Killjoy

'Yes,' he answered. 'She's going at least eighty.'

'If there's a speed trap-'

'There isn't,' he assured her.

'How do you know?'

'I know.'

She moved on to another worry. 'Shouldn't you get closer?'

'I'm not going to lose her, Delaney. Now sit back and relax.'

'She's turning.'

'I see her.'

Avery forced herself to stop telling the agent in charge what to do. It would all be over in just a few minutes. If she could just

stay calm that long, she could spend a month falling apart if that was her inclination. Stay cool, she told herself.

Jilly had almost missed the entrance to the Windjammer motel. Avery watched her slow her car, make the turn, and drive

across the parking lot. She lost sight of her then as Kelly sped on. He pulled into the exit, circled around the motel, and parked

next to the restaurant adjacent to the parking lot.

'She's parked in front of the steps,' Kelly said.

Avery was looking up at the units. All the doors faced the street. Then she looked at Jilly. She wished they were closer so

she could get a good look at her face.

'What's she doing?' she asked as she leaned forward.

'Brushing her hair,' Kelly said.

Avery squinted against the sunlight. She saw Jiily pull down the vanity mirror.

'Is she putting lipstick on?'

'She sure is,' Kelly said.

She sat back when the agent turned off the motor and rolled the window down. 'You get out of this car, Delaney, and I swear-'

She didn't let him finish his threat. 'I won't move.'

Avery looked at Jilly again. She must have been satisfied with her appearance because she finally opened the car door and got out.

'Showtime,' Kelly whispered.

Jilly ran up the first flight of stairs, raced along the outside corridor until she found the number she was looking for, and then stopped. Avery watched her spread the collar on her blouse so that cleavage would show. She smoothed her tight skirt, and then rapped on the door.

Avery's stomach lurched. She heard her voice calling out, 'Darling, it's me, Jilly.'

Tony Salvetti opened the door.

Chapter 39

The trial in Sheldon Beach didn't drag on long. The attorney prosecuting the case was competent and effective, and

with the evidence at hand, he was able to convince a second jury that Dale Skarrett had broken into Lola Delaney's home

with the intent of kidnapping Avery Delaney. In the process of committing the felony, he had caused the premature death

of Lola Delaney.

Skarrett insisted on testifying, which was a big mistake. He mumbled and squirmed, and by the time the prosecuting attorney

got finished with him, the felon was screaming obscenities at him for twisting everything he said.

Skarrett insisted that he hadn't used Avery as a shield and that he was really only trying to assist the child to her feet when her grandmother fired the gun. He couldn't explain why he'd taken his belt off and beaten her nearly to death except to say that he was simply trying to coax her into going with him to see her mother.

The photos of Avery in the hospital proved beyond a reasonable doubt that 'Skarrett had left her in that hallway to die. Within

an hour, the jury rendered its verdict, and Skarrett was led back to prison, where he belonged.

John Paul stayed in Sheldon Beach with Avery through the entire trial, and Carrie flew in the day before Avery was scheduled

to testify. The aunt had been to hell and back, and he expected to meet a shattered woman. She wasn't, though. If she was devastated by her husband's betrayal, she didn't let it show.

In between her calls to her staff in Bel Air, John Paul told Carrie he was going to marry Avery. She didn't want to hear that.

If her niece was going to marry, she should find a man with potential… and money. What kind of life would she have, married

to a carpenter?

Oh, yes, Carrie was one tough cookie… and meaner than a crocodile when she didn't get her way.

He really liked her.

Chapter 40

MR.Carter will see you now.'

'Thank you.' Avery straightened her skirt and smiled at the receptionist as she walked to the door.

'You want me to go in with you?' John Paul asked.

She shook her head. 'You'll wait here?'

'For as long as it takes.'

She opened the door and stepped into the freezer. She'd come prepared this morning and was wearing a long-sleeved jacket.

'Good morning, sir.'

'Have a seat, Delaney.'

He didn't look happy, but then, she'd never seen Carter smile before, so she wasn't certain if he was still angry with her or not.

She sat in the chair facing his desk, folded her hands in her lap, and said, 'Sir, if you're going to fire me, I'd like the opportunity

to preempt and resign first.'

'Why?' he asked.

He'd stood when she entered the room but now took his seat behind the massive desk.

'Resigning would look better on my resume.'

'No, I'm asking you why you think I'm going to fire you?'

'Because I didn't follow procedure,' she said.

Her hands were trembling. She wasn't certain if it was due to the frigid air in the office or the fact that she was so nervous.

He had the ability to turn her into an insecure twit simply by looking at her.

'I should have figured it all out much, much sooner, but in my defense, sir, I was busy jumping in and out of fivers and dodging bullets. I didn't have time to analyze the data, but I should have made the time,' she hastily added so that he would know she