to rent me an apartment. You could stay with me, Karin. Make it a holiday.” “Yes. I’ve told my agent that I’m no longer available for modeling jobs,” Karin said. “It would be nice to relax for a while – take a look around and see what I want to do next.” “You could live in New York,” Angela suggested. “I’d love to have you stay with me for as long as you like. We’ve had holidays of course, but we haven’t really spent much time together for years. Let’s make up for lost time?” “Yes, I’d like that,” Karin agreed and leaned towards Angela, kissing her on the cheek. “I might even find myself a job out there once I decide what I want to do.”

*****

“What am I going to do if you move your office?” Dolly asked in a querulous voice. “You still haven’t found that husband of mine – and what about the cats?” Mike glanced at Josie, trying not to let his amusement show. “I’m sorry I haven’t found your husband for you,” he said. “I’ve been busy – but I’ll start working on the case right away.” “Well, that’s okay, because I’ve decided I don’t want him back after all,” Dolly

said and scowled at him. “But I wish you would do something about this cat thief. I’m going to get a kitten and I don’t want that stolen next.” “All right, Dolly.” Mike smiled as the old lady sniffed and went out, apparently in disgust. “So, what do we know about the cat thieves, Josie? I think we ought to oblige our oldest customer if we can, don’t you?” Josie was looking at the doorway behind him. Mike turned and his breath caught in his throat as he saw who was standing there. “Karin.” For a moment he found it difficult to speak. “How are you?” “Much better now,” she said and gave him that devastating smile of hers. “I was just talking to Dolly outside, Mike. She says her cats keep getting stolen and I told her I saw a man putting a cat into a cage and loading it into a van as I came here this afternoon. I couldn’t help noticing there were other cages in there. Do your local authorities round up stray cats?” “No, not that I know of,” Mike said, staring at her in astonishment. “I don’t suppose you happened to notice the number of the van, did you?” “Yes, I did actually,” Karin said. “I wrote it down – just in case you wanted to know.” “Thanks.” He grinned at her. “Dolly will be pleased if we manage to sort something out for once. She was just in here complaining because she heard we were going to move our office.” “Dolly is always complaining about something,” Josie said and stood up, coming forward to offer her hand to Karin. “I guess you’re the young woman he’s been moping over ever since he got back.” “Josie,” Mike warned but she ignored him. “Why don’t you go take a lunch break?” “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing,” Josie said. “I’m pleased to meet you, Miss Blake. I hope we’ll be meeting more often in the future. And if you want to know anything about this guy just ask. I’ll dish the dirt anytime you like.” “Thanks, Josie,” Karin said. “Call me Karin and I’d like to take you out for lunch one day soon.” “Pretty cute girl,” Josie said, giving Mike a wicked look. “She knows what she

wants and I wouldn’t mind betting she gets it. I’ll go tell Dolly Karin has cracked the case. You could do worse than to offer her a job, Mike. We’re getting more work than we can handle these days.” “Go eat,” Mike said and glared at her. “I can run my own life, thanks.” Karin smiled as Josie pulled a face at her and went out. “Is that true, Mike? Are you looking for an assistant? Only I’m staying with Angela for a while, just until I decide what to do with my life.” “What about your work as a model?” “I gave it up,” Karin said. “Just like that? Won’t you regret it?” “I don’t think so. No, I’m sure I won’t,” Karin said. “I had been bored with it for a while.” She smiled at him beguilingly. “Why don’t you give me a try?” “I seem to remember you don’t like taking orders,” Mike said, but his expression was lifting and he seemed amused. “If I let you in, you and Josie would take over.” “I’ve learned my lesson, Mike. I would do everything you told me.” “You’re not really interested in this kind of work?” He raised his brows. “It isn’t all as exciting as the last job, Karin. Most of it is just boring research, looking for people who are missing, following errant husbands and wives.” “Sounds fascinating,” Karin said, perching on the edge of Josie’s desk. Her short skirt rode up to the top of her thigh, revealing an expanse of delicious brown flesh. She wasn’t wearing any stockings or tights. “I would really like a chance, Mike.” “Why?” “Because… because it would mean we would be together a lot,” Karin said. “I’ve missed you, Mike. I thought we had something going for us. I know there was nothing said about commitment, but I would like to explore the possibilities a little further…if you would?” Her smile was turning his insides to mush. He looked into her beautiful eyes and felt himself drowning. “Are you going to be able to forgive me for what happened, Karin? I know what it must have seemed like…as if I killed him in cold blood.” She reached up to touch her fingers to his lips. “Don’t say that,” she whispered

huskily. “Don’t ever say that, Mike. I know you did it for my sake – and Angela’s too. After what I heard, I would have killed him myself rather than let him harm you or my sister.” “But you were so distant.” “Is that why you left the way you did?” Karin asked. “I’m sorry, Mike, but it was such a shock. You might have been killed. The assassin who gunned Reinburg down could have killed you…” “I think it was Scarface,” Mike said. “I have no proof nor would I do anything about it if I did – but I think it was him. He killed to order, but for some reason he didn’t kill me. Maybe it was a mistake on his part, maybe your uncle had something else planned for me – I’ll never know.” “I was terrified in that room” Karin told him, her eyes holding his captive. “I wanted to warn you, but I was trapped. Then I thought…” He heard the sob in her voice. “For a moment I thought…” Mike didn’t let her get any further. He moved to take her in his arms, holding her close, whispering into her hair. “Karin, my darling,” he murmured throatily. “I haven’t stopped thinking of you since I came back. I love…” “So that’s what you get up to the moment my back is turned,” said a querulous voice behind him. “No wonder you never get any work done, Mike Wendell. I’ve come back to tell you I’ve changed my mind again. Since you’ve found the cat thieves I’ll give you another chance to find my husband.” Mike turned round to face Dolly with his arm still about Karin’s waist. “Well, I’m very pleased to hear that,” he said, managing to keep a straight face. “I’m going to put my new partner on to it straight away, Dolly. She’s the one who got the number of the van taking the cats away.” “Then she’s the one I need,” Dolly said and suddenly grinned. “Caught you good, didn’t I, Mike? Get on with it then – Josie told me you’d finally got yourself a woman. About time, that’s what I say.” She turned and walked out, leaving Karin and Mike alone. “Dolly is perfectly right,” Mike said softly. “It is about time I found myself a

woman.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

“You look wonderful,” Angela said as she surveyed Karin in her simple white gown. “More beautiful than you ever did on the front of those fashion magazines.” “I’m happier than I ever was then,” Karin said and hugged her. “I’m getting married, Angie. I would have been happy to live with Mike – but he doesn’t want that. He says he wants to make sure of me.” Angela nodded, looking at her thoughtfully. “Have you told him yet that you’ve had a terrific offer to be the face of the year for a new cosmetics firm?” “No, I haven’t and I don’t intend to,” Karin said. “I’m happy the way we are, Angie. All I want is to be with Mike, doing what he does. “Besides, I want children. Once we’re married I’ll probably fade out of the agency. I know it’s what Mike wants.” Angela nodded. “I still think you should tell him. Just in case he hears it from someone else and wonders why you hid it from him.” “Yes, I suppose so,” Karin said. “But I’m not interested in modeling again. My life is so much fuller now than it ever was. I love Mike and all I want is to have his babies.” Angela nodded and hugged her. “In that case we had better get you to the church on time.”

*****

Karin was a radiant bride. Mike could hardly take his eyes off her the whole time the ceremony was taking place. It was like a dream come true – something he had once thought could never happen again. He had become resigned to his loneliness after Kathy’s death, believing that he would never know true happiness again. Karin had changed all that. She was like a breath of fresh air in his life, making him laugh and giving him so much more than he could ever have expected. Josie adored her, saving all the most interesting cases for her if she could get away with it. And Dolly was hardly ever out of the office these days.

They were still trying to trace Dolly’s husband, extending the search way beyond New York, but so far they’d had no luck. It didn’t seem to bother Dolly much; she had half a dozen cats now and walked them on a lead instead of letting them out into the street – on Karin’s advice, of course. He and Karin had been sleeping together since she came to him in his office – they couldn’t stay away from one another’s bed – but he was looking forward to her being his wife. He wanted a family badly and he knew Karin wanted it too. “You look lovely,” he said to her as they prepared to leave the church. “I love you so much.” “I love you, Mike.” Karin took a step forward. Mike was smiling at her as she seemed to miss her step. He grabbed at her but missed her and she fell straight to the bottom of the stone steps, hitting her head hard as she landed. Mike bolted down the steps, bending over her as she lay very still, her face pale. For a moment he thought he had lost her and it was as if the world had gone suddenly black. “Oh, my God,” he muttered desperately. “Not again.” He looked over his shoulder. “Get an ambulance, someone! I’m not sure how bad she’s hurt.”

*****

Karin recovered consciousness by the time they got her to the hospital. Her arrival in the finery of a bride aroused a lot of interest and an opportunist photographer took a snap of her being carried in by her distraught husband. “Don’t let them keep me in,” Karin said. “I’m not going to miss our reception.” “We’ll have it another day,” Mike promised. “Just don’t die on me, Karin. I couldn’t bear that.” “I’m not going to die,” she croaked. “It’s just that I hit my head. As it happened, Karin spoke more truly than she realized. After an hour or so having scans and various other tests, the doctors told her she had been lucky. “You’re going to have a nasty headache for a while, but otherwise you are all right. You can go back to your wedding, Mrs. Wendell, just as soon as you’ve had a little

rest.” Mike had been left to wait in the visitors lounge, and was pacing the floor like a cat on hot bricks when the reporter came up to him. “Are you Mike Wendell?” he asked. “I’ve been told it was your wife who was brought in a little while back. She’s going to be the new face for Hamilton cosmetics, isn’t she? Will this affect her contract?” “I don’t know anything about a contract,” Mike grunted. “Get out of here will you?” He saw a doctor looking for him and walked to meet him. “How is she? Is she going to be all right?” “She’s fine. She took a nasty bang on the head but she was lucky.” “Thank God! When I saw her lying at the foot of those steps I thought she might have done real damage to herself.” “The scan didn’t show any internal damage. She is having a cup of tea and some pain killers and then you can take her back to the wedding.” “Is she really fit to leave?” Mike asked and then saw Karin being wheeled towards them. “Karin…” He hurried up to her as she thanked the nurse and stood up unaided. “You shouldn’t…” “No way am I going to miss my own wedding reception, Mike,” Karin said and smiled at him the manner that always made his bones melt. “Put your arm around me, but get me out of here.” He looked at her for a moment, then swept her up in his arms and carried her outside to where Jake was waiting for them with Angela. They had just arrived at the hospital and were astonished to discover that Karin was insisting on being taken to her reception. “But shouldn’t you rest?” Angela asked. “Your dress is a mess. You must have torn it as you fell.” Karin looked at her ruined wedding gown and pulled a face. “I’m putting in an appearance,” she said. “After that, Mike can take me home.”

*****

Mike looked at Karin as she lay in bed later that evening. She seemed well despite her head being obviously sore where the bruise was coming out. Now they were alone and he had helped her to undress and settle against the pile of pillows. He sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. “What made you miss the step like that?” he said. “I was terrified I would lose you.” “I’m sorry, Mike,” Karin said. “I just turned a little dizzy. I have no idea why.” She hadn’t known then, though she had a good idea now. “I love you – need you, Karin.” “And I need you,” she whispered, lifting her face for his kiss. “I want to make babies with you, Mike. I’ve no intention of leaving you.” “Are you ready to make babies yet?” he asked, searching her face. “I know you’ve been offered a big contract.” “Who told you? I turned it down, Mike. I was going to tell you, but it didn’t seem important.” “If you want to…” She pressed her fingers to his lips, smiling up at him invitingly. “All my life I’ve wanted a family of my own. Lots of babies and a man I could love. Why should I ever need anything else?” She smiled because she had a little secret the doctor had told her. She wouldn’t tell Mike just yet in case something went wrong, but that family they both wanted was nearer than he knew. “That’s all right then,” he said and bent to drop a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll leave you to rest, Karin. You’ve been through a lot – besides, the doctor told me not to keep you up too late.” “What the hell has it go to do with him?” she demanded, then gave him a wicked smile. “Besides, I’m lying down. Get in this bed right now, Mike Wendell, or I’ll come right out there and get you.”

The End