Killjoy

was filled with

beer or soft drinks.

He was disgusted with Renard's carelessness. He was certain the man didn't have any idea he was being observed. Smug complacency. That's what it was. He was disappointed in Renard. He'd expected better from his adversary and had made the mistake of believing that Renard was a professional. An equal. He realized now how foolish that hope had been. No one could ever equal or measure up to his standards. Jilly had been right all along. He was a legend.

'I think it might be a good idea to do it tonight,' Jilly said.

'You're eager.'

'Yes.'

'Tomorrow,' he promised.

'I don't want to wait too much longer.'

'I know.'

'I wonder if Carrie is feeling safe again. Can you imagine how claustrophobic she and Avery must be feeling now? Being cooped up in that flea-infested room night and day? They must be going crazy.'

'I've deliberately waited,' he explained, 'so that the agents would be bored and… lethargic. Yes, that's the word. Lethargic.'

'Hour upon hour of sitting in that tiny room, waiting and worrying. They haven't let them out at all, have they?'

'Not while I was watching.'

'I'm glad she didn't die in that hospital,' she said. 'This will be better because I'll get to watch.'

Monk nodded. 'Carrie demanded to come to Florida.'

'She wants to die with Avery.'

'She doesn't know she's going to die tomorrow,' he said. 'She thinks she's going to sit in that courtroom with Avery when the

trial starts.'

Jilly picked up the binoculars once again. Smiling, she said, 'Third time's a charm.'

Monk suppressed a yawn. He was exhausted, but he didn't dare complain. Jilly thought he was invincible, superhuman, and he

was determined to maintain his knight-in-shining-armor image.

He knew he was taking risks he never would have considered before, but it was difficult to be cautious with Jilly constantly pushing him to his limits. She believed he could do anything, made him believe in himself.

Every once in a while a nagging doubt would surface in his mind. He had never walked away from a contract before. His word meant everything. If he wasn't reliable, his future would be in jeopardy, his reputation in tatters. The thought didn't repulse him, though. He had more than enough money to keep Jilly in the style she deserved. Maybe he could let this one go and walk away.

'You know, darling, we don't need the money,' he said hesitantly.

Jilly knew where he was leading. 'Do you know what I think?'

'What?'

'When we're finished here, let's sneak away to Mexico and get married. The trial will go for at least a week. Dale isn't going anywhere. Shall we?'

She knew how much he wanted a wedding. His

fatigue vanished, and he was suddenly smiling in anticipation. 'Yes, yes,' he said. He was embarrassed because he'd sounded

so eager, but he added, 'I know a perfect place… you'll love it, I promise.'

'As long as I'm marrying you, nothing else matters.' She put her hand on his thigh, leaned across the console, and kissed him.

Her hand moved upward to fondle him intimately.

He became aroused quickly. Satisfied with his reaction, she pulled away. 'Why not put them out of their misery tonight?' she asked again, pouting now.

It took several seconds for Monk to understand what she was asking. He cleared his head and said, 'You'll see it all tomorrow. Daylight's better. Besides, I have a few alterations to make, a few details before I'll be ready. You want it to be perfect, don't

you, love?'

'Yes, of course. But why is daylight better?' 'No one expects to be hit with the sun shining, and in the past I've always tried to

go in and get out during the night. Those agents believe they know my pattern.'

'You think they've studied you?' 'Yes. When it's dark, their guard will be up.' She sighed then. 'All right, I'll have to wait until tomorrow. Remember, you promised I could watch. You won't change your mind, will you?'

'No, I won't,' he assured her. 'You'll be safe, but in a wonderful spot where you can see everything. And I have a surprise for you. I was going to wait until tomorrow, but…'

'Tell me now,' she pleaded. 'Please.' 'All right. I know how disappointed you were when you saw the house in Colorado blow. But this time will be different. I'm going to let you push the button.'

She laughed with delight. 'Are you going to dazzle me?'

He nodded. 'Oh, yes. I'm a legend, remember? I'm going to dazzle everyone.'

Chapter 37

After monk drove Jilly back to their hotel on the opposite side of Walden Point, he got back into the car and drove to a residential area a mile away from Milt's Motel.

He jogged a mile back to his hiding place and quietly climbed the stairs. He still had to put the finishing touches on the wiring.

The job took much longer than he had anticipated, no doubt because he was weary, but when he was finally finished, he was content with his handiwork. Nothing was going to go wrong this time.

It was after three in the morning by the time he got ready for bed. Careful not to disturb Jilly, he eased down on the bed and sat next to her, watching her sleep. Oh, how he loved her. She was so beautiful, so exquisite… so perfect. He lay beside her

thinking once again that he was the luckiest man in the world. He fell asleep with his arms around her, the scent of her perfume surrounding him, and dreamed of their honeymoon.

Fairy tales could come true. He and Jilly would live happily ever after.

Jilly dressed with care the following morning. She was going to church, after all, and so she wore a white skirt, white eyelet blouse, and strappy high-heel sandals. While she brushed her hair and curled it, Monk put their luggage in the car.

'Don't forget my tape,' she reminded him. 'I would never forget that,' he assured her, though, in fact, he had forgotten. She

would have been beside herself if she'd lost it. She was so obsessed with what she called the evidence that she insisted on

always carrying it with her. A peculiarity he put up with just as she put up with his odd little traits. That's what a solid

relationship was all about, wasn't it? Give and take.

He removed the tape from the VCR, slipped it into the carrying case, and put it on the bed next to her straw purse.

She was primping in front of the mirror. He watched her put on her red lipstick and smiled because he knew she only wore

that color to please him. She'd told him so.

Jilly put the lipstick in her purse with the tape, picked up her straw hat with the white ribbon, and then walked into the center