Orchid

anyway.'

'What do you mean? You just said there might be a connection. Maybe some researchers at ParaSyn arranged to steal the relic.'

Rafe looked surprised by her suggestion. 'Not likely. There would be no need to steal it. ParaSyn is a major company with a lot of clout. If the experts there wanted to conduct experiments on some of the alien artifacts all they would have to do is contract with the authorities at the university and the New Seattle Art Museum. No one would turn down a request from them.'

'Good point.' She sank back in her seat, briefly deflated but also secretly relieved.

'Even if the executives at ParaSyn had decided to engage in a little industrial espionage, they would have used a more efficient and more reliable agent than Theo Willis.'

'I see what you mean.'

'All I'm looking for is another lead on Quentin Austen. There's something a little too convenient about his suicide. But I can get the kind of information I need without sending you back to ParaSyn.'

Orchid was touched by his vehemence. Smiling tremulously, she reached across the short distance that separated them and patted his hand. 'Thanks.'

'I missed you last night,' Rafe said after a while.

'I was just down the hall.'

'I'm getting used to having you in my bed.'

She did not know what to say to that. The truth was, she was getting used to being in his bed, too.

Rafe said nothing for a time. After a while he glanced at her, eyes gleaming. 'I guess pulling over to the side of the road, driving into that grove of trees near the river, and getting into the backseat would be a really primitive thing to do.'

'Are you kidding?' She was horrified. 'It would not only be primitive, it could be extremely embarrassing. This is a major highway. Someone might see us.'

'Not much traffic,' he observed. 'And the woods look pretty thick. I don't think anyone would notice.'

'That grove near the river is just the sort of place a family would choose for a roadside picnic.'

'You know what your problem is, Orchid? You lack a spirit of adventure.'

Orchid felt the Acer slow perceptibly. 'You wouldn't dare.'

It was fast and intense and in the end Orchid actually screamed. It was probably real primitive of him, Rafe thought, but he liked that part best.

'I can't believe you did that.' Twenty minutes later, Orchid perched on the edge of the backseat struggling to pull on her jeans.

It was not an easy task, Rafe thought. There was very little room for her to maneuver because he was taking up most of the available space. He lounged in the corner, one leg stretched out behind Orchid's madly wriggling rear, and enjoyed the scene.

'Might be easier if you opened the door and got out,' he said.

'I'm not getting out of this car until I'm dressed. We're not that far from Northville. What if some of my parents' friends happened along?'

'Suit yourself, but I really don't think anyone can see you from the highway.'

'I'm not taking any chances.' There was a soft snap as Orchid managed to fasten the waistband of her jeans. 'Isn't there some kind of law that says that no one over the age of eighteen is allowed to do it in the backseat?'

'I won't tell the backseat police if you don't.' He sat up reluctantly and gingerly rezipped his pants. 'If you'll excuse me for a moment, I believe I'll use the facilities.'

'What facilities?' She peered through the fogged up windows. 'This isn't a rest stop. We're in the middle of the woods.'

'Right. The facilities.' He cracked the door open and slid it up into the roof. 'Be back in a minute.'

'Oh, I see.' She turned pink. Then she studied the river bank that was only a few feet away with a thoughtful expression. 'Maybe I'll take the opportunity to wash up myself.'

Rafe got out of the car. 'Don't fall in. That water will be ice cold at this time of year.'

'Don't worry. My balance is a lot better than Preston's.'

'I believe it.' Rafe turned and walked a discreet distance into the trees, savoring the after effects making love to Orchid always had on his senses. He felt relaxed and pleasantly aware of the sights, smells, and small sounds around him.

Life was good this morning.

He kept walking.

The morning sun filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground with spots of gold and shadow. The rich soil beneath his boots smelled of spring. The air tasted better than blue champagne.

He allowed his mind as well as his senses to wander as he chose a suitable tree and unzipped his jeans.

From out of nowhere he recalled the billing ledger he had found the night he and Orchid had searched Quentin Austen's office. He had a sudden memory of the pink sticky note attached to the back.

The synergistic possibilities hit him with the impact of summer lightning.

Energy pulsed through him as he hastily rezipped his jeans. The small burst of adrenaline took his already heightened senses up another notch for a few seconds.

Just long enough to alert him to the presence of another person nearby.

Not Orchid.

The sense of imminent danger crackled through him. He had to get back to Orchid. He shoved more energy out onto the psychic plane, instinctively seeking her through the focus link.

He saw the familiar prism take shape, clear and sharp even at this distance. He sent a warning crashing across the metaphysical realm even as he isolated the taint of the other and followed it.

He whirled, orienting himself. Through the trees he caught the unnatural glint of sunlight on steel.

He dove for cover just as the shot rang out. He landed on the ground behind a large tree.

'Rafe,' Orchid's shout came from the river's edge. 'That was a shot.'

It was clear now that he was the target, not her. 'Stay where you are.'

'Hey, you in the woods with the gun,' she yelled. 'There are people here. It's illegal to hunt this close to the highway.'

Rafe doubted that her warning would carry much weight with the shooter. Whoever he was, he was no ordinary hunter. But Orchid's words did provide a distraction.

Rafe sensed that the other's attention was divided now.

From the would-be killer's point of view, things were disintegrating rapidly, he thought. The first shot had missed and the intended victim was no longer in sight. To top it off, a woman who was invisible through the veil of trees was yelling.

Rafe flattened himself on the ground and made his way toward the shelter of the next large tree.

Another shot rang out, but this one went wild. The gunman had lost track of his quarry.

'There are people here, you idiot,' Orchid shouted furiously. 'What do you think you're doing?'

Rafe concentrated on sending more power through the prism. He knew exactly where the gunman was now. He began to circle toward him, using the heavy undergrowth as cover.

Apparently sensing the impending danger, the gunman abandoned his post. Rafe heard the rush of pounding footsteps in the distance. The man was plunging through the trees toward the road.

'Shit.'

The bastard was going to get away.

Rafe broke into a charging run.

He heard the slam of a car door and knew that he was too late. An instant later came the whine of an engine. It was followed by the squeal of tires on pavement.

Rafe reached the edge of the road in time to see the tail of a white Phase 1000 disappear around the curve in the highway.

There were, he reflected, a lot of Phases in the world.

'Are you certain it wasn't some stupid hunter who thought you were a moose-deer?' Orchid asked for the third time as she refastened her seatbelt.