Killjoy

opportunity to ambush me on the way to the spa, before you were even involved. It would have been so much simpler.' She slapped her forehead. 'Of course. They didn't know I was going to drive to the spa. When I missed my flight, they had to improvise. You

were another complication. You were hanging around the spa asking questions. Now it makes sense.'

She shook her head. She must be tired. It took so long for her to figure it out. She closed her eyes for a moment and thought

about the phone call again.

'The woman… she's having fun.'

'I'm sorry?'

'I could hear it in her voice. She was excited, even when she was hissing at me and calling me stupid. She doesn't want this

to be over too soon. She wants to drag it out.' She thought it over for a long minute and then said, 'She likes giving orders, and

as long as we play her little game, or treasure hunt, as she called it, she might prolong it even more.'

He drove as fast as the dirt roads would allow while she gave him directions. Avery kept replaying the conversation in her mind, analyzing what little data she had. It was so frustrating.

John Paul interrupted her. 'Okay, Avery. It's later.'

'I'm sorry?'

'I said it's later, and we're going to talk about it now. Why the hell didn't you tell me you were an FBI agent?'

'You made it very apparent you didn't particularly like the Bureau.'

'Yeah? When did I do that?'

'When we were in the manager's office at Utopia, you called your friend Noah. I heard you tell him to bring in the troops.'

'And?'

'And then you told me they'd mess up the investigation. When I pressed you on your attitude, you became quite hostile. Besides…' She could feel herself blushing. 'I'm not really an agent, not yet anyway.'

He slowed the car. 'Yeah? Then why are you telling people you are?' He shook his head and said, 'Who in his right mind

would want to impersonate an FBI agent?'

Avery hated being put on the defensive. God, he was such an obstinate, opinionated jerk. 'I don't usually tell people I'm an agent.

I just told Chrystal, in hopes of gaining her cooperation. Unlike you,' she added, 'I don't use coercion and brute force to get what

I want.'

John Paul ignored the criticism of his tactics. Why fix what wasn't broken? Brute force had always worked. 'I do what I'm good at doing. That's my motto.'

'Watch out,' she warned as he turned the corner and nearly ran into a deer. John Paul hit the brakes and swerved off the road, narrowly avoiding the animal. The car rocked and bounced but held the ground.

It was too dangerous to try to maintain a high speed. He slowed the car and said, 'ChrystaPs right. We aren't going to make it before nightfall.'

'Think positive.'

'Why?' He sounded genuinely perplexed.

'Maybe we'll get a decent road soon,' she said.

They drove around another sharp curve. Down below to the west was a road that looked well traveled. He decided to go for it.

'Hang on,' he said as they started down the hill. The slope was steep, and he had to be mindful of jagged rocks.

Avery flattened her hands against the seat as they bounced along.

'So,' he said, 'were you lying about having a badge?'

'I have credentials in my backpack.'

'But you're not an agent?'

'No.'

'Then what the hell are you doing with credentials?'

'I do work for the Bureau. I'm just not a field agent.'

'That's good.'

'Why? Because you hate the Bureau?'

'No, because you're not any good at it.'

'How would you know what I'm good at?' she said. Lord, he was irritating. Every time he opened his mouth, he said something that rubbed her the wrong way. No man had ever been able to get under her skin the way John Paul did.

'You don't have the instincts,' he said. 'And before you get all hot and bothered and argue, answer a question for me, and be honest.'

She folded her arms and frowned at him. 'What?'

'Did you anticipate that Kenny might have a loaded weapon under that counter? Did you even for a split second consider the possibility?'

'No.'

'There you go.'

'I haven't been trained to be a field agent. I didn't go through the academy.'

'That's no excuse. You've either got it, or you don't. You've got some good moves,' he added. 'The way you kick-boxed that kid was impressive. But you'd still make a lousy field agent.'

She refused to comment on his assessment.

'What exactly do you do for the Bureau?' he asked.

John Paul could see the blush was coming back. She was either embarrassed or so mad at him her face was turning a fire red. She sure was pretty. Ah, hell, where had that come from? He had no business thinking about such things, especially now that he knew she represented everything he detested.

'I type,' she said. She heard how defensive she sounded and quickly added, 'There isn't anything wrong with being a typist.'

'I didn't say there was.'

'I'm part of a very important team.'

'Ah, jeez.'

'What?'

'You bought it all, didn't you? A team player. You're probably a damn liberal too, aren't you?'

'As a matter of fact I am,' she said. 'And I'm certainly not ashamed of being a typist… it's an honorable job, after all.'

'Okay.'

'Quit being so condescending. I wasn't hired to be a typist, but that's what I pretty much do anyway, all day, every day.

I transfer information into the database. Now, can we let the matter drop?'

'Yeah, okay,' he said.

He seemed preoccupied now. 'What are you thinking?' she asked.

'This is a good road. Maybe we will get close to Coward's Crossing before it gets dark. We'll hike a couple of miles, find a secluded spot for you to hide, and then I can-'

That was as far as she'd let him get. 'Not gonna happen,' she said. 'I'll tell you what. You drop me off, find another good road, and with any luck, you can make it back to Aspen before dark.'

'And why would I want to drive back to Aspen?'

'I've been thinking…'

'Uh-oh.'

She ignored the insult. 'I think you should get out while you still can. You can tell the FBI where I'm