It astounded Luke to hear this man talk about honor and loyalty and patriotism. To see the tenderness in his eyes when he spoke of his wife and children.

A part of Luke realized that he should be afraid. This man could kill him in a dozen different ways, and would do it without second thought. He was a man who operated outside the law, yet within in, too.

And he was telling Luke his secrets, sharing his innermost thoughts. Making himself vulnerable to Luke. And that would be an unsettling thing for a man like Condor.

But Luke wasn't afraid. He felt in his gut that he had nothing to fear from the other man. In a weird way, he respected him. Even liked him. In any other profession, his loyalty and code of ethics would be laudable. His love of his family-and his desire to protect them-admirable.

"What you do, is it ever personal?"

"Personal?" Condor frowned. "No, not ever. You never cross that line."

"But what if a guy like you did? What if something happened, and suddenly the pro turned vigilante?"

Condor paused, as if carefully considering. "That'd be bad news, Dallas. You're talking about a killing machine. It's what he's been trained to do." Condor leaned toward him; the cold in his eyes sent a chill down Luke's spine. "He can kill a man in a hundred different ways, and he will do so without compunction. He doesn't concern himself with the moral issues that you might. He doesn't think about heaven or hell, right or wrong. He doesn't believe in someone's right to life or their humanity.

"People are targets. Pure and simple. The only thing that keeps the assassin in check is his honor. His code of ethics." He looked Luke dead in the eye. "Take that away or twist it, and you've got a veritable killing machine roaming the streets. A man to whom vengeance is just another word for justice."

Julianna and Sandy met at the coffeehouse every night for a week. At the end of that week and at Julianna's suggestion, they graduated to a Friday night dinner and movie, from there to shopping and lunch on Saturdays.

They became the very best of friends.

And, as Julianna had known she would be, Sandy was grateful for her friendship. So grateful, she never stopped to question Julianna's devotion to her, never wondered why, after having had to struggle to be liked for so long, Julianna liked everything about her so easily.

Julianna decided it was time for her to make her next move.

She chose to make it during one of their Friday nights out. They had just shared a salad and a dessert at a local café known for both and were making plans to shop the next day.

Julianna counted out the money for her half of the bill and sighed. "I really need to find a job."

"No luck yet?"

"Not unless I want to sling burgers at McDonald's."

"Bummer."

"No kidding. I never thought it would be this hard to find a decent position." She looked away, then back at

Sandy, as if inspired. "What about where you work? Is there anything available there?"

Sandy shook her head. "I don't think so. Nothing you'd be qualified for, anyway."

"How do you know?" She leaned toward her. "I can do lots of things."

"Both openings require a college degree and experience at a law firm. Sorry."

Julianna was crestfallen and didn't hide it. She had been sure, at a place as big as Nicholson, Bedico, Chaney & Ryan, there would be something, anything, she would be qualified for. Maybe Sandy wasn't being honest with her. Maybe she needed more of an incentive. "That's all I've been hearing." Julianna looked at her hands, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to go back."

"Back?" Sandy repeated. "You don't mean back to D.C.?"

When she nodded, Sandy made a sound of distress. "But you can't go! We're…we just became friends."

"I don't want to, but what am I supposed to do? I can't seem to get a good job here. I have connections in D.C., but you're the only one I know here and you can't…" Her voice trailed off miserably. "It sure would have been nice to work together. We could have had lunch together every day. Passed notes when the bosses weren't looking. Like back in high school."

"I really would have liked that," Sandy whispered, her longing palpable. "I really would have. You're the… you're the best friend I've ever had, Julianna."

"And you're the best friend I've ever had. I'm going to miss you."

They fell into a miserable silence. Sandy slumped down in her seat, looking ready to cry. Then, suddenly, she straightened and met Julianna's eyes. "Wait, I just thought of something. Another opening."

Quickly, the words tumbling past her lips, Sandy relayed how she had overheard Richard Ryan's secretary complaining about her workload. "He's running for local District Attorney and she's threatening to quit because of the increased workload. I heard her say that he promised to hire an assistant to handle the secretarial and gofer work associated with his campaign."

Richard needed an assistant? Another sign. "When was this?"

"Just this week." Sandy paused, thinking back. "Tuesday, I think. Yes-" she nodded "-definitely Tuesday. In the break room. Though I don't know if he's run an ad yet or if he has someone in mind already."

Julianna brought a hand to her chest, so excited she could barely breathe. Work directly with Richard? It would be too good to be true.

"This is perfect." She leaned toward the other woman, reaching out and capturing her hands. "You have to introduce me to Mr. Ryan. You have to, Sandy!"

Sandy froze, her expression alarmed. "I don't know about that, Julianna. I mean, an introduction is…it would be-"

"A vote of confidence in me," Julianna supplied. "You do believe in me, don't you?"

"Well, sure. It's just that-"

Julianna tightened her fingers over the other woman's. "I need that job, Sandy. I have to have it. Do you understand? I have to have it."

"You're hurting me, Julianna," she whispered, tugging on her hands. "Let go."

Julianna backed off, trying to look repentant. "I'm sorry, Sandy. It's just that…" She drew a deep breath. "I'm getting desperate. You can understand that, can't you?" Sandy nodded, squirming in her seat. "And this job it…it sounds perfect for me. I lived in D.C., remember? I moved in political circles. Politics are second nature to me."

Sandy gazed at her expectantly, waiting. More, Julianna thought, she had to have more. She scrambled around for something that would convince Sandy she was qualified for the job. She thought of her mother, then her mother's lover.

Senator Jacobson. Of course.

"I was one of Senator Jacobson's campaign assistants." A tiny lie-she had stopped by his election headquarters several times; his campaign manager had shown her and her mother around and explained the duties of the various volunteers.

The other woman perked up. "You were?"

"That's right." She smiled. "He'd give me a recommendation, I know he would."

For a long moment, Sandy said nothing. She gazed at Julianna, her face an open book. She wanted to do it, but she was afraid of sticking her neck out. Of hurting her reputation, of getting in trouble with the bosses.

All she needed was another little push. "Just think, Sandy. If Mr. Ryan hired me, we'd be working in the same building. We could have lunch together every day. Take our coffee breaks at the same time…go out for drinks after work."

She looked Sandy in the eyes, her expression as earnest as she could make it. "I've never worked with a best friend before. It'd be so cool."

"It would be fun," Sandy said softly, hesitantly.

"So, you'll do it?" Julianna caught the other woman's hands once more. "You'll introduce me to Mr. Ryan? You'll put in a good word for me?"