He smiled. No, you tell me about it. Whats so important about that skull?
You know all youre going to know. Except that I want the skull and youre going to get it for me.
Am I?
I hope you are. Im not Timwick, Ill never take you for granted.
He tilted his head. Now, I wonder who you killed? A lover? A blackmailer?
I need that skull.
Youre an amateur, or you wouldnt be in all this hot water. You should have let an expert handle it.
I realize my mistake. Thats why Im having an expert handle the matter now. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Here. My private digital phone number is on the back. Unless its an emergency, please try not to call me before seven in the evening.
He looked down at the folded paper in his hand. Youre taking a chance. Your fingerprints must be all over Gloves. She was wearing leather gloves. Then I assume its also not handwritten?
Computer, and you wont find any prints on that sheet but your own. My phone is under another name and the paperwork is buried so deep that it would take years to unearth it. She reached for the door handle. Im very efficient too, Fiske. Thats why you and I will work so well together.
Im not saying Im agreeing.
Think about it. She got out of the car. Read the list and think about it.
Wait.
I have to get back. You can understand how dif-ficult it is for me to get away unnoticed.
But you did it. How? he asked, curious.
I explored those possibilities the first week I moved in. I wasnt about to become a prisoner. Its not too difficult.
And youre not going to tell me. He thought about it. There was a rumor about a subterranean tunnel linking the White House to the Treasury De-partment. Supposedly Kennedy used it when he wanted to meet Marilyn Monroe. Is that how
Would I tell you? Youd regard getting into the White House as a plum in your list of accomplish-ments. The difficulty factor might just make killing me too tempting to resist, and I want you focused elsewhere.
Shake the bitch. He suddenly leaned forward. There are at least thirty-five secret agents and over a hundred uniformed guards at the White House at any given time. Its good to know there are ways to avoid them.
Her face was without expression. You have the numbers down pat.
As you say, its a challenging scenario. The possi-bilities have always intrigued me.
But you have to remember that I have Timwick schedule those Secret Service men at times and places that make it easy for me to avoid them. Timwicks not going to help you.
Not even if I tell him that you asked me to meet you tonight?
You wont do that. It would be against your interests.
He was silent a moment. You dont fool me. You were scared like all the rest. I could feel your heart jump under my thumbs. Youre scared now.
I am. Some things are worth being scared about. Call me. She walked away from him and down the street.
Tough woman. Tough and smart and gutsy. A hell of a lot more guts than Timwick.
But maybe she was too smart. She had come very close in her assessment of him, and it made him un-easy. He didnt like the idea of anyone predicting how he would react in any given situation. He wasnt sure he liked the idea of working with a woman.
Read the list.
She had guessed how a man of his temperament would appreciate a list. But why had she thought reading her list would make him favor her?
He unfolded the paper and bent closer to the lights of the dashboard.
He started to laugh.
The phone rang as Lisa was walking into her bedroom.
Okay, Fiske said. He hung up the phone.
A man of quick decision and few words, she thought dryly as she returned her phone to her handbag. Not to mention a certain lethal impulsive-ness for which she had not been prepared. She would have to hide the bruises from Kevin tonight and wear a scarf tomorrow.
Lisa? Kevin called from the bedroom. Where have you been?
Just for a walk in the garden. I needed some air. She hung her cape in the closet and grabbed a bathrobe with a cowl neck. Now I need a hot shower. Ill be in soon, Kevin.
Hurry. I want to talk.
Talk. God, she wished it was only sex. Listening to Kevin ramble and inserting the appropriate praise and encouragement was a strain she didnt need. For a moment, when Fiske had put his hands on her throat, she had thought she was going to die. Han-dling Fiske was going to be very difficult.
